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Fundamentals of Physical Geography

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FUNDAMENTALS
OF

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

TEXTBOOK

FOR

CLASS XI

ISBN 81-7450-518-0
First Edition
March 2006 Phalguna 1927

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or

transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of without the publishers consent, in any form
of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

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Reprinted
October 2006 Kartika 1928
November 2007 Kartika 1929
December 2008 Pausa 1930
January 2010 Pausa 1931
January 2011 Magha 1932
March 2012 Phalguna 1933
January 2013 Magha 1934
November 2013 Kartika 1935

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

PD 35T RNB

National Council of Educational

Research and Training, 2006

The correct price of this publication is the price printed on this page, Any revised
price indicated by a rubber stamp or by a sticker or by any other means is incorrect
and should be unacceptable.

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FOREWORD
The National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005, recommends that childrens
life at school must be linked to their life outside the school. This principle marks
a departure from the legacy of bookish learning which continues to shape our
system and causes a gap between the school, home and community. The syllabi
and textbooks developed on the basis of NCF signify an attempt to implement
this basic idea. They also attempt to discourage rote learning and the
maintenance of sharp boundaries between different subject areas. We hope these
measures will take us significantly further in the direction of a child-centred
system of education outlined in the National Policy on Education (1986).

The success of this effort depends on the steps that school principals and
teachers will take to encourage children to reflect on their own learning and to
pursue imaginative activities and questions. We must recognise that, given space,
time and freedom, children generate new knowledge by engaging with the
information passed on to them by adults. Treating the prescribed textbook as
the sole basis of examination is one of the key reasons why other resources and
sites of learning are ignored. Inculcating creativity and initiative is possible if we
perceive and treat children as participants in learning, not as receivers of a fixed
body of knowledge.

These aims imply considerable change in school routines and mode of

functioning. Flexibility in the daily time-table is as necessary as rigour in
implementing the annual calendar so that the required number of teaching
days are actually devoted to teaching. The methods used for teaching and
evaluation will also determine how effective this textbook proves for making
childrens life at school a happy experience, rather than a source of stress or
boredom. Syllabus designers have tried to address the problem of curricular
burden by restructuring and reorienting knowledge at different stages with
greater consideration for child psychology and the time available for teaching.
The textbook attempts to enhance this endeavour by giving higher priority and
space to opportunities for contemplation and wondering, discussion in small
groups, and activities requiring hands-on experience.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)

appreciates the hard work done by the textbook development committee
responsible for this book. We wish to thank the Chairperson of the advisory
committee for textbooks in Social Sciences, at the higher secondary
level, Professor Hari Vasudevan and the Chief Advisor for this book,
Professor M.H. Qureshi for guiding the work of this committee. Several teachers
contributed to the development of this textbook; we are grateful to their principals
for making this possible. We are indebted to the institutions and organisations

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which have generously permitted us to draw upon their resources, material and
personnel. We are especially grateful to the members of the National Monitoring
Committee, appointed by the Department of Secondary and Higher Education,
Ministry of Human Resource Development under the Chairpersonship of
Professor Mrinal Miri and Professor G.P. Deshpande, for their valuable time and
contribution. As an organisation committed to systemic reform and continuous
improvement in the quality of its products, NCERT welcomes comments and
suggestions which will enable us to undertake further revision and refinement.

New Delhi
20 December 2005

Director
National Council of Educational
Research and Training

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TEXTBOOK DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

CHAIRPERSON, ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR TEXTBOOKS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES AT THE HIGHER

SECONDARY LEVEL
Hari Vasudevan, Professor, Department of History, University of Calcutta,
Kolkata
CHIEF ADVISOR

M. H. Qureshi, Professor, Centre for the Study of Regional Development,

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
MEMBERS

Indu Sharma, PGT, Geography, RIE Demonstration School, Ajmer

K. Kumaraswamy, Professor, Department of Geography, Bharatidasan

University, Tiruchirapalli

K. N. Prudhvi Raju, Professor, Department of Geography, Banaras Hindu

University, Varanasi

K. S. Sivasami, Professor (Retd.), Centre for the Study of Regional Development,

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
L. Cajee, Reader, Department of Geography, North-Eastern Hill University,
Shillong
P. K. Malik, Lecturer, Geography, Govt. College, Tavru, Gurgaon

S. R. Jog, Professor (Retd.), Department of Geography, University of Pune, Pune

MEMBER-COORDINATOR

Aparna Pandey, Lecturer, Geography, DESSH, NCERT, New Delhi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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The National Council of Educational Research and Training acknowledges the

contribution of Ashok Diwakar, Lecturer, Geography, Govt. College, Sector-9,
Gurgaon in the development of this textbook.

The Council also gratefully acknowledges the support of individuals and

organisations as listed below for providing various photographs, and other materials
such as articles used in this textbook : R. Vaidyanadhan (Fig. 6.3 and 7.1);
N. S. Saini (Fig. 6.4, 6.7 and 7.4); Y. Ramesh and Krishnam Raju, VSVG, (USA)
(Fig. 7.11); K. N. Prudhvi Raju (Fig. 7.2, 7.5, 7.7, 7.9, 7.12 and 7.15); ITDC/Ministry
of Tourism, Govt. of India, (Fig. 11.1 and 11.2); Ministry of Environment and
Forests, Govt. of India (Fig. 16.1, 16.2, 16.3 and 16.4); The Times of India, New
Delhi (Photograph on earthquake destruction, Collage on tsunami on page 25
and global warming on page 109); Social Science Textbook for Class VIII, Part II
(NCERT, 2005), (Photographs related to volcanoes on page 26-27).
Acknowledgements are due to Savita Sinha, Professor and Head, Department
of Education in Social Sciences and Humanties for her support and finalising
this textbook.

The Council also gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Ishwar Singh

and Arvind Sharma, DTP Operators; Sameer Khatana and Amar Kumar Prusty,
Copy Editors; Bharat Sanwaria, Proof Reader; Dinesh Kumar, Computer Incharge,
who have helped in giving a final shape to this book. The contribution of the
Publication Department, NCERT are also duly acknowledged.

C ONTENTS
FOREWORD

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iii

UNIT I : GEOGRAPHY
1.

AS A

DISCIPLINE

Geography as a Discipline

UNIT II : THE EARTH

1-12
2

13-38

The Origin and Evolution of the Earth

Interior of the Earth

Distribution of Oceans and Continents

UNIT III : LANDFORMS

39-74

Minerals and Rocks

Geomorphic Processes

Landforms and their Evolution

UNIT IV : CLIMATE

75-110

Composition and Structure of Atmosphere

Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature

10.

Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems

11.

Water in the Atmosphere

12.

World Climate and Climate Change

UNIT V : WATER (OCEANS)

103

111-125

Water (Oceans)

112

14.

Movements of Ocean Water

120

13.

UNIT VI : LIFE

ON THE

EARTH

126-140

Life on the Earth

127

16.

Biodiversity and Conservation

135

15.

GLOSSARY

141-144

CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
Part III (Articles 12 35)
(Subject to certain conditions, some exceptions
and reasonable restrictions)

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guarantees these

Fundamental Rights

Right to Equality
before law and equal protection of laws;
irrespective of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth;
of opportunity in public employment;
by abolition of untouchability and titles.

Right to Freedom
of expression, assembly, association, movement, residence and profession;
of certain protections in respect of conviction for offences;
of protection of life and personal liberty;
of free and compulsory education for children between the age of six and fourteen years;
of protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.
Right against Exploitation
for prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour;
for prohibition of employment of children in hazardous jobs.

Right to Freedom of Religion

freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion;
freedom to manage religious affairs;
freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion;
freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in educational
institutions wholly maintained by the State.

Cultural and Educational Rights

for protection of interests of minorities to conserve their language, script and culture;
for minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
Right to Constitutional Remedies
by issuance of directions or orders or writs by the Supreme Court and High
Courts for enforcement of these Fundamental Rights.

UNIT
I
GEOGRAPHY AS A DISCIPLINE
This unit deals with

Geography as an integrating discipline; as a science of spatial

attributes

Branches of geography; importance of physical geography

CHAPTER

GEOGRAPHY

ou have studied geography as one of the

components of your Social Science course
upto the secondary stage. You are
already aware of some of the phenomena of
geographical nature in the world and its
different parts. Now, you will study Geography
as an independent subject and learn about the
physical environment of the earth, human
activities and their interactive relationships.
Therefore, a pertinent question you can ask at
this stage is Why should we study
geography? We live on the surface of the earth.
Our lives are affected by our surroundings in
many ways. We depend on the resources to
sustain ourselves in the surrounding areas.
Primitive societies subsisted on natural means
of subsistence, i.e. edible plants and animals.
With the passage of time, we developed
technologies and started producing our food
using natural resources such as land, soil and
water. We adjusted our food habits and
clothing according to the prevailing weather
conditions. There are variations in the natural
resource base, technological development,
adaptation with and modification of physical
environment, social organisations and cultural
development. As a student of geography, you
should be curious to know about all the
phenomena which vary over space. You learn
about the diverse lands and people. You
should also be interested in understanding the
changes which have taken place over time.
Geography equips you to appreciate diversity
and investigate into the causes responsible for
creating such variations over time and space.
You will develop skills to understand the globe
converted into maps and have a visual sense

AS A

DISCIPLINE

of the earths surface. The understanding and

the skills obtained in modern scientific
techniques such as GIS and computer
cartography equip you to meaningfully
contribute to the national endeavour for
development.
Now the next question which you may like
to ask is What is geography? You know that
earth is our home. It is also the home of many
other creatures, big and small, which live on
the earth and sustain. The earths surface is
not uniform. It has variations in its physical
features. There are mountains, hills, valleys,
plains, plateaus, oceans, lakes, deserts and
wilderness. There are variations in its social
and cultural features too. There are villages,
cities, roads, railways, ports, markets and
many other elements created by human beings
across the entire period of their cultural
development.
This variation provides a clue to the
understanding of the relationship between the
physical environment and social/cultural
features. The physical environment has
provided the stage, on which human societies
enacted the drama of their creative skills with
the tools and techniques which they invented
and evolved in the process of their cultural
development. Now, you should be able to
attempt the answer of the question posed
earlier as to What is geography? In very
simple words, it can be said that geography
is the description of the earth. The term
geography was first coined by Eratosthenese,
a Greek scholar (276-194 BC.). The word has
been derived from two roots from Greek
language geo (earth) and graphos (description).

GEOGRAPHY AS A DISCIPLINE

Put together, they mean description of the earth.

The earth has always been seen as the abode
of human beings and thus, scholars defined
geography as, the description of the earth as
the abode of human beings. You are aware of
the fact that reality is always multifaceted and
the earth is also multi-dimensional, that is
why many disciplines from natural sciences
such as geology, pedology, oceanography,
botany, zoology and meteorology and a
number of sister disciplines in social sciences
such as economics, history, sociology, political
science, anthropology, etc. study different
aspects of the earths surface. Geography is
different from other sciences in its subject
matter and methodology but at the same time,
it is closely related to other disciplines.
Geography derives its data base from all the
natural and social sciences and attempts their
synthesis.
We have noted that there exist variations
over the surface of the earth in its physical as
well as cultural environment. A number of
phenomena are similar and many are dissimilar.
It was, therefore, logical to perceive geography
as the study of areal differentiation. Thus,
geography was perceived to study all those
phenomena which vary over space.
Geographers do not study only the variations
in the phenomena over the earths surface
(space) but also study the associations with
the other factors which cause these variations.
For example, cropping patterns differ from
region to region but this variation in cropping
pattern, as a phenomenon, is related to
variations in soils, climates, demands in the
market, capacity of the farmer to invest and
technological inputs available to her/him.
Thus, the concern of geography is to find out
the causal relationship between any two
phenomena or between more than one
phenomenon.
A geographer explains the phenomena in
a frame of cause and effect relationship, as it
does not only help in interpretation but also
foresees the phenomena in future.
The geographical phenomena, both the
physical and human, are not static but highly
dynamic. They change over time as a result of
the interactive processes between ever

changing earth and untiring and ever-active

human beings. Primitive human societies were
directly dependent on their immediate
environment. Geography, thus, is concerned
with the study of Nature and Human
interactions as an integrated whole. Human
is an integral part of nature and nature has
the imprints of human. Nature has influenced
different aspects of human life. Its imprints can
be noticed on food, clothing, shelter and
occupation. Human beings have come to terms
with nature through adaptation and
modification. As you already know, the present
society has passed the stage of primitive
societies, which were directly dependent on
their immediate physical environment for
sustenance. Present societies have modified
their natural environment by inventing and
using technology and thus, have expanded the
horizon of their operation by appropriating and
utilising the resources provided by nature. With
the gradual development of technology, human
beings were able to loosen the shackles of their
physical environment. Technology helped in
reducing the harshness of labour, increased
labour efficiency and provided leisure to
human beings to attend to the higher needs of
life. It also increased the scale of production
and the mobility of labour.
The interaction between the physical
environment and human beings has been very
succinctly described by a poet in the following
dialogue between human and nature (God).
You created the soil, I created the cup, you
created night, I created the lamp. You created
wilderness, hilly terrains and deserts; I
created flower beds and gardens. Human
beings have claimed their contribution using
natural resources. With the help of technology,
human beings moved from the stage of
necessity to a stage of freedom. They have put
their imprints everywhere and created new
possibilities in collaboration with nature. Thus,
we now find humanised nature and
naturalised human beings and geography
studies this interactive relationship. The space
got organised with the help of the means of
transportation and communication network.
The links (routes) and nodes (settlements of all
types and hierarchies) integrated the space and

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

gradually, it got organised. As a social science

discipline, geography studies the spatial
organisation and spatial integration.
Geography as a discipline is concerned with
three sets of questions:
(i) Some questions are related to the
identification of the patterns of natural
and cultural features as found over the
surface of the earth. These are the
questions about what?
(ii) Some questions are related to the
distribution of the natural and human/
cultural features over the surface of the
earth. These are the questions about
where?
Taken together, both these questions take
care of distributional and locational aspects of
the natural and cultural features. These
questions provided inventorised information of
what features and where located. It was a very
popular approach during the colonial period.
These two questions did not make geography
a scientific discipline till the third question was
added.
(iii) The third question is related to the
explanation or the causal relationships
between features and the processes and
phenomena. This aspect of geography
is related to the question, why?
Geography as a discipline is related to
space and takes note of spatial characteristics
and attributes. It studies the patterns of
distribution, location and concentration of
phenomena over space and interprets them
providing explanations for these patterns. It
takes note of the associations and interrelationships between the phenomena over
space and interprets them providing
explanations for these patterns. It also takes
note of the associations and inter-relationships
between the phenomena resulting from the
dynamic interaction between human beings
and their physical environment.

GEOGRAPHY

AS AN

INTEGRATING DISCIPLINE

Geography is a discipline of synthesis. It

attempts spatial synthesis, and history
attempts temporal synthesis. Its approach is
holistic in nature. It recognises the fact that
the world is a system of interdependencies.

The present world is being perceived as a global

village. The distances have been reduced by
better means of transportation increasing
accessibility. The audio-visual media and
information technology have enriched the data
base. Technology has provided better chances
of monitoring natural phenomena as well as
the economic and social parameters.
Geography as an integrating discipline has
interface with numerous natural and social
sciences. All the sciences, whether natural or
social, have one basic objective, of
understanding the reality. Geography
attempts to comprehend the associations of
phenomena as related in sections of reality.
Figure 1.1 shows the relationship of geography
with other sciences. Every discipline, concerned
with scientific knowledge is linked with
geography as many of their elements vary over
space. Geography helps in understanding the
reality in totality in its spatial perspective.
Geography, thus, not only takes note of the
differences in the phenomena from place to
place but integrates them holistically which
may be different at other places. A geographer
is required to have a broad understanding of
all the related fields, to be able to logically
integrate them. This integration can be
understood with some examples. Geography
influences historical events. Spatial distance
itself has been a very potent factor to alter the
course of history of the world. Spatial depth
provided defence to many countries,
particularly in the last century. In traditional
warfare, countries with large size in area, gain
time at the cost of space. The defence provided
by oceanic expanse around the countries of
the new world has protected them from wars
being imposed on their soil. If we look at the
historical events world over, each one of them
can be interpreted geographically.
In India, Himalayas have acted as great
barriers and provided protection but the
passes provided routes to the migrants and
invaders from Central Asia. The sea coast has
encouraged contact with people from East and
Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa. Navigation
technology helped European countries to
colonise a number of countries of Asia and
Africa, including India as they got accessibility

GEOGRAPHY AS A DISCIPLINE

through oceans. The geographical factors have

modified the course of history in different parts
of the world.
Every geographical phenomenon undergoes
change through time and can be explained
temporally. The changes in landforms, climate,
vegetation, economic activities occupations and
cultural developments have followed a definite
historical course. Many geographical features
result from the decision making process by
different institutions at a particular point of
time. It is possible to convert time in terms of
space and space in terms of time. For example,
it can be said that place A is 1,500 km from
place B or alternately, it can also be said that
place A is two hours away (if one travels by
plane) or seventeen hours away (if one travels
by a fast moving train). It is for this reason,
time is an integral part of geographical studies
as the fourth dimension. Please mention other
three dimensions?
Figure1.1 amply depicts the linkages of
geography with different natural and social
sciences. This linkage can be put under two
segments.
Physical Geography and Natural Sciences
All the branches of physical geography, as
shown in Figure 1.1, have interface with natural
sciences. The traditional physical geography
is linked with geology, meteorology, hydrology
and pedology, and thus, geomorphology,
climatology, oceanography and soil geography
respectively have very close link with the
natural sciences as these derive their data from
these sciences. Bio-Geography is closely related
to botany, zoology as well as ecology as human
beings are located in different locational niche.
A geographer should have some proficiency
in mathematics and art, particularly in drawing
maps. Geography is very much linked with the
study of astronomical locations and deals with
latitudes and longitudes. The shape of the earth
is Geoid but the basic tool of a geographer is a
map which is two dimensional representation
of the earth. The problem of converting geoids
into two dimensions can be tackled by
projections constructed graphically or
mathematically. The cartographic and
quantitative techniques require sufficient
proficiency in mathematics, statistics and

econometrics. Maps are prepared through

artistic imagination. Making sketches, mental
maps and cartographic work require
proficiency in arts.
Geography and Social Sciences
Each social science sketched in Figure 1.1 has
interface with one branch of geography. The
relationships between geography and history
have already been outlined in detail. Every
discipline has a philosophy which is the raison
detre for that discipline. Philosophy provides
roots to a discipline and in the process of its
evolution, it also experiences distinct historical
processes. Thus, the history of geographical
thought as mother branch of geography is
included universally in its curricula. All the
social science disciplines, viz. sociology,
political science, economics and demography
study different aspects of social reality. The
branches of geography, viz. social, political,
economic and population and settlements are
closely linked with these disciplines as each
one of them has spatial attributes. The core
concern of political science is territory, people
and sovereignty while political geography is
also interested in the study of the state as a
spatial unit as well as people and their political
behaviour. Economics deals with basic
attributes of the economy such as production,
distribution, exchange and consumption. Each
of these attributes also has spatial aspects and
here comes the role of economic geography to
study the spatial aspects of production,
distribution, exchange and consumption.
Likewise, population geography is closely
linked with the discipline of demography.
The above discussion shows that
geography has strong interface with natural
and social sciences. It follows its own
methodology of study which makes it distinct
from others. It has osmotic relationship with
other disciplines. While all the disciplines have
their own individual scope, this individuality
does not obstruct the flow of information as in
case of all cells in the body that have individual
identity separated by membranes but the flow
of blood is not obstructed. Geographers use
data obtained from sister disciplines and

Figure 1.1 : Geography and its relation with other subjects

6
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

GEOGRAPHY AS A DISCIPLINE

attempt synthesis over space. Maps are very

effective tools of geographers in which the
tabular data is converted into visual form to
bring out the spatial pattern.

BRANCHES

GEOGRAPHY

Please study Figure 1.1 for recapitulation. It has

very clearly brought out that geography is an
interdisciplinary subject of study. The study of
every subject is done according to some
approach. The major approaches to study
geography have been (i) Systematic and
(ii) Regional. The systematic geography approach
is the same as that of general geography. This
approach was introduced by Alexander Von
Humboldt, a German geographer (1769-1859)
while regional geography approach was
developed by another German geographer and a
contemporary of Humboldt, Karl Ritter
(1779-1859).
In systematic approach (Figure 1.2), a
phenomenon is studied world over as a whole,
and then the identification of typologies or
spatial patterns is done. For example, if one is
interested in studying natural vegetation, the
study will be done at the world level as a first
step. The typologies such as equatorial rain
forests or softwood conical forests or monsoon
forests, etc. will be identified, discussed and
delimited. In the regional approach, the world
is divided into regions at different hierarchical
levels and then all the geographical phenomena
in a particular region are studied. These
regions may be natural, political or designated
region. The phenomena in a region are studied
in a holistic manner searching for unity in
diversity.
Dualism is one of the main characteristics
of geography which got introduced from the
very beginning. This dualism depended on the
aspect emphasised in the study. Earlier scholars
laid emphasis on physical geography. But
human beings are an integral part of the earths
surface. They are part and parcel of nature. They
also have contributed through their cultural
development. Thus developed human
geography with emphasis on human activities.

BRANCHES OF GEOGRAPHY (BASED

SYSTEMATIC APPROACH)

1. Physical Geography
(i) Geomorphology is devoted to the study
of landforms, their evolution and related
processes.
(ii) Climatology encompasses the study of
structure of atmosphere and elements
of weather and climates and climatic
types and regions.
(iii) Hydrology studies the realm of water
over the surface of the earth including
oceans, lakes, rivers and other water
bodies and its effect on different life
forms including human life and their
activities.
(iv) Soil Geography is devoted to study the
processes of soil formation, soil types,
their fertility status, distribution and
use.
2. Human Geography
(i) Social/Cultural Geography encompasses the study of society and its
spatial dynamics as well as the cultural
elements contributed by the society.
(ii) Population and Settlement Geography
(Rural and Urban). It studies population
growth, distribution, density, sex ratio,
migration and occupational structure
etc. Settlement geography studies the
characteristics of rural and urban
settlements.
(iii) Economic Geography studies economic
activities of the people including
agriculture, industry, tourism, trade,
and transport, infrastructure and
services, etc.
(iv) Historical Geography studies the
historical processes through which the
space gets organised. Every region has
undergone some historical experiences
before attaining the present day status.
The geographical features also
experience temporal changes and these
form the concerns of historical
geography.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Figure 1.2 : Branches of geography based on systematic approach

(v) Political Geography looks at the space

from the angle of political events and
studies boundaries, space relations
between neighbouring political units,
delimitation of constituencies, election
scenario and develops theoretical
framework to understand the political
behaviour of the population.

3. Biogeography
The interface between physical geography
and human geography has lead to the
development of Biogeography which
includes:
(i) Plant Geography which studies the
spatial pattern of natural vegetation in
their habitats.

GEOGRAPHY AS A DISCIPLINE

(ii) Zoo Geography which studies the

spatial patterns and geographic
characteristics of animals and their
habitats.
(iii) Ecology /Ecosystem deals with the
scientific study of the habitats
characteristic of species.
(iv) Environmental Geography concerns
world over leading to the realisation of
environmental problems such as land
gradation, pollution and concerns for
conservation has resulted in the
introduction of this new branch in
geography.

BRANCHES OF GEOGRAPHY BASED ON REGIONAL

APPROACH (FIGURE1.3)
1. Regional Studies/Area Studies
Comprising Macro, Meso and Micro
Regional Studies
2. Regional Planning
Comprising Country/Rural and Town/
Urban Planning
3. Regional Development
4. Regional Analysis
There are two aspects which are common
to every discipline, these are:
(i) Philosophy
(a) Geographical Thought
(b) Land and Human Interaction/
Human Ecology
(ii) Methods and Techniques
(a) Cartography including Computer
Cartography
(b) Quantitative Techniques/Statistical
Techniques

(c) Field Survey Methods

(d) Geo-informatics comprising
techniques such as Remote
Sensing, GIS, GPS, etc.
The above classification gives a
comprehensive format of the branches of
geography. Generally geography curricula is
taught and learnt in this format but this
format is not static. Any discipline is bound
to grow with new ideas, problems, methods
and techniques. For example, what was once
manual cartography has now been
transformed into computer cartography.
Technology has enabled scholars to handle
large quantum of data. The internet provides
extensive information. Thus, the capacity to
attempt analysis has increased tremendously.
GIS has further opened vistas of knowledge.
GPS has become a handy tool to find out exact
locations. Technologies have enhanced the
capacity of attempting synthesis with sound
theoretical understanding.
You will learn some preliminary aspects of
these techniques in your book, Practical work
in Geography Part I (NCERT, 2006). You will
continue to improve upon your skills and
learn about their application.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

AND ITS

IMPORTANCE

This chapter appears in the book entitled

Fundamentals of Physical Geography. The
contents of the book clearly reflect its scope.
It is therefore, appropriate to know the
importance of this branch of geography.

Figure 1.3 : Branches of geography based on regional approach

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Physical geography includes the study of

lithosphere (landforms, drainage, relief and
physiography), atmosphere (its composition,
structure, elements and controls of weather
and climate; temperature, pressure, winds,
precipitation, climatic types, etc.), hydrosphere
(oceans, seas, lakes and associated features
with water realm) and biosphere ( life forms
including human being and macro-organism
and their sustaining mechanism, viz. food
chain, ecological parameters and ecological
balance). Soils are formed through the process
of pedogenesis and depend upon the parent
rocks, climate, biological activity and time.
Time provides maturity to soils and helps in
the development of soil profiles. Each element
is important for human beings. Landforms
provide the base on which human activities are
located. The plains are utilised for agriculture.
Plateaus provide forests and minerals.
Mountains provide pastures, forests, tourist
spots and are sources of rivers providing water
to lowlands. Climate influences our house
types, clothing and food habits. The climate
has a profound effect on vegetation, cropping
pattern, livestock farming and some
industries, etc. Human beings have developed
technologies which modify climatic elements
in a restricted space such as air conditioners
and coolers. Temperature and precipitation
ensure the density of forests and quality of
grassland. In India, monsoonal rainfall sets the
agriculture rhythm in motion. Precipitation
recharges the ground water aquifers which
later provides water for agriculture and
domestic use. We study oceans which are the
store house of resources. Besides fish and other

sea-food, oceans are rich in mineral resources.

India has developed the technology for
collecting manganese nodules from oceanic
bed. Soils are renewable resources, which
influence a number of economic activities such
as agriculture. The fertility of the soil is both
naturally determined and culturally induced.
Soils also provide the basis for the biosphere
accommodating plants, animals and micro
organisms.
What is Geography?
Geography is concerned with the description
and explanation of the areal differentiation of
the earths surface.
Richard Hartshorne
Geography studies the differences of
phenomena usually related in different parts
of the earths surface.
Hettner

The study of physical geography is

emerging as a discipline of evaluating and
managing natural resources. In order to
achieve this objective, it is essential to
understand the intricate relationship between
physical environment and human beings.
Physical environment provides resources, and
human beings utilise these resources and
ensure their economic and cultural
development. Accelerated pace of resource
utilisation with the help of modern technology
has created ecological imbalance in the world.
Hence, a better understanding of physical
environment is absolutely essential for
sustainable development.

EXERCISES
1.

Multiple choice questions.

(i)

(ii)

Which one of the following scholars coined the term Geography?

(a) Herodotus

(b) Erathosthenese

(d) Aristotle

Which one of the following features can be termed as physical feature?

(a) Port

(b) Road

(d) Water park

GEOGRAPHY AS A DISCIPLINE

(iii) Make correct pairs from the following two columns and mark the correct
option.

(iv)

(v)

1. Meteorology

A. Population Geography

2. Demography

B. Soil Geography

3. Sociology

C. Climatology

4. Pedology

D. Social Geography

(a) 1B,2C,3A,4D

(b) 1A,2D,3B,4C

(d) 1C,2A,3D,4B

Which one of the following questions is related to cause-effect relationship?

(a) Why

(b) Where

(d) When

Which one of the following disciplines attempts temporal synthesis?

(a) Sociology

(b) Geography

(d) History

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

What important cultural features do you observe while going to school?

Are they similar or dissimilar? Should they be included in the study of
geography or not? If yes, why?

(ii)

You have seen a tennis ball, a cricket ball, an orange and a pumpkin.
Which one amongst these resembles the shape of the earth? Why have
you chosen this particular item to describe the shape of the earth?

(iii)

Do you celebrate Van Mahotsava in your school? Why do we plant so many

trees? How do the trees maintain ecological balance?

(iv)

You have seen elephants, deer, earthworms, trees and grasses. Where do
they live or grow? What is the name given to this sphere? Can you describe
some of the important features of this sphere?

(v)

How much time do you take to reach your school from your house? Had
the school been located across the road from your house, how much time
would you have taken to reach school? What is the effect of the distance
between your residence and the school on the time taken in commuting?
Can you convert time into space and vice versa?

