Physical Geography Flashcards

Question

Which planets have debris/ rings

Answer 1

jupiter saturn uranus

Answer 2

300,000 km per second

Answer 3

Sun, 8 planets, asteroids and meteoroids

Answer 4

Hydrogen (70%), Helium (27%), remaining gasses (3%). Provides gravity that keeps solar system together. Six main regions- Interior- 1.core where nuclear fusion (combo) occurs 2.radiative zone energy transported by photons i.e electromagnetic waves 3.convective zone- energy movement via fluids like gasses. Exterior- 4.photosphere- visible surface 5.chromosphere- giving reddish hue 6.corona-hotter than sun surface, transitions into solar wind

Answer 5

Smallest, no satellite, second hottest

Answer 6

Earth’s twin, hottest planet, aka morning/evening star

Answer 7

1 orbit- 365 days, 1 rotation on axis- 1 day. Sunlight takes 8.2 minutes to reach

Answer 8

Similar landmass, reddish due to iron oxide, 2 moons

Answer 9

Largest gas giant, ring system, 79 moons

Answer 10

Avg density less than water, rings, 82 moons

Answer 11

Frigid, rings, 27 moons

Answer 12

Coldest and windiest, 13 moons

Answer 13

Small celestial bodies that revolve around the sun. Pluto was demoted because it could not clear orbit of other debris. Other eg- Ceres

Answer 14

Celestial bodies that revolve around planets, can be artificial also

Answer 15

27 days to rotate and revolve, thus only one face shows

Answer 16

Bodies that move around the sun, are found in the belt between mars and jupiter, aka minor planets.

Answer 17

Objects made of ice particles and gasses that move around the sun, have a distinctive tail. Found in Kuiper Belt- between Neptune to 50 AU from sun.

Answer 18

Asteroids that have been removed from the belt, which sometimes enter earth atmosphere and burn

Answer 19

Imaginary line passing through the poles on which the earth spins

Answer 20

Imaginary line divind the earth into two parts- northern and southern hemisphere

Answer 21

All circles parallel to the equator upto the poles, measured in degrees

Answer 22

0 degree equator North pole 90 degree N South pole 90 degree S Tropic of cancer 23 ½ degree N Tropic of capricorn 23 ½ degree S Arctic circle 66 ½ degree N Antarctic circle 66 ½ degree S

Answer 23

Torrid- between Tropic of cancer 23 ½ degree N and Tropic of capricorn 23 ½ degree S Temperate between-Tropic of cancer 23 ½ degree N-Arctic circle 66 ½ degree N and Tropic of capricorn 23 ½ degree S and Antarctic circle 66 ½ degree S Frigid- North pole 90 degree N- Arctic circle 66 ½ degree N and South pole 90 degree S- Antarctic circle 66 ½ degree S

Answer 24

Imaginary perpendicular lines, measured in degrees minutes seconds-1 degree= 6 minutes. Prime meridian that divides earth into eastern and western hemispheres is at Greenwich observatory i.e. 0 degrees and the 180 degree longitudes E and W overlap and is the International date line.

Answer 25

5:30 more than greenwich, longitude of 82 ½ degree N

Answer 26

Spinning of earth on axis, determine day-night, tides, coriolis force, geoid bulge. Axis is tilted 66 ½ degrees from orbital plane and 23 ½ degrees perpendicular plane. 23 hours 56 minutes (earth day)

Answer 27

Movement of earth around sun in elliptical path- causes seasons, variations in day-night lengths, and variations in solar energy distribution. Avg 150 million km from sun which becomes Aphelion 152 mkm and Perihelion 147 mkm. 365 days 6 hours.

Answer 28

21st June Sun directly overhead the tropic of cancer, max heat, and N pole 6 months of continuous daylight. Longest day and shortest night for N. Opposite in S hemisphere.

Answer 29

22nd December- Sun directly overhead the tropic of capricorn, max heat, and S pole 6 months of continuous daylight. Longest day and shortest night for S. Opposite in N hemisphere.

Answer 30

Neither poles tilted towards sun, so whole earth experiences equal days and nights. 21st March Vernal, 23rd September Autumnal- rays of sun fall directly on equator.

Answer 31

Endogenic processes happening inside the earth as well as exogenic processes happening outside.

