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Geomorphology: Plateaus and plains

Plateaus: Plateau is an extensive area of flat upland. They are storehouse of Mineral deposits. Based on their geographical location they are of following types: 1. Intermontane plateau: Partly or fully enclosed b/w mountain ranges. e.g. Tibetan plateau 2. Piedmont plateau: Located on foot of mountain and locked on other side by either a plain on an ocean. They once had the height of mountain but reduced to mountain foot by erosion. e.g. Malwa plateau. 3. Continental plateau: They are formed by continental upliftment or spread of lava sheet. e.g. Plateau of Maharashtra. 4. Volcanic plateau: They are formed by volcanic activity. e.g. Deccan trap 5. Dissected plateau: Their relief is sharp because of erosion. Plains:  They are the simplest landforms. They have a very gentle slope and minimum relief. They are most populated landforms. e.g. Indo-gangetic plains.

Geomorphology: Mountains

NOTE: Magma is molten rock below Earth's crust. Lava is magma that has reached the earth's surface. A mountain is a large landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area, usually in the form of a peak. Types of mountains: 1. Fold Mountains: They are formed when two continental plates or one continental and one oceanic plate move towards each other at a convergent plate boundary. When the two plates collide the sedimentary deposits along the edges of Continental plates are forced to fold and hence folded mountains are formed. e.g. Himalyas. 2. Block mountains: They are formed due to faulting. They are not true mountains as they are formed by differential settlement of land mass. There is no actual upliftment taking place as in case of fold mountains. Middle part of any land mass gets  lowered resulting into relatively raising of adjoining landmasses or Lowering of landmasses on either sides resulting into relatively raising of middle landmass. ...

Geomorphology

Geo means earth, morpho means form, and logy means description. So Geomorphology is the study of earth, its landforms and various process, forces responsible for their formation. Based on the region of action these forces are classified into 2 types- Endogenetic and Exogenetic Forces. 1. Endogenetic forces act inside the Earth's crust. Objective of these forces is to create relief features on Earth's crust. It is further divided into Diastrophic and Sudden Forces. Diastrophic forces act slowly and are of 2 types- Epeirogenic forces and Orogenic forces. Epeirogenic forces are related to Continent. They act in vertical direction. This causes upliftment or subsidence of continent. Orogenic forces are related to mountains. They act in horizontal direction and can be tensile, compressive and shear. In Tensile forces plates move away from each other. In compressive forces plates move towards each other. In Shear forces plates slides past each other. Sudden forces act sudden...

Interior of Earth

The Earth have following layers: 1. Crust 2. Mantle 3. Core Crust is the uppermost layer of the Earth. Its total thickness varies from 30-50 km. Its main constituents are Silicon and Aluminium and hence also called SIAL . There are 2 types of Crust- Continental and Oceanic. Continental Crust is thicker than Oceanic Crust. Thickness of Continental crust varies from 50-70 Km and that of Oceanic crust varies from 5-30 Km. Crust is further divided into Upper and Inner Crust. The discontinuity b/w Upper and Inner crust is known as Conard discontinuity. Below the Crust, the Mantle extends  to a depth of 2900 km. The main constituents of Mantle are Silicon and Magnesium and hence it is also called SIMA . It is further divided into Upper and lower mantle.  Together the Crust and upper part of Mantle which is in solid state, form ' Lithosphere '. Lithosphere floats over a highly viscous substance called Asthenosphere . Asthenosphere is main source of magma. The disconti...

Latitudes and Longitudes

Latitudes and Longitudes are used for specifying location of a point on Earth's surface. Latitudes are measured in respect of Equator. Equator itself is a latitude and is largest of all latitudes.  The length of latitudes keeps decreasing as we move from equator to poles. It ranges from 0 degrees to 90 degrees (North and South). The latitude of any point on earth's surface can be known by measuring the angle b/w the line joining that point with Center of earth and the Equatorial Plane. Longitudes are measured in terms of Prime Meridian. Prime meridian is a longitude which passes through Greenwich, England and is assigned with 0 degree. Other Longitudes are measured with respect to it in East or West direction. It ranges from 0 degrees to 180 degrees (East or west). The longitude of a point on earth's surface can be known by measuring the angular distance b/w the longitude containing the point and the Prime Meridian. All longitudes are of equal lengths. Internation...

Earth

Also called Blue planet. It is 5th Largest planet in our solar system. It rotates in a direction from West to East or in counter clockwise direction. It has only one Satellite-Moon. It has an axial tilt of 23.5 degrees. It is because of this tilt that the seasons change. There are 2 types of movements that the Earth undergoes: i. Rotation ii. Revolution Earth completes 1 rotation about its axis in about 24 hours. It is because of rotation of the earth that day and night occurs. Earth completes 1 revolution around the Sun in about 365 and one quarter days. There are 2 positions in the path of revolution of Earth at which it is nearest and farthest from the sun-Perihelion and Aphelion. During Perihelion earth is nearest to Sun and during Aphelion it is farthest. The length of day and night depends on the position of earth in its path of revolution around the sun. Taking reference of Northern Hemisphere: i. Longest Day is experienced on 21st or 22nd June and is known as ...