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

You observe every day in your surroundings that there is variation in

natural as well as cultural phenomena. All the trees are not of the same
variety. All the birds and animals you see, are different. All these different
elements are found on the earth. Can you now argue that geography is
the study of areal differentiation?

(ii)

You have already studied geography, history, civics and economics as

parts of social studies. Attempt an integration of these disciplines
highlighting their interface.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Project Work
Select forest as a natural resource.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)

Prepare a map of India showing the distribution of different types of forests.

Write about the economic importance of forests for the country.
Prepare a historical account of conservation of forests in India with focus
on Chipko movements in Rajasthan and Uttaranchal.

d
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UNIT
II

THE EARTH

This unit deals with

Origin and evolution of the earth; Interior of the earth; Wegeners

continental drift theory and plate tectonics; earthquakes and
volcanoes

CHAPTER

AND

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Starry nights have always attracted us since

the childhood. You may also have thought of
these stars and had numerous questions in
your mind. Questions such as how many stars
are there in the sky? How did they come into
existence? Can one reach the end of the sky?
May be many more such questions are still
there in your mind. In this chapter, you will
learn how these twinkling little stars were
formed. With that you will eventually also read
the story of origin and evolution of the earth.

argument. At a later date, the arguments

considered of a companion to the sun to have
been coexisting. These arguments are called
binary theories. In 1950, Otto Schmidt in
Russia and Carl Weizascar in Germany
somewhat revised the nebular hypothesis,
though differing in details. They considered that
the sun was surrounded by solar nebula
containing mostly the hydrogen and helium
along with what may be termed as dust. The
friction and collision of particles led to formation
of a disk-shaped cloud and the planets were
formed through the process of accretion.
However, scientists in later period took up
the problems of origin of universe rather than
that of just the earth or the planets.

o you remember the nursery rhyme

Twinkle, twinkle little star?

EARLY THEORIES

EVOLUTION
THE EARTH

THE ORIGIN

Origin of the Earth

MODERN THEORIES

A large number of hypotheses were put forth

by different philosophers and scientists
regarding the origin of the earth. One of the
earlier and popular arguments was by German
philosopher Immanuel Kant. Mathematician
Laplace revised it in 1796. It is known as
Nebular Hypothesis. The hypothesis considered
that the planets were formed out of a cloud of
material associated with a youthful sun, which
was slowly rotating. Later in 1900, Chamberlain
and Moulton considered that a wandering star
approached the sun. As a result, a cigar-shaped
extension of material was separated from the
solar surface. As the passing star moved away,
the material separated from the solar surface
continued to revolve around the sun and it
slowly condensed into planets. Sir James Jeans
and later Sir Harold Jeffrey supported this

Origin of the Universe

The most popular argument regarding the origin

of the universe is the Big Bang Theory. It is also
called expanding universe hypothesis. Edwin
Hubble, in 1920, provided evidence that the
universe is expanding. As time passes, galaxies
move further and further apart. You can
experiment and find what does the expanding
universe mean. Take a balloon and mark some
points on it to represent the galaxies. Now, if
you start inflating the balloon, the points marked
on the balloon will appear to be moving away
from each other as the balloon expands.
Similarly, the distance between the galaxies is
also found to be increasing and thereby, the
universe is considered to be expanding.
However, you will find that besides the increase
in the distances between the points on the

THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE EARTH

The Star Formation

The expansion of universe means increase

in space between the galaxies. An alternative
to this was Hoyles concept of steady state. It
considered the universe to be roughly the same
at any point of time. However, with greater
evidence becoming available about the
expanding universe, scientific community at
present favours argument of expanding
universe.

balloon, the points themselves are expanding.

This is not in accordance with the fact. Scientists
believe that though the space between the
galaxies is increasing, observations do not
support the expansion of galaxies. So, the
balloon example is only partially correct.

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The distribution of matter and energy was not

even in the early universe. These initial density
differences gave rise to differences in
gravitational forces and it caused the matter
to get drawn together. These formed the bases
for development of galaxies. A galaxy contains
a large number of stars. Galaxies spread over
vast distances that are measured in thousands
of light-years. The diameters of individual
galaxies range from 80,000-150,000 light
years. A galaxy starts to form by accumulation
of hydrogen gas in the form of a very large
cloud called nebula. Eventually, growing
nebula develops localised clumps of gas. These
clumps continue to grow into even denser
gaseous bodies, giving rise to formation of
stars. The formation of stars is believed to have
taken place some 5-6 billion years ago.

Figure 2.1 : The Big Bang

The Big Bang Theory considers the

following stages in the development of the
universe.
(i) In the beginning, all matter forming the
universe existed in one place in the form
of a tiny ball (singular atom) with an
unimaginably small volume, infinite
temperature and infinite density.
(ii) At the Big Bang the tiny ball exploded
violently. This led to a huge expansion.
It is now generally accepted that the
event of big bang took place 13.7 billion
years before the present. The expansion
continues even to the present day. As it
grew, some energy was converted into
matter. There was particularly rapid
expansion within fractions of a second
after the bang. Thereafter, the
expansion has slowed down. Within first
three minutes from the Big Bang event,
the first atom began to form.
(iii) Within 300,000 years from the Big
Bang, temperature dropped to 4,500 K
(Kelvin) and gave rise to atomic matter.
The universe became transparent.

A light year is a measure of distance and

not of time. Light travels at a speed of
300,000 km/second. Considering this,
the distances the light will travel in one
year is taken to be one light year. This
equals to 9.461 10 12 km. The mean
distance between the sun and the earth
is 149,598,000 km. In terms of light
years, it is 8.311minutes.

Formation of Planets
The following are considered to be the stages
in the development of planets :
(i) The stars are localised lumps of gas
within a nebula. The gravitational force
within the lumps leads to the formation
of a core to the gas cloud and a huge
rotating disc of gas and dust develops
around the gas core.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

(iii)

in the same period sometime about 4.6 billion

years ago. Till recently (August 2006), Pluto was
also considered a planet. However, in a meeting
of the International Astronomical Union, a
decision was taken that Pluto like other celestial
objects (2003 UB313)discovered in recent past
may be called dwarf planet. Some data regarding
our solar system are given in the box below.

In the next stage, the gas cloud starts

getting condensed and the matter
around the core develops into smallrounded objects. These small-rounded
objects by the process of cohesion develop
into what is called planetesimals.
Larger bodies start forming by collision,
and gravitational attraction causes the
material to stick together. Planetesimals
are a large number of smaller bodies.
In the final stage, these large number of
small planetesimals accrete to form a
fewer large bodies in the form of planets.

Why are the inner planets rocky while

others are mostly in gaseous form?

(ii)

The difference between terrestrial and jovian

planets can be attributed to the following
conditions:
(i) The terrestrial planets were formed in the
close vicinity of the parent star where it
was too warm for gases to condense to
solid particles. Jovian planets were
formed at quite a distant location.
(ii) The solar wind was most intense nearer
the sun; so, it blew off lots of gas and dust
from the terrestrial planets. The solar winds
were not all that intense to cause similar
removal of gases from the Jovian planets.
(iii) The terrestrial planets are smaller and
their lower gravity could not hold the
escaping gases.

OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

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Our Solar system consists of eight planets. The

nebula from which our Solar system is supposed
to have been formed, started its collapse and core
formation some time 5-5.6 billion years ago and
the planets were formed about 4.6 billion years
ago. Our solar system consists of the sun (the
star), 8 planets, 63 moons, millions of smaller
bodies like asteroids and comets and huge
quantity of dust-grains and gases.
Out of the eight planets, mercury, venus,
earth and mars are called as the inner planets
as they lie between the sun and the belt of
asteroids the other four planets are called the outer
planets. Alternatively, the first four are called
Terrestrial, meaning earth-like as they are made
up of rock and metals, and have relatively high
densities. The rest four are called Jovian or Gas
Giant planets. Jovian means jupiter-like. Most
of them are much larger than the terrestrial
planets and have thick atmosphere, mostly of
helium and hydrogen. All the planets were formed

The Moon

The moon is the only natural satellite of the

earth. Like the origin of the earth, there have
been attempts to explain how the moon was
formed. In 1838, Sir George Darwin suggested
that initially, the earth and the moon formed a
single rapidly rotating body. The whole mass

The Solar System

Mercury

Venus

Distance*

0.387

0.723

Density@

5.44

Radius#

Satellites

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

1.000

1.524

5.203

9.539

19.182

30.058

5.245

5.517

3.945

1.33

0.70

1.17

1.66

0.383

0.949

1.000

0.533

11.19

9.460

4.11

3.88

about 18 about 17

* Distance from the sun in astronomical unit i.e. average mean distance of the earth is 149,598,000
km = 1 @ Density in gm/cm3
# Radius: Equatorial radius 6378.137 km = 1

THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE EARTH

OF THE

EARTH

Evolution of Atmosphere and Hydrosphere

The present composition of earths atmosphere
is chiefly contributed by nitrogen and oxygen.
You will be dealing with the composition and
structure of the earths atmosphere in Chapter 8.
There are three stages in the evolution of
the present atmosphere. The first stage is
marked by the loss of primordial atmosphere.
In the second stage, the hot interior of the earth
contributed to the evolution of the atmosphere.
Finally, the composition of the atmosphere was
modified by the living world through the
process of photosynthesis.
The early atmosphere, with hydrogen and
helium, is supposed to have been stripped off
as a result of the solar winds. This happened
not only in case of the earth, but also in all the
terrestrial planets, which were supposed to
have lost their primordial atmosphere through
the impact of solar winds.
During the cooling of the earth, gases and
water vapour were released from the interior
solid earth. This started the evolution of the
present atmosphere. The early atmosphere
largely contained water vapour, nitrogen,
carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and very
little of free oxygen. The process through which
the gases were outpoured from the interior is
called degassing. Continuous volcanic
eruptions contributed water vapour and gases

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Do you know that the planet earth initially was

a barren, rocky and hot object with a thin
atmosphere of hydrogen and helium. This is
far from the present day picture of the earth.
Hence, there must have been some events
processes, which may have caused this change
from rocky, barren and hot earth to a beautiful
planet with ample amount of water and
conducive atmosphere favouring the existence
of life. In the following section, you will find
out how the period, between the 4,600 million
years and the present, led to the evolution of
life on the surface of the planet.
The earth has a layered structure. From
the outermost end of the atmosphere to the
centre of the earth, the material that exists is
not uniform. The atmospheric matter has the
least density. From the surface to deeper
depths, the earths interior has different zones
and each of these contains materials with
different characteristics.

EVOLUTION

started getting separated depending on their

densities. This allowed heavier materials (like
iron) to sink towards the centre of the earth
and the lighter ones to move towards the
surface. With passage of time it cooled further
and solidified and condensed into a smaller size.
This later led to the development of the outer
surface in the form of a crust. During the
formation of the moon, due to the giant impact,
the earth was further heated up. It is through
the process of differentiation that the earth
forming material got separated into different
layers. Starting from the surface to the central
parts, we have layers like the crust, mantle,
outer core and inner core. From the crust to the
core, the density of the material increases. We
shall discuss in detail the properties of each of
this layer in the next chapter.

became a dumb-bell-shaped body and

eventually it broke. It was also suggested that
the material forming the moon was separated
from what we have at present the depression
occupied by the Pacific Ocean.
However, the present scientists do not
accept either of the explanations. It is now
generally believed that the formation of moon,
as a satellite of the earth, is an outcome of giant
impact or what is described as the big splat.
A body of the size of one to three times that of
mars collided into the earth sometime shortly
after the earth was formed. It blasted a large
part of the earth into space. This portion of
blasted material then continued to orbit the
earth and eventually formed into the present
moon about 4.44 billion years ago.

How was the layered structure of the

earth developed?

Evolution of Lithosphere

The earth was mostly in a volatile state during

its primordial stage. Due to gradual increase
in density the temperature inside has
increased. As a result the material inside

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Geological Time Scale

Cainozoic
(From 65
million years
to the
present
times)
Mesozoic
65 - 245
Million
Mammals

Life/ Major Events

Holocene
Pleistocene
Pliocene
Miocene

0 - 10,000
10,000 - 2 million
2 - 5 million
5 - 24 million

Oligocene
Eocene
Palaeocene

24 - 37 million
37 - 58 Million
57 - 65 Million

Modern Man
Homo Sapiens
Early Human Ancestor
Ape: Flowering Plants
and Trees
Anthropoid Ape
Rabbits and Hare
Small Mammals :
Rats Mice

Cretaceous
Jurassic
Triassic

65 - 144 Million
144 - 208 Million
208 - 245 Million

Permian

245 - 286 Million

Carboniferous

286 - 360 Million

Devonian
Silurian

360 - 408 Million

408 - 438 Million

Ordovician
Cambrian

438 - 505 Million

505 - 570 Million

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Palaeozoic
245 - 570
Million

Tertiary

Age/ Years
Before Present

Proterozoic
Archean

Hadean

Origin of
Stars

Supernova

PreCambrian
570 Million
- 4,800
Million

5,000 13,700
Million

Big Bang

to the atmosphere. As the earth cooled, the

water vapour released started getting
condensed. The carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere got dissolved in rainwater and the
temperature further decreased causing more
condensation and more rains. The rainwater
falling onto the surface got collected in the
depressions to give rise to oceans. The earths
oceans were formed within 500 million years
from the formation of the earth. This tells us

Quaternary

Epoch

Period

Extinction of Dinosaurs
Age of Dinosaurs
Frogs and turtles

Era

Reptile dominate-replace
amphibians
First Reptiles:
Vertebrates: Coal beds
Amphibians
First trace of life on land:
Plants
First Fish
No terrestrial Life :
Marine Invertebrate
Soft-bodied arthropods
Blue green Algae:
Unicellular bacteria
Oceans and Continents
form Ocean and
Atmosphere are rich in
Carbon dioxide

Eons

570 - 2,500 Million

2,500 - 3,800 Million
3,800 - 4,800 Million

5,000 Million

Origin of the sun

12,000 Million

Origin of the universe

13,700 Million

that the oceans are as old as 4,000 million

years. Sometime around 3,800 million years
ago, life began to evolve. However, around
2,500-3,000 million years before the present,
the process of photosynthesis got evolved. Life
was confined to the oceans for a long time.
Oceans began to have the contribution of
oxygen through the process of photosynthesis.
Eventually, oceans were saturated with oxygen,
and 2,000 million years ago, oxygen began to
flood the atmosphere.

THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE EARTH

Origin of Life

inanimate matter into living substance. The

record of life that existed on this planet in
different periods is found in rocks in the form
of fossils. The microscopic structures closely
related to the present form of blue algae have
been found in geological formations much older
than some 3,000 million years. It can be
assumed that life began to evolve sometime
3,800 million years ago. The summary of
evolution of life from unicellular bacteria to the
modern man is given in the Geological Time
Scale on page 18.

The last phase in the evolution of the earth

relates to the origin and evolution of life. It is
undoubtedly clear that initially the earth or
even the atmosphere of the earth was not
conducive for the development of life. Modern
scientists refer to the origin of life as a kind of
chemical reaction, which first generated
complex organic molecules and assembled
them. This assemblage was such that they
could duplicate themselves converting

Multiple choice questions.

(i)

Which one of the following figures represents the age of the earth?
(a) 4.6 million years

(c) 4.6 billion years

(d) 13.7 trillion years

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(b) 13.7 billion years

EXERCISES

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

Which one of the following has the longest duration?

(a) Eons

(b) Period

(d) Epoch

Which one of the following is not related to the formation or modification

of the present atmosphere?
(a) Solar winds

(b) Differentiation

(d) Photosynthesis

Which one of the following represents the inner planets?

(a)

Planets between the sun and the earth

(b)

Planets between the sun and the belt of asteroids

(c)

Planets in gaseous state

(d)

Planets without satellite(s)

Life on the earth appeared around how many years before the present?

(a) 13.7 billion

(c) 4.6 billion

(b) 3.8 million

(d) 3.8 billion

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

(ii)

Why are the terrestrial planets rocky?

What is the basic difference in the arguments related to the origin of the
earth given by :
(a)

Kant and Laplace

(b)

Chamberlain and Moulton

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

(iii)

What is meant by the process of differentiation?

(iv)

What was the nature of the earth surface initially?

(v)

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(ii)

Write an explanatory note on the Big Bang Theory.

List the stages in the evolution of the earth and explain each stage in
brief.

(i)

Project Work

What were the gases which initially formed the earths atmosphere?

Collect information about the project Stardust (website: www.sci.edu/public.html

and www.nasm.edu) along the following lines.
Which is the agency that has launched this project?

(ii)

Why are scientists interested in collecting Stardust?

Where from the Stardust is being collected?

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(iii)

(i)

CHAPTER

INTERIOR

OF THE

EARTH

hat do you imagine about the nature

of the earth? Do you imagine it to be
a solid ball like cricket ball or a
hollow ball with a thick cover of rocks i.e.
lithosphere? Have you ever seen photographs
or images of a volcanic eruption on the
television screen? Can you recollect the
emergence of hot molten lava, dust, smoke, fire
and magma flowing out of the volcanic crater?
The interior of the earth can be understood only
by indirect evidences as neither any one has nor
any one can reach the interior of the earth.
The configuration of the surface of the earth
is largely a product of the processes operating
in the interior of the earth. Exogenic as well as
endogenic processes are constantly shaping
the landscape. A proper understanding of the
physiographic character of a region remains
incomplete if the effects of endogenic processes
are ignored. Human life is largely influenced
by the physiography of the region. Therefore,
it is necessary that one gets acquainted with
the forces that influence landscape
development. To understand why the earth
shakes or how a tsunami wave is generated, it
is necessary that we know certain details of the
interior of the earth. In the previous chapter,
you have noted that the earth-forming
materials have been distributed in the form of
layers from the crust to the core. It is interesting
to know how scientists have gathered
information about these layers and what are
the characteristics of each of these layers. This
is exactly what this chapter deals with.

SOURCES

INFORMATION ABOUT THE INTERIOR

The earths radius is 6,370 km. No one can

reach the centre of the earth and make
observations or collect samples of the material.
Under such conditions, you may wonder how
scientists tell us about the earths interior and
the type of materials that exist at such depths.
Most of our knowledge about the interior of
the earth is largely based on estimates and
inferences. Yet, a part of the information is
obtained through direct observations and
analysis of materials.
Direct Sources
The most easily available solid earth material
is surface rock or the rocks we get from mining
areas. Gold mines in South Africa are as deep
as 3 - 4 km. Going beyond this depth is not
possible as it is very hot at this depth. Besides
mining, scientists have taken up a number of
projects to penetrate deeper depths to explore
the conditions in the crustal portions. Scientists
world over are working on two major projects
such as Deep Ocean Drilling Project and
Integrated Ocean Drilling Project. The
deepest drill at Kola, in Arctic Ocean, has so
far reached a depth of 12 km. This and many
deep drilling projects have provided large
volume of information through the analysis of
materials collected at different depths.
Volcanic eruption forms another source of
obtaining direct information. As and when the
molten material (magma) is thrown onto the
surface of the earth, during volcanic eruption
it becomes available for laboratory analysis.
However, it is difficult to ascertain the depth of
the source of such magma.

Indirect Sources
Analysis of properties of matter indirectly
provides information about the interior. We
know through the mining activity that
temperature and pressure increase with the
increasing distance from the surface towards
the interior in deeper depths. Moreover, it is
also known that the density of the material also
increases with depth. It is possible to find the
rate of change of these characteristics. Knowing
the total thickness of the earth, scientists have
estimated the values of temperature, pressure
and the density of materials at different depths.
The details of these characteristics with
reference to each layer of the interior are
discussed later in this chapter.
Another source of information are the
meteors that at times reach the earth. However,
it may be noted that the material that becomes
available for analysis from meteors, is not from
the interior of the earth. The material and the
structure observed in the meteors are similar
to that of the earth. They are solid bodies
developed out of materials same as, or similar
to, our planet. Hence, this becomes yet another
source of information about the interior of the
earth.
The other indirect sources include
gravitation, magnetic field, and seismic activity.
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. The uneven distribution of
mass of material within the earth influences
this value. The reading of the gravity at different
places is influenced by many other factors.
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. Magnetic surveys also
provide information about the distribution of
magnetic materials in the crustal portion, and
thus, provide information about the
distribution of materials in this part. Seismic
activity is one of the most important sources of

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

information about the interior of the earth.

Hence, we shall discuss it in some detail.
Earthquake
The study of seismic waves provides a complete
picture of the layered interior. An earthquake
in simple words is shaking of the earth. It is a
natural event. It is caused due to release of
energy, which generates waves that travel in
all directions.
Why does the earth shake?
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. 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.
Earthquake Waves
All natural earthquakes take place in the
lithosphere. You will learn about different
layers of the earth later in this chapter. It is
sufficient to note here that the lithosphere refers
to the portion of depth up to 200 km from the
surface of the earth. An instrument called
seismograph records the waves reaching the
surface. A curve of earthquake waves recorded
on the seismograph is given in Figure 3.1. Note
that the curve shows three distinct sections
each representing different types of wave
patterns. Earthquake waves are basically of two
types 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. Hence, the name

INTERIOR OF THE EARTH

body waves. The body waves interact with the

surface rocks and generate new set of waves
called surface waves. These waves move along
the surface. The velocity of waves changes as
they travel through materials with different
densities. The denser the material, the higher
is the velocity. Their direction also changes as
they reflect or refract when coming across
materials with different densities.

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. Surface waves are considered to be the
most damaging waves.
Emergence of Shadow Zone

Figure 3.1 : Earthquake Waves

There are two types of body waves. 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. An
important fact about S-waves is that they can
travel only through solid materials. This
characteristic of the S-waves is quite
important. It has helped scientists to
understand the structure of the interior of the
earth. Reflection causes waves to rebound
whereas refraction makes waves move in
different directions. The variations in the
direction of waves are inferred with the help of
their record on seismograph. The surface
waves are the last to report on seismograph.
These waves are more destructive. They cause
displacement of rocks, and hence, the collapse
of structures occurs.

Earthquake waves get recorded in seismographs located at far off locations. However,
there exist some specific areas where the waves
are not reported. Such a zone is called the
shadow zone. The study of different events
reveals that for each earthquake, there exists
an altogether different shadow zone. Figure 3.2
(a) and (b) show the shadow zones of P and
S-waves. It was observed that seismographs
located at any distance within 105 from the
epicentre, recorded the arrival of both P and
S-waves. However, the seismographs located
beyond 145 from epicentre, record the arrival
of P-waves, but not that of S-waves. Thus, a
zone between 105 and 145 from epicentre was
identified as the shadow zone for both the types
of waves. The entire zone beyond 105 does not
receive S-waves. The shadow zone of S-wave is
much larger than that of the P-waves. The
shadow zone of P-waves appears as a band
around the earth between 105 and 145 away
from the epicentre. The shadow zone of S-waves
is not only larger in extent but it is also a little
over 40 per cent of the earth surface. You can
draw the shadow zone for any earthquake
provided you know the location of the epicentre.
(See the activity box on page 28 to know how to
locate the epicentre of a quake event).
Types of Earthquakes

Propagation of Earthquake Waves

Different types of earthquake waves travel in
different manners. As they move or propagate,
they cause vibration in the body of the rocks
through which they pass. P-waves vibrate
parallel to the direction of the wave. This exerts
pressure on the material in the direction of the

(i) The most common ones are the tectonic

earthquakes. These are generated due to
sliding of rocks along a fault plane.
(ii) A special class of tectonic earthquake is
sometimes recognised as volcanic
earthquake. However, these are confined
to areas of active volcanoes.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

(v) The earthquakes that occur in the areas

of large reservoirs are referred to as
reservoir induced earthquakes.
5
10

105

Measuring Earthquakes

105

145

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 absolute 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.

EFFECTS

105

Figure 3.2 (a) and (b) : Earthquake Shadow Zones

(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.

EARTHQUAKE

Earthquake is a natural hazard. The following

are the immediate hazardous effects of
earthquake:
(i) Ground Shaking
(ii) Differential ground settlement
(iii) Land and mud slides
(iv) Soil liquefaction
(v) Ground lurching
(vi) Avalanches
(vii) Ground displacement
(viii) Floods from dam and levee failures
(ix) Fires
(x) Structural collapse
(xi) Falling objects
(xii) Tsunami
The first six listed above have some bearings
upon landforms, while others may be
considered the effects causing immediate
concern to the life and properties of people in
the region. The effect of tsunami would occur
only if the epicentre of the tremor is below
oceanic waters and the magnitude is
sufficiently high. Tsunamis are waves
generated by the tremors and not an
earthquake in itself. Though the actual quake
activity lasts for a few seconds, its effects are
devastating provided the magnitude of the
quake is more than 5 on the Richter scale.

INTERIOR OF THE EARTH

Frequency of Earthquake Occurrences

STRUCTURE

The earthquake is a natural hazard. If a tremor

of high magnitude takes place, it can cause
heavy damage to the life and property of
people. However, not all the parts of the globe
necessarily experience major shocks. We shall
be discussing the distribution of earthquakes
and volcanoes with some details in the next

The Crust

OF THE

EARTH

It is the outermost solid part of the earth. It is

brittle in nature. The thickness of the crust
varies under the oceanic and continental areas.
Oceanic crust is thinner as compared to the
continental crust. The mean thickness of
oceanic crust is 5 km whereas that of the
continental is around 30 km. The continental
crust is thicker in the areas of major mountain
systems. It is as much as 70 km thick in the
Himalayan region.
It is made up of heavier rocks having
density of 3 g/cm3. This type of rock found in
the oceanic crust is basalt. The mean density
of material in oceanic crust is 2.7 g/cm3.
The Mantle

A view of the damaged Aman Setu at the LOC

in Uri, due to an earthquake

chapter. Note that the quakes of high

magnitude, i.e. 8+ are quite rare; they occur
once in 1-2 years whereas those of tiny types
occur almost every minute.

The portion of the interior beyond the crust is

called the mantle. The mantle extends from
Mohos discontinuity to a depth of 2,900 km.
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 that finds

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

been released out in the recent past. The layer

below the solid crust is mantle. It has higher
density than that of the crust. The mantle
contains a weaker zone called asthenosphere.
It is from this that the molten rock materials
find their way to the surface. 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
compounds, sulphur compounds and minor
amounts of chlorene, hydrogen and argon.
Volcanoes

Figure 3.4 : The interior of the earth

its way to the surface during volcanic

eruptions. It has a density higher than the
crusts (3.4 g/cm 3 ). The crust and the
uppermost part of the mantle are called
lithosphere. Its thickness ranges from 10-200 km.
The lower mantle extends beyond the
asthenosphere. It is in solid state.

Volcanoes are classified on the basis of nature

of eruption and the form developed at the
surface. Major types of volcanoes are as follows:
Shield Volcanoes
Barring the basalt flows, the shield volcanoes
are the largest of all the volcanoes on the earth.
The Hawaiian volcanoes are the most famous

The Core
As indicated earlier, the earthquake wave
velocities helped in understanding the
existence of the core of the earth. The coremantle boundary is located at the depth of
2,900 km. 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
constituted by nickel and iron. It is sometimes
referred to as the nife layer.

VOLCANOES

AND

Shield Volcano

VOLCANIC LANDFORMS

You may have seen photographs or pictures of

volcanoes on a number of occasions. A volcano
is a place where gases, ashes and/or molten
rock material lava escape to the ground. A
volcano is called an active volcano if the
materials mentioned are being released or have

Cinder Cone

INTERIOR OF THE EARTH

examples. These volcanoes are mostly made

up of basalt, a type of lava that is very fluid
when erupted. For this reason, these volcanoes
are not steep. They become explosive if
somehow water gets into the vent; otherwise,
they are characterised by low-explosivity. The
upcoming lava moves in the form of a fountain
and throws out the cone at the top of the vent
and develops into cinder cone.

more than 50 m. Individual flows may extend

for hundreds of km. The Deccan Traps from
India, presently covering most of the
Maharashtra plateau, are a much larger flood
basalt province. It is believed that initially the
trap formations covered a much larger area
than the present.

Composite Volcanoes

These volcanoes occur in the oceanic areas.

There is a system of mid-ocean ridges more
than 70,000 km long that stretches through
all the ocean basins. The central portion of this
ridge experiences frequent eruptions. We shall
be discussing this in detail in the next chapter.

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.

Composite Volcano

Mid-Ocean Ridge Volcanoes

VOLCANIC LANDFORMS
Intrusive Forms
The lava that is released during volcanic
eruptions on cooling develops into igneous
rocks. The cooling may take place either on
reaching the surface or also while the lava is
still in the crustal portion. Depending on the
location of the cooling of the lava, igneous rocks
are classified as volcanic rocks (cooling at the
surface) and plutonic rocks (cooling in the
crust). The lava that cools within the crustal
portions assumes different forms. These forms
are called intrusive forms. Some of the forms
are shown in Figure 3.5.