Answer 32

Direct sources- mining, volcanic eruptions. Indirect sources- studying properties of matter, meteors, gravity, magnetic fields, seismic activity.

Answer 33

The gravitation force (g) is not the same at different latitudes on the surface. It is greater near the poles and less at the equator. This is because of the distance from the centre at the equator being greater than that at the poles. The gravity values also differ according to the mass of material. These readings differ from the expected values. Such a difference is called gravity anomaly. Gravity anomalies give us information about the distribution of mass of the material in the crust of the earth.

Answer 34

An earthquake is the shaking of the earth due to release of energy, which generates waves that travel in all directions.

Answer 35

The release of energy occurs along a fault. A fault is a sharp break in the crustal rocks. Rocks along a fault tend to move in opposite directions. As the overlying rock strata press them, the friction locks them together. However, their tendency to move apart at some point of time overcomes the friction. As a result, the blocks get deformed and eventually, they slide past one another abruptly. This causes a release of energy, and the energy waves travel in all directions.

Answer 36

sharp break in crustal rocks

Answer 37

The point where the energy is released is called the focus of an earthquake, alternatively, it is called the hypocentre. The energy waves travelling in different directions reach the surface. The point on the surface, nearest to the focus, is called epicentre. It is the first one to experience the waves. It is a point directly above the focus.

Answer 38

All natural earthquakes take place in the lithosphere, the portion of depth up to 200 km from the surface of the earth.

Answer 39

An instrument called ‘seismograph’ records the waves reaching the surface.

Answer 40

body waves and surface waves. Body waves are generated due to the release of energy at the focus and move in all directions travelling through the body of the earth. They are called P and S-waves. P-waves move faster and are the first to arrive at the surface. These are also called ‘primary waves’. The P-waves are similar to sound waves. They travel through gaseous, liquid and solid materials. S-waves arrive at the surface with some time lag. These are called secondary waves and can travel only through solid materials. The body waves interact with the surface rocks and generate new set of waves called surface waves. These waves move along the surface. The surface waves are the last to report on a seismograph. These waves are more destructive.

Answer 41

P- longitudinal S- transverse L- surface waves

Answer 42

The velocity of waves changes as they travel through materials with different densities. The denser the material, the higher is the velocity. P-waves vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave. This exerts pressure on the material in the direction of the propagation. As a result, it creates density differences in the material leading to stretching and squeezing of the material. Other three waves vibrate perpendicular to the direction of propagation. The direction of vibrations of S-waves is perpendicular to the wave direction in the vertical plane. Hence, they create troughs and crests in the material through which they pass.

Answer 43

Areas where earthquakes are not recorded on seismographs due to refraction and reflection as they pass through the Earth's layers.. Such a zone is called the ‘shadow zone’. For S waves, anything beyond 105 degree from epicentre, while for P waves between 105 and 145 degrees from epicentre. Thus, S wave shadow zone larger (40% of earth’s surface)

Answer 44

(i) tectonic earthquakes. These are generated due to sliding of rocks along a fault plane. (ii) A special class of tectonic earthquake- volcanic earthquake. However, these are confined to areas of active volcanoes. (iii) In the areas of intense mining activity, sometimes the roofs of underground mines collapse causing minor tremors. These are called collapse earthquakes. (iv) Ground shaking may also occur due to the explosion of chemical or nuclear devices. Such tremors are called explosion earthquakes. (v) The earthquakes that occur in the areas of large reservoirs are referred to as reservoir induced earthquakes.

Answer 45

The earthquake events are scaled either according to the magnitude or intensity of the shock. The magnitude scale is known as the Richter scale. The magnitude relates to the energy released during the quake. The magnitude is expressed in numbers, 0-10. The intensity scale is named after Mercalli, an Italian seismologist. The intensity scale takes into account the visible damage caused by the event. The range of intensity scale is from 1-12.

Answer 46

Crust, mantle, core

Answer 47

It is the outermost solid part of the earth. It is brittle in nature. The thickness of the crust varies-oceanic crust is 5 km, continental 30 km, mountain systems 70 km.This type of rock found in the oceanic crust is basalt. The mean density of material in oceanic crust is 2.7 g/cm3. Continental made up of heavier rocks having density of 3 g/cm3.

Answer 48

The crust and the uppermost part of the mantle are called lithosphere. Its thickness ranges from 10-200 km.