Planets

There are 8 planets in our Solar System. They are classified in 2 types: i. Terrestrial Planets/Inner Planets ii. Gas Giants/Outer planets/jovial plantes Terrestrial planets include- Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. Gas Giants include-Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Comparison: i. Terrestrial planets are mainly made of rocks whereas Gas giants are made of gases. ii. Terrestrial planets are smaller in size. iii. Terrestrial planets rotate slowly in their axis as compared to Gas giants. iv.  Terrestrial planets' revolution period is faster than Gas giants. v. Terrestrial planets have no moon or less moon (max. 2 for mars). vi. Terrestrial planets have thinner atmosphere. vii. Terrestrial planets have no rings. viii. Terrestrial planets have weaker magnetic field. 1. Mercury: Smallest planet. It has no atmosphere. No Satellite. One part is always towards sun and another always dark. Dirunal temp. range is maximum. Two Spacecrafts that have visited Mercury are ...

Tribes in India(Tricks to remember Tribes in India)

1. Andhra Pradesh: Andh, Sadhu Andh, Bhagata, Bhil, Chenchus, Gadabas, Gond, Goundu, Jatapus, Kammara, Kattunayakan, Kolawar, Kolam, Konda, Manna Dhora, Pradhan, Rona, Savaras, Dabba Yerukula, Nakkala, Dhulia, Thoti, Sugalis.  Trick to remember: Andhere Pradesh mein ek Nayak ki jaroorat hai. Jackie Chen(chenchus) Nayak( Kattunayakan) hai. Wo ek village se Sugandha(sugalis)  ko Kundi (konda) todkar horse pe Savari kar k Bhaga(Bhagata)  le gya to Village k Pradhan ne War(kolwar) shuru kar di kyuki Jackie Chen dusri Jati (Jatapus) k hai. Raste mein Jackie Chen ko ek Andha Sadhu   Dhoti (Thoti) pehne hue Dhul  (dhulia) mein gira hua milta hai. Andhe Sadhu ki kamar(Kammara)  mein dard tha jiski wajah se wo RONe  (Rona) laga. Jackie Chen ne apne DABBe (Dabba Yerukula) mein se  Bhel Nikal( Bhil, Nakkal)  kar Sadhu ko  khane ko di. Badle mein Sadhu ne Jackie Chen ko ek Kalam  (Kolam) gift ki aur  Mann(Manna Dhora) me...

Solar System

The Solar System is a gravitationally bound system comprising Sun, planets, asteroids, meteoroids, kuidper belt etc. It was formed about 4.6 Billion Years ago from gravitational collapse of giant interstellar molecular cloud. Internal Structure of Sun: 1. Photosphere : The visible part of the sun. It comprises 3 regions: i. Core : The innermost part of the sun. Nuclear Fusion reaction takes place in this region. Temperature and pressure are extremely high. ii. Radioactive Zone : Above the core and emits radiation. iii. Convective Zone : Photons produced in the core make their way to the surface of the sun through this Zone. 2. Chromosphere : Red colored surface above photosphere . The temperature increases as the distance increases from the centre. This layer is visible only during Solar Eclipse. 3. Corona : This layer is also visible only during Solar Eclipse. Also emits X ray radiation. Solar Phenomenon: 1. Solar wind: Streams of charged parti...

The Stars

Stars are formed from giant cloud of dust and gas. Due to gravity the cloud collapses in a rotating disc. As the disc rotates more and more gases are pulled towards the centre and thus creating a hot and dense centre called protostar . If enough mass collapses into protostar a bipolar flow occurs. Two massive gas jets erupts from protostar and blasting away remaining gas and dust from its surface. At this point the young star stabilizes. The energy in the Star is created through a process called Nuclear fusion. The Star will die once it runs out of gases to burn. The star will first expand into a red super giant . The core contracts and outer layer expands. Then comes the stage called Supernova . The core collapses in an instant. The repulsive electrical forces overcomes the gravitational force, causing a massive, short lived explosion blowing away the star's outer layer. After super nova the star may turn into either a black hole or a neutron star . After Supernova the mass...
Universe and the Earth: Universe consists of millions of Galaxies. Galaxy is a gravitationally bound system of solar systems, stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust and dark matter. The name of our Galaxy is Milky Way Galaxy. Age of Universe is said to be 13.7 billion years. Structure of Universe: 1. Galaxy: Large group of many Solar Systems. On basis of shape there are 3 type of galaxies:  i. Spiral  ii. Elliptical  iii. Irregular. 2. Solar System: Solar system is the collection of 8 planets, asteroids, kuiper belt, dwarf planets, meteoroids, comets and interplanetary dust with Sun at the centre. There are mainly 3 theories regarding origin of Universe: 1. Big bang theory: It was proposed by George Lemaitre. According to this theory the Universe is formed due to the expansion of a hot, condensed single point called 'point of Singularity'. Initially the Universe permeated energy. Some of this energy is transformed into particles like Hydroge...

Important Reports Published by International Bodies

S. No. International Organization Name of Reports 1 UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) World Investment Report 2 UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) Actions on Air Quality  3 UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) Global Environment Outlook  4 Transparency International Global Corruption Report (GCR)  5 UNEP and INTERPOL The Rise of Environmental Crime  6 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Global education monitoring Report  7 UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) State of world population  8 UN-Habitat World Cities Report  9 UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) World Wildlife Crime Report  10 UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) World Drug Report...