Caldera
These are the most explosive of the earths
volcanoes. They are usually so explosive 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.
Flood Basalt Provinces
These volcanoes outpour highly fluid lava that
flows for long distances. Some parts of the
world are covered by thousands of sq. km of
thick basalt lava flows. There can be a series of
flows with some flows attaining thickness of

Figure 3.5 : Volcanic Landforms

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Batholiths
A large body of magmatic material that cools
in the deeper depth of the crust develops in the
form of large domes. They appear on the surface
only after the denudational processes remove
the overlying materials. They cover large areas,
and at times, assume depth that may be several
km. These are granitic bodies. Batholiths are
the cooled portion of magma chambers.

conduit from below. It resembles the surface

volcanic domes of composite volcano, only
these are located at deeper depths. It can be
regarded as the localised source of lava that
finds its way to the surface. The Karnataka
plateau is spotted with domal hills of granite
rocks. Most of these, now exfoliated, are
examples of lacoliths or batholiths.

Lacoliths
These are large dome-shaped intrusive bodies
with a level base and connected by a pipe-like

As and when the lava moves upwards, a

portion of the same may tend to move in a
horizontal direction wherever it finds a weak

Lapolith, Phacolith and Sills

Activity : Locating an Epicentre

For this you will need
Data from 3 seismograph stations about the time of arrival of P-waves, S-waves.
Procedure
1. Find the time of arrival of P and S-waves of the given quake for the three stations for which
you have the data.
2. Compute the time lag between the arrival of P and S-waves for each station; it is called time
lag. (Note that it is directly related to the distance of the seismograph from the focus.)
A. Basic rule : For every second of time lag, the earthquake is roughly 8 km away from you.
3. Using the rule quoted above, convert the time lag into distance ( # seconds of time lag * 8)
for each station.
4. On a map locate the seismograph stations.
5. Draw circles, taking the seismograph stations as the centre, with the radius equal to the
distance you have calculated in the previous step. (Do not forget to convert distance as per
the map scale.)
6. These circles will intersect each other in a point. This point is the location of the epicentre.
In normal practice, the epicentres are located using computer models. They take into account
the structure of the earths crust. The locations with accuracy within a few hundred metres
can be achieved. The procedure outlined here is a much simplified version of what is normally
done, although the principle is the same.
In the following diagram, the epicentre is located using this procedure. It also contains a
table giving necessary data. Why dont you try for yourself ?
Data
Station

Arrival time of
P-waves
S-waves
Hour Min. Sec.
Hour Min. Sec.

Scale of the map 1cm = 40km

INTERIOR OF THE EARTH

plane. It may get rested in different forms. In

case it develops into a saucer shape, concave
to the sky body, it is called lapolith. A wavy
mass of intrusive rocks, at times, is found at
the base of synclines or at the top of anticline
in folded igneous country. Such wavy materials
have a definite conduit to source beneath in
the form of magma chambers (subsequently
developed as batholiths). These are called the
phacoliths.
The near horizontal bodies of the
intrusive igneous rocks are called sill or
sheet, depending on the thickness of the
material. The thinner ones are called sheets

while the thick horizontal deposits are

called sills.
Dykes
When the lava makes its way through cracks
and the fissures developed in the land, it
solidifies almost perpendicular to the ground.
It gets cooled in the same position to develop a
wall-like structure. Such structures are called
dykes. These are the most commonly found
intrusive forms in the western Maharashtra area.
These are considered the feeders for the eruptions
that led to the development of the Deccan traps.

EXERCISES
1.

Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which one of the following earthquake waves is more destructive?
(a) P-waves

(c) Surface waves

(b) S-waves

(d) None of the above

(ii) Which one of the following is a direct source of information about the
interior of the earth?
(a) Earthquake waves

(c) Gravitational force

(b) Volcanoes

(d) Earth magnetism

(iii) Which type of volcanic eruptions have caused Deccan Trap formations?
(a) Shield

(b) Flood

(d) Caldera

(iv) Which one of the following describes the lithosphere:

(a) upper and lower mantle

(c) crust and core

(b) crust and upper mantle

(d) mantle and core

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)
(ii)

What are body waves?

Name the direct sources of information about the interior of the earth.

(iii)

Why do earthquake waves develop shadow zone?

(iv)

Briefly explain the indirect sources of information of the interior of the

earth other than those of seismic activity.

3. Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

What are the effects of propagation of earthquake waves on the rock mass
through which they travel?

(ii)

What do you understand by intrusive forms? Briefly describe various

intrusive forms.

CHAPTER

CONTINENTS

theory in 1912. This was regarding the

distribution of the oceans and the continents.
According to 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, the super
continent, Pangaea, began to split. Pangaea first
broke into two large continental masses as
Laurasia and Gondwanaland forming the
northern and southern components
respectively. Subse-quently, Laurasia and
Gondwanaland continued to break into various
smaller continents that exist today. A variety of
evidence was offered in support of the
continental drift. Some of these are given below.

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In the previous chapter, you have studied the

interior of the earth. You are already familiar
with the world map. You know that continents
cover 29 per cent of the surface of the earth
and the remainder is under oceanic waters.
The positions of the continents and the ocean
bodies, as we see them in the map, have not
been the same in the past. Moreover, it is now
a well-accepted fact that oceans and
continents will not continue to enjoy their
present positions in times to come. If this is
so, the question arises what were their positions
in the past? Why and how do they change their
positions? Even if it is true that the continents
and oceans have changed and are changing
their positions, you may wonder as to how
scientists know this. How have they determined
their earlier positions? You will find the answers
to some of these and related questions in this
chapter.

OCEANS

AND

DISTRIBUTION

CONTINENTAL DRIFT

Observe the shape of the coastline of the Atlantic

Ocean. You will be surprised by the symmetry
of the coastlines on either side of the ocean. No
wonder, many scientists thought of this
similarity and considered the possibility of the
two Americas, Europe and Africa, to be once
joined together. From the known records of the
history of science, it was Abraham Ortelius, a
Dutch map maker, who first proposed such a
possibility as early as 1596. Antonio Pellegrini
drew a map showing the three continents together.
However, it was Alfred Wegenera German
meteorologist who put forth a comprehensive
argument in the form of the continental drift

Evidence in Support of the Continental Drift

The Matching of Continents (Jig-Saw-Fit)
The shorelines of Africa and South America
facing each other have a remarkable and
unmistakable match. It may be noted that a
map produced using a computer programme
to find the best fit of the Atlantic margin was
presented by Bullard in 1964. It proved to be
quite perfect. The match was tried at 1,000fathom line instead of the present shoreline.
Rocks of Same Age Across the Oceans
The radiometric dating methods developed in
the recent period have facilitated correlating the
rock formation from different continents across

DISTRIBUTION OF OCEANS AND CONTINENTS

Post-Drift Studies

It is interesting to note that for continental drift,

most of the evidence was collected from the
continental areas in the form of distribution of
flora and fauna or deposits like tillite. A number
of discoveries during the post-war period
added new information to geological literature.
Particularly, the information collected from the
ocean floor mapping provided new dimensions
for the study of distribution of oceans and
continents.

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It is the sedimentary rock formed out of

deposits of glaciers. The Gondawana system
of sediments from India is known to have its
counter parts in six different landmasses of the
Southern Hemisphere. At the base the system
has thick tillite indicating extensive and
prolonged glaciation. Counter parts of this
succession are found in Africa, Falkland Island,
Madagascar, Antarctica and Australia besides
India. Overall resemblance of the Gondawana
type sediments clearly demonstrates that these
landmasses had remarkably similar histories.
The glacial tillite provides unambiguous
evidence of palaeoclimates and also of drifting
of continents.

Wegener suggested that the movement

responsible for the drifting of the continents
was caused by pole-fleeing force and tidal force.
The polar-fleeing force relates to the rotation
of the earth. You are aware of the fact that the
earth is not a perfect sphere; it has a bulge at
the equator. This bulge is due to the rotation
of the earth. The second force that was
suggested by Wegenerthe tidal forceis due
to the attraction of the moon and the sun that
develops tides in oceanic waters. Wegener
believed that these forces would become
effective when applied over many million years.
However, most of scholars considered these
forces to be totally inadequate.

Tillite

Force for Drifting

the vast ocean. The belt of ancient rocks of

2,000 million years from Brazil coast matches
with those from western Africa. The earliest
marine deposits along the coastline of South
America and Africa are of the Jurassic age.
This suggests that the ocean did not exist prior
to that time.

Placer Deposits

The occurrence of rich placer deposits of gold

in the Ghana coast and the absolute absence
of source rock in the region is an amazing fact.
The gold bearing veins are in Brazil and it is
obvious that the gold deposits of the Ghana
are derived from the Brazil plateau when the
two continents lay side by side.
Distribution of Fossils

When identical species of plants and animals

adapted to living on land or in fresh water are
found on either side of the marine barriers, a
problem arises regarding accounting for such
distribution. The observations that Lemurs
occur in India, Madagascar and Africa led some
to consider a contiguous landmass Lemuria
linking these three landmasses. Mesosaurus
was a small reptile adapted to shallow brackish
water. The skeletons of these are found only
in two localities : the Southern Cape province
of South Africa and Iraver formations of Brazil.
The two localities presently are 4,800 km apart
with an ocean in between them.

Convectional Current Theory

Arthur Holmes in 1930s discussed the
possibility of convection currents operating in
the mantle portion. These currents are
generated due to radioactive elements causing
thermal differences in the mantle portion.
Holmes argued that there exists a system of
such currents in the entire mantle portion. This
was an attempt to provide an explanation to
the issue of force, on the basis of which
contemporary scientists discarded the
continental drift theory.
Mapping of the Ocean Floor
Detailed research of the ocean configuration
revealed that the ocean floor is not just a vast
plain but it is full of relief. Expeditions to map
the oceanic floor in the post-war period
provided a detailed picture of the ocean relief
and indicated the existence of submerged

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Mid-Oceanic Ridges

This forms an interconnected chain of

mountain system within the ocean. It is the
longest mountain-chain on the surface of the
earth though submerged under the oceanic
waters. 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. In the previous chapter, you have been
introduced to this type of volcanoes as midoceanic volcanoes.
Distribution of Earthquakes and Volcanoes

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In this section we shall note a few things related

to the ocean floor configuration that help us in
the understanding of the distribution of
continents and oceans. You will be studying
the details of ocean floor relief in Chapter
13. 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.

These are extensive plains that lie between the

continental margins and mid-oceanic ridges.
The abyssal plains are the areas where the
continental sediments that move beyond the
margins get deposited.

Ocean Floor Configuration

Abyssal Plains

mountain ranges as well as deep trenches,

mostly located closer to the continent margins.
The mid-oceanic ridges were found to be most
active in terms of volcanic eruptions. The dating
of the rocks from the oceanic crust revealed
the fact that they are much younger than the
continental areas. Rocks on either side of the
crest of oceanic ridges and having equi-distant
locations from the crest were found to have
remarkable similarities both in terms of their
constituents and their age.

Figure 4.1 : Ocean Floor

Continental Margins

These form the transition between continental

shores and deep-sea basins. They include
continental shelf, continental slope, continental
rise and deep-oceanic trenches. Of these, the
deep-oceanic trenches are the areas which are
of considerable interest in so far as the
distribution of oceans and continents is
concerned.

Study the maps showing the distribution of

seismic activity and volcanoes given in Figure
4.2. You will notice a line of dots in the central
parts of the Atlantic Ocean almost parallel to
the coastlines. It further extends into the Indian
Ocean. It bifurcates a little south of the Indian
subcontinent with one branch moving into
East Africa and the other meeting a similar line
from Myanmar to New Guiana. You will notice
that this line of dots coincides with the midoceanic ridges. The shaded belt showing
another area of concentration coincides with
the Alpine-Himalayan system and the rim of
the Pacific Ocean. 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.

CONCEPT

SEA FLOOR SPREADING

As mentioned above, the post-drift studies

provided considerable information that was not

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DISTRIBUTION OF OCEANS AND CONTINENTS

Figure 4. 2 : Distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes

available at the time Wegener put forth his

concept of continental drift. Particularly, the
mapping of the ocean floor and palaeomagnetic
studies of rocks from oceanic regions revealed
the following facts :
(i) It was realised that all along the midoceanic ridges, volcanic eruptions are
common and they bring huge amounts of
lava to the surface in this area.
(ii) 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. Rocks closer to the
mid-oceanic ridges have normal polarity
and are the youngest. The age of the rocks
increases as one moves away from the
crest.
(iii) The ocean crust rocks are much younger
than the continental rocks. The age of rocks
in the oceanic crust is nowhere more than
200 million years old. Some of the continental
rock formations are as old as 3,200 million
years.

(iv) The sediments on the ocean floor are

unexpectedly very thin. Scientists were
expecting, if the ocean floors were as old
as the continent, to have a complete
sequence of sediments for a period of much
longer duration. However, nowhere was the
sediment column found to be older than
200 million years.
(v) The deep trenches have deep-seated
earthquake occurrences while in the midoceanic ridge areas, the quake foci have
shallow depths.
These facts and a detailed analysis of magnetic
properties of the rocks on either sides of the
mid-oceanic ridge led Hess (1961) to propose
his hypothesis, known as the sea floor
spreading. 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.
The younger age of the oceanic crust as well
as the fact that the spreading of one ocean does
not cause the shrinking of the other, made Hess

Figure 4. 3 : Sea floor spreading

PLATE TECTONICS

Since the advent of the concept of sea floor

spreading, the interest in the problem of
distribution of oceans and continents was
revived. It was in 1967, McKenzie and Parker
and also Morgan, independently collected the
available ideas and came out with another

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think about the consumption of the oceanic

crust. He further maintained that the ocean
floor that gets pushed due to volcanic
eruptions at the crest, sinks down at the
oceanic trenches and gets consumed.
The basic concept of sea floor spreading has
been depicted in Figure 4.3.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

The motions of the continents during the past 540

million years. 1. Africa; 2. South America;
3. Antarctica; 4. Australia; 5. India; 6. China; 7. North
America; 8. Europe; 9. and 10. Siberia (Emilani, 1992)

Figure 4.4 : Position of continents through geological past

DISTRIBUTION OF OCEANS AND CONTINENTS

(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.
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

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concept termed Plate Tectonics. A tectonic

plate (also called lithospheric plate) is a
massive, irregularly-shaped slab of solid rock,
generally composed of both continental and
oceanic lithosphere. Plates move horizontally
over the asthenosphere as rigid units. The
lithosphere includes the crust and top mantle
with its thickness range varying between 5-100
km in oceanic parts and about 200 km in the
continental areas. A plate may be referred to
as the continental plate or oceanic plate
depending on which of the two occupy a larger
portion of the plate. Pacific plate is largely an
oceanic plate whereas the Eurasian plate may be
called a continental plate. The theory of plate
tectonics proposes that the earths lithosphere is
divided into seven major and some minor plates.
Young Fold Mountain ridges, trenches, and/or
faults surround these major plates (Figure 4.5).
The major plates are as follows :
(i) Antarctica and the surrounding oceanic
plate

Figure 4.5 : Major and minor plates of the world

Transform Boundaries

Where the crust is neither produced nor

destroyed as the plates slide horizontally past
each other. Transform faults are the planes of
separation generally perpendicular to the midoceanic ridges. As the eruptions do not take
all along the entire crest at the same time, there
is a differential movement of a portion of the
plate away from the axis of the earth. Also, the
rotation of the earth has its effect on the
separated blocks of the plate portions.
How do you think the rate of plate
movement is determined?

Rates of Plate Movement

The strips of normal and reverse magnetic field

that parallel the mid-oceanic ridges help
scientists determine the rates of plate
movement. These 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).

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and Indian plate (North of New Guinea)

(vi) Fuji plate : North-east of Australia.
These plates have been constantly moving
over the globe throughout the history of the
earth. It is not the continent that moves as
believed by Wegener. Continents are part of a
plate and what moves is the plate. Moreover, it
may be noted that all the plates, without
exception, have moved in the geological past,
and shall continue to move in the future as well.
Wegener had thought of all the continents to
have initially existed as a super continent in
the form of Pangaea. However, later discoveries
reveal that the continental masses, resting on
the plates, have been wandering all through the
geological period, and Pangaea was a result of
converging of different continental masses that
were parts of one or the other plates. Scientists
using the palaeomagnetic data have determined
the positions held by each of the present
continental landmass in different geological
periods (Fig 4.4). Position of the Indian subcontinent (mostly Peninsular India) is traced
with the help of the rocks analysed from the
Nagpur area.
There are three types of plate boundaries:

(v) Caroline plate : Between the Philippine

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Divergent Boundaries

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.
Convergent Boundaries

Where the crust is destroyed as one plate dived

under another. The location where sinking of
a plate occurs is called a subduction zone.
There are three ways in which convergence can
occur. These are: (i) between an oceanic and
continental plate; (ii) between two oceanic
plates; and (iii) between two continental
plates.

Force for the Plate Movement

At the time that Wegener proposed his theory
of continental drift, most scientists believed
that the earth was a solid, motionless body.
However, concepts of sea floor spreading and
the unified theory of plate tectonics have
emphasised that both the surface of the earth
and the interior are not static and motionless
but are dynamic. The fact that the plates move
is now a well-accepted fact. The mobile rock
beneath the rigid plates is believed to be
moving in a circular manner. The heated
material rises to the surface, spreads and
begins to cool, and then sinks back into deeper
depths. This cycle is repeated over and over to
generate what scientists call a convection cell
or convective flow. Heat within the earth comes
from two main sources: radioactive decay and
residual heat. Arthur Holmes first considered

DISTRIBUTION OF OCEANS AND CONTINENTS

this idea in the 1930s, which later influenced

Harry Hess thinking about seafloor spreading.
The slow movement of hot, softened mantle
that lies below the rigid plates is the driving
force behind the plate movement.

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The Indian plate includes Peninsular India

and the Australian continental portions. The
subduction zone along the Himalayas forms
the northern plate boundary in the form of
continent continent convergence. In the east,
it extends through Rakinyoma Mountains of
Myanmar towards the island arc along the
Java Trench. The eastern margin is a
spreading site lying to the east of Australia in
the form of an oceanic ridge in SW Pacific. The
Western margin follows Kirthar Mountain of
Pakistan. It further extends along the Makrana
coast and joins the spreading site from the
Red Sea rift southeastward along the Chagos
Archipelago. The boundary between India
and the Antarctic plate is also marked by
oceanic ridge (divergent boundary) running
in roughly W-E direction and merging into the
spreading site, a little south of New Zealand.
India was a large island situated off the
Australian coast, in a vast ocean. The Tethys
Sea separated it from the Asian continent till
about 225 million years ago. India is supposed
to have started her northward journey about
200 million years ago at the time when Pangaea
broke. India collided with Asia about 40-50
million years ago causing rapid uplift of the
Himalayas. The positions of India since about
71 million years till the present are shown in
the Figure 4.6. It also shows the position of
the Indian subcontinent and the Eurasian
plate. About 140 million years before the
present, the subcontinent was located as
south as 50oS. latitude. The two major plates
were separated by the Tethys Sea and the
Tibetan block was closer to the Asiatic
landmass. During the movement of the Indian

INDIAN PLATE

OF THE

MOVEMENT

Figure 4.6 : Movement of the Indian plate

plate towards the Asiatic plate, a major event

that occurred was the outpouring of lava and
formation of the Deccan Traps. This started
somewhere around 60 million years ago and
continued for a long period of time. Note that
the subcontinent was still close to the equator.
From 40 million years ago and thereafter, the
event of formation of the Himalayas took place.
Scientists believe that the process is still
continuing and the height of the Himalayas is
rising even to this date.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

EXERCISES
1.

Multiple choice questions.

(i) Who amongst the following was the first to consider the possibility of
Europe, Africa and America having been located side by side.
(a) Alfred Wegener

(c) Abraham Ortelius

(b) Antonio Pellegrini

(d) Edmond Hess

(b) Gravitation

(d) Tides

(a) Revolution of the Earth

(iv)

(b) Arabia

(d) Antarctica

(iii) Which one of the following is not a minor plate?

(a) Nazca

(ii) Polar fleeing force relates to:

Which one of the following facts was not considered by those while
discussing the concept of sea floor spreading?

(a) Volcanic activity along the mid-oceanic ridges.

(b) Stripes of normal and reverse magnetic field observed in rocks of ocean
floor.

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(c) Distribution of fossils in different continents.

(d) Age of rocks from the ocean floor.

(v)

Which one of the following is the type of plate boundary of the Indian plate
along the Himalayan mountains?
(a) Ocean-continent convergence
(b) Divergent boundary

(c) Transform boundary

(d) Continent-continent convergence

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

What were the forces suggested by Wegener for the movement of the
continents?

(ii)

How are the convectional currents in the mantle initiated and maintained?

(iii)

What is the major difference between the transform boundary and the
convergent or divergent boundaries of plates?

(iv)

What was the location of the Indian landmass during the formation of the
Deccan Traps?

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

What are the evidences in support of the continental drift theory?

(ii)

Bring about the basic difference between the drift theory and Plate
tectonics.

(iii)

What were the major post-drift discoveries that rejuvenated the interest
of scientists in the study of distribution of oceans and continents?

Project Work
Prepare a collage related to damages caused by an earthquake.

d
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is
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UNIT
III

LANDFORMS

This unit deals with

Rocks and minerals major types of rocks and their

characteristics

Landforms and their evolution

Geomorphic processes weathering, mass wasting, erosion

and deposition; soils formation

CHAPTER

AND

ROCKS

Though the number of elements making

up the lithosphere are limited they are
combined in many different ways to make up
many varieties of minerals. There are at least
2,000 minerals that have been named and
identified in the earth crust; but almost all the
commonly occurring ones are related to six
major mineral groups that are known as major
rock forming minerals.
The basic source of all minerals is the hot
magma in the interior of the earth. When
magma cools, crystals of minerals appear and
a systematic series of minerals are formed in
sequence to solidify so as to form rocks.
Minerals such as coal, petroleum and natural
gas are organic substances found in solid,
liquid and gaseous forms respectively.
A brief information about some important
minerals in terms of their nature and physical
characteristics is given below :

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he earth is composed of various kinds

of elements. These elements are in solid
form in the outer layer of the earth and
in hot and molten form in the interior.
About 98 per cent of the total crust of the
earth is composed of eight elements like
oxygen, silicon, aluminium, iron, calcium,
sodium, potassium and magnesium (Table 5.1),
and the rest is constituted by titanium,
hydrogen, phosphorous, manganese, sulphur,
carbon, nickel and other elements.

MINERALS

Table 5.1 : The Major Elements of the Earths Crust

Sl. No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Elements

Oxygen
Silicon
Aluminium
Iron
Calcium
Sodium
Potassium
Magnesium
Others

By Weight(%)
46.60
27.72
8.13
5.00
3.63
2.83
2.59
2.09
1.41

The elements in the earths crust are rarely

found exclusively but are usually combined with
other elements to make various substances.
These substances are recognised as minerals.
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, sometimes single

element minerals like sulphur, copper,

silver, gold, graphite etc. are found.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

(i) External crystal form determined by internal arrangement of

the molecules cubes, octahedrons, hexagonal prisms, etc.
(ii) Cleavage tendency to break in
given
directions
producing
relatively plane surfaces result
of internal arrangement of the
molecules may cleave in one or
more directions and at any angle
to each other.

MINERALS AND ROCKS

SOME MAJOR MINERALS

THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

AND

Feldspar

Silicon and oxygen are common elements in

all types of feldspar and sodium, potassium,
calcium, aluminium etc. are found in specific
feldspar variety. Half of the earths crust is
composed of feldspar. It has light cream to
salmon pink colour. It is used in ceramics and
glass making.
Quartz

It is one of the most important components of

sand and granite. It consists of silica. It is a
hard mineral virtually insoluble in water. It is
white or colourless and used in radio and radar.
It is one of the most important components of
granite.
Pyroxene

Pyroxene consists of calcium, aluminum,

magnesium, iron and silica. Pyroxene forms
10 per cent of the earths crust. It is commonly
found in meteorites. It is in green or black
colour.

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(iii) Fracture internal molecular

arrangement so complex there are
no planes of molecules; the crystal
will break in an irregular manner,
not along planes of cleavage.
(iv) Lustre appearance of a material
without regard to colour; each
mineral has a distinctive lustre like
metallic, silky, glossy etc.
(v) Colour some minerals have
characteristic colour determined
by their molecular structure
malachite, azurite, chalcopyrite etc.,
and some minerals are coloured by
impurities. For example, because
of impurities quartz may be white,
green, red, yellow etc.
(vi) Streak colour of the ground powder
of any mineral. It may be of the
same colour as the mineral or may
differ malachite is green and gives
green streak, fluorite is purple or
green but gives a white streak.
(vii) Transparency transparent: light
rays pass through so that objects
can be seen plainly; translucent
light rays pass through but will
get diffused so that objects cannot
be seen; opaque light will not pass
at all.
(viii) Structure particular arrangement of the individual crystals;
fine, medium or coarse grained;
fibrous separable, divergent,
radiating.
(ix) Hardness relative resistance
being scratched; ten minerals are
selected to measure the degree of
hardness from 1-10. They are:
1. talc; 2. gypsum; 3. calcite;
4. fluorite; 5. apatite; 6. feldspar;
7. quartz; 8. topaz; 9. corundum;
10. diamond. Compared to this for
example, a fingernail is 2.5 and
glass or knife blade is 5.5.
(x) Specific gravity the ratio between
the weight of a given object and
the weight of an equal volume of
water; object weighed in air and
then weighed in water and divide
weight in air by the difference of the
two weights.

Amphibole

Aluminium, calcium, silica, iron, magnesium

are the major elements of amphiboles. They
form 7 per cent of the earths crust. It is in
green or black colour and is used in asbestos
industry. Hornblende is another form of
amphiboles.
Mica

It comprises of potassium, aluminium,

magnesium, iron, silica etc. It forms 4 per cent
of the earths crust. It is commonly found in
igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is used in
electrical instruments.
Olivine

Magnesium, iron and silica are major elements

of olivine. It is used in jewellery. It is usually a
greenish crystal, often found in basaltic rocks.
Besides these main minerals, other minerals
like chlorite, calcite, magnetite, haematite,
bauxite and barite are also present in some
quantities in the rocks.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Igneous Rocks

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.

As igneous rocks form out of magma and lava

from the interior of the earth, they are known
as primary rocks. The igneous rocks (Ignis
in Latin means Fire) are formed when magma
cools and solidifies. You already know what
magma is. When magma in its upward
movement cools and turns into solid form it is
called igneous rock. The process of cooling and
solidification can happen in the earths crust
or on the surface of the earth.
Igneous rocks are classified based on
texture. Texture depends upon size and
arrangement of grains or other physical
conditions of the materials. 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.
Intermediate conditions of cooling would result
in intermediate sizes of grains making up
igneous rocks. Granite, gabbro, pegmatite,
basalt, volcanic breccia and tuff are some of
the examples of igneous rocks.

ROCKS

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The earths crust is composed of rocks. A

rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals.
Rock may be hard or soft and in varied
colours. For example, granite is hard, soapstone
is soft. Gabbro is black and quartzite can be
milky white. Rocks do not have definite
composition of mineral constituents.
Feldspar and quartz are the most common
minerals found in rocks.

These minerals do not contain metal content.

Sulphur, phosphates and nitrates are examples
of non-metallic minerals. Cement is a mixture
of non-metallic minerals.

Non-Metallic Minerals

Metallic Minerals

Petrology is science of rocks. A petrologist

studies rocks in all their aspects viz.,
mineral composition, texture, structure,
origin, occurrence, alteration and
relationship with other rocks.

As there is a close relation between rocks

and landforms, rocks and soils, a geographer
requires basic knowledge of rocks. There are
many different kinds of rocks which are
grouped under three families on the basis of
their mode of formation. They are: (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.

Sedimentary Rocks

The word sedimentary is derived from the Latin

word sedimentum, which means settling. Rocks
(igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) of the
earths surface are exposed to denudational
agents, and are broken up into various sizes
of fragments. Such fragments are transported
by different exogenous agencies and
deposited. These deposits through compaction
turn into rocks. This process is called
lithification. In many sedimentary rocks, the
layers of deposits retain their characteristics
even after lithification. Hence, we see a number
of layers of varying thickness in sedimentary
rocks like sandstone, shale etc.
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.

MINERALS AND ROCKS

ROCK CYCLE

Rocks do not remain in their original form for

long but may undergo transformation. Rock
cycle is a continuous process through which
old rocks are transformed into new ones.
Igneous rocks are primary rocks and other
rocks (sedimentary and metamorphic) form
from these primary rocks. Igneous rocks can
be changed into metamorphic rocks. The
fragments derived out of igneous and
metamorphic rocks form into sedimentary

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The word metamorphic means change of form.