Answer 49

Between crust and core. The mantle extends from Moho’s discontinuity to a depth of 2,900 km. 1.The upper portion of the mantle is called asthenosphere. The word astheno means weak. It is considered to be extending upto 400 km. It is the main source of magma. Density- 3.4 g/cm3. 2.The lower mantle extends beyond the asthenosphere. It is in solid state.

Answer 50

The outer core is in liquid state while the inner core is in solid state. The density of material at the mantle core boundary is around 5 g/cm3 and at the centre of the earth at 6,300 km, the density value is around 13g/cm3. The core is made up of very heavy material mostly composed of nickel and iron. It is sometimes referred to as the nife layer.

Answer 51

A volcano is a place where gases, ashes and/or molten rock material – lava – escape to the ground.

Answer 52

The material in the upper mantle portion is called magma. Once it starts moving towards the crust or it reaches the surface, it is referred to as lava. The material that reaches the ground includes lava flows, pyroclastic debris, volcanic bombs, ash and dust and gases such as nitrogen, sulphur compounds and minor amounts of chlorene, hydrogen and argon. N SHAC

Answer 53

1.Shield Volcanoes- are the largest of all the volcanoes on the earth, are made up of basalt, a type of lava that is very fluid when erupted. For this reason, these volcanoes are not steep, but since comes out in a fountain fashion, formation of cinder cone. Usually low explosivity, but explosive when water gets into the vent. Eg. Hawaii 2.Composite Volcanoes- These volcanoes are characterised by eruptions of cooler and more viscous lavas than basalt. These volcanoes often result in explosive eruptions. Along with lava, large quantities of pyroclastic material and ashes find their way to the ground. This material accumulates in the vicinity of the vent openings leading to formation of layers, and this makes the mounts appear as composite volcanoes. 3.Caldera-most explosive of the earth’s volcanoes so much that when they erupt they tend to collapse on themselves rather than building any tall structure. The collapsed depressions are called calderas. Their explosiveness indicates that the magma chamber supplying the lava is not only huge but is also in close vicinity. 4.Flood Basalt Provinces- outpour highly fluid lava that flows for long distances. Eg The Deccan Traps from India, presently covering most of the Maharashtra plateau. 5.Mid-Ocean Ridge Volcanoes- These volcanoes occur in the oceanic areas, and experience frequent eruptions in the central region. There is a system of mid-ocean ridges more than 70,000 km long that stretches through all the ocean basins.

Answer 54

Lava cools into igneous rocks which are classified as volcanic rocks (cooling at the surface) and plutonic rocks (cooling in the crust, assumes intrusive forms).

Answer 55

Are the cooled portion of magma chambers, form granite domes.

Answer 56

Domes with base level with a pipe-like structure. Resemble composite volcanoes, only are inside the crust. Eg Karnataka plateau.

Answer 57

Lava solidifying perpendicular to ground, forming wall-like structure. Eg. Maharashtra

Answer 58

Lava flowing horizontally and assuming saucer or concave shapes.

Answer 59

Lava solidifying near perfectly horizontally. Thin called sheets, thick called sills.

Answer 60

Lava assuming wavy shapes at the base of synclines or top of anticlines, with a source beneath (magma chamber)

Answer 61

Abraham Ortelius, a Dutch map maker, who first proposed such a possibility. Antonio Pellegrini drew a map showing the three continents together. However, it was Alfred Wegener—a German meteorologist who put forth a comprehensive argument

Answer 62

CONTINENTAL DRIFT- Alfred Wegener- all the continents formed a single continental mass and mega ocean surrounded the same. The super continent was named PANGAEA, which meant all earth. The mega-ocean was called PANTHALASSA, meaning all water. He argued that, around 200 million years ago Pangaea, began to split first into two large continental masses as Laurasia and Gondwanaland forming the northern and southern components respectively which continued to break into various smaller continents that exist today.

Answer 63

1.jigsaw fit eg. Africa and South America 2.rocks of same age eg. Brazil rocks 2 billion years old match Africa. Marine deposits in both from jurassic age. 3.tillite- sedimentary rock formed via glaciers. Gondwana system of sediments found in africa, australia, madagascar, antarctica, falkland islands. 4.placer deposits-ghana gold deposits do not have source rocks but remarkably similar to Brazilian veins 5.fossil distribution- lemurs in India, Madagascar, Africa. Mesosaurus reptile in Southern Cape province of South Africa and Iraver formations of Brazil.

Answer 64

Wegner attributed the shift to tidal and pole-fleeing force due to rotation of earth, but contemporary scientists reject these forces. Arthur Holmes discussed the possibility of convection currents operating in the mantle portion.

Answer 65

the ocean floor may be segmented into three major divisions based on the depth as well as the forms of relief. These divisions are continental margins, deep-sea basins and mid-ocean ridges.

Answer 66

These form the transition between continental shores and deep-sea basins. They include continental shelf, continental slope, continental rise and deep-oceanic trenches.

Answer 67

These are extensive plains that lie between the continental margins and mid-oceanic ridges. They are the areas where the continental sediments that move beyond the margins get deposited.

Answer 68

This forms an interconnected chain of mountain system within the ocean. It is the longest mountain-chain on the surface of the earth. It is characterised by a central rift system at the crest, a fractionated plateau and flank zone all along its length. The rift system at the crest is the zone of intense volcanic activity.

Answer 69

In general, the foci of the earthquake in the areas of mid-oceanic ridges are at shallow depths whereas along the Alpine-Himalayan belt as well as the rim of the Pacific, the earthquakes are deep-seated ones. The map of volcanoes also shows a similar pattern. The rim of the Pacific is also called rim of fire due to the existence of active volcanoes in this area.

Answer 70

Hess’ hypothesis. Hess argued that constant eruptions at the crest of oceanic ridges cause the rupture of the oceanic crust and the new lava wedges into it, pushing the oceanic crust on either side. The ocean floor, thus spreads. 1.spreading of one ocean does not cause the shrinking of the other 2.ocean floor that gets pushed due to volcanic eruptions at the crest, sinks down at the oceanic trenches and gets consumed.

Answer 71

1.along the mid- oceanic ridges, volcanic eruptions are common and they bring huge amounts of lava to the surface in this area. 2.The rocks equidistant on either sides of the crest of mid-oceanic ridges show remarkable similarities in terms of period of formation, chemical compositions and magnetic properties. 3.The ocean crust rocks are much younger than the continental rocks. 200 million v/s 3200 million 4. sediments on the ocean floor are unexpectedly very thin. 5.deep trenches have deep-seated earthquake occurrences while in the mid- oceanic ridge areas, the quake foci have shallow depths.

Answer 72

McKenzie, Parker, Morgan-Lithosphere composed of several tectonic plates (continental/oceanic depending on location) which move horizontally. Thus, plates move, not continents.

Answer 73

7 major and several minor plates- I Antarctica and the surrounding oceanic plate II North American (with western Atlantic floor separated from the South American plate along the Caribbean islands) plate III South American (with western Atlantic floor separated from the North American plate along the Caribbean islands) plate IV Pacific plate V India-Australia-New Zealand plate VI Africa with the eastern Atlantic floor plate VII Eurasia and the adjacent oceanic plate. Minor- Some important minor plates are listed below: (i) Cocos plate : Between Central America and Pacific plate (ii) Nazca plate : Between South America and Pacific plate (iii) Arabian plate : Mostly the Saudi Arabian landmass (iv) Philippine plate : Between the Asiatic and Pacific plate (v) Caroline plate : Between the Philippine and Indian plate (North of New Guinea) Fuji plate : North-east of Australia.

Answer 74

Where two/more plates meet. 1.Divergent Boundary-Where new crust is generated as the plates pull away from each other. The sites where the plates move away from each other are called spreading sites. The best-known example of divergent boundaries is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. At this, the American Plate(s) is/are separated from the Eurasian and African Plates. 2.Convergent Boundaries-Where the crust is destroyed as one plate dives under another. The location where sinking of a plate occurs is called a subduction zone. 3.Transform Boundaries Where the crust is neither produced nor destroyed as the plates slide horizontally past each other. Eg. San Andreas fault california shows this wrt American and Pacific plates.

Answer 75

rates vary considerably. The Arctic Ridge has the slowest rate (less than 2.5 cm/yr), and the East Pacific Rise near Easter Island, in the South Pacific about 3,400 km west of Chile, has the fastest rate (more than 15 cm/yr).