These rocks form under the action of pressure,
volume and temperature (PVT) changes.
Metamorphism occurs when rocks are forced
down to lower levels by tectonic processes or
when molten magma rising through the crust
comes in contact with the crustal rocks or the
underlying rocks are subjected to great
amounts of pressure by overlying rocks.
Metamorphism is a process by which already
consolidated rocks undergo recrystallisation
and reorganisation of materials within original
rocks.
Mechanical disruption and reorganisation
of the original minerals within rocks due to
breaking and crushing without any
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 contact metamorphism and regional metamorphism. In
contact metamorphism the rocks come in
contact with hot intruding magma and lava
and the rock materials recrystallise under high
temperatures. Quite often new materials form
out of magma or lava are added to the rocks.
In regional metamorphism, rocks undergo
recrystallisation due to deformation caused by
tectonic shearing together with high
temperature or pressure or both. In the process
of metamorphism in some rocks grains or
minerals get arranged in layers or lines. Such
an arrangement of minerals or grains in
metamorphic rocks is called foliation or
lineation. Sometimes minerals or materials of
different groups are arranged into alternating
thin to thick layers appearing in light and dark
shades. Such a structure in metamorphic
rocks is called banding and rocks displaying
banding are called banded rocks. Types of
metamorphic rocks depend upon original
rocks that were subjected to metamorphism.
Metamorphic rocks are classified into two

major groups foliated rocks and non-foliated

rocks. Gneissoid, granite, syenite, slate, schist,
marble, quartzite etc. are some examples of
metamorphic rocks.

Metamorphic Rocks

Fig 5.1 : Rock Cycle

rocks. Sedimentary rocks themselves can turn

into fragments and the fragments can be a
source for formation of sedimentary rocks. The
crustal rocks (igneous, metamorphic and
sedimentary) once formed may be carried
down into the mantle (interior of the earth)
through subduction process (parts or whole
of crustal plates going down under another
plate in zones of plate convergence) and the
same melt down due to increase in
temperature in the interior and turn into
molten magma, the original source for
igneous rocks (Figure 5.1).

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

EXERCISES
1.

Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which one of the following are the two main constituents of granite?
(a) Iron and nickel

(c) Silica and aluminium

(b) Iron and silver

(d) Iron Oxide and potassium

(b) Quite

(d) Foliation

(a) Changeable

(ii) Which one of the following is the salient feature of metamorphic rocks?

(iii) Which one of the following is not a single element mineral?

(a) Gold
(b) Silver

(b) Diamond

(d) Feldspar

(v)

(a) Topaz

(iv) Which one of the following is the hardest mineral?

Which one of the following is not a sedimentary rock?

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(a) Tillite
(b) Borax

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

(d) Marble

What do you mean by rocks? Name the three major classes of rocks.

(ii)

What is an igneous rock? Describe the method of formation and

characteristics of igneous rock.

(iii)

What is meant by sedimentary rock? Describe the mode of formation of

sedimentary rock.

(iv)

What relationship explained by rock cycle between the major type of rock?

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

Define the term mineral and name the major classes of minerals with
their physical characteristics.

(ii)

Describe the nature and mode of origin of the chief types of rock at the
earths crust. How will you distinguish them?

(iii)

What are metamorphic rocks? Describe the types of metamorphic rock

and how are they formed?

Project Work

Collect different rock samples and try to recognise them from their physical
characteristics and identify their family.

CHAPTER

forces continuously elevate or build up parts

of the earths surface and hence the exogenic
processes fail to even out the relief variations
of the surface of the earth. So, variations remain
as long as the opposing actions of exogenic and
endogenic forces continue. In general terms,
the endogenic forces are mainly land building
forces and the exogenic processes are mainly
land wearing forces. The surface of the earth is
sensitive. Humans depend on it for their
sustenance and have been using it extensively
and intensively. So, it is essential to understand
its nature in order to use it effectively without
disturbing its balance and diminishing its
potential for the future. Almost all organisms
contribute to sustain the earths environment.
However, humans have caused extensive
damage to the environment through over use
of resources. Use we must, but must also leave
it potential enough to sustain life through the
future. Most of the surface of the earth had and
has been shaped over very long periods of time
(hundreds and thousands of years) and
because of its use and misuse by humans its
potential is being diminished at a fast rate. If
the processes which shaped and are shaping
the surface of the earth into varieties of forms
(shapes) and the nature of materials of which
it is composed of, are understood, precautions
can be taken to minimise the detrimental effects
of human use and to preserve it for posterity.

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fter learning about how the earth was

born, how it evolved its crust and other
inner layers, how its crustal plates
moved and are moving, and other information
on earthquakes, the forms of volcanism and
about the rocks and minerals the crust is
composed of, it is time to know in detail about
the surface of the earth on which we live. Let
us start with this question.

GEOMORPHIC PROCESSES

Why is the surface of the earth uneven?

The earths crust is dynamic. You are well

aware that it has moved and moves vertically
and horizontally. Of course, it moved a bit faster
in the past than the rate at which it is moving
now. The differences in the internal forces
operating from within the earth which built up
the crust have been responsible for the
variations in the outer surface of the crust. The
earths surface is being continuously subjected
to external forces induced basically by energy
(sunlight). Of course, the internal forces are still
active though with different intensities. That
means, the earths surface is being
continuously subjected to by external forces
originating within the earths atmosphere and
by internal forces from within the earth. The
external forces are known as exogenic forces
and the internal forces are known as endogenic
forces. The actions of exogenic forces result in
wearing down (degradation) of relief/elevations
and filling up (aggradation) of basins/
depressions, on the earths surface. The
phenomenon of wearing down of relief
variations of the surface of the earth through
erosion is known as gradation. The endogenic

GEOMORPHIC PROCESSES
You would like to know the meaning of
geomorphic processes. The endogenic and
exogenic forces causing physical stresses and
chemical actions on earth materials and

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

ENDOGENIC PROCESSES

Diastrophism

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 due to geothermal gradients and
heat flow from within induces diastrophism
and volcanism in the lithosphere. Due to
variations in geothermal gradients and heat flow
from within, crustal thickness and strength,
the action of endogenic forces are not uniform
and hence the tectonically controlled original
crustal surface is uneven.

All processes that move, elevate or build up

portions of the earths crust come under
diastrophism. They include: (i) orogenic
processes involving mountain building
through severe folding and affecting long and
narrow belts of the earths crust; (ii) epeirogenic
processes involving uplift or warping of large
parts of the earths crust; (iii) earthquakes
involving local relatively minor movements;
(iv) plate tectonics involving horizontal
movements of crustal plates.
In the process of orogeny, the crust is
severely deformed into folds. Due to epeirogeny,
there may be simple deformation. Orogeny is
a mountain building process whereas
epeirogeny is continental building process.
Through the processes of orogeny, epeirogeny,
earthquakes and plate tectonics, there can be
faulting and fracturing of the crust. All these
processes cause pressure, volume and
temperature (PVT) changes which in turn
induce metamorphism of rocks.

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bringing about changes in the configuration

of the surface of the earth are known as
geomorphic processes. Diastrophism and
volcanism are endogenic geomorphic
processes. These have already been discussed
in brief in the preceding unit. Weathering, mass
wasting, erosion and deposition are exogenic
geomorphic processes. These exogenic
processes are dealt with in detail in this chapter.
Any exogenic element of nature (like water,
ice, wind, etc.,) capable of acquiring and
transporting earth materials can be called a
geomorphic agent. When these elements of
nature become mobile due to gradients, they
remove the materials and transport them over
slopes and deposit them at lower level.
Geomorphic processes and geomorphic agents
especially exogenic, unless stated separately,
are one and the same.
A process is a force applied on earth
materials affecting the same. An agent is a
mobile medium (like running water, moving ice
masses, wind, waves and currents etc.) which
removes, transports and deposits earth
materials. Running water, groundwater,
glaciers, wind, waves and currents, etc., can
be called geomorphic agents.
Do you think it is essential to distinguish
geomorphic agents and geomorphic
processes?

Gravity besides being a directional force

activating all downslope movements of matter
also causes stresses on the earths materials.
Indirect gravitational stresses activate wave and
tide induced currents and winds. Without
gravity and gradients there would be no
mobility and hence no erosion, transportation
and deposition are possible. So, gravitational
stresses are as important as the other
geomorphic processes. Gravity is the force that
is keeping us in contact with the surface and it
is the force that switches on the movement of
all surface material on earth. All the movements
either within the earth or on the surface of the
earth occur due to gradients from higher
levels to lower levels, from high pressure to low
pressure areas etc.

Epeirogeny and orogeny, cite the

differences.

Volcanism

Volcanism includes the movement of molten

rock (magma) onto or toward the earths
surface and also formation of many intrusive
and extrusive volcanic forms. Many aspects of
volcanism have already been dealt in detail

GEOMORPHIC PROCESSES

Why do you think that the slopes or

gradients are created by tectonic factors?

Figure 6.1 : Denudational processes and their

driving forces

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Gravitational force acts upon all earth

materials having a sloping surface and tend to
produce movement of matter in down slope
direction. Force applied per unit area is called
stress. Stress is produced in a solid by pushing
or pulling. This induces deformation. Forces
acting along the faces of earth materials are
shear stresses (separating forces). It is this
stress that breaks rocks and other earth
materials. The shear stresses result in angular
displacement or slippage. Besides the
gravitational stress earth materials become
subjected to molecular stresses that may be
caused by a number of factors amongst which
temperature changes, crystallisation and
melting are the most common. Chemical
processes normally lead to loosening of bonds
between grains, dissolving of soluble minerals
or cementing materials. Thus, the basic reason
that leads to weathering, mass movements, and
erosion is development of stresses in the body
of the earth materials.
As there are different climatic regions on
the earths surface the exogenic geomorphic
processes vary from region to region.
Temperature and precipitation are the two
important climatic elements that control
various processes.
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 are included in denudation.
The flow chart (Figure 6.1) gives the denudation

The exogenic processes derive their energy

from atmosphere determined by the ultimate
energy from the sun and also the gradients
created by tectonic factors.

EXOGENIC PROCESSES

What do the words volcanism and

volcanoes indicate?

processes and their respective driving forces.

It should become clear from this chart that for
each process there exists a distinct driving force
or energy.
As there are different climatic regions on
the earths surface owing to thermal gradients
created by latitudinal, seasonal and land and
water spread variations, the exogenic
geomorphic processes vary from region to
region. The density, type and distribution of
vegetation which largely depend upon

under volcanoes in the Unit II and under

igneous rocks in the preceding chapter in this
unit.

precipitation and temperature exert influence

indirectly on exogenic geomorphic processes.
Within different climatic regions there may be
local variations of the effects of different climatic
elements due to altitudinal differences, aspect
variations and the variation in the amount of
insolation received by north and south facing
slopes as compared to east and west facing
slopes. Further, due to differences in wind
velocities and directions, amount and kind of
precipitation, its intensity, the relation between
precipitation and evaporation, daily range of
temperature, freezing and thawing frequency,
depth of frost penetration, the geomorphic
processes vary within any climatic region.
What is the sole driving force behind all
the exogenic processes?

Climatic factors being equal, the intensity

of action of exogenic geomorphic processes
depends upon type and structure of rocks. The
term structure includes such aspects of rocks
as folds, faults, orientation and inclination of
beds, presence or absence of joints, bedding
planes, hardness or softness of constituent
minerals, chemical susceptibility of mineral
constituents; the permeability or impermeability

Figure 6.2 : Climatic regimes and depth of weathering

mantles (adapted and modified from Strakhov, 1967)

Activity

Mark the latitude values of different

climatic regimes in Figure 6.2 and
compare the details.

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etc. Different types of rocks with differences in

their structure offer varying resistances to
various geomorphic processes. A particular
rock may be resistant to one process and nonresistant to another. And, under varying
climatic conditions, particular rocks may
exhibit different degrees of resistance to
geomorphic processes and hence they operate
at differential rates and give rise to differences
in topography. The effects of most of the
exogenic geomorphic processes are small and
slow and may be imperceptible in a short time
span, but will in the long run affect the rocks
severely due to continued fatigue.
Finally, it boils down to one fact that the
differences on the surface of the earth though
originally related to the crustal evolution
continue to exist in some form or the other due
to differences in the type and structure of earth
materials, differences in geomorphic processes
and in their rates of operation.
Some of the exogenic geomorphic processes
have been dealt in detail here.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

WEATHERING

Weathering is action of elements of weather and

climate over earth materials. There are a
number of processes within weathering which
act either individually or together to affect the
earth materials in order to reduce them to
fragmental state.
Weathering is defined as mechanical
disintegration and chemical decomposition of rocks through the actions of
various elements of weather and climate.

As very little or no motion of materials

takes place in weathering, it is an in-situ or
on-site process.
Is this little motion which can occur
sometimes due to weathering synonymous
with transportation? If not, why?

Weathering processes are conditioned by

many complex geological, climatic, topographic
and vegetative factors. Climate is of particular
importance. Not only weathering processes
differ from climate to climate, but also the depth
of the weathering mantle (Figure 6.2).

There are three major groups of weathering

processes : (i) chemical; (ii) physical or
mechanical; (iii) biological weathering processes.
Very rarely does any one of these processes ever
operate completely by itself, but quite often a
dominance of one process can be seen.
Chemical Weathering Processes
A group of weathering processes viz; solution,
carbonation, hydration, oxidation and
reduction act on the rocks to decompose,
dissolve or reduce them to a fine clastic state
through chemical reactions by oxygen, surface
and/or soil water and other acids. Water and
air (oxygen and carbon dioxide) along with
heat must be present to speed up all chemical
reactions. Over and above the carbon dioxide
present in the air, decomposition of plants and
animals increases the quantity of carbon
dioxide underground. These chemical
reactions on various minerals are very much
similar to the chemical reactions in a laboratory.
Solution
When something is dissolved in water or acids,
the water or acid with dissolved contents is

GEOMORPHIC PROCESSES

Oxidation and Reduction

Carbonation

Carbonation is the reaction of carbonate and

bicarbonate with minerals and is a common
process helping the breaking down of
feldspars and carbonate minerals. Carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere and soil air is
absorbed by water, to form carbonic acid that
acts as a weak acid. Calcium carbonates and
magnesium carbonates are dissolved in
carbonic acid and are removed in a solution
without leaving any residue resulting in cave
formation.
Hydration

Hydration is the chemical addition of water.

Minerals take up water and expand; this
expansion causes an increase in the volume of
the material itself or rock. Calcium sulphate
takes in water and turns to gypsum, which is
more unstable than calcium sulphate. This
process is reversible and long, continued
repetition of this process causes fatigue in the
rocks and may lead to their disintegration.

Many clay minerals swell and contract during

wetting and drying and a repetition of this
process results in cracking of overlying
materials. Salts in pore spaces undergo rapid
and repeated hydration and help in rock
fracturing. The volume changes in minerals
due to hydration will also help in physical
weathering through exfoliation and granular
disintegration.

In weathering, oxidation means a combination

of a mineral with oxygen to form oxides or
hydroxides. Oxidation occurs where there is
ready access to the atmosphere and
oxygenated waters. The minerals most
commonly involved in this process are iron,
manganese, sulphur etc. In the process of
oxidation rock breakdown occurs due to the
disturbance caused by addition of oxygen. Red
colour of iron upon oxidation turns to brown
or yellow. When oxidised minerals are placed
in an environment where oxygen is absent,
reduction takes place. Such conditions exist
usually below the water table, in areas of
stagnant water and waterlogged ground. Red
colour of iron upon reduction turns to greenish
or bluish grey.
These weathering processes are interrelated. Hydration, carbonation and oxidation
go hand in hand and hasten the weathering
process.

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called solution. This process involves removal

of solids in solution and depends upon
solubility of a mineral in water or weak acids.
On coming in contact with water many solids
disintegrate and mix up as suspension in
water. Soluble rock forming minerals like
nitrates, sulphates, and potassium etc. are
affected by this process. So, these minerals are
easily leached out without leaving any residue
in rainy climates and accumulate in dry
regions. Minerals like calcium carbonate and
calcium magnesium bicarbonate present in
limestones are soluble in water containing
carbonic acid (formed with the addition of
carbon dioxide in water), and are carried away
in water as solution. Carbon dioxide produced
by decaying organic matter along with soil
water greatly aids in this reaction. Common
salt (sodium chloride) is also a rock forming
mineral and is susceptible to this process of
solution.

Can we give iron rusting as an example

of oxidation? How essential is water in
chemical weathering processes? Can
chemical weathering processes dominate
in water scarce hot deserts?

Physical Weathering Processes

Physical or mechanical weathering processes
depend on some applied forces. The applied
forces could be: (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

What is the difference between exfoliation

domes and exfoliated tors?

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Removal of overlying rock load because of

continued erosion causes vertical pressure
release with the result that the upper layers of
the rock expand producing disintegration of
rock masses. Fractures will develop roughly
parallel to the ground surface. In areas of
curved ground surface, arched fractures tend
to produce massive sheets or exfoliation slabs
of rock. Exfoliation sheets resulting from
expansion due to unloading and pressure
release may measure hundreds or even
thousands of metres in horizontal extent. Large,
smooth rounded domes called exfoliation
domes (Figure 6.3) result due to this process.

Unloading and Expansion

temperatures, this internal movement among

the mineral grains of the superficial layers of
rocks takes place regularly. This process is
most effective in dry climates and high
elevations where diurnal temperature changes
are drastic. As has been mentioned earlier
though these movements are very small they
make the rocks weak due to continued fatigue.
The surface layers of the rocks tend to expand
more than the rock at depth and this leads to
the formation of stress within the rock resulting
in heaving and fracturing parallel to the
surface. Due to differential heating and
resulting expansion and contraction of surface
layers and their subsequent exfoliation from
the surface results in smooth rounded surfaces
in rocks. In rocks like granites, smooth
surfaced and rounded small to big boulders
called tors form due to such exfoliation.

drying cycles. Many of these forces are applied

both at the surface and within different earth
materials leading to rock fracture. Most of the
physical weathering processes are caused by
thermal expansion and pressure release. These
processes are small and slow but can cause
great damage to the rocks because of
continued fatigue the rocks suffer due to
repetition of contraction and expansion.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Figure 6.3 : A large exfoliation dome in granite rock

near bhongir (Bhuvanagiri) town in Andhra Pradesh

Temperature Changes and Expansion

Various minerals in rocks possess their own

limits of expansion and contraction. With rise
in temperature, every mineral expands and
pushes against its neighbour and as
temperature falls, a corresponding contraction
takes place. Because of diurnal changes in the

Freezing, Thawing and Frost Wedging

Frost weathering occurs due to growth of ice
within pores and cracks of rocks during
repeated cycles of freezing and melting. This
process is most effective at high elevations in
mid-latitudes where freezing and melting is
often repeated. Glacial areas are subject to frost
wedging daily. In this process, the rate of
freezing is important. Rapid freezing of water
causes its sudden expansion and high pressure.
The resulting expansion affects joints, cracks
and small inter granular fractures to become
wider and wider till the rock breaks apart.
Salt Weathering

Salts in rocks expand due to thermal action,

hydration and crystallisation. Many salts like
calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium and
barium have a tendency to expand. Expansion
of these salts depends on temperature and
their thermal properties. High temperature
ranges between 30 and 50 oC of surface
temperatures in deserts favour such salt
expansion. Salt crystals in near-surface pores

AND

WEATHERING

SIGNIFICANCE

WEATHERING

Weathering processes are responsible for

breaking down the rocks into smaller
fragments and preparing the way for formation
of not only regolith and soils, but also erosion
and mass movements. Biomes and biodiversity is basically a result of forests
(vegetation) and forests depend upon the depth
of weathering mantles. Erosion cannot be
significant if the rocks are not weathered. That
means, weathering aids mass wasting, erosion
and reduction of relief and changes in
landforms are a consequence of erosion.
Weathering of rocks and deposits helps in the
enrichment and concentrations of certain
valuable ores of iron, manganese, aluminium,
copper etc., which are of great importance for
the national economy. Weathering is an
important process in the formation of soils.

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Biological weathering is 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 like
earthworms, termites, rodents etc., help in
exposing the new surfaces to chemical attack
and assists in the penetration of moisture and
air. Human beings by disturbing vegetation,
ploughing and cultivating soils, also help in
mixing and creating new contacts between air,
water and minerals in the earth materials.
Decaying plant and animal matter help in the
production of humic, carbonic and other acids
which enhance decay and solubility of some
elements. Plant roots exert a tremendous
pressure on the earth materials mechanically
breaking them apart.

temperature changes. Exfoliation domes and

tors result due to unloading and thermal
expansion respectively.

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

Fig.6.4 : Exfoliation (Flacking) and granular

disintegration

cause splitting of individual grains within

rocks, which eventually fall off. This process of
falling off of individual grains may result in
granular disintegration or granular foliation.
Salt crystallisation is most effective of all
salt-weathering processes. In areas with
alternating wetting and drying conditions salt
crystal growth is favoured and the neighbouring
grains are pushed aside. Sodium chloride and
gypsum crystals in desert areas heave up
overlying layers of materials and with the result
polygonal cracks develop all over the heaved
surface. With salt crystal growth, chalk breaks
down most readily, followed by limestone,
sandstone, shale, gneiss and granite etc.

GEOMORPHIC PROCESSES

SPECIAL EFFECTS

WEATHERING

Exfoliation

This has already been explained under

physical weathering processes of unloading,
thermal contraction and expansion and salt
weathering. Exfoliation is a result but not a
process. Flaking off of more or less curved
sheets of shells from over rocks or bedrock
results in smooth and rounded surfaces
(Figures 6.3; 6.4). Exfoliation can occur due
to expansion and contraction induced by

When rocks undergo weathering, some

materials are removed through chemical
or physical leaching by groundwater and
thereby the concentration of remaining
(valuable) materials increases. Without
such a weathering taking place, the
concentration of the same valuable
material may not be sufficient and
economically viable to exploit, process and
refine. This is what is called enrichment.

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Figure 6.5 : Relationships among different types of
mass movements, their relative rates of movement
and moisture limits (after Whitehead, 2001)

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These movements transfer the mass of rock

debris down the slopes under the direct
influence of gravity. That means, air, water or
ice do not carry debris with them from place to
place but on the other hand the debris may
carry with it air, water or ice. The movements
of mass may range from slow to rapid,
affecting shallow to deep columns of materials
and include creep, flow, slide and fall. Gravity
exerts its force on all matter, both bedrock and
the products of weathering. So, weathering is
not a pre-requisite for mass movement though
it aids mass movements. Mass movements are
very active over weathered slopes rather than
over unweathered materials.
Mass movements are aided by gravity and
no geomorphic agent like running water,
glaciers, wind, waves and currents participate
in the process of mass movements. That means
mass movements do not come under erosion
though there is a shift (aided by gravity) of
materials from one place to another. Materials
over the slopes have their own resistance to
disturbing forces and will yield only when force
is greater than the shearing resistance of the
materials. Weak unconsolidated materials,
thinly bedded rocks, faults, steeply dipping
beds, vertical cliffs or steep slopes, abundant
precipitation and torrential rains and scarcity
of vegetation etc., favour mass movements.
Several activating causes precede mass
movements. They are : (i) removal of support
from below to materials above through natural
or artificial means; (ii) increase in gradient and
height of slopes; (iii) overloading through
addition of materials naturally or by artificial
filling; (iv) overloading due to heavy rainfall,
saturation and lubrication of slope materials;
(v) removal of material or load from over the
original slope surfaces; (vi) occurrence of
earthquakes, explosions or machinery;
(vii) excessive natural seepage; (viii) heavy
drawdown of water from lakes, reservoirs and
rivers leading to slow outflow of water from
under the slopes or river banks; (ix) indiscriminate removal of natural vegetation.
Heave (heaving up of soils due to frost
growth and other causes), flow and slide are

the three forms of movements. Figure 6.5 shows

the relationships among different types of mass
movements, their relative rates of movement
and moisture limits.

MASS MOVEMENTS

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Mass movements can be grouped under

two major classes: (i) slow movements;
(ii) rapid movements.
Slow Movements

Creep is one type under this category which

can occur on moderately steep, soil covered
slopes. Movement of materials is extremely
slow and imperceptible except through
extended observation. Materials involved can
be soil or rock debris. Have you ever seen fence
posts, telephone poles lean downslope from
their vertical position and in their linear
alignment? If you have, that is due to the creep
effect. Depending upon the type of material
involved, several types of creep viz., soil creep,
talus creep, rock creep, rock-glacier creep etc.,
can be identified. Also included in this group
is solifluction which involves slow downslope
flowing soil mass or fine grained rock debris
saturated or lubricated with water. This process
is quite common in moist temperate areas
where surface melting of deeply frozen ground
and long continued rain respectively, occur
frequently. When the upper portions get
saturated and when the lower parts are
impervious to water percolation, flowing occurs
in the upper parts.

GEOMORPHIC PROCESSES

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Figure 6.6 : Slumping of debris with backward rotation

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These movements are mostly prevalent in

humid climatic regions and occur over gentle
to steep slopes. Movement of water-saturated
clayey or silty earth materials down low-angle
terraces or hillsides is known as earthflow.
Quite often, the materials slump making steplike terraces and leaving arcuate scarps at their
heads and an accumulation bulge at the toe.
When slopes are steeper, even the bedrock
especially of soft sedimentary rocks like shale
or deeply weathered igneous rock may slide
downslope.
Another type in this category is mudflow.
In the absence of vegetation cover and with
heavy rainfall, thick layers of weathered
materials get saturated with water and either
slowly or rapidly flow down along definite
channels. It looks like a stream of mud within
a valley. When the mudflows emerge out of
channels onto the piedmont or plains, they can
be very destructive engulfing roads, bridges
and houses. Mudflows occur frequently on the
slopes of erupting or recently erupted volcanoes.
Volcanic ash, dust and other fragments turn
into mud due to heavy rains and flow down as
tongues or streams of mud causing great
destruction to human habitations.
A third type is the debris avalanche, which
is more characteristic of humid regions with
or without vegetation cover and occurs in
narrow tracks on steep slopes. This debris
avalanche can be much faster than the
mudflow. Debris avalanche is similar to snow
avalanche.

discontinuities in the rock, the degree of

weathering and the steepness of the slope.
Depending upon the type of movement of
materials several types are identified in this
category.
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 (Figure 6.6). Rapid rolling or sliding

Rapid Movements

of earth debris without backward rotation of

mass is known as debris slide. Debris fall is
nearly a free fall of earth debris from a vertical
or overhanging face. Sliding of individual rock
masses down bedding, joint or fault surfaces
is rockslide. Over steep slopes, rock sliding is
very fast and destructive. Figure 6.7 shows
landslide scars over steep slopes. Slides occur
as planar failures along discontinuities like
bedding planes that dip steeply. Rock fall is
free falling of rock blocks over any steep slope
keeping itself away from the slope. Rock falls
occur from the superficial layers of the rock

In Andes mountains of South America

and the Rockies mountains of North
America, there are a few volcanoes which
erupted during the last decade and very
devastating mudflows occurred down
their slopes during eruption as well as
after eruption.

Landslides

These are relatively rapid and perceptible

movements. The materials involved are
relatively dry. The size and shape of the
detached mass depends on the nature of

Figure 6.7 : Landslide scars in Shiwalik Himalayan ranges

near river Sarada at India-Nepal border, Uttar Pradesh

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Can you compare the three climatically

controlled agents?

The erosion can be defined as application

of the kinetic energy associated with the agent
to the surface of the land along which it moves.
Kinetic energy is computed as KE = 1/2 mv2
where m is the mass and v is the velocity.
Hence the energy available to perform work will
depend on the mass of the material and the
velocity with which it is moving. Obviously then
you will find that though the glaciers move at
very low velocities due to tremendous mass are
more effective as the agents of erosion and wind,
being in gaseous state, is less effective.
The work of the other two agents of erosionwaves and ground water is not controlled by
climate. In case of waves it is the location along
the interface of litho and hydro sphere
coastal region that will determine the work
of waves, whereas the work of ground water is
determined more by the lithological character
of the region. If the rocks are permeable and
soluble and water is available only then karst
topography develops. In the next chapter we
shall be dealing with the landforms produced
by each of these agents of erosion.
Deposition is a consequence of erosion. The
erosional agents loose their velocity and hence
energy on gentler slopes and the materials
carried by them start to settle themselves. In
other words, deposition is not actually the work
of any agent. The coarser materials get

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In our country, debris avalanches and

landslides occur very frequently in the
Himalayas. There are many reasons for
this. One, the Himalayas are tectonically
active. They are mostly made up of
sedimentary rocks and unconsolidated
and semi-consolidated deposits. The
slopes are very steep. Compared to the
Himalayas, the Nilgiris bordering
Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala and the
Western Ghats along the west coast are
relatively tectonically stable and are
mostly made up of very hard rocks; but,
still, debris avalanches and landslides
occur though not as frequently as in the
Himalayas, in these hills. Why? Many
slopes are steeper with almost vertical
cliffs and escarpments in the Western
Ghats and Nilgiris. Mechanical weathering
due to temperature changes and ranges
is pronounced. They receive heavy
amounts of rainfall over short periods.
So, there is almost direct rock fall quite
frequently in these places along with
landslides and debris avalanches.