Answer 76

Arthur Holmes- earth not smooth solid motionless, but operation of convective currents due to core heat (radioactive decay and residual heat). Thus heated material rises to surface, cools, sinks, generating movement.

Answer 77

Eastern boundary- Rakinyoma Mountains of Myanmar towards the island arc along the Java Trench-spreading site with Pacific. Western boundary- Kirthat mountain Pakistan, spreading site. Southern boundary with the Antarctic also spreading site. The Tethys Sea separated Indian plate and Eurasian plate. But northern boundary convergence, due to northward movement 60 million ya, pouring of Deccan traps near equator. Himalayas formed 40 million ya.

Answer 78

Elements. 98% of crust Old Indian Sailors Always Cautiously Seek Precious Metals - oxygen, silicon, aluminium, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium and 2% crust- Nice Horses Prefer Mango Smoothies To Carrot- Nickel Hydrogen Phosphorous Manganese Sulphur Titanium Carbon. However elements rarely free standing, found in combinations as minerals.

Answer 79

Thus, a mineral is a naturally occurring organic and inorganic substance, having an orderly atomic structure and a definite chemical composition and physical properties. A mineral is composed of two or more elements. But, also sometimes single element minerals found.

Answer 80

The basic source of all minerals is the hot magma in the interior of the earth. When magma cools, crystals of minerals appear.

Answer 81

Metallic and non metallic

Answer 82

These minerals contain metal content and can be sub-divided into three types: (i) Precious metals : gold, silver, platinum etc. (ii) Ferrous Metals:iron and other metals often mixed with iron to form various kinds of steel. (iii) Non-ferrous metals : include metals like copper, lead, zinc, tin, aluminium etc.

Answer 83

These minerals do not contain metal content. Sulphur, phosphates and nitrates are egs.

Answer 84

A rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals.

Answer 85

Petrology is science of rocks.

Answer 86

three families on the basis of their mode of formation (i) Igneous Rocks — solidified from magma and lava; (ii) Sedimentary Rocks — the result of deposition of fragments of rocks by exogenous processes; (iii) Metamorphic Rocks — formed out of existing rocks undergoing recrystallisation.

Answer 87

form out of magma and lava from the interior of the earth. If molten material is cooled slowly at great depths, mineral grains may be very large. Sudden cooling (at the surface) results in small and smooth grains. Egs. Granite, gabbro, pegmatite, basalt, volcanic breccia and tuff.

Answer 88

Rocks (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) of the earth’s surface are exposed to denudational agents, and are broken up into fragments which are transported by different exogenous agencies and deposited. These deposits through compaction turn into rocks. This process is called lithification. In many cases, the layers of deposits retain their characteristics even after lithification. Depending upon the mode of formation, sedimentary rocks are classified into three major groups: (i) mechanically formed — sandstone, conglomerate, limestone, shale, loess etc. are examples; (ii) organically formed — geyserite, chalk, limestone, coal etc. are some examples; (iii) chemically formed — chert, limestone, halite, potash etc. are some examples.

Answer 89

These rocks form under the action of pressure, volume and temperature (PVT) changes. Metamorphism is a process by which already consolidated rocks undergo recrystallisation and reorganisation of materials within original rocks. In metamorphism some rocks, grains or minerals get arranged in layers or lines which is called foliation or lineation. When they get arranged in alternating thin to thick layers appearing in light and dark shades, it is called banding Metamorphic rocks are classified into two major groups — foliated rocks and non-foliated rocks. Gneissoid, granite, syenite, slate, schist, marble, quartzite etc. egs Mechanical reorganisation without appreciable chemical changes is called dynamic metamorphism. The materials of rocks chemically alter and recrystallise due to thermal metamorphism. There are two types of thermal metamorphism. In contact metamorphism the rocks come in contact with hot intruding magma and lava and the rock materials recrystallise under high temperatures. In regional metamorphism, rocks undergo recrystallisation due to deformation caused by tectonic shearing together with high temperature or pressure or both.

Answer 90

is a continuous process through which old rocks are transformed into new ones. Igneous (primary) → metamorphic → sedimentary → subduction making them magma → igneous.

Answer 91

The external forces are known as exogenic forces (Weathering, mass wasting, erosion and deposition) and the . The energy emanating from within the earth is the main force behind endogenic geomorphic processes. This energy is mostly generated by radioactivity, rotational and tidal friction and primordial heat from the origin of the earth. This energy induces diastrophism and volcanism.

Answer 92

wearing down (degradation) of relief/elevations and filling up (aggradation) of basins/ depressions, on the earth’s surface.

Answer 93

The phenomenon of wearing down of relief through erosion is known as gradation.

Answer 94

Those relating to changing the configuration of the crust/ surface of the earth

Answer 95

exogenic elements (like water, ice, wind, etc.,) capable of acquiring and transporting earth materials can be called a geomorphic agent. Gravity also important.

Answer 96

Diastrophism covers movement of solid (plastic) crust material, as opposed to movement of molten material which is covered by volcanism. Diastrophism includes Orogeny- a mountain building process epeirogeny- continental building process, earthquakes involving local relatively minor movements, plate tectonics involving horizontal movements of crustal plates.

Answer 97

The exogenic processes derive their energy from the atmosphere determined by the ultimate energy from the sun, the gradients created by tectonic factors, stress (force per unit area) due to gravity.

Answer 98

All the exogenic geomorphic processes are covered under a general term, denudation. The word ‘denude’ means to strip off or to uncover. Weathering, mass wasting/movements, erosion and transportation.

Answer 99

When weather and climate act over earth materials, causing mechanical disintegration or chemical decomposition. Very little/ no motion of materials, thus in situ process. Driving force includes gravity, molecular stress, and chemical actions. There are three major groups of weathering processes (mostly happen in conjunction) : (i) chemical; (ii) physical or mechanical; (iii) biological weathering processes.

Answer 100

When chemical reactions occur on rocks- solution, carbonation, hydration, oxidation and reduction through oxygen, acid, carbon etc.

Answer 101

When weathering happens due to forces like (i) gravitational forces such as overburden pressure, load and shearing stress; (ii) expansion forces due to temperature changes, crystal growth or animal activity; (iii) water pressures controlled by wetting and drying cycles.

Answer 102

Biological weathering is the contribution to or removal of minerals and ions from the weathering environment and physical changes due to growth or movement of organisms. Burrowing and wedging by organisms, Human beings disturbance, decaying animal and plant matter, plant roots pressure exertion.

Answer 103

when the surface layers of rock peel away due to weathering.

Answer 104

In an economic sense when non-useful substances are removed to reveal a more concentrated version of a favourable substance.

Answer 105

1.aids other exogenic forces- mass wasting, erosion, deposition that helps determine landscape 2.helps in enrichment of minerals for economy 3.formation of soil

Answer 106

These movements transfer the mass of rock debris down the slopes under the direct influence of gravity alone. No aid by running water, glaciers, wind, waves and currents. Debris may carry with it air, water or ice rather than vice versa. Weathering is not a prerequisite. Heave (heaving up of soils due to frost growth and other causes), flow and slide are the three forms of movements.

Answer 107

Rapid and perceptible movements. The materials involved are relatively dry. Several types based on material and movement. 1.Slump is slipping of one or several units of rock debris with a backward rotation with respect to the slope over which the movement takes place 2.debris slide does not involve backward rotation 3.debris fall- free fall of earth debris from a vertical or overhanging face 4.rock slide-Sliding of individual rock masses 5.rock fall-free falling of rock blocks over any steep slope keeping itself away from the slope.

Answer 108

Erosion involves acquisition and transportation of rock debris. When these settle, it is called deposition. Powered through kinetic energy. The erosion and transportation of earth materials is brought about by wind, running water, glaciers (climatic) and waves and ground water.

Answer 109

is the loose material that covers the earth's surface and is made up of solids, liquids, and gases. It is a dynamic medium.

Answer 110

Pedogenesis. Soil forms through weathering, where bacteria, mosses, and lichens colonize weathered material, leading to humus buildup. Plants, starting with grasses and ferns and progressing to bushes and trees, further develop the soil. Roots and burrowing animals create a porous, water-retentive structure, resulting in mature soil with a mix of minerals and organic matter.

Answer 111

(i) parent material; (ii) topography; (iii) climate-moisture, temperature (iv) biological activity; (v) time.