Between mass wasting and mass

movements, which term do you feel is
most appropriate? Why? Can solifluction
be included under rapid flow movements?
Why it can be and cant be?

erosion it is not a pre-condition for erosion to

take place. Weathering, mass-wasting and
erosion are degradational processes. It is
erosion that is largely responsible for
continuous changes that the earths surface is
undergoing. As indicated in Figure 6.1,
denudational processes like erosion and
transportation are controlled by kinetic energy.
The erosion and transportation of earth
materials is brought about by wind, running
water, glaciers, waves and ground water. Of
these the first three agents are controlled by
climatic conditions. They represent three states
of matter gaseous (wind), liquid (running
water) and solid (glacier) respectively.

face, an occurrence that distinguishes it from

rockslide which affects materials up to a
substantial depth.

EROSION

AND

DEPOSITION

Erosion involves acquisition and transportation

of rock debris. When massive rocks break into
smaller fragments through weathering and
any other process, erosional geomorphic
agents like running water, groundwater,
glaciers, wind and waves remove and
transport it to other places depending upon
the dynamics of each of these agents. Abrasion
by rock debris carried by these geomorphic
agents also aids greatly in erosion. By erosion,
relief degrades, i.e., the landscape is worn
down. That means, though weathering aids

GEOMORPHIC PROCESSES

SOIL FORMATION
Soil and Soil Contents

Is weathering solely responsible for soil

formation? If not, why?

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You see plants growing in soils. You play in

the ground and come into contact with soil.
You touch and feel soil and soil your clothes
while playing. Can you describe it?
A pedologist who studies soils defines soil
as a collection of natural bodies on the earths
surface containing living and/or dead matter
and supporting or capable of supporting plants.
Soil is a dynamic medium in which many
chemical, physical and biological activities go
on constantly. Soil is a result of decay, it is also
the medium for growth. It is a changing and
developing body. It has many characteristics
that fluctuate with the seasons. It may be
alternatively cold and warm or dry and moist.
Biological activity is slowed or stopped if the
soil becomes too cold or too dry. Organic matter
increases when leaves fall or grasses die. The
soil chemistry, the amount of organic matter,
the soil flora and fauna, the temperature and
the moisture, all change with the seasons as
well as with more extended periods of time.
That means, soil becomes adjusted to
conditions of climate, landform and vegetation
and will change internally when these
controlling conditions change.

There is a shift of materials in mass

movements as well as in erosion from one
place to the other. So, why cant both be
treated as one and the same? Can there
be appreciable erosion without rocks
undergoing weathering?

of the weathered material) which is the basic

input for soil to form. First, the weathered
material or transported deposits are colonised
by bacteria and other inferior plant bodies like
mosses and lichens. Also, several minor
organisms may take shelter within the mantle
and deposits. The dead remains of organisms
and plants help in humus accumulation. Minor
grasses and ferns may grow; later, bushes and
trees will start growing through seeds brought
in by birds and wind. Plant roots penetrate
down, burrowing animals bring up particles,
mass of material becomes porous and spongelike with a capacity to retain water and to permit
the passage of air and finally a mature soil, a
complex mixture of mineral and organic
products forms.

deposited first and finer ones later. By

deposition depressions get filled up. The same
erosional agents viz., running water, glaciers,
wind, waves and groundwater act as
aggradational or depositional agents also.
What happens to the surface of the earth
due to erosion and deposition is elaborated in
the next chapter on landforms and their
evolution.

Process of Soil Formation

Soil formation or pedogenesis depends first on
weathering. It is this weathering mantle (depth

Pedology is soil science. A pedologist is a

soil-scientist.

Soil-forming Factors
Five basic factors control the formation of soils:
(i) parent material; (ii) topography; (iii) climate;
(iv) biological activity; (v) time. In fact soil
forming factors act in union and affect the
action of one another.
Parent Material

Parent material is a passive control factor in

soil formation. Parent materials can be any insitu or on-site weathered rock debris (residual
soils) or transported deposits (transported
soils). Soil formation depends upon the texture
(sizes of debris) and structure (disposition of
individual grains/particles of debris) as well
as the mineral and chemical composition of the
rock debris/deposits.
Nature and rate of weathering and depth of
weathering mantle are important considerations
under parent materials. There may be
differences in soil over similar bedrock and
dissimilar bedrocks may have similar soils
above them. But when soils are very young
and have not matured these show strong links

Biological Activity

The vegetative cover and organisms that occupy

the parent materials from the beginning and also
at later stages help in adding organic matter,
moisture retention, nitrogen etc. Dead plants
provide humus, the finely divided organic matter
of the soil. Some organic acids which form
during humification aid in decomposing the
minerals of the soil parent materials.
Intensity of bacterial activity shows up
differences between soils of cold and warm
climates. Humus accumulates in cold climates
as bacterial growth is slow. With undecomposed
organic matter because of low bacterial activity,
layers of peat develop in sub-arctic and tundra
climates. In humid tropical and equatorial
climates, bacterial growth and action is intense
and dead vegetation is rapidly oxidised leaving
very low humus content in the soil. Further,
bacteria and other soil organisms take gaseous
nitrogen from the air and convert it into a
chemical form that can be used by plants. This
process is known as nitrogen fixation.
Rhizobium, a type of bacteria, lives in the root
nodules of leguminous plants and fixes nitrogen
beneficial to the host plant. The influence of large
animals like ants, termites, earthworms, rodents
etc., is mechanical, but, it is nevertheless
important in soil formation as they rework the
soil up and down. In case of earthworms, as
they feed on soil, the texture and chemistry of
the soil that comes out of their body changes.

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Topography like parent materials is another

passive control factor. The influence of
topography is felt through the amount of
exposure of a surface covered by parent
materials to sunlight and the amount of
surface and sub-surface drainage over and
through the parent materials. Soils will be thin
on steep slopes and thick over flat upland
areas. Over gentle slopes where erosion is slow
and percolation of water is good, soil formation
is very favourable. Soils over flat areas may
develop a thick layer of clay with good
accumulation of organic matter giving the soil
dark colour. In middle latitudes, the south
facing slopes exposed to sunlight have different
conditions of vegetation and soils and the north
facing slopes with cool, moist conditions have
some other soils and vegetation.

Topography

climates and in areas with intermediate

precipitation conditions, calcium carbonate
nodules (kanker) are formed.
Temperature acts in two ways increasing
or reducing chemical and biological activity.
Chemical activity is increased in higher
temperatures, reduced in cooler temperatures
(with an exception of carbonation) and stops
in freezing conditions. That is why, tropical soils
with higher temperatures show deeper profiles
and in the frozen tundra regions soils contain
largely mechanically broken materials.

with the type of parent rock. Also, in case of

some limestone areas, where the weathering
processes are specific and peculiar, soils will
show clear relation with the parent rock.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Climate

Climate is an important active factor in soil

formation. The climatic elements involved in soil
development are : (i) moisture in terms of its
intensity, frequency and duration of
precipitation - evaporation and humidity;
(ii) temperature in terms of seasonal and
diurnal variations.
Precipitation gives soil its moisture content
which makes the chemical and biological
activities possible. Excess of water helps in the
downward transportation of soil components
through the soil (eluviation) and deposits the
same down below (illuviation). 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. In dry climates,
because of high temperature, evaporation
exceeds precipitation and hence ground water
is brought up to the surface by capillary action
and in the process the water evaporates leaving
behind salts in the soil. Such salts form into a
crust in the soil known as hardpans. In tropical

Time

Time is the third important controlling factor

in soil formation. The length of time the soil
forming processes operate, determines

GEOMORPHIC PROCESSES

Why are time, topography and parent

material considered as passive control
factors in soil formation?

maturation of soils and profile development. A

soil becomes mature when all soil-forming
processes act for a sufficiently long time
developing a profile. Soils developing from
recently deposited alluvium or glacial till are
considered young and they exhibit no horizons
or only poorly developed horizons. No specific
length of time in absolute terms can be fixed
for soils to develop and mature.

EXERCISES
1.

Multiple choice questions.

Is it necessary to separate the process of

soil formation and the soil forming control
factors?

(i) Which one of the following processes is a gradational process?

(b) Diastrophism

(d) Erosion

(a) Deposition

(ii) Which one of the following materials is affected by hydration process?

(b) Clay

(d) Salts

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(a) Granite

(iii) Debris avalanche can be included in the category of:

(c) Rapid flow mass movements

(b) Slow flow mass movements

(d) Subsidence

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

(ii)

(a) Landslides

It is weathering that is responsible for bio-diversity on the earth. How?

What are mass movements that are real rapid and perceptible? List.

(iii)

What are the various mobile and mighty exogenic geomorphic agents and
what is the prime job they perform?

(iv)

Is weathering essential as a pre-requisite in the formation of soils? Why?

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

Our earth is a playfield for two opposing groups of geomorphic processes.

Discuss.

(ii)

Exogenic geomorphic processes derive their ultimate energy from the suns
heat. Explain.

(iii)

Are physical and chemical weathering processes independent of each

other? If not, why? Explain with examples.

(iv)

How do you distinguish between the process of soil formation and soilforming factors? What is the role of climate and biological activity as two
important control factors in the formation of soils?

Project Work
Depending upon the topography and materials around you, observe and record
climate, possible weathering process and soil contents and characteristics.

CHAPTER

LANDFORMS

AND THEIR

a part of the earths surface from one landform

into another or transformation of individual
landforms after they are once formed. That
means, each and every landform has a history
of development and changes through time. A
landmass passes through stages of
development somewhat comparable to the
stages of life youth, mature and old age.

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fter weathering processes have had

their actions on the earth materials
making up the surface of the earth, the
geomorphic agents like running water, ground
water, wind, glaciers, waves perform erosion.
It is already known to you that erosion causes
changes on the surface of the earth. Deposition
follows erosion and because of deposition too,
changes occur on the surface of the earth.
As this chapter deals with landforms and
their evolution first start with the question,
what is a landform? In simple words, small to
medium tracts or parcels of the earths surface
are called landforms.

EVOLUTION

If landform is a small to medium sized

part of the surface of the earth, what is a
landscape?

Several related landforms together make

up landscapes, (large tracts of earths surface).
Each landform has its own physical shape, size,
materials and is a result of the action of certain
geomorphic processes and agent(s). Actions
of most of the geomorphic processes and
agents are slow, and hence the results take a
long time to take shape. Every landform has a
beginning. Landforms once formed may
change in their shape, size and nature slowly
or fast due to continued action of geomorphic
processes and agents.
Due to changes in climatic conditions and
vertical or horizontal movements of landmasses, either the intensity of processes or the
processes themselves might change leading to
new modifications in the landforms. Evolution
here implies stages of transformation of either

What are the two important aspects of

the evolution of landforms?

The evolutionary history of the continually

changing surface of the earth is essential to be
understood in order to use it effectively without
disturbing its balance and diminishing its
potential for the future. Geomorphology deals
with the reconstruction of the history of the
surface of the earth through a study of its
forms, the materials of which it is made up of
and the processes that shape it.
Changes on the surface of the earth owe
mostly to erosion by various geomorphic
agents. Of course, the process of deposition too,
by covering the land surfaces and filling the
basins, valleys or depressions, brings changes
in the surface of the land. Deposition follows
erosion and the depositional surfaces too are
ultimately subjected to erosion. Running water,
ground-water, glaciers, wind and waves are
powerful erosional and depositional agents
shaping and changing the surface of the earth
aided by weathering and mass wasting
processes. These geomorphic agents acting
over long periods of time produce systematic
changes leading to sequential development of
landforms. Each geomorphic agent produces

LANDFORMS AND THEIR EVOLUTION

Is complete reduction of relief of a high

land mass possible?

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As the geomorphic agents are capable of

erosion and deposition, two sets erosional
or destructional and depositional or
constructional of landforms are produced
by them. Many varieties of landforms develop
by the action of each of the geomorphic agents
depending upon especially the type and
structure i.e. folds, faults, joints, fractures,
hardness and softness, permeability and
impermeability, etc. There are some other
independent controls like (i) stability of sea
level; (ii) tectonic stability of landmasses; (iii)
climate, which influence the evolution of
landforms. Any disturbance in any of these
three controlling factors can upset the
systematic and sequential stages in the
development and evolution of landforms.
In the following pages, under each of the
geomorphic regimes i.e. running water,
groundwater, glaciers, waves, and winds, first a
brief discussion is presented as to how
landmasses are reduced in their relief through
erosion and then, development of some of the
erosional and depositional landforms is dealt with.

Most of the geomorphic processes are

imperceptible. Cite a few processes which
can be seen and a few which cant be
seen.

is linear flow as streams and rivers in valleys.

Most of the erosional landforms made by
running water are associated with vigorous and
youthful rivers flowing over steep gradients.
With time, stream channels over steep gradients
turn gentler due to continued erosion, and as a
consequence, lose their velocity, facilitating
active deposition. There may be depositional
forms associated with streams flowing over steep
slopes. But these phenomena will be on a small
scale compared to those associated with rivers
flowing over medium to gentle slopes. The
gentler the river channels in gradient or slope,
the greater is the deposition. When the stream
beds turn gentler due to continued erosion,
downward cutting becomes less dominant and
lateral erosion of banks increases and as a
consequence the hills and valleys are reduced
to plains.

its own assemblage of landforms. Not only this,

each geomorphic process and agent leave their
distinct imprints on the landforms they
produce. You know that most of the
geomorphic processes are imperceptible
functions and can only be seen and measured
through their results. What are the results?
These results are nothing but landforms and
their characteristics. Hence, a study of
landforms, will reveal to us the process and
agent which has made or has been making
those landforms.

RUNNING WATER

In humid regions, which receive heavy rainfall

running water is considered the most important
of the geomorphic agents in bringing about the
degradation of the land surface. There are two
components of running water. One is overland
flow on general land surface as a sheet. Another

Overland flow causes sheet erosion.

Depending upon irregularities of the land
surface, the overland flow may concentrate into
narrow to wide paths. Because of the sheer
friction of the column of flowing water, minor
or major quantities of materials from the
surface of the land are removed in the direction
of flow and gradually small and narrow rills
will form. These rills will gradually develop into
long and wide gullies; the gullies will further
deepen, widen, lengthen and unite to give rise
to a network of valleys. In the early stages,
down-cutting dominates during which
irregularities such as waterfalls and cascades
will be removed. In the middle stages, streams
cut their beds slower, and lateral erosion of
valley sides becomes severe. Gradually, the
valley sides are reduced to lower and lower
slopes. The divides between drainage basins
are likewise lowered until they are almost
completely flattened leaving finally, a lowland
of faint relief with some low resistant remnants
called monadnocks standing out here and
there. This type of plain forming as a result of
stream erosion is called a peneplain (an almost
plain). The characteristics of each of the stages
of landscapes developing in running water
regimes may be summarised as follows:

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Youth

Streams are few during this stage with poor

integration and flow over original slopes
showing shallow V-shaped valleys with no
floodplains or with very narrow floodplains
along trunk streams. Streams divides are broad
and flat with marshes, swamp and lakes.
Meanders if present develop over these broad
upland surfaces. These meanders may
eventually entrench themselves into the
uplands. Waterfalls and rapids may exist where
local hard rock bodies are exposed.

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During this stage streams are plenty with good

integration. The valleys are still V-shaped but
deep; trunk streams are broad enough to have
wider floodplains within which streams may
flow in meanders confined within the valley.
The flat and broad inter stream areas and
swamps and marshes of youth disappear and
the stream divides turn sharp. Waterfalls and
rapids disappear.

Mature

Old

Smaller tributaries during old age are few with

gentle gradients. Streams meander freely over
vast floodplains showing natural levees, oxbow
lakes, etc. Divides are broad and flat with lakes,
swamps and marshes. Most of the landscape
is at or slightly above sea level.

Figure 7.1 : The Valley of Kaveri river near Hogenekal,

Dharmapuri district, Tamilnadu in the form of gorge

EROSIONAL LANDFORMS
Valleys

Valleys start as small and narrow rills; the rills

will gradually develop into long and wide
gullies; the gullies will further deepen, widen
and lengthen to give rise to valleys. Depending
upon dimensions and shape, many types of
valleys like V-shaped valley, gorge, canyon,
etc. can be recognised. A gorge is a deep valley
with very steep to straight sides (Figure 7.1) and
a canyon is characterised by steep step-like
side slopes (Figure 7.2) and may be as deep as
a gorge. A gorge is almost equal in width at its
top as well as its bottom. In contrast, a canyon

Figure 7.2 : An entrenched meander loop of river Colorado

in USA showing step-like side slopes of its valley
typical of a canyon

is wider at its top than at its bottom. In fact, a

canyon is a variant of gorge. Valley types depend
upon the type and structure of rocks in which
they form. For example, canyons commonly
form in horizontal bedded sedimentary rocks
and gorges form in hard rocks.

LANDFORMS AND THEIR EVOLUTION

River Terraces

Over the rocky beds of hill-streams more or less

circular depressions called potholes form
because of stream erosion aided by the abrasion
of rock fragments. Once a small and shallow
depression forms, pebbles and boulders get
collected in those depressions and get rotated
by flowing water and consequently the
depressions grow in dimensions. A series of such
depressions eventually join and the stream
valley gets deepened. At the foot of waterfalls
also, large potholes, quite deep and wide, form
because of the sheer impact of water and
rotation of boulders. Such large and deep holes
at the base of waterfalls are called plunge pools.
These pools also help in the deepening of valleys.
Waterfalls are also transitory like any other
landform and will recede gradually and bring
the floor of the valley above waterfalls to the
level below.

River terraces are surfaces marking old valley

floor or floodplain levels. They may be bedrock
surfaces without any alluvial cover or alluvial
terraces consisting of stream deposits. River
terraces are basically products of erosion as
they result due to vertical erosion by the stream
into its own depositional floodplain. There can
be a number of such terraces at different
heights indicating former river bed levels. The
river terraces may occur at the same elevation
on either side of the rivers in which case they
are called paired terraces (Figure 7.3).

is
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Incised or Entrenched Meanders

Potholes and Plunge Pools

In streams that flow rapidly over steep

gradients, normally erosion is concentrated on
the bottom of the stream channel. Also, in the
case of steep gradient streams, lateral erosion
on the sides of the valleys is not much when
compared to the streams flowing on low and
gentle slopes. Because of active lateral erosion,
streams flowing over gentle slopes, develop
sinuous or meandering courses. It is common
to find meandering courses over floodplains
and delta plains where stream gradients are
very gentle. But very deep and wide meanders
can also be found cut in hard rocks. Such
meanders are called incised or entrenched
meanders (Figure 7.2). Meander loops develop
over original gentle surfaces in the initial stages
of development of streams and the same loops
get entrenched into the rocks normally due to
erosion or slow, continued uplift of the land
over which they start. They widen and deepen
over time and can be found as deep gorges and
canyons in hard rock areas. They give an
indication on the status of original land
surfaces over which streams have developed.
What are the differences between incised
meanders and meanders over flood and
delta plains?

Figure 7.3 : Paired and unpaired river terraces

When a terrace is present only on one side

of the stream and with none on the other side
or one at quite a different elevation on the other
side, the terraces are called unpaired terraces.
Unpaired terraces are typical in areas of slow
uplift of land or where the water column
changes are not uniform along both the banks.
The terraces may result due to (i) receding water
after a peak flow; (ii) change in hydrological
regime due to climatic changes; (iii) tectonic
uplift of land; (iv) sea level changes in case of
rivers closer to the sea.

DEPOSITIONAL LANDFORMS
Alluvial Fans

Alluvial fans (Figure 7.4) are formed when

streams flowing from higher levels break into
foot slope plains of low gradient. Normally very
coarse load is carried by streams flowing over
mountain slopes. This load becomes too heavy
for the streams to be carried over gentler

as a low cone. 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. As the
delta grows, the river distributaries continue
to increase in length (Figure 7.5) and delta
continues to build up into the sea.

gradients and gets dumped and spread as a

broad low to high cone shaped deposit called
alluvial fan. Usually, the streams which flow
over fans are not confined to their original
channels for long and shift their position across
the fan forming many channels called
distributaries. Alluvial fans in humid areas
show normally low cones with gentle slope from

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Floodplains, Natural Levees and Point Bars

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Figure 7.4 : An alluvial fan deposited by a hill stream

on the way to Amarnath, Jammu and Kashmir

Deposition develops a floodplain just as

erosion makes valleys. Floodplain is a major
landform of river deposition. Large sized
materials are deposited first when stream
channel breaks into a gentle slope. Thus,
normally, fine sized materials like sand, silt and
clay are carried by relatively slow moving
waters in gentler channels usually found in the
plains and deposited over the bed and when
the waters spill over the banks during flooding
above the bed. A river bed made of river
deposits is the active floodplain. The floodplain
above the bank is inactive floodplain. Inactive
floodplain above the banks basically contain
two types of deposits flood deposits and
channel deposits. In plains, channels shift
laterally and change their courses occasionally
leaving cut-off courses which get filled up
gradually. Such areas over flood plains built
up by abandoned or cut-off channels contain
coarse deposits. The flood deposits of spilled
waters carry relatively finer materials like silt
and clay. The flood plains in a delta are called
delta plains.
Natural levees and point bars (Figure 7.6)
are some of the important landforms found
associated with floodplains. Natural levees are
found along the banks of large rivers. They are
low, linear and parallel ridges of coarse deposits
along the banks of rivers, quite often cut into
individual mounds. During flooding as the
water spills over the bank, the velocity of the
water comes down and large sized and high
specific gravity materials get dumped in the
immediate vicinity of the bank as ridges. They
are high nearer the banks and slope gently
away from the river. The levee deposits are
coarser than the deposits spread by flood
waters away from the river. When rivers shift
laterally, a series of natural levees can form.

head to toe and they appear as high cones with

steep slope in arid and semi-arid climates.
Deltas

Deltas are like alluvial fans but develop at a

different location. The load carried by the rivers
is dumped and spread into the sea. If this load
is not carried away far into the sea or distributed
along the coast, it spreads and accumulates

Figure 7.5 : A satellite view of part of Krishna river

delta, Andhra Pradesh

LANDFORMS AND THEIR EVOLUTION

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Point bars are also known as meander bars.

They are found on the convex side of meanders
of large rivers and are sediments deposited in
a linear fashion by flowing waters along the
bank. They are almost uniform in profile and in
width and contain mixed sizes of sediments. If
there more than one ridge, narrow and elongated
depressions are found in between the point bars.
Rivers build a series of them depending upon
the water flow and supply of sediment. As the
rivers build the point bars on the convex side,
the bank on the concave side will erode actively.

Figure 7.6 : Natural levee and point bars

Meander is not a landform but is only a

type of channel pattern. This is because of
(i) propensity of water flowing over very gentle
gradients to work laterally on the banks;
(ii) unconsolidated nature of alluvial deposits
making up the banks with many irregularities
which can be used by water exerting pressure
laterally; (iii) coriolis force acting on the fluid
water deflecting it like it deflects the wind. When
the gradient of the channel becomes extremely
low, water flows leisurely and starts working
laterally. Slight irregularities along the banks
slowly get transformed into a small curvature
in the banks; the curvature deepens due to
deposition on the inside of the curve and
erosion along the bank on the outside. If there
is no deposition and no erosion or undercutting,
the tendency to meander is reduced. Normally,
in meanders of large rivers, there is active
deposition along the convex bank and
undercutting along the concave bank.

In what way do natural levees differ from

point bars?

Meanders

In large flood and delta plains, rivers rarely flow

in straight courses. Loop-like channel patterns
called meanders develop over flood and delta
plains (Figure 7.7).

Figure 7.7 : A satellite scene showing meandering

Burhi Gandak river near Muzaffarpur, Bihar, showing
a number of oxbow lakes and cut-offs

Figure 7.8 : Meander growth and cut-off loops and

slip-off and undercut banks

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

The concave bank is known as cut-off bank

which shows up as a steep scarp and the
convex bank presents a long, gentle profile and
is known as slip-off bank (Figure 7.8). As
meanders grow into deep loops, the same may
get cut-off due to erosion at the inflection points
and are left as ox-bow lakes.

is more in the valley, channel bars and islands

of sand, gravel and pebbles develop on the floor
of the channel and the water flow is divided
into multiple threads. These thread-like streams
of water rejoin and subdivide repeatedly to give
a typical braided pattern (Figure 7.9).

he
is
bl

Figure 7.9 : Satellite scenes showing braided channel

segments of Gandak (right) and Son (left) rivers
Arrows show the direction of flow

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When rivers carry coarse material, there can be

selective deposition of coarser materials causing
formation of a central bar which diverts the flow
towards the banks; and this flow increases
lateral erosion on the banks. As the valley
widens, the water column is reduced and more
and more materials get deposited as islands
and lateral bars developing a number of
separate channels of water flow. Deposition
and lateral erosion of banks are essential for
the formation of braided pattern. Or,
alternatively, when discharge is less and load

Braided Channels

Figure 7.10 : Various karst features

LANDFORMS AND THEIR EVOLUTION

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Here the interest is not on groundwater as a

resource. Our focus is on the work of
groundwater in the erosion of landmasses and
evolution of landforms. The surface water
percolates well when the rocks are permeable,
thinly bedded and highly jointed and cracked.
After vertically going down to some depth, the
water under the ground flows horizontally
through the bedding planes, joints or through
the materials themselves. It is this downward
and horizontal movement of water which
causes the rocks to erode. Physical or
mechanical removal of materials by moving
groundwater is insignificant in developing
landforms. That is why, the results of the work
of groundwater cannot be seen in all types of
rocks. But in rocks like limestones or dolomites
rich in calcium carbonate, the surface water
as well as groundwater through the chemical
process of solution and precipitation
deposition develop varieties of landforms. These
two processes of solution and precipitation are
active in limestones or dolomites occurring
either exclusively or interbedded with other
rocks. Any limestone or dolomitic region
showing typical landforms produced by the
action of groundwater through the processes
of solution and deposition is called Karst
topography after the typical topography
developed in limestone rocks of Karst region
in the Balkans adjacent to Adriatic sea.
The karst topography is also characterised
by erosional and depositional landforms.

as solution forms first and 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
(collapse sinks). Quite often, sinkholes are
covered up with soil mantle and appear as
shallow water pools. Anybody stepping over
such pools would go down like it happens in
quicksands in deserts. The term doline is
sometimes used to refer the collapse sinks.
Solution sinks are more common than collapse
sinks. Quite often the surface run-off simply
goes down swallow and sink holes and flow as
underground streams and re-emerge at a
distance downstream through a cave opening.
When sink holes and dolines join together
because of slumping of materials along their
margins or due to roof collapse of caves, long,
narrow to wide trenches called valley sinks or
Uvalas form. Gradually, most of the surface of
the limestone is eaten away by these pits and
trenches, leaving it extremely irregular with a
maze of points, grooves and ridges or lapies.
Especially, these ridges or lapies form due to
differential solution activity along parallel to
sub-parallel joints. The lapie field may
eventually turn into somewhat smooth
limestone pavements.

GROUNDWATER

EROSIONAL LANDFORMS

Pools, Sinkholes, Lapies and

Limestone Pavements

Small to medium sized round to sub-rounded

shallow depressions called swallow holes form
on the surface of limestones through solution.
Sinkholes are very common in limestone/karst
areas. A sinkhole is an opening more or less
circular at the top and funnel-shapped towards
the bottom with sizes varying in area from a
few sq. m to a hectare and with depth from a
less than half a metre to thirty metres or more.
Some of these form solely through solution
action (solution sinks) and others might start

Caves

In areas where there are alternating beds of

rocks (shales, sandstones, quartzites) with
limestones or dolomites in between or in areas
where limestones are dense, massive and
occurring as thick beds, cave formation is
prominent. Water percolates down either
through the materials or through cracks and
joints and moves horizontally along bedding
planes. It is along these bedding planes that
the limestone dissolves and long and narrow
to wide gaps called caves result. There can be
a maze of caves at different elevations
depending upon the limestone beds and
intervening rocks. Caves normally have an
opening through which cave streams are
discharged. Caves having openings at both the
ends are called tunnels.
Depositional Landforms
Many depositional forms develop within the
limestone caves. The chief chemical in limestone

Stalactites hang as icicles of different

diameters. Normally they are 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. In fact, stalagmites
form due to dripping water from the surface or
through the thin pipe, of the stalactite,
immediately below it (Figure 7.11).

Masses of ice moving as sheets over the land

(continental glacier or piedmont glacier if a vast
sheet of ice is spread over the plains at the foot
of mountains) or as linear flows down the
slopes of mountains in broad trough-like
valleys (mountain and valley glaciers) are called
glaciers (Figure 7.12). The movement of glaciers

Stalactites, Stalagmites and Pillars

GLACIERS

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 as it
trickles over rough rock surfaces.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

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Figure 7.12 : A glacier in its valley

is slow unlike water flow. The movement could

be a few centimetres to a few metres a day or
even less or more. Glaciers move basically
because of the force of gravity.
We have many glaciers in our country
moving down the slopes and valleys in
Himalayas. Higher reaches of Uttaranchal,
Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and
Kashmir, are places to see some of them.
Do you know where one can see river
Bhagirathi is basically fed by meltwaters
from under the snout (Gaumukh) of the
Gangotri glacier. In fact, Alkapuri glacier
feeds waters to Alakananda river. Rivers
Alkananda and Bhagirathi join to make
river Ganga near Deoprayag.

Figure 7.11 : Stalactites and stalagmites in limestone caves

Stalagmites may take the shape of a

column, a disc, with either a smooth, rounded
bulging end or a miniature crater like
depression. The stalagmite and stalactites
eventually fuse to give rise to columns and
pillars of different diameters.

Erosion by glaciers is tremendous because

of friction caused by sheer weight of the ice.
The material plucked from the land by glaciers
(usually large-sized angular blocks and
fragments) get dragged along the floors or sides
of the valleys and cause great damage through
abrasion and plucking. Glaciers can cause
significant damage to even un-weathered rocks
and can reduce high mountains into low hills
and plains.

LANDFORMS AND THEIR EVOLUTION

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.

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Cirques are the most common of landforms in

glaciated mountains. The cirques quite often
are found at the heads of glacial valleys. The
accumulated ice cuts these cirques while
moving down the mountain tops. They are
deep, long and wide troughs or basins with
very steep concave to vertically dropping high
walls at its head as well as sides. A lake of water
can be seen quite often within the cirques after

Horns form through head ward erosion of the

cirque walls. If three or more radiating glaciers
cut headward until their cirques meet, high,
sharp pointed and steep sided peaks called
horns form. The divides between cirque side
walls or head walls get narrow because of
progressive erosion and turn into serrated or
saw-toothed ridges sometimes referred to as
artes with very sharp crest and a zig-zag
outline.

Cirque

Horns and Serrated Ridges

EROSIONAL LANDFORMS

the glacier disappears. Such lakes are called

cirque or tarn lakes. There can be two or more
cirques one leading into another down below
in a stepped sequence.

As glaciers continue to move, debris gets

removed, divides get lowered and eventually
the slope is reduced to such an extent that
glaciers will stop moving leaving only a mass
of low hills and vast outwash plains along with
other depositional features. Figures 7.13 and
7.14 show various glacial erosional and
depositional forms described in the text.

Figure 7.13 : Some glacial erosional and depositional forms (adapted and modified from Spencer, 1962)

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

What are the basic differences between

glacial valleys and river valleys?

They are long ridges of deposits of glacial till.

Terminal moraines are long ridges of debris
deposited at the end (toe) of the glaciers. Lateral
moraines form along the sides parallel to the
glacial valleys. The lateral moraines may join a
terminal moraine forming a horse-shoe shaped
ridge (Fig. 7.13). There can be many lateral
moraines on either side in a glacial valley. These
moraines partly or fully owe their origin to glaciofluvial waters pushing up materials to the sides
of glaciers. Many valley glaciers retreating
rapidly leave an irregular sheet of till over their
valley floors. Such deposits varying greatly in
thickness and in surface topography are called
ground moraines. The moraine in the centre of the

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Depositional Landforms

Moraines

Glaciated valleys are trough-like and U-shaped

with broad floors and relatively smooth, and
steep sides. The valleys may contain littered
debris or debris shaped as moraines with
swampy appearance. There may be lakes
gouged out of rocky floor or formed by debris
within the valleys. There can be hanging valleys
at an elevation on one or both sides of the main
glacial valley. The faces of divides or spurs of
such hanging valleys opening into main glacial
valleys are quite often truncated to give them
an appearance like triangular facets. Very deep
glacial troughs filled with sea water and
making up shorelines (in high latitudes) are
called fjords/fiords.

Some amount of rock debris small enough to

be carried by such melt-water streams is
washed down and deposited. Such glaciofluvial deposits are called outwash deposits.
Unlike till deposits, the outwash deposits are
roughly stratified and assorted. The rock
fragments in outwash deposits are somewhat
rounded at their edges. Figure 7.14 shows a
few depositional landforms commonly found
in glaciated areas.

Glacial Valleys/Troughs

The unassorted coarse and fine debris dropped

by the melting glaciers is called glacial till. Most
of the rock fragments in till are angular to subangular in form. Streams form by melting ice
at the bottom, sides or lower ends of glaciers.

Figure 7.14 : A panoramic diagram of glacial landscape with various depositional landforms
(adapted and modified from Spencer, 1962)

LANDFORMS AND THEIR EVOLUTION

AND

CURRENTS

Coastal processes are the most dynamic and

hence most destructive. So, dont you think it
is important to know about the coastal
processes and forms?
Some of the changes along the coasts take
place very fast. At one place, there can be
erosion in one season and deposition in
another. Most of the changes along the coasts
are accomplished by waves. When waves break,
the water is thrown with great force onto the
shore, and simultaneously, there is a great
churning of sediments on the sea bottom.
Constant impact of breaking waves drastically
affects the coasts. Storm waves and tsunami
waves can cause far-reaching changes in a
short period of time than normal breaking
waves. As wave environment changes, the
intensity of the force of breaking waves changes.

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When glaciers melt in summer, the water flows

on the surface of the ice or seeps down along
the margins or even moves through holes in
the ice. These waters accumulate beneath the
glacier and flow like streams in a channel
beneath the ice. Such streams flow over the
ground (not in a valley cut in the ground) with
ice forming its banks. Very coarse materials like
boulders and blocks along with some minor
fractions of rock debris carried into this stream
settle in the valley of ice beneath the glacier
and after the ice melts can be found as a
sinuous ridge called esker.

WAVES

Eskers

What is the difference between till and

alluvium?

glacial valley flanked by lateral moraines is

called medial moraine. They are imperfectly
formed as compared to lateral moraines.
Sometimes medial moraines are indistinguishable
from ground moraines.

Outwash Plains

The plains at the foot of the glacial mountains

or beyond the limits of continental ice sheets
are covered with glacio-fluvial deposits in the
form of broad flat alluvial fans which may join
to form outwash plains of gravel, silt, sand and
clay.
Distinguish between river alluvial plains
and glacial outwash plains.

Drumlins

Drumlins are smooth oval shaped ridge-like

features composed mainly of glacial till with
some masses of gravel and sand. The long axes
of drumlins are parallel to the direction of ice
movement. They may measure up to 1 km in
length and 30 m or so in height. One end of
the drumlins facing the glacier called the stoss
end is blunter and steeper than the other end
called tail. The drumlins form due to dumping
of rock debris beneath heavily loaded ice
through fissures in the glacier. The stoss end
gets blunted due to pushing by moving ice.
Drumlins give an indication of direction of
glacier movement.

Do you know about the generating forces

behind waves and currents? If not, refer
to the chapter on movements in ocean
waters.

Other than the action of waves, the coastal

landforms depend upon (i) the configuration
of land and sea floor; (ii) whether the coast is
advancing (emerging) seaward or retreating
(submerging) landward. Assuming sea level to
be constant, two types of coasts are considered
to explain the concept of evolution of coastal
landforms: (i) high, rocky coasts (submerged
coasts); (ii) low, smooth and gently sloping
sedimentary coasts (emerged coasts).

HIGH ROCKY COASTS

Along the high rocky coasts, the rivers appear

to have been drowned with highly irregular
coastline. The coastline appears highly
indented with extension of water into the land
where glacial valleys (fjords) are present. The
hill sides drop off sharply into the water. Shores
do not show any depositional landforms
initially. Erosion features dominate.

Storm and tsunami waves cause drastic

changes irrespective of supply of sediments.
Large rivers which bring lots of sediments build
deltas along low sedimentary coasts.

The west coast of our country is a high

rocky retreating coast. Erosional forms
dominate in the west coast. The east
coast of India is a low sedimentary coast.
Depositional forms dominate in the east
coast.

What are the various differences between

a high rocky coast and a low sedimentary
coast in terms of processes and
landforms?

EROSIONAL LANDFORMS

Cliffs, Terraces, Caves and Stacks

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Along high rocky coasts, waves break with

great force against the land shaping the hill
sides into cliffs. With constant pounding by
waves, the cliffs recede leaving a wave-cut
platform in front of the sea cliff. Waves
gradually minimise the irregularities along the
shore.
The materials which fall off, and removed
from the sea cliffs, gradually break into smaller
fragments and roll to roundness, will get
deposited in the offshore. After a considerable
period of cliff development and retreat when
coastline turns somewhat smooth, with the
addition of some more material to this deposit
in the offshore, a wave-built terrace would
develop in front of wave-cut terrace. As the
erosion along the coast takes place a good
supply material becomes available to longshore
currents and waves to deposit them as beaches
along the shore and as bars (long ridges of sand
and/or shingle parallel to the coast) in the
nearshore zone. Bars are submerged features
and when bars show up above water, they are
called barrier bars. Barrier bar which get keyed
up to the headland of a bay is called a spit.
When barrier bars and spits form at the mouth
of a bay and block it, a lagoon forms. The
lagoons would gradually get filled up by
sediments from the land giving rise to a coastal
plain.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

LOW SEDIMENTARY COASTS

Along low sedimentary coasts the rivers appear

to extend their length by building coastal
plains and deltas. The coastline appears
smooth with occasional incursions of water in
the form of lagoons and tidal creeks. The land
slopes gently into the water. Marshes and
swamps may abound along the coasts.
Depositional features dominate.
When waves break over a gently sloping
sedimentary coast, the bottom sediments get
churned and move readily building bars,
barrier bars, spits and lagoons. Lagoons
would eventually turn into a swamp which
would subsequently turn into a coastal plain.
The maintenance of these depositional features
depends upon the steady supply of materials.

Wave-cut cliffs and terraces are two forms

usually found where erosion is the dominant
shore process. Almost all sea cliffs are steep
and may range from a few m to 30 m or even
more. At the foot of such cliffs there may be a
flat or gently sloping platform covered by rock
debris derived from the sea cliff behind. Such
platforms occurring at elevations above the
average height of waves is called a wave-cut
terrace. The lashing of waves against the base
of the cliff and the rock debris that gets
smashed against the cliff along with lashing
waves create hollows and these hollows get
widened and deepened to form sea 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. Like all other features,
sea stacks are also temporary and eventually
coastal hills and cliffs will disappear because
of wave erosion giving rise to narrow coastal
plains, and with onrush of deposits from over
the land behind may get covered up by
alluvium or may get covered up by shingle or
sand to form a wide beach.

LANDFORMS AND THEIR EVOLUTION

Do you know, the coastal off-shore bars

offer the first buffer or defence against
storm or tsunami by absorbing most of
their destructive force. Then come the
barriers, beaches, beach dunes and
mangroves, if any, to absorb the
destructive force of storm and tsunami
waves. So, if we do anything which
disturbs the sediment budget and the
mangroves along the coast, these coastal
forms will get eroded away leaving human
habitations to bear first strike of storm
and tsunami waves.

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Beaches are characteristic of shorelines that are

dominated by deposition, but may occur as
patches along even the rugged shores. Most of
the sediment making up the beaches comes
from land carried by the streams and rivers or
from wave erosion. Beaches are temporary
features. The sandy beach which appears so
permanent may be reduced to a very narrow
strip of coarse pebbles in some other season.
Most of the beaches are made up of sand sized
materials. Beaches called shingle beaches
contain excessively small pebbles and even
cobbles.
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.

Beaches and Dunes

develop attached to headlands/hills. The

barriers, bars and spits at the mouth of the
bay gradually extend leaving only a small
opening of the bay into the sea and the bay
will eventually develop into a lagoon. The
lagoons get filled up gradually by sediment
coming from the land or from the beach itself
(aided by wind) and a broad and wide coastal
plain may develop replacing a lagoon.

DEPOSITIONAL LANDFORMS

Bars, Barriers and Spits

A ridge of sand and shingle formed in the sea

in the off-shore zone (from the position of low
tide waterline to seaward) lying 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. The off-shore bars and barriers commonly
form across the mouth of a river or at the
entrance of a bay. Sometimes such barrier bars
get keyed up to one end of the bay when they
are called spits (Figure 7.15). Spits may also

Figure 7.15 : A satellite picture of a part of Godavari

river delta showing a spit

WINDS

Wind is one of the two dominant agents in hot

deserts. The desert floors get heated up too
much and too quickly because of being dry
and barren. The heated floors heat up the air
directly above them and result in upward
movements in the hot lighter air with
turbulence, and any obstructions in its path
sets up eddies, whirlwinds, updrafts and
downdrafts. Winds also move along the desert
floors with great speed and the obstructions
in their path create turbulence. Of course, there
are storm winds which are very destructive.
Winds cause deflation, abrasion and impact.
Deflation includes lifting and removal of dust
and smaller particles from the surface of rocks.
In the transportation process sand and silt act
as effective tools to abrade the land surface.
The impact is simply sheer force of momentum
which occurs when sand is blown into or
against a rock surface. It is similar to sandblasting operation. The wind action creates a
number of interesting erosional and
depositional features in the deserts.
In fact, many features of deserts owe their

EROSIONAL LANDFORMS
Pediments and Pediplains

Playas

Plains are by far the most prominent landforms

in the deserts. In basins with mountains and
hills around and along, the drainage is towards
the centre of the basin and due to gradual

Deflation Hollows and Caves

Weathered mantle from over the rocks or bare

soil, gets blown out by persistent movement
of wind currents in one direction. This process
may create shallow depressions called
deflation hollows. Deflation also creates
numerous small pits or cavities over rock
surfaces. The rock faces suffer impact and
abrasion of wind-borne sand and first shallow
depressions called blow outs are created, and
some of the blow outs become deeper and
wider fit to be called caves.

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Landscape evolution in deserts is primarily

concerned with the formation and extension of
pediments. Gently inclined rocky floors close
to the mountains at their foot with or without
a thin cover of debris, are called pediments.
Such rocky floors form through the erosion of
mountain front through a combination of
lateral erosion by streams and sheet flooding.
Erosion starts along the steep margins of
the landmass or the steep sides of the
tectonically controlled steep incision features
over the landmass. Once, pediments are formed
with a steep wash slope followed by cliff or free
face above it, the steep wash slope and free face
retreat backwards. This method of erosion is
termed as parallel retreat of slopes through
backwasting. So, through parallel retreat of
slopes, the pediments extend backwards at the
expense of mountain front, and gradually, the
mountain gets reduced leaving an inselberg
which is a remnant of the mountain. Thats how
the high relief in desert areas is reduced to low
featureless plains called pediplains.

deposition of sediment from basin margins, a

nearly level plain forms at the centre of the
basin. In times of sufficient water, this plain is
covered up by a shallow water body. Such
types of shallow lakes are called as playas
where water is retained only for short duration
due to evaporation and quite often the playas
contain good deposition of salts. The playa
plain covered up by salts is called alkali flats.

formation to mass wasting and running water

as sheet floods. Though rain is scarce in deserts,
it comes down torrentially in a short period of
time. The desert rocks devoid of vegetation,
exposed to mechanical and chemical
weathering processes due to drastic diurnal
temperature changes, decay faster and the
torrential rains help in removing the weathered
materials easily. That means, the weathered
debris in deserts is moved by not only wind
but also by rain/sheet wash. The wind moves
fine materials and general mass erosion is
accomplished mainly through sheet floods or
sheet wash. Stream channels in desert areas
are broad, smooth and indefinite and flow for
a brief time after rains.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Mushroom, Table and Pedestal Rocks

Many rock-outcrops in the deserts easily
susceptible to wind deflation and abrasion are
worn out quickly leaving some remnants of
resistant rocks polished beautifully in the
shape of mushroom with a slender stalk and a
broad and rounded pear shaped cap above.
Sometimes, the top surface is broad like a table
top and quite often, the remnants stand out
like pedestals.
List the erosional features carved out by
wind action and action of sheet floods.

Depositional Landforms
Wind is a good sorting agent. Depending upon
the velocity of wind, different sizes of grains are
moved along the floors by rolling or saltation
and carried in suspension and in this process
of transportation itself, the materials get sorted.
When the wind slows or begins to die down,
depending upon sizes of grains and their
critical velocities, the grains will begin to settle.
So, in depositional landforms made by wind,
good sorting of grains can be found. Since

LANDFORMS AND THEIR EVOLUTION

wind is there everywhere and wherever there

is good source of sand and with constant wind
directions, depositional features in arid regions
can develop anywhere.
Sand Dunes

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Dry hot deserts are good places for sand dune

formation. Obstacles to initiate dune formation

are equally important. There can be a great

variety of dune forms (Figure 7.16).
Crescent shaped dunes called barchans
with the points or wings directed away from
wind direction i.e., downwind, form where the
wind direction is constant and moderate and
where the original surface over which sand is
moving is almost uniform. Parabolic dunes
form when sandy surfaces are partially covered
with vegetation. That means parabolic dunes
are reversed barchans with wind direction
being the same. Seif is similar to barchan with
a small difference. Seif has only one wing or
point. This happens when there is shift in wind
conditions. The lone wings of seifs can grow
very long and high. Longitudinal dunes form
when supply of sand is poor and wind
direction is constant. They appear as long
ridges of considerable length but low in height.
Transverse dunes are aligned perpendicular
to wind direction. These dunes form when the
wind direction is constant and the source of
sand is an elongated feature at right angles to
the wind direction. They may be very long and
low in height. When sand is plenty, quite often,
the regular shaped dunes coalesce and lose
their individual characteristics. Most of the
dunes in the deserts shift and a few of them
will get stabilised especially near human
habitations.

Figure 7.16 : Various types of sand dunes

Arrows indicate wind direction

EXERCISES

Multiple choice questions.

(i) In which of the following stages of landform development, downward cutting

is dominated?
(a) Youth stage

(c) Early mature stage

(b) Late mature stage

(d) Old stage

(ii) A deep valley characterised by steep step-like side slopes is known as

(a) U-shaped valley

(c) Blind valley

(b) Gorge

(d) Canyon

(iii) In which one of the following regions the chemical weathering process is
more dominant than the mechanical process?
(a) Humid region
(b) Limestone region

(c) Arid region

(d) Glacier region

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

A small to medium sized shallow depression

(b)

A landform whose opening is more or less circular at the top and

funnel shaped towards bottom

(c)

A landform formed due to dripping water from surface

(d)

An irregular surface with sharp pinnacles, grooves and ridges

A deep, long and wide trough or basin with very steep concave high walls
at its head as well as in sides is known as:
(a) Cirque

(c) Lateral Moraine

(b) Glacial valley

(d) Esker

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(ii)

What do incised meanders in rocks and meanders in plains of alluvium

indicate?
Explain the evolution of valley sinks or uvalas.

(i)

(iii)

Underground flow of water is more common than surface run-off in

limestone areas. Why?

(iv)

Glacial valleys show up many linear depositional forms.

locations and names.

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(a)

(v)

Which one of the following sentences best defines the term Lapies ?

(iv)

(v)

Give their

How does wind perform its task in desert areas? Is it the only agent
responsible for the erosional features in the deserts?

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

Running water is by far the most dominating geomorphic agent in shaping

the earths surface in humid as well as in arid climates. Explain.

(ii)

Limestones behave differently in humid and arid climates. Why? What is

the dominant and almost exclusive geomorphic process in limestone areas
and what are its results?

(iii)

How do glaciers accomplish the work of reducing high mountains into low
hills and plains?

Project Work

Identify the landforms, materials and processes around your area.

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CLIMATE

UNIT
IV

This unit deals with

Atmosphere compositions and structure; elements of weather

and climate

Insolation angle of incidence and distribution; heat budget

of the earth heating and cooling of atmosphere (conduction,
convection, terrestrial radiation, advection); temperature factors
controlling temperature; distribution of temperature horizontal
and vertical; inversion of temperature

Pressure pressure belts; winds-planetary seasonal and local,

air masses and fronts; tropical and extra tropical cyclones

Precipitation evaporation; condensation dew, frost, fog,

mist and cloud; rainfall types and world distributon

World climates classification (Koeppen), greenhouse effect,

global warming and climatic changes

CHAPTER

Table 8.1 : Permanent Gases of the Atmosphere

Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon
Carbon dioxide
Neon
Helium
Krypto
Xenon

Formula
N2
O2
Ar
CO2
Ne
He
Kr
Xe

78.08
20.95
0.93
0.036
0.002
0.0005
0.001
0.00009

0.00005

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Can you imagine what will happen
to us in the absence of ozone in the
atmosphere?

COMPOSITION

OF THE

ATMOSPHERE

The atmosphere is composed of gases, water

vapour and dust particles. Table 8.1 shows
details of various gases in the air, particularly
in the lower atmosphere. The proportion of
gases changes in the higher layers of the
atmosphere in such a way that oxygen will be
almost in negligible quantity at the height of
120 km. Similarly, carbon dioxide and water
vapour are found only up to 90 km from the
surface of the earth.

Percentage by Volume

Constituent

an a person live without air? We eat

food two - three times a day and drink
water more frequently but breathe
every few seconds. Air is essential to the
survival of all organisms. Some organisms like
humans may survive for some time without
food and water but cant survive even a few
minutes without breathing air. That shows the
reason why we should understand the
atmosphere in greater detail. Atmosphere is a
mixture of different gases and it envelopes the
earth all round. It contains life-giving gases like
oxygen for humans and animals and carbon
dioxide for plants. The air is an integral part of
the earths mass and 99 per cent of the total
mass of the atmosphere is confined to the
height of 32 km from the earths surface. The
air is colourless and odourless and can be felt
only when it blows as wind.

STRUCTURE
ATMOSPHERE

AND

COMPOSITION

Hydrogen

Gases

Carbon dioxide is meteorologically a very

important gas as it is transparent to the
incoming solar radiation but opaque to the
outgoing terrestrial radiation. It absorbs a part
of terrestrial radiation and reflects back some
part of it towards the earths surface. It is
largely responsible for the green house effect.
The volume of other gases is constant but the
volume of carbon dioxide has been rising in
the past few decades mainly because of the
burning of fossil fuels. This has also increased
the temperature of the air. Ozone is another
important component of the atmosphere found
between 10 and 50 km above the earths
surface and acts as a filter and absorbs the
ultra-violet rays radiating from the sun and
prevents them from reaching the surface of the
earth.
Water Vapour

Water vapour is also a variable gas in the

atmosphere, which decreases with altitude. In
the warm and wet tropics, it may account for

COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF ATMOSPHERE

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Atmosphere has a sufficient capacity to keep

small solid particles, which may originate from
different sources and include sea salts, fine soil,
smoke-soot, ash, pollen, dust and disintegrated
particles of meteors. Dust particles are
generally concentrated in the lower layers of
the atmosphere; yet, convectional air currents
may transport them to great heights. The
higher concentration of dust particles is found
in subtropical and temperate regions due to
dry winds in comparison to equatorial and
polar regions. Dust and salt particles act as
hygroscopic nuclei around which water vapour
condenses to produce clouds.

Dust Particles

The zone separating the tropsophere from

stratosphere is known as the tropopause. The
air temperature at the tropopause is about
minus 800C over the equator and about minus
45oC over the poles. The temperature here is
nearly constant, and hence, it is called the
tropopause. The stratosphere is found above
the tropopause and extends up to a height of
50 km. One important feature of the
stratosphere is that it contains the ozone layer.
This layer absorbs ultra-violet radiation and
shields life on the earth from intense, harmful
form of energy.
The mesosphere lies above the stratosphere,
which extends up to a height of 80 km. In this
layer, once again, temperature starts
decreasing with the increase in altitude and
reaches up to minus 100C at the height of 80
km. The upper limit of mesosphere is known
as the mesopause. The ionosphere is located
between 80 and 400 km above the mesopause.
It contains electrically charged particles known
as ions, and hence, it is known as ionosphere.
Radio waves transmitted from the earth are
reflected back to the earth by this layer.
Temperature here starts increasing with height.
The uppermost layer of the atmosphere above

four per cent of the air by volume, while in the

dry and cold areas of desert and polar regions,
it may be less than one per cent of the air. Water
vapour also decreases from the equator
towards the poles. It also absorbs parts of the
insolation from the sun and preserves the
earths radiated heat. It thus, acts like a blanket
allowing the earth neither to become too cold
nor too hot. Water vapour also contributes to
the stability and instability in the air.

STRUCTURE

OF THE

ATMOSPHERE

The atmosphere consists of different layers with

varying density and temperature. Density is
highest near the surface of the earth and
decreases with increasing altitude. The column
of atmosphere is divided into five different
layers depending upon the temperature
condition. They are: troposphere, stratosphere,
mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere.
The troposphere is the lowermost layer of
the atmosphere. Its average height is 13 km
and extends roughly to a height of 8 km near
the poles and about 18 km at the equator.
Thickness of the troposphere is greatest at the
equator because heat is transported to great
heights by strong convectional currents. This
layer contains dust particles and water vapour.
All changes in climate and weather take place
in this layer. The temperature in this layer
decreases at the rate of 1C for every 165m of
height. This is the most important layer for all
biological activity.

Figure 8.1 : Structure of atmosphere

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Elements of Weather and Climate

The main elements of atmosphere which are
subject to change and which influence human
life on earth are temperature, pressure, winds,
humidity, clouds and precipitation. These
elements have been dealt in detail in Chapters
9, 10 and 11.

the thermosphere is known as the exosphere.

This is the highest layer but very little is known
about it. Whatever contents are there, these are
extremely rarefied in this layer, and it gradually
merges with the outer space. Although all
layers of the atmosphere must be exercising
influence on us, geographers are concerned
with the first two layers of the atmosphere.

EXERCISES
Multiple choice questions.

(b) Nitrogen

(d) Carbon dioxide

(a) Oxygen

(i) Which one of the following gases constitutes the major portion of the
atmosphere?

(ii) Atmospheric layer important for human beings is:

(b) Mesosphere

(d) Ionosphere

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(a) Stratosphere

(iii) Sea salt, pollen, ash, smoke soot, fine soil these are associated with:

(iv)

(v)

(c) Water vapour

(b) Dust particles

(d) Meteors

Oxygen gas is in negligible quantity at the height of atmosphere:

(a) 90 km

(b) 120 km

(d) 150 km

Which one of the following gases is transparent to incoming solar radiation

and opaque to outgoing terrestrial radiation?
(a) Oxygen

(b) Nitrogen

(d) Carbon dioxide

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

(ii)

(a) Gases

What do you understand by atmosphere?

What are the elements of weather and climate?

(iii)

Describe the composition of atmosphere.

(iv)

Why is troposphere the most important of all the layers of the atmosphere?

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

(ii)

Describe the composition of the atmosphere.

Draw a suitable diagram for the structure of the atmosphere and label it
and describe it.

CHAPTER

The solar output received at the top of the

atmosphere varies slightly in a year due to the
variations in the distance between the earth and
the sun. During its revolution around the sun,
the earth is farthest from the sun (152 million
km) on 4th July. This position of the earth is
called aphelion. On 3rd January, the earth is
the nearest to the sun (147 million km). This
position is called perihelion. Therefore, the
annual insolation received by the earth on 3rd
January is slightly more than the amount
received on 4th July. However, the effect of this
variation in the solar output is masked by
other factors like the distribution of land and
sea and the atmospheric circulation. Hence, this
variation in the solar output does not have
great effect on daily weather changes on the
surface of the earth.

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o you feel air around you? Do you

know that we live at the bottom of a
huge pile of air? We inhale and exhale
but we feel the air when it is in motion. It means
air in motion is wind. You have already learnt
about the fact that earth is surrounded by air
all around. This envelop of air is atmosphere
which is composed of numerous gases. These
gases support life over the earths surface.
The earth receives almost all of its energy
from the sun. The earth in turn radiates back
to space the energy received from the sun. As
a result, the earth neither warms up nor does
it get cooled over a period of time. Thus, the
amount of heat received by different parts of
the earth is not the same. This variation causes
pressure differences in the atmosphere. This
leads to transfer of heat from one region to the
other by winds. This chapter explains the
process of heating and cooling of the
atmosphere and the resultant temperature
distribution over the earths surface.

SOLAR RADIATION, HEAT BALANCE

AND TEMPERATURE

SOLAR RADIATION

The earths surface receives most of its energy

in short wavelengths. The energy received by
the earth is known as incoming solar radiation
which in short is termed as insolation.
As the earth is a geoid resembling a sphere,
the suns rays fall obliquely at the top of the
atmosphere and the earth intercepts a very
small portion of the suns energy. On an
average the earth receives 1.94 calories per sq.
cm per minute at the top of its atmosphere.

Variability of Insolation at
the Surface of the Earth
The amount and the intensity of insolation vary
during a day, in a season and in a year. The factors
that cause these variations in insolation are : (i)
the rotation of earth on its axis; (ii) the angle of
inclination of the suns rays; (iii) the length of the
day; (iv) the transparency of the atmosphere; (v)
the configuration of land in terms of its aspect.
The last two however, have less influence.
The fact that the earths axis makes an angle
of 66 with the plane of its orbit round the sun
has a greater influence on the amount of
insolation received at different latitudes. Note the
variations in the duration of the day at different
latitudes on solstices given in Table 9.1.

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

The second factor that determines the

amount of insolation received is the angle of

colour of the sky are the result of scattering of

light within the atmosphere.