Answer 112

In climates like wet equatorial rainy areas with high rainfall, not only calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium etc. but also a major part of silica is removed from the soil. Removal of silica from the soil is known as desilication.

Answer 113

evaporation exceeds precipitation, leaving behind salts in the soil. Such salts form into a crust in the soil known as hardpans. In tropical climates and in areas with intermediate precipitation conditions, calcium carbonate nodules (kanker) are formed.

Answer 114

Small to medium tracts or parcels of the earth’s surface are called landforms.

Answer 115

Aggregation of several landforms.

Answer 116

Water, wind, glaciers, groundwater, waves.

Answer 117

One is overland flow on the general land surface as a sheet. Another is linear flow as streams and rivers in valleys.

Answer 118

a lowland of faint relief with some low resistant remnants

Answer 119

An almost plain

Answer 120

1.Streams are few 2. poor integration 3.shallow V-shaped valleys 4. no floodplains or with very narrow floodplains along trunk streams 5.Streams divides are broad and flat with marshes, swamp and lakes 6.Meanders if present develop over these broad upland surfaces 7.Waterfalls and rapids may exist where local hard rock bodies are exposed.

Answer 121

1.plenty of streams 2.good integration 3.deep V shaped valleys 4.wider floodpains 5.swamps marshes disappear 6.meanders present 7.waterfalls rapids disappear

Answer 122

1.fewer tributaries 2.vast floodplains 3.meanders, oxbow lakes, swamps, marshes

Answer 123

On the rocky beds of hill-streams circular depressions called potholes form because of stream erosion. Plunge pools are large potholes at the base of waterfalls.

Answer 124

Valleys, potholes and plunge pools, incised/entrenched meanders, river terraces.

Answer 125

Sinuous/meandering courses cut in hard rocks.

Answer 126

marking old valley floor or floodplain levels. The river terraces may occur at the same elevation on either side of the rivers in which case they are called paired terraces.

Answer 127

Alluvial Fans, Deltas, Floodplains, Natural Levees and Point Bars, Meanders

Answer 128

When a river carrying considerable coarse load flows from a high to low gradient, deposit it at slope base in a cone shaped formation. Such rivers usually keep changing course across fan forming channels called distributaries.

Answer 129

Similar to alluvial fans, differ in location. Coarse load dumped near sea. Unlike in alluvial fans, the deposits making up deltas are very well sorted with clear stratification. The coarsest materials settle out first and the finer fractions like silts and clays are carried out into the sea.

Answer 130

Plains created by river deposits of sand, silt, clay etc. River bed constitutes the active floodplain while the one above bank is inactive that consists of flood and channel deposits. The flood plains in a delta are called delta plains.

Answer 131

They are low, linear and parallel ridges/mounds of coarse deposits along the banks of rivers

Answer 132

Concave side of meanders, and are sediments deposited in a linear fashion

Answer 133

Sinuous, looping, bending courses of rivers created by sediment obstruction, coriolis force, gradient etc.

Answer 134

When a deep meander of a river gets cut off

Answer 135

a landscape that's characterised by caves, sinkholes, springs, and other features. It's formed when groundwater dissolves soluble rocks like limestone, marble, and gypsum. Chemical processes of solution and precipitation deposition are important as physical processes often insignificant.

Answer 136

Pools, Sinkholes, Lapies, Uvalas Limestone Pavements, Caves

Answer 137

A sinkhole is an opening more or less circular at the top and funnel-shaped towards the bottom

Answer 138

if the bottom of a sinkhole forms the roof of a void or cave underground, it might collapse leaving a large hole opening into a cave or a void below

Answer 139

When sink holes and dolines join together long, narrow to wide trenches called valley sinks or Uvalas form.

Answer 140

maze of points, grooves and ridges

Answer 141

The lapie field may eventually turn into somewhat smooth limestone pavements.

Answer 142

In areas where there are alternating beds of rocks, softer rocks dissolve, creating cavernous features called caves. Caves having openings at both the ends are called tunnels.

Answer 143

The chief chemical in limestone is calcium carbonate which is easily soluble in carbonated water (carbon dioxide absorbed rainwater). This calcium carbonate is deposited when the water carrying it in solution evaporates or loses its carbon dioxide. Stalactites, Stalagmites and Pillars.