Table 9.1 : Length of the Day in Hours and Minutes on Winter and Summer Solstices in the Northern Hemisphere
0

December 22

12h 00m

10h 48m

9h 8m

5h 33m

June 21

12 h

13h 12m

14h 52m

18h 27m

6 months

Spatial Distribution of Insolation

at the Earths Surface

The insolation received at the surface varies

from about 320 Watt/m2 in the tropics to about
70 Watt/m2 in the poles. Maximum insolation
is received over the subtropical deserts, where
the cloudiness is the least. Equator receives
comparatively less insolation than the tropics.
Generally, at the same latitude the insolation
is more over the continent than over the oceans.
In winter, the middle and higher latitudes
receive less radiation than in summer.

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inclination of the rays. This depends on the

latitude of a place. The higher the latitude the
less is the angle they make with the surface of
the earth resulting in slant sun rays. The area
covered by vertical rays is always less than the
slant rays. If more area is covered, the energy
gets distributed and the net energy received
per unit area decreases. Moreover, the slant rays
are required to pass through greater depth of
the atmosphere resulting in more absorption,
scattering and diffusion.

HEATING

Figure 9.1 : Summer Solstice

The Passage of Solar Radiation

through the Atmosphere

The atmosphere is largely transparent to short

wave solar radiation. The incoming solar
radiation passes through the atmosphere
before striking the earths surface. Within the
troposphere water vapour, ozone and other
gases absorb much of the near infrared
radiation.
Very small-suspended particles in the
troposphere scatter visible spectrum both to
the space and towards the earth surface. This
process adds colour to the sky. The red colour
of the rising and the setting sun and the blue

Latitude

AND

COOLING

ATMOSPHERE

There are different ways of heating and cooling

of the atmosphere.
The earth after being heated by insolation
transmits the heat to the atmospheric layers near
to the earth in long wave form. The air in contact
with the land gets heated slowly and the upper
layers in contact with the lower layers also get
heated. This process is called conduction.
Conduction takes place when two bodies of
unequal temperature are in contact with one
another, there is a flow of energy from the warmer
to cooler body. The transfer of heat continues until
both the bodies attain the same temperature or
the contact is broken. Conduction is important
in heating the lower layers of the atmosphere.
The air in contact with the earth rises
vertically on heating in the form of currents
and further transmits the heat of the
atmsphere. This process of vertical heating of
the atmosphere is known as convection. The
convective transfer of energy is confined only
to the troposphere.
The transfer of heat through horizontal
movement of air is called advection. Horizontal
movement of the air is relatively more important

SOLAR RADIATION, HEAT BALANCE AND TEMPERATURE

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The insolation received by the earth is in short

waves forms and heats up its surface. The earth
after being heated itself becomes a radiating
body and it radiates energy to the atmosphere
in long wave form. This energy heats up the
atmosphere from below. This process is known
as terrestrial radiation.
The long wave radiation is absorbed by the
atmospheric gases particularly by carbon
dioxide and the other green house gases. Thus,
the atmosphere is indirectly heated by the
earths radiation.
The atmosphere in turn radiates and
transmits heat to the space. Finally the amount
of heat received from the sun is returned to
space, thereby maintaining constant temperature
at the earths surface and in the atmosphere.

Terrestrial Radiation

accumulate or loose heat. It maintains its

temperature. This can happen only if the
amount of heat received in the form of insolation
equals the amount lost by the earth through
terrestrial radiation.
Consider that the insolation received at the
top of the atmosphere is 100 per cent. While
passing through the atmosphere some amount
of energy is reflected, scattered and absorbed.
Only the remaining part reaches the earth
surface. Roughly 35 units are reflected back
to space even before reaching the earths
surface. Of these, 27 units are reflected back
from the top of the clouds and 2 units from the
snow and ice-covered areas of the earth. The
reflected amount of radiation is called the
albedo of the earth.
The remaining 65 units are absorbed, 14
units within the atmosphere and 51 units by
the earths surface. The earth radiates back
51 units in the form of terrestrial radiation.
Of these, 17 units are radiated to space
directly and the remaining 34 units are
absorbed by the atmosphere (6 units
absorbed directly by the atmosphere, 9 units
through convection and turbulence and 19
units through latent heat of condensation).
48 units absorbed by the atmosphere
(14 units from insolation +34 units from

than the vertical movement. In middle latitudes,

most of dirunal (day and night) variation in
daily weather are caused by advection alone.
In tropical regions particularly in northern
India during summer season local winds called
loo is the outcome of advection process.

Heat Budget of the Planet Earth

Figure 9.2 depicts the heat budget of the planet

earth. The earth as a whole does not

Figure 9.2 : Heat budget of the earth

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

The temperature of air at any place is influenced

by (i) the latitude of the place; (ii) the altitude
of the place; (iii) distance from the sea, the airmass circulation; (iv) the presence of warm and
cold ocean currents; (v) local aspects.

The latitude : The temperature of a place

depends on the insolation received. It has been
explained earlier that the insolation varies
according to the latitude hence the
temperature also varies accordingly.
The altitude : The atmosphere is indirectly
heated by terrestrial radiation from below.
Therefore, the places near the sea-level record
higher temperature than the places situated
at higher elevations. In other words, the
temperature generally decreases with
increasing height. The rate of decrease of
temperature with height is termed as the
normal lapse rate. It is 6.5C per 1,000 m.

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As explained earlier, there are variations in the

amount of radiation received at the earths
surface. Some part of the earth has surplus
radiation balance while the other part has
deficit.
Figure 9.3 depicts the latitudinal variation
in the net radiation balance of the earth the
atmosphere system. The figure shows that
there is a surplus of net radiation balance
between 40 degrees north and south and the
regions near the poles have a deficit. The
surplus heat energy from the tropics is
redistributed pole wards and as a result the
tropics do not get progressively heated up due
to the accumulation of excess heat or the high
latitudes get permanently frozen due to excess
deficit.

Factors Controlling Temperature Distribution

Variation in the Net Heat Budget at the

Earths Surface

heat which is measured in terms of

temperature. While heat represents the
molecular movement of particles comprising a
substance, the temperature is the measurement
in degrees of how hot (or cold) a thing (or a
place) is.

terrestrial radiation) are also radiated back

into space. Thus, the total radiation
returning from the earth and the atmosphere
respectively is 17+48=65 units which
balance the total of 65 units received from
the sun. This is termed the heat budget or
heat balance of the earth.
This explains, why the earth neither warms
up nor cools down despite the huge transfer of
heat that takes place.

Figure 9.3 : Latitudinal variation in net

radiation balance

Temperature

The interaction of insolation with the

atmosphere and the earths surface creates

Distance from the sea : Another factor that

influences the temperature is the location of a
place with respect to the sea. Compared to land,
the sea gets heated slowly and loses heat
slowly. Land heats up and cools down quickly.
Therefore, the variation in temperature over the
sea is less compared to land. The places
situated near the sea come under the
moderating influence of the sea and land
breezes which moderate the temperature.
Air-mass and Ocean currents : Like the land
and sea breezes, the passage of air masses also
affects the temperature. The places, which
come under the influence of warm air-masses
experience higher temperature and the places
that come under the influence of cold airmasses experience low temperature. Similarly,

SOLAR RADIATION, HEAT BALANCE AND TEMPERATURE

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The global distribution of temperature can well

be understood by studying the temperature
distribution in January and July. The
temperature distribution is generally shown
on the map with the help of isotherms. The
Isotherms are lines joining places having equal
temperature. Figure 9.4 (a) and (b) show the
distribution of surface air temperature in the
month of January and July.
In general the effect of the latitude on
temperature is well pronounced on the map,
as the isotherms are generally parallel to the
latitude. The deviation from this general trend
is more pronounced in January than in July,
especially in the northern hemisphere. In the

Distribution of Temperature

northern hemisphere the land surface area is

much larger than in the southern hemisphere.
Hence, the effects of land mass and the ocean
currents are well pronounced. In January the
isotherms deviate to the north over the ocean
and to the south over the continent. This can
be seen on the North Atlantic Ocean. The
presence of warm ocean currents, Gulf Stream
and North Atlantic drift, make the Northern
Atlantic Ocean warmer and the isotherms bend
towards the north. Over the land the
temperature decreases sharply and the
isotherms bend towards south in Europe.
It is much pronounced in the Siberian
plain. The mean January temperature along
60 E longitude is minus 20 C both at 80 N
and 50 N latitudes. The mean monthly
temperature for January is over 27 C, in
equatorial oceans over 24 C in the tropics
and 2 C - 0 C in the middle latitudes
and 18 C to 48 C in the Eurasian
continental interior.

the places located on the coast where the warm

ocean currents flow record higher temperature
than the places located on the coast where the
cold currents flow.

Figure 9.4 (a) : The distribution of surface air temperature in the month of January

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

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Figure 9.4 (b) : The distribution of surface air temperature in the month of July

Figure 9.5 : The range of temperature between January and July

SOLAR RADIATION, HEAT BALANCE AND TEMPERATURE

inversion. The heat of the day is radiated off

during the night, and by early morning hours,
the earth is cooler than the air above. Over polar
areas, temperature inversion is normal
throughout the year.
Surface inversion promotes stability in the
lower layers of the atmosphere. Smoke and
dust particles get collected beneath the
inversion layer and spread horizontally to fill
the lower strata of the atmosphere. Dense fogs
in mornings are common occurrences
especially during winter season. This inversion
commonly lasts for few hours until the sun
comes up and beings to warm the earth.
The inversion takes place in hills and
mountains due to air drainage. Cold air at the
hills and mountains, produced during night,
flows under the influence of gravity. Being
heavy and dense, the cold air acts almost like
water and moves down the slope to pile up
deeply in pockets and valley bottoms with
warm air above. This is called air drainage. It
protects plants from frost damages.

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The effect of the ocean is well pronounced

in the southern hemisphere. Here the isotherms
are more or less parallel to the latitudes and
the variation in temperature is more gradual
than in the northern hemisphere. The isotherm
of 20 C, 10 C, and 0 C runs parallel to 35 S,
45 S and 60 S latitudes respectively.
In July the isotherms generally run
parallel to the latitude. The equatorial oceans
record warmer temperature, more than 27C.
Over the land more than 30C is noticed in
the subtropical continental region of Asia,
along the 30 N latitude. Along the 40 N runs
the isotherm of 10 C and along the 40 S the
temperature is 10 C.
Figure 9.5 shows the range of
temperature between January and July. The
highest range of temperature is more than 60
C over the north-eastern part of Eurasian
continent. This is due to continentality. The
least range of temperature, 3C, is found
between 20 S and 15 N.

INVERSION

TEMPERATURE

Normally, temperature decreases with increase

in elevation. It is called normal lapse rate. At
times, the situations is reversed and the
normal lapse rate is inverted. It is called
Inversion of temperature. Inversion is usually
of short duration but quite common
nonetheless. A long winter night with clear
skies and still air is ideal situation for

Planks law states that hotter a body,

the more energy it will radiate and
shorter the wavelength of that
radiation.
Specific heat is the energy needed to
raise the temperature of one gram of
substance by one Celsius.

EXERCISES

Multiple choice questions.

(i) The sun is directly overhead at noon on 21st June at:

(a) The equator

(b) 23.5 S

(d) 66.5 N

(ii) In which one of the following cities, are the days the longest?
(a) Tiruvanantpuram

(b) Chandigarh

(d) Nagpur

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

(iii) The atmosphere is mainly heated by the:

(b) Reflected solar radiation

(d) Scattered solar radiation

Make correct pairs from the following two columns.

(ii) Albedo

(b) The lines joining the places of equal

temperature

(iii) Isotherm

(c)

(iv) Annual range

(d) The percentage of visible light reflected by

an object

The incoming solar radiation

The main reason that the earth experiences highest temperatures in the
subtropics in the northern hemisphere rather than at the equator is :
Subtropical areas tend to have less cloud cover than equatorial areas.

(b)

Subtropical areas have longer day hours in the summer than the
equatorial.

(c)

Subtropical areas have an enhanced green house effect compared

to equatorial areas.

(d)

Subtropical areas are nearer to the oceanic areas than the equatorial
locations.

(a)

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(v)

(a) The difference between the mean

temperature of the warmest and the coldest
months

(i) Insolation

(iv)

(a) Short wave solar radiation

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

How does the unequal distribution of heat over the planet earth in space
and time cause variations in weather and climate?

(ii)

What are the factors that control temperature distribution on the surface
of the earth?

(iii)

In India, why is the day temperature maximum in May and why not after
the summer solstice?

(iv)

Why is the annual range of temperature high in the Siberian plains?

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

How do the latitude and the tilt in the axis of rotation of the earth affect
the amount of radiation received at the earths surface?

(ii)

Discuss the processes through which the earth-atmosphere system

maintains heat balance.

(iii)

Compare the global distribution of temperature in January over the

northern and the southern hemisphere of the earth.

Project Work

Select a meteorological observatory located in your city or near your town. Tabulate
the temperature data as given in the climatological table of observatories :
(i)

Note the altitude, latitude of the observatory and the period for which the
mean is calculated.

SOLAR RADIATION, HEAT BALANCE AND TEMPERATURE

(ii)

Define the terms related to temperature as given in the table.

(iii)

Calculate the daily mean monthly temperature.

(iv)

Draw a graph to show the daily mean maximum, the daily mean minimum and the mean
temperature.

(v)

Calculate the annual range of temperature.

Find out in which months the daily range of temperature is the highest and the lowest.

(vii)

List out the factors that determine the temperature of the place and explain the possible
causes for temperature variation in the months of January, May, July and October.

(vi)

Example
:

New Delhi (Safdarjung)

Latitude

2835 N

Based on observations

1951 - 1980

Altitude above mean sea level

216 m

Mean of
Daily
Max.(C)

Mean of
Daily
Min.(C)

Highest
Recorded
(C)

January

21.1

7.3

29.3

May

39.6

25.9

47.2

Lowest
Recorded
(C)

Month

Observatory

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0.6

17.5

Daily mean monthly temperature

January

May

21.1+7.3
= 14.2OC
2

39.6+25.9
= 32.75OC
2

Annual range of temperature

Mean Max. Temperature in May - Mean Temperature in January

Annual range of temperature = 32.75C 14.2C = 18.55C

CHAPTER

pressure is measured with the help of a

mercury barometer or the aneroid barometer.
Consult your book, Practical Work in
Geography Part I (NCERT, 2006) and learn
about these instruments. The pressure
decreases with height. At any elevation it varies
from place to place and its variation is the
primary cause of air motion, i.e. wind which
moves from high pressure areas to low
pressure areas.

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arlier Chapter 9 described the uneven

distribution of temperature over the
surface of the earth. Air expands when
heated and gets compressed when cooled. This
results in variations in the atmospheric
pressure. The result is that it causes the
movement of air from high pressure to low
pressure, setting the air in motion. You already
know that air in horizontal motion is wind.
Atmospheric pressure also determines when
the air will rise or sink. The wind redistributes
the heat and moisture across the planet,
thereby, maintaining a constant temperature
for the planet as a whole. The vertical rising of
moist air cools it down to form the clouds and
bring precipitation. This chapter has been
devoted to explain the causes of pressure
differences, the forces that control the
atmospheric circulation, the turbulent pattern
of wind, the formation of air masses, the
disturbed weather when air masses interact
with each other and the phenomenon of violent
tropical storms.

ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
AND WEATHER SYSTEMS

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

Do you realise that our body is subjected to a

lot of air pressure. As one moves up the air
gets varified and one feels breathless.
The weight of a column of air contained in
a unit area from the mean sea level to the top
of the atmosphere is called the atmospheric
pressure. The atmospheric pressure is
expressed in units of milibar. At sea level the
average atmospheric pressure is 1,013.2
milibar. Due to gravity the air at the surface is
denser and hence has higher pressure. Air

Vertical Variation of Pressure

In the lower atmosphere the pressure
decreases rapidly with height. The decrease
amounts to about 1 mb for each 10 m
increase in elevation. It does not always
decrease at the same rate. Table 10.1 gives
the average pressure and temperature at
selected levels of elevation for a standard
atmosphere.
Table 10.1 : Standard Pressure and Temperature at
Selected Levels
Level

Sea Level

Pressure in mb

Temperature C

1,013.25

15.2

1 km

898.76

8.7

5 km

540.48

17. 3

10 km

265.00

49.7

The vertical pressure gradient force is much

larger than that of the horizontal pressure
gradient. But, it is generally balanced by a
nearly equal but opposite gravitational force.
Hence, we do not experience strong upward
winds.

ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION AND WEATHER SYSTEMS

Horizontal Distribution of Pressure

Small differences in pressure are highly

significant in terms of the wind direction and

purposes of comparison. The sea level pressure

distribution is shown on weather maps.
Figure 10.1 shows the patterns of isobars
corresponding to pressure systems. Lowpressure system is enclosed by one or more
isobars with the lowest pressure in the centre.
High-pressure system is also enclosed by one
or more isobars with the highest pressure in
the centre.

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velocity. Horizontal distribution of pressure is

studied by drawing isobars at constant levels.
Isobars are lines connecting places having
equal pressure. In order to eliminate the effect
of altitude on pressure, it is measured at any
station after being reduced to sea level for

The world distribution of sea level pressure in

January and July has been shown in Figures
10.2 and 10.3. Near the equator the sea level
pressure is low and the area is known as
equatorial low. Along 30 N and 30o S are
found the high-pressure areas known as the
subtropical highs. Further pole wards along
60o N and 60o S, the low-pressure belts are
termed as the sub polar lows. Near the poles
the pressure is high and it is known as the polar
high. These pressure belts are not permanent

Figure 10.1 : Isobars, pressure and wind systems in

Northern Hemisphere

World Distribution of Sea Level Pressure

Figure 10.2 : Distribution of pressure (in millibars) January

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FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Figure 10.3 : Distribution of pressure (in millibars) July

in nature. They oscillate with the apparent

movement of the sun. In the northern
hemisphere in winter they move southwards
and in the summer northwards.
Forces Affecting the Velocity
and Direction of Wind

You already know that the air is set in motion

due to the differences in atmospheric pressure.
The air in motion is called wind. The wind
blows from high pressure to low pressure. The
wind at the surface experiences friction. In
addition, rotation of the earth also affects the
wind movement. The force exerted by the
rotation of the earth is known as the Coriolis
force. Thus, the horizontal winds near the
earth surface respond to the combined effect
of three forces the pressure gradient force,
the frictional force and the Coriolis force. In
addition, the gravitational force acts
downward.

Pressure Gradient Force

The differences in atmospheric pressure
produces a force. The rate of change of pressure
with respect to distance is the pressure
gradient. The pressure gradient is strong where
the isobars are close to each other and is weak
where the isobars are apart.
Frictional Force

It affects the speed of the wind. It is greatest at

the surface and its influence generally extends
upto an elevation of 1 - 3 km. Over the sea
surface the friction is minimal.
Coriolis Force

The rotation of the earth about its axis affects

the direction of the wind. This force is called
the Coriolis force after the French physicist who
described it in 1844. It deflects the wind to the
right direction in the northern hemisphere and

ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION AND WEATHER SYSTEMS

Pressure and Wind

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The velocity and direction of the wind are the

net result of the wind generating forces. The
winds in the upper atmosphere, 2 - 3 km above
the surface, are free from frictional effect of the
surface and are controlled mainly by the
pressure gradient and the Coriolis force. When
isobars are straight and when there is no
friction, the pressure gradient force is balanced
by the Coriolis force and the resultant wind
blows parallel to the isobar. This wind is known
as the geostrophic wind (Figure 10.4).

The wind circulation around a low is

called cyclonic circulation. Around a high
it is called anti cyclonic circulation. The
direction of winds around such systems
changes according to their location in
different hemispheres (Table 10.2).
The wind circulation at the earths surface
around low and high on many occasions is
closely related to the wind circulation at higher
level. Generally, over low pressure area the air
will converge and rise. Over high pressure area
the air will subside from above and diverge at
the surface (Figure10.5). Apart from
convergence, some eddies, convection
currents, orographic uplift and uplift along
fronts cause the rising of air, which is essential
for the formation of clouds and precipitation.

to the left in the southern hemisphere. The

deflection is more when the wind velocity is
high. The Coriolis force is directly proportional
to the angle of latitude. It is maximum at the
poles and is absent at the equator.
The Coriolis force acts perpendicular to the
pressure gradient force. The pressure gradient
force is perpendicular to an isobar. The higher
the pressure gradient force, the more is the
velocity of the wind and the larger is the
deflection in the direction of wind. As a result of
these two forces operating perpendicular to each
other, in the low-pressure areas the wind blows
around it. At the equator, the Coriolis force is
zero and the wind blows perpendicular to the
isobars. The low pressure gets filled instead of
getting intensified. That is the reason why tropical
cyclones are not formed near the equator.

Figure 10.4 : Geostropic Wind

Figure 10.5 : Convergence and divergence of winds

General circulation of the atmosphere

The pattern of planetary winds largely depends
on : (i) latitudinal variation of atmospheric
heating; (ii) emergence of pressure belts; (iii)
the migration of belts following apparent path
of the sun; (iv) the distribution of continents
and oceans; (v) the rotation of earth. The pattern
of the movement of the planetary winds is
called the general circulation of the
atmosphere. The general circulation of the
atmosphere also sets in motion the ocean water
circulation which influences the earths

Table 10.2 : Pattern of Wind Direction in Cyclones and Anticyclones

Pressure System

Pressure Condition
at the Centre

Pattern of Wind Direction

Northern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere

Cyclone

Low

Anticlockwise

Clockwise

Anticyclone

High

Clockwise

Anticlockwise

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

climate. A schematic description of the general

circulation is shown in Figure 10.6.

The general circulation of the atmosphere

also affects the oceans. The large-scale winds
of the atmosphere initiate large and slow
moving currents of the ocean. Oceans in turn
provide input of energy and water vapour into
the air. These interactions take place rather
slowly over a large part of the ocean.

General Atmospheric Circulation and

its Effects on Oceans

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The air at the Inter Tropical Convergence

Zone (ITCZ) rises because of convection caused
by high insolation and a low pressure is
created. The winds from the tropics converge
at this low pressure zone. The converged air
rises along with the convective cell. It reaches
the top of the troposphere up to an altitude of
14 km. and moves towards the poles. This
causes accumulation of air at about 30o N and
S. Part of the accumulated air sinks to the
ground and forms a subtropical high. Another
reason for sinking is the cooling of air when it
reaches 30o N and S latitudes. Down below
near the land surface the air flows towards the
equator as the easterlies. The easterlies from
either side of the equator converge in the Inter
Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Such
circulations from the surface upwards and
vice-versa are called cells. Such a cell in the
tropics is called Hadley Cell. In the middle
latitudes the circulation is that of sinking cold
air that comes from the poles and the rising
warm air that blows from the subtropical high.
At the surface these winds are called westerlies
and the cell is known as the Ferrel cell. At polar
latitudes the cold dense air subsides near the
poles and blows towards middle latitudes as
the polar easterlies. This cell is called the polar
cell. These three cells set the pattern for the
general circulation of the atmosphere. The
transfer of heat energy from lower latitudes to
higher latitudes maintains the general
circulation.

Figure 10. 6 : Simplified general circulation

of the atmosphere

Warming and cooling of the Pacific Ocean

is most important in terms of general
atmospheric circulation. The warm water
of the central Pacific Ocean slowly drifts
towards South American coast and
replaces the cool Peruvian current. Such
appearance of warm water off the coast
of Peru is known as the El Nino. The El
Nino event is closely associated with the
pressure changes in the Central Pacific
and Australia. This change in pressure
condition over Pacific is known as the
southern oscillation. The combined
phenomenon of southern oscillation and
El Nino is known as ENSO. In the years
when the ENSO is strong, large-scale
variations in weather occur over the
world. The arid west coast of South
America receives heavy rainfall, drought
occurs in Australia and sometimes in
India and floods in China. This
phenomenon is closely monitored and is
used for long range forecasting in major
parts of the world.

Seasonal Wind

The pattern of wind circulation is modified in

different seasons due to the shifting of regions
of maximum heating, pressure and wind belts.
The most pronounced effect of such a shift is
noticed in the monsoons, especially over
southeast Asia. You would be studying the
details of monsoon in the book India : Physical
Environment (NCERT, 2006). The other local
deviations from the general circulation system
are as follows.
Local Winds

Differences in the heating and cooling of earth

surfaces and the cycles those develop daily or
annually can create several common, local or
regional winds.

ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION AND WEATHER SYSTEMS

As explained earlier, the land and sea absorb

and transfer heat differently. During the day the
land heats up faster and becomes warmer than
the sea. Therefore, over the land the air rises
giving rise to a low pressure area, whereas the
sea is relatively cool and the pressure over sea
is relatively high. Thus, pressure gradient from
sea to land is created and the wind blows from
the sea to the land as the sea breeze. In the night
the reversal of condition takes place. The land
loses heat faster and is cooler than the sea. The
pressure gradient is from the land to the sea
and hence land breeze results (Figure 10.7).

as the valley breeze. During the night the

slopes get cooled and the dense air descends
into the valley as the mountain wind. The cool
air, of the high plateaus and ice fields draining
into the valley is called katabatic wind. Another
type of warm wind occurs on the leeward side
of the mountain ranges. The moisture in these
winds, while crossing the mountain ranges
condense and precipitate. When it descends
down the leeward side of the slope the dry air
gets warmed up by adiabatic process. This dry
air may melt the snow in a short time.

Land and Sea Breezes

Air Masses

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When the air remains over a homogenous area

for a sufficiently longer time, it acquires the
characteristics of the area. The homogenous
regions can be the vast ocean surface or vast
plains. The air with distinctive characteristics
in terms of temperature and humidity is called
an airmass. It is defined as a large body of air
having little horizontal variation in temperature
and moisture. The homogenous surfaces, over
which air masses form, are called the source
regions.
The air masses are classified according to
the source regions. There are five major source
regions. These are: (i) Warm tropical and
subtropical oceans; (ii) The subtropical hot
deserts; (iii) The relatively cold high latitude
oceans; (iv) The very cold snow covered
continents in high latitudes; (v) Permanently
ice covered continents in the Arctic and
Antarctica. Accordingly, following types of airmasses are recognised: (i) Maritime tropical
(mT); (ii) Continental tropical (cT); (iii) Maritime
polar (mP); (iv) Continental polar (cP);
(v) Continental arctic (cA). Tropical air masses
are warm and polar air masses are cold.
Fronts

Figure 10.7 : Land and sea breezes

Mountain and Valley Winds

In mountainous regions, during the day the

slopes get heated up and air moves upslope
and to fill the resulting gap the air from the
valley blows up the valley. This wind is known

When two different air masses meet, the

boundary zone between them is called a
front. The process of formation of the
fronts is known as frontogenesis. There
are four types of fronts: (a) Cold; (b) Warm;
(c) Stationary; (d) Occluded. When the
front remains stationary, it is called a
stationary front. When the cold air moves

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

anticlockwise cyclonic circulation. The cyclonic

circulation leads to a well developed extra
tropical cyclone, with a warm front and a cold
front. The plan and cross section of a well
developed cyclone is given in Figure 10.9.
There are pockets of warm air or warm sector
wedged between the forward and the rear cold
air or cold sector. The warm air glides over the
cold air and a sequence of clouds appear over
the sky ahead of the warm front and cause
precipitation. The cold front approaches the
warm air from behind and pushes the warm
air up. As a result, cumulus clouds develop
along the cold front. The cold front moves faster
than the warm front ultimately overtaking the
warm front. The warm air is completely lifted
up and the front is occluded and the cyclone
dissipates.
The processes of wind circulation both at
the surface and aloft are closely interlinked.
The extra tropical cyclone differs from the
tropical cyclone in number of ways. The extra
tropical cyclones have a clear frontal system

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Figure 10.8 : Vertical Sections of : (a) Warm Front;

(b) Cold Front; (c) Occluded Front

towards the warm air mass, its contact zone is

called the cold front, whereas if the warm air
mass moves towards the cold air mass, the
contact zone is a warm front. If an air mass is
fully lifted above the land surface, it is called
the occluded front. The fronts occur in middle
latitudes and are characterised by steep gradient
in temperature and pressure. They bring
abrupt changes in temperature and cause the
air to rise to form clouds and cause precipitation.
Extra Tropical Cyclones

The systems developing in the mid and high

latitude, beyond the tropics are called the
middle latitude or extra tropical cyclones. The
passage of front causes abrupt changes in the
weather conditions over the area in the middle
and high latitudes.
Extra tropical cyclones form along the polar
front. Initially, the front is stationary. In the
northern hemisphere, warm air blows from the
south and cold air from the north of the front.
When the pressure drops along the front, the
warm air moves northwards and the cold air
move towards, south setting in motion an

Figure 10. 9 : Extra tropical cyclones

ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION AND WEATHER SYSTEMS

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Tropical cyclones are violent storms that

originate over oceans in tropical areas and
move over to the coastal areas bringing about
large scale destruction caused by violent
winds, very heavy rainfall and storm surges.
This is one of the most devastating natural
calamities. They are known as Cyclones in the
Indian Ocean, Hurricanes in the Atlantic,
Typhoons in the Western Pacific and South
China Sea, and Willy-willies in the Western
Australia.
Tropical cyclones originate and intensify
over warm tropical oceans. The conditions
favourable for the formation and intensification
of tropical storms are: (i) Large sea surface with
temperature higher than 27 C; (ii) Presence
of the Coriolis force; (iii) Small variations in the
vertical wind speed; (iv) A pre-existing weaklow-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic
circulation; (v) Upper divergence above the sea
level system.
The energy that intensifies the storm, comes
from the condensation process in the towering
cumulonimbus clouds, surrounding the
centre of the storm. With continuous supply
of moisture from the sea, the storm is further
strengthened. On reaching the land the
moisture supply is cut off and the storm
dissipates. The place where a tropical cyclone
crosses the coast is called the landfall of the
cyclone. The cyclones, which cross 20o N
latitude generally, recurve and they are more
destructive.

Tropical Cyclones

A schematic representation of the vertical

structure of a mature tropical cyclonic storm
is shown in Figure 10.10.
A mature tropical cyclone is characterised
by the strong spirally circulating wind around
the centre, called the eye. The diameter of the
circulating system can vary between 150 and
250 km.
The eye is a region of calm with subsiding
air. Around the eye is the eye wall, where there
is a strong spiralling ascent of air to greater
height reaching the tropopause. The wind
reaches maximum velocity in this region,
reaching as high as 250 km per hour.
Torrential rain occurs here. From the eye wall
rain bands may radiate and trains of cumulus
and cumulonimbus clouds may drift into the
outer region. The diameter of the storm over
the Bay of Bengal, Arabian sea and Indian
ocean is between 600 - 1200 km. The system
moves slowly about 300 - 500 km per day.
The cyclone creates storm surges and they
inundate the coastal low lands. The storm
peters out on the land.

which is not present in the tropical cyclones.

They cover a larger area and can originate over
the land and sea. Whereas the tropical cyclones
originate only over the seas and on reaching
the land they dissipate. The extra tropical
cyclone affects a much larger area as
compared to the tropical cyclone. The wind
velocity in a tropical cyclone is much higher
and it is more destructive. The extra tropical
cyclones move from west to east but tropical
cyclones, move from east to west.

Figure 10.10 : Vertical section of the tropical cyclone

(after Rama Sastry)

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

EXERCISES
Multiple choice questions.

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Other severe local storms are thunderstorms

and tornadoes. They are of short duration,
occurring over a small area but are violent.
Thunderstorms are caused by intense
convection on moist hot days. A thunderstorm
is a well-grown cumulonimbus cloud
producing thunder and lightening. When the
clouds extend to heights where sub-zero
temperature prevails, hails are formed and they
come down as hailstorm. If there is insufficient
moisture, a thunderstorm can generate duststorms. A thunderstorm is characterised by
intense updraft of rising warm air, which
causes the clouds to grow bigger and rise to

greater height. This causes precipitation. Later,

downdraft brings down to earth the cool air
and the rain. From severe thunderstorms
sometimes spiralling wind descends like a
trunk of an elephant with great force, with very
low pressure at the centre, causing massive
destruction on its way. Such a phenomenon is
called a tornado. Tornadoes generally occur
in middle latitudes. The tornado over the sea
is called water sprouts.
These violent storms are the manifestation
of the atmospheres adjustments to varying
energy distribution. The potential and heat
energies are converted into kinetic energy in
these storms and the restless atmosphere again
returns to its stable state.

Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

(i) If the surface air pressure is 1,000 mb, the air pressure at 1 km above the
surface will be:
(a) 700 mb

(b) 1,100 mb

(d) 1,300 mb

(ii) The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone normally occurs:

(a) near the Equator

(b) near the Tropic of Cancer

(c) near the Tropic of Capricorn

(d) near the Arctic Circle

(iii) The direction of wind around a low pressure in northern hemisphere is:

(iv)

(a) clockwise

(c) anti-clock wise

(b) perpendicular to isobars

(d) parallel to isobars

Which one of the following is the source region for the formation of air
masses?
(a) the Equatorial forest

(c) the Siberian Plain

(b) the Himalayas

(d) the Deccan Plateau

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

What is the unit used in measuring pressure? Why is the pressure measured
at station level reduced to the sea level in preparation of weather maps?

(ii)

While the pressure gradient force is from north to south, i.e. from the
subtropical high pressure to the equator in the northern hemisphere,
why are the winds north easterlies in the tropics.

(iii)

What are the geotrophic winds?

(iv)

Explain the land and sea breezes.

ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION AND WEATHER SYSTEMS

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

Discuss the factors affecting the speed and direction of wind.

(ii)

Draw a simplified diagram to show the general circulation of the

atmosphere over the globe. What are the possible reasons for the formation
of subtropical high pressure over 30o N and S latitudes?

(iii)

Why does tropical cyclone originate over the seas? In which part of the
tropical cyclone do torrential rains and high velocity winds blow and why?

Project Work

Collect weather information over media such as newspaper, TV and radio

for understanding the weather systems.

(ii)

Read the section on weather in any newspaper, preferably, one having a

map showing a satellite picture. Mark the area of cloudiness. Attempt to
infer the atmospheric circulation from the distribution of clouds. Compare
the forecast given in the newspaper with the TV coverage, if you have
access to TV. Estimate, how many days in a week was the forecast were
accurate.

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(i)

CHAPTER

IN THE

ATMOSPHERE

EVAPORATION

AND

CONDENSATION

The amount of water vapour in the atmosphere

is added or withdrawn due to evaporation and
condensation respectively. Evaporation is a
process by which water is transformed from
liquid to gaseous state. Heat is the main cause
for evaporation. The temperature at which the
water starts evaporating is referred to as the
latent heat of vapourisation.
Increase in temperature increases water
absorption and retention capacity of the given
parcel of air. Similarly, if the moisture content
is low, air has a potentiality of absorbing and
retaining moisture. Movement of air replaces
the saturated layer with the unsaturated layer.
Hence, the greater the movement of air, the
greater is the evaporation.
The transformation of water vapour into
water is called condensation. Condensation is
caused by the loss of heat. When moist air is
cooled, it may reach a level when its capacity
to hold water vapour ceases. Then, the excess
water vapour condenses into liquid form. If it
directly condenses into solid form, it is known
as sublimation. In free air, condensation results
from cooling around very small particles
termed as hygroscopic condensation nuclei.
Particles of dust, smoke and salt from the ocean
are particularly good nuclei because they
absorb water. Condensation also takes place
when the moist air comes in contact with some
colder object and it may also take place when
the temperature is close to the dew point.
Condensation, therefore, depends upon the
amount of cooling and the relative humidity of
the air. Condensation is influenced by the
volume of air, temperature, pressure and
humidity. Condensation takes place: (i) when

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ou have already learnt that the air

contains water vapour. It varies from
zero to four per cent by volume of the
atmosphere and plays an important role in the
weather phenomena. Water is present in the
atmosphere in three forms namely gaseous,
liquid and solid. The moisture in the
atmosphere is derived from water bodies
through evaporation and from plants through
transpiration. Thus, there is a continuous
exchange of water between the atmosphere, the
oceans and the continents through the
processes of evaporation, transpiration,
condensation and precipitation.
Water vapour present in the air is known
as humidity. It is expressed quantitatively in
different ways. The actual amount of the water
vapour present in the atmosphere is known as
the absolute humidity. It is the weight of water
vapour per unit volume of air and is expressed
in terms of grams per cubic metre. The ability
of the air to hold water vapour depends entirely
on its temperature. The absolute humidity
differs from place to place on the surface of the
earth. The percentage of moisture present in
the atmosphere as compared to its full capacity
at a given temperature is known as the relative
humidity. With the change of air temperature,
the capacity to retain moisture increases or
decreases and the relative humidity is also
affected. It is greater over the oceans and least
over the continents.
The air containing moisture to its full
capacity at a given temperature is said to be
saturated. It means that the air at the given
temperature is incapable of holding any
additional amount of moisture at that stage.
The temperature at which saturation occurs
in a given sample of air is known as dew point.

WATER

WATER IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Cloud is a mass of minute water droplets or

tiny crystals of ice formed by the condensation
of the water vapour in free air at considerable
elevations. As the clouds are formed at some
height over the surface of the earth, they take
various shapes. According to their height,
expanse, density and transparency or
opaqueness clouds are grouped under four
types : (i) cirrus; (ii) cumulus; (iii) stratus;
(iv) nimbus.

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When the moisture is deposited in the form of

water droplets on cooler surfaces of solid
objects (rather than nuclei in air above the
surface) such as stones, grass blades and plant
leaves, it is known as dew. The ideal conditions
for its formation are clear sky, calm air, high
relative humidity, and cold and long nights.
For the formation of dew, it is necessary that
the dew point is above the freezing point.

Clouds

Dew

condition when fog is mixed with smoke, is

described as smog. The only difference between
the mist and fog is that mist contains more
moisture than the fog. In mist each nuceli
contains a thicker layer of moisture. Mists are
frequent over mountains as the rising warm
air up the slopes meets a cold surface. Fogs
are drier than mist and they are prevalent where
warm currents of air come in contact with cold
currents. Fogs are mini clouds in which
condensation takes place around nuclei
provided by the dust, smoke, and the salt
particles.

the temperature of the air is reduced to dew

point with its volume remaining constant; (ii)
when both the volume and the temperature are
reduced; (iv) when moisture is added to the air
through evaporation. However, the most
favourable condition for condensation is the
decrease in air temperature.
After condensation the water vapour or the
moisture in the atmosphere takes one of the
following forms dew, frost, fog and clouds.
Forms of condensation can be classified on the
basis of temperature and location.
Condensation takes place when the dew point
is lower than the freezing point as well as
higher than the freezing point.

Frost

Frost forms on cold surfaces when

condensation takes place below freezing point
(00C), i.e. the dew point is at or below the
freezing point. The excess moisture is deposited
in the form of minute ice crystals instead of
water droplets. The ideal conditions for the
formation of white frost are the same as those
for the formation of dew, except that the air
temperature must be at or below the freezing
point.
Fog and Mist

When the temperature of an air mass

containing a large quantity of water vapour falls
all of a sudden, condensation takes place within
itself on fine dust particles. So, the fog is a cloud
with its base at or very near to the ground.
Because of the fog and mist, the visibility
becomes poor to zero. In urban and industrial
centres smoke provides plenty of nuclei which
help the formation of fog and mist. Such a

Cirrus

Cirrus clouds are formed at high altitudes

(8,000 - 12,000m). They are thin and detatched
clouds having a feathery appearance. They are
always white in colour.
Cumulus

Cumulus clouds look like cotton wool. They

are generally formed at a height of 4,000 7,000 m. They exist in patches and can be seen
scattered here and there. They have a flat base.
Stratus

As their name implies, these are layered clouds

covering large portions of the sky. These clouds
are generally formed either due to loss of heat
or the mixing of air masses with different
temperatures.
Nimbus

Nimbus clouds are black or dark gray. They

form at middle levels or very near to the surface

100

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Precipitation
The process of continuous condensation in free
air helps the condensed particles to grow in
size. When the resistance of the air fails to hold
them against the force of gravity, they fall on to
the earths surface. So after the condensation
of water vapour, the release of moisture is
known as precipitation. This may take place
in liquid or solid form. The precipitation in the
form of water is called rainfall, when the
temperature is lower than the 00C, precipitation
takes place in the form of fine flakes of snow
and is called snowfall. Moisture is released in
the form of hexagonal crystals. These crystals
form flakes of snow. Besides rain and snow,
other forms of precipitation are sleet and hail,
though the latter are limited in occurrence and
are sporadic in both time and space.
Sleet is frozen raindrops and refrozen
melted snow-water. When a layer of air with
the temperature above freezing point overlies
a subfreezing layer near the ground,
precipitation takes place in the form of sleet.
Raindrops, which leave the warmer air,
encounter the colder air below. As a result, they
solidify and reach the ground as small pellets
of ice not bigger than the raindrops from which
they are formed.
Sometimes, drops of rain after being
released by the clouds become solidified into
small rounded solid pieces of ice and which
reach the surface of the earth are called
hailstones. These are formed by the rainwater
passing through the colder layers. Hailstones
have several concentric layers of ice one over
the other.

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Figure 11.1

of the earth. These are extremely dense and

opaque to the rays of the sun. Sometimes, the
clouds are so low that they seem to touch the
ground. Nimbus clouds are shapeless masses
of thick vapour.

Types of Rainfall

Figure 11.2

Identify these cloud types which are

shown in Figure 11.1 and 11.2.

A combination of these four basic types can

give rise to the following types of clouds: high
clouds cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus;
middle clouds altostratus and altocumulus;
low clouds stratocumulus and nimbostratus
and clouds with extensive vertical
development cumulus and cumulonimbus.

On the basis of origin, rainfall may be classified

into three main types the convectional,
orographic or relief and the cyclonic or frontal.
Convectional Rain

The, air on being heated, becomes light and

rises up in convection currents. As it rises, it
expands and loses heat and consequently,
condensation takes place and cumulous
clouds are formed. With thunder and lightening,
heavy rainfall takes place but this does not last

101

WATER IN THE ATMOSPHERE

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When the saturated air mass comes across a

mountain, it is forced to ascend and as it rises,
it expands; the temperature falls, and the
moisture is condensed. The chief characteristic
of this sort of rain is that the windward slopes
receive greater rainfall. After giving rain on the
windward side, when these winds reach the
other slope, they descend, and their
temperature rises. Then their capacity to take
in moisture increases and hence, these leeward
slopes remain rainless and dry. The area
situated on the leeward side, which gets less
rainfall is known as the rain-shadow area. It
is also known as the relief rain.

Orographic Rain

the continents. The rainfall is more over the

oceans than on the landmasses of the world
because of being great sources of water.
Between the latitudes 350 and 400 N and S of
the equator, the rain is heavier on the eastern
coasts and goes on decreasing towards the
west. But, between 450 and 650 N and S of
equator, due to the westerlies, the rainfall is
first received on the western margins of the
continents and it goes on decreasing towards
the east. Wherever mountains run parallel to
the coast, the rain is greater on the coastal
plain, on the windward side and it decreases
towards the leeward side.
On the basis of the total amount of annual
precipitation, major precipitation regimes of the
world are identified as follows.
The equatorial belt, the windward slopes
of the mountains along the western coasts in
the cool temperate zone and the coastal areas
of the monsoon land receive heavy rainfall of
over 200 cm per annum. Interior continental
areas receive moderate rainfall varying from
100 - 200 cm per annum. The coastal areas of
the continents receive moderate amount of
rainfall. The central parts of the tropical land
and the eastern and interior parts of the
temperate lands receive rainfall varying
between 50 - 100 cm per annum. Areas lying
in the rain shadow zone of the interior of the
continents and high latitudes receive very low
rainfall-less than 50 cm per annum. Seasonal
distribution of rainfall provides an important
aspect to judge its effectiveness. In some
regions rainfall is distributed evenly
throughout the year such as in the equatorial
belt and in the western parts of cool temperate
regions.

long. Such rain is common in the summer or

in the hotter part of the day. It is very common
in the equatorial regions and interior parts of
the continents, particularly in the northern
hemisphere.

Cyclonic Rain

You have already read about extra tropical

cyclones and cyclonic rain in Chapter 10.
Please consult Chapter 10 to understand
cyclonic rainfall.
World Distribution of Rainfall

Different places on the earths surface receive

different amounts of rainfall in a year and that
too in different seasons.
In general, as we proceed from the equator
towards the poles, rainfall goes on decreasing
steadily. The coastal areas of the world receive
greater amounts of rainfall than the interior of

EXERCISES

Multiple choice questions.

(i)

Which one of the following is the most important constituent of the

atmosphere for human beings?
(a) Water vapour

(c) Dust particle

(b) Nitrogen

(d) Oxygen

102

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

(ii) Which one of the following process is responsible for transforming liquid
into vapour?
(a) Condensation

(b) Transpiration

(d) Precipitation

(d) Saturated air

Which one of the following is the highest cloud in the sky?

(a) Cirrus

(b) Stratus

(d) Cumulus

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(ii)

Name the three types of precipitation.

(i)

Explain relative humidity.

(iii)

Why does the amount of water vapour decreases rapidly with altitude?

(iv)

How are clouds formed? Classify them.

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

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(b) Specific humidity

(c) Absolute humidity

(iv)

(a) Relative humidity

(iii) The air that contains moisture to its full capacity :

(i)

(ii)

Discuss the salient features of the world distribution of precipitation.

What are forms of condensation? Describe the process of dew and frost
formation.

Project Work

Browse through the newspaper from 1st June to 31st December and note the news
about extreme rainfall in different parts of the country.

CHAPTER

WORLD CLIMATE AND

CLIMATE CHANGE

related them to the distribution of vegetation

and used these values for classifying the
climates. It is an empirical classification based
on mean annual and mean monthly
temperature and precipitation data. He
introduced the use of capital and small letters
to designate climatic groups and types.
Although developed in 1918 and modified over
a period of time, Koeppens scheme is still
popular and in use.
Koeppen recognised five major climatic
groups, four of them are based on temperature
and one on precipitation. Table 12.1 lists the
climatic groups and their characteristics
according to Koeppen. The capital letters : A,C,
D and E delineate humid climates and B dry
climates.
The climatic groups are subdivided into
types, designated by small letters, based on
seasonality of precipitation and temperature
characteristics. The seasons of dryness are
indicated by the small letters : f, m, w and s,
where f corresponds to no dry season,

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he world climate can be studied by

organising information and data on
climate and synthesising them in
smaller units for easy understanding,
description and analysis. Three broad
approaches have been adopted for classifying
climate. They are empirical, genetic and
applied. Empirical classification is based on
observed data, particularly on temperature
and precipitation. Genetic classification
attempts to organise climates according to their
causes. Applied classification is for specific
purpose.

KOEPPE N S SCHEME
OF CLIMATE

CLASSIFICATION

The most widely used classification of climate

is the empirical climate classification scheme
developed by V. Koeppen. Koeppen identified
a close relationship between the distribution
of vegetation and climate. He selected certain
values of temperature and precipitation and

Table 12.1 : Climatic Groups According to Koeppen

Group

Characteristics

A - Tropical

Average temperature of the coldest month is 18 C or higher

B - Dry Climates

Potential evaporation exceeds precipitation

C - Warm Temperate

The average temperature of the coldest month of the (Mid-latitude) climates

years is higher than minus 3C but below 18C

D - Cold Snow Forest Climates

The average temperature of the coldest month is minus 3 C or below

E - Cold Climates

Average temperature for all months is below 10 C

H - High Land

Cold due to elevation

104

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Group

Characteristics

No dry season

Tropical monsoon

Monsoonal, short dry season

Tropical wet and dry

Winter dry season

Subtropical steppe

BSh

Low-latitude semi arid or dry

Subtropical desert

BWh

Mid-latitude steppe

BSk

Mid-latitude desert

BWk

Humid subtropical

Cfa

No dry season, warm summer

Mediterranean

Dry hot summer

Marine west coast

Cfb

No dry season, warm and cool summer

Humid continental

No dry season, severe winter

Subarctic

Winter dry and very severe

Tundra

No true summer

Polar ice cap

Perennial ice

Highland

Highland with snow cover

Tropical wet

Low-latitude arid or dry

Mid-latitude semi arid or dry

Mid-latitude arid or dry

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B-Dry Climate

Letter Code

A-Tropical Humid
Climate

Type

C-Warm
temperate (Midlatitude) Climates
D-Cold Snowforest Climates

E-Cold Climates
H-Highland

Table 12.2 : Climatic Types According to Koeppen

islands of East Indies. Significant amount of

rainfall occurs in every month of the year as
thunder showers in the afternoon. The
temperature is uniformly high and the annual
range of temperature is negligible. The
maximum temperature on any day is around
30C while the minimum temperature is
around 20C. Tropical evergreen forests with
dense canopy cover and large biodiversity are
found in this climate.

m - monsoon climate, w- winter dry season and

s - summer dry season. The small letters a, b,
c and d refer to the degree of severity of
temperature. The B- Dry Climates are
subdivided using the capital letters S for steppe
or semi-arid and W for deserts. The climatic
types are listed in Table 12.2. The distribution
of climatic groups and types is shown in
Table 12.1.

Group A : Tropical Humid Climates

Tropical Monsoon Climate (Am)

Tropical humid climates exist between Tropic

of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. The sun
being overhead throughout the year and the
presence of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone
(ITCZ) make the climate hot and humid.
Annual range of temperature is very low and
annual rainfall is high. The tropical group is
divided into three types, namely (i) Af- Tropical
wet climate; (ii) Am - Tropical monsoon climate;
(iii) Aw- Tropical wet and dry climate.

Tropical monsoon climate (Am) is found over

the Indian sub-continent, North Eastern part
of South America and Northern Australia.
Heavy rainfall occurs mostly in summer. Winter
is dry. The detailed climatic account of this
climatic type is given in the book on India:
Physical Environment.

Tropical Wet Climate (Af)

Tropical wet climate is found near the equator.

The major areas are the Amazon Basin in South
America, western equatorial Africa and the

Tropical Wet and Dry Climate (Aw)

Tropical wet and dry climate occurs north and
south of Af type climate regions. It borders with
dry climate on the western part of the continent
and Cf or Cw on the eastern part. Extensive
Aw climate is found to the north and south of
the Amazon forest in Brazil and adjoining parts

105

WORLD CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Warm temperate (mid-latitude) climates extend

from 30 - 50 of latitude mainly on the eastern
and western margins of continents. These
climates generally have warm summers with
mild winters. They are grouped into four types:
(i) Humid subtropical, i.e. dry in winter and
hot in summer (Cwa); (ii) Mediterranean (Cs);
(iii) Humid subtropical, i.e. no dry season and
mild winter (Cfa); (iv) Marine west coast climate
(Cfb).

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Dry climates are characterised by very low

rainfall that is not adequate for the growth of
plants. These climates cover a very large area
of the planet extending over large latitudes from
15 - 60 north and south of the equator. At
low latitudes, from 15 - 30, they occur in the
area of subtropical high where subsidence and
inversion of temperature do not produce
rainfall. On the western margin of the
continents, adjoining the cold current,
particularly over the west coast of South
America, they extend more equatorwards and
occur on the coast land. In middle latitudes,
from 35 - 60 north and south of equator, they
are confined to the interior of continents where
maritime-humid winds do not reach and to
areas often surrounded by mountains.
Dry climates are divided into steppe or
semi-arid climate (BS) and desert climate (BW).
They are further subdivided as subtropical
steppe (BSh) and subtropical desert (BWh) at
latitudes from 15 - 35 and mid-latitude
steppe (BSk) and mid-latitude desert (BWk) at
latitudes between 35 - 60.

Warm Temperate (Mid-Latitude) Climates-C

Dry Climates : B

often causing famine. Rain occurs in short

intense thundershowers in deserts and is
ineffective in building soil moisture. Fog is
common in coastal deserts bordering cold
currents. Maximum temperature in the summer
is very high. The highest shade temperature of
58 C was recorded at Al Aziziyah, Libya on
13 September 1922. The annual and diurnal
ranges of temperature are also high.

of Bolivia and Paraguay in South America,

Sudan and south of Central Africa. The annual
rainfall in this climate is considerably less than
that in Af and Am climate types and is variable
also. The wet season is shorter and the dry
season is longer with the drought being more
severe. Temperature is high throughout the
year and diurnal ranges of temperature are the
greatest in the dry season. Deciduous forest and
tree-shredded grasslands occur in this climate.

Subtropical Steppe (BSh) and Subtropical

Desert (BWh) Climates

Subtropical steppe (BSh) and subtropical

desert (BWh) have common precipitation and
temperature characteristics. Located in the
transition zone between humid and dry
climates, subtropical steppe receives slightly
more rainfall than the desert, adequate enough
for the growth of sparse grasslands. The rainfall
in both the climates is highly variable. The
variability in the rainfall affects the life in the
steppe much more than in the desert, more

Humid Subtropical Climate (Cwa)

Humid subtropical climate occurs poleward of
Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn, mainly in
North Indian plains and South China interior
plains. The climate is similar to Aw climate
except that the temperature in winter is warm.
Mediterranean Climate (Cs)
As the name suggests, Mediterranean climate
occurs around Mediterranean sea, along the
west coast of continents in subtropical latitudes
between 30 - 40 latitudes e.g. Central
California, Central Chile, along the coast in
south eastern and south western Australia.
These areas come under the influence of sub
tropical high in summer and westerly wind in
winter. Hence, the climate is characterised by
hot, dry summer and mild, rainy winter. Monthly
average temperature in summer is around
25 C and in winter below 10C. The annual
precipitation ranges between 35 - 90 cm.
Humid Subtropical (Cfa) Climate
Humid subtropical climate lies on the eastern
parts of the continent in subtropical latitudes.
In this region the air masses are generally

106

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

unstable and cause rainfall throughout the

year. They occur in eastern United States of
America, southern and eastern China,
southern Japan, northeastern Argentina,
coastal south Africa and eastern coast of
Australia. The annual averages of precipitation
vary from 75-150 cm. Thunderstorms in
summer and frontal precipitation in winter are
common. Mean monthly temperature in
summer is around 27C, and in winter it varies
from 5-12 C. The daily range of temperature
is small.

Cold Climate with Dry Winters (Dw)

Marine West Coast Climate (Cfb)

Polar Climates (E)

Marine west coast climate is located poleward

from the Mediterranean climate on the west
coast of the continents. The main areas are:
Northwestern Europe, west coast of North
America, north of California, southern Chile,
southeastern Australia and New Zealand. Due
to marine influence, the temperature is
moderate and in winter, it is warmer than for
its latitude. The mean temperature in summer
months ranges from 15-20C and in winter
4-10C. The annual and daily ranges of
temperature are small. Precipitation occurs
throughout the year. Precipitation varies
greatly from 50-250cm.

Polar climates exist poleward beyond 70

latitude. Polar climates consist of two types:
(i) Tundra (ET); (ii) Ice Cap (EF).

Tundra Climate (ET)

The tundra climate (ET) is so called after the

types of vegetation, like low growing mosses,
lichens and flowering plants. This is the region
of permafrost where the sub soil is permanently
frozen. The short growing season and water
logging support only low growing plants.
During summer, the tundra regions have very
long duration of day light.

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Cold Snow Forest Climates (D)

Cold climate with dry winter occurs mainly

over Northeastern Asia. The development of
pronounced winter anti cyclone and its
weakening in summer sets in monsoon like
reversal of wind in this region. Poleward
summer temperatures are lower and winter
temperatures are extremely low with many
locations experiencing below freezing point
temperatures for up to seven months in a year.
Precipitation occurs in summer. The annual
precipitation is low from 12-15 cm.

Ice Cap Climate (EF)

Cold snow forest climates occur in the large

continental area in the northern hemisphere
between 40-70 north latitudes in Europe,
Asia and North America. Cold snow forest
climates are divided into two types: (i) Df- cold
climate with humid winter; (ii) Dw- cold climate
with dry winter. The severity of winter is more
pronounced in higher latitudes.

The ice cap climate (EF) occurs over interior

Greenland and Antartica. Even in summer, the
temperature is below freezing point. This area
receives very little precipitation. The snow and
ice get accumulated and the mounting pressure
causes the deformation of the ice sheets and
they break. They move as icebergs that float in
the Arctic and Antarctic waters. Plateau Station
, Antarctica ,79S, portray this climate.

Cold Climate with Humid Winters (Df)

Highland Climates (H)

Cold climate with humid winter occurs

poleward of marine west coast climate and mid
latitude steppe. The winters are cold and
snowy. The frost free season is short. The
annual ranges of temperature are large. The
weather changes are abrupt and short.
Poleward, the winters are more severe.

Highland climates are governed by topography.

In high mountains, large changes in mean
temperature occur over short distances.
Precipitation types and intensity also vary
spatially across high lands. There is vertical
zonation of layering of climatic types with
elevation in the mountain environment.

107

WORLD CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Causes of Climate Change

The causes for climate change are many. They

can be grouped into astronomical and
terrestrial causes. The astronomical causes are
the changes in solar output associated with
sunspot activities. Sunspots are dark and
cooler patches on the sun which increase and
decrease in a cyclical manner. According to
some meteorologists, when the number of
sunspots increase, cooler and wetter weather
and greater storminess occur. A decrease in
sunspot numbers is associated with warm and
drier conditions. Yet, these findings are not
statistically significant.
An another astronomical theory is
Millankovitch oscillations, which infer cycles
in the variations in the earths orbital
characteristics around the sun, the wobbling
of the earth and the changes in the earths axial
tilt. All these alter the amount of insolation
received from the sun, which in turn, might
have a bearing on the climate.
Volcanism is considered as another cause
for climate change. Volcanic eruption throws
up lots of aerosols into the atmosphere. These
aerosols remain in the atmosphere for a
considerable period of time reducing the