Answer 144

Stalactites hang as icicles, broad at their bases and taper towards the free ends showing up in a variety of forms. Stalagmites rise up from the floor of the caves and form due to dripping water from the surface. The stalagmite and stalactites eventually fuse to give rise to columns and pillars.

Answer 145

Vast moving sheets of ice, over plains or through trough like valleys due to gravity. Erosion by glaciers is tremendous because of friction caused by sheer weight of the ice.

Answer 146

Cirque, Horns and Serrated Ridges, Glacial Valleys/Troughs, fjords

Answer 147

a bowl-shaped depression or amphitheater-like basin that glaciers carve into mountains and valley sides. cirque or tarn lakes often form.

Answer 148

These are sharp, steep-sided peaks that form when multiple glaciers erode a mountain from different sides. Eg The highest peak in the Alps, Matterhorn and the highest peak in the Himalayas, Everest are in fact horns formed through headward erosion of radiating cirques.

Answer 149

Also known as arêtes, these are jagged, steep ridges that form between cirques.

Answer 150

Glaciated valleys are trough-like and U - shaped with broad floors and relatively smooth, and steep sides.

Answer 151

Very deep glacial troughs filled with sea water and making up shorelines (in high latitudes) are called fjords/fiords.

Answer 152

Eskers, Moraines, Outwash Plains, Drumlins EMOD

Answer 153

a pile of debris or rock left behind by a glacier

Answer 154

long, winding ridges of sand and gravel that are formed by glacial meltwater

Answer 155

The plains at the foot of the glacial mountains covered with glacio-fluvial deposit

Answer 156

are smooth oval shaped ridge-like features composed mainly of glacial till, gravel and sand. One end of the drumlins facing the glacier called the stoss end is blunter and steeper than the other end called tail. Drumlins give an indication of direction of glacier movement.

Answer 157

HIGH ROCKY COASTS eg Indian west coast and LOW SEDIMENTARY COASTS eg indian east coast

Answer 158

Cliffs, Terraces, Caves and Stacks

Answer 159

Steep faces of rock upto 30m. At foot of cliffs, platform with debris from cliffs called terraces. Hollows created in cliff to create caves. The roofs of caves collapse and the sea cliffs recede further inland. Retreat of the cliff may leave some remnants of rock standing isolated as small islands just off the shore. Such resistant masses of rock, originally parts of a cliff or hill are called sea stacks.

Answer 160

Beaches and Dunes, Bars, Barriers and Spits, lagoons

Answer 161

Most of the sediment making up the beaches comes from land carried by the streams and rivers or from wave erosion. Just behind the beach, the sands lifted and winnowed from over the beach surfaces will be deposited as sand dunes. Sand dunes forming long ridges parallel to the coastline are very common along low sedimentary coasts.

Answer 162

A ridge of sand and shingle formed in the sea that is off-shore, approximately parallel to the coast is called an off-shore bar. An off-shore bar which is exposed due to further addition of sand is termed a barrier bar. Sometimes such barrier bars get keyed up to one end of the bay when they are called spits

Answer 163

Shallow body of water that's separated from a larger body of water by a barrier

Answer 164

Pediments and Pediplains, Playas, Deflation Hollows and Caves, Mushroom, Table and Pedestal Rocks

Answer 165

Gently inclined rocky floors close to the mountains at their foot with or without a thin cover of debris, are called pediments. That’s how the high relief in desert areas is reduced to low featureless plains called pediplains.

Answer 166

a flat, dry, and vegetation-free area in a desert basin that can periodically fill with water. The playa plain covered up by salts is called alkali flats.

Answer 167

Depressions in rock or soil due to wind called deflation hollows, and hollow cavities called caves

Answer 168

Many rock-outcrops in the deserts easily susceptible to wind deflation and abrasion are worn out quickly in these shapes.

Answer 169

Wind is a good sorting agent. Sand Dunes

Answer 170

1.Crescent shaped dunes called barchans with the points or wings directed away from wind direction. 2.Parabolic dunes form when sandy surfaces are partially covered with vegetation. That means parabolic dunes are reversed barchans with wind direction being the same. 3.Seif is similar to barchan with a small difference. Seif has only one wing or point. 4.Longitudinal dunes form when supply of sand is poor and wind direction is constant 5.Transverse dunes are aligned perpendicular to wind direction.

Physical Geography Flashcards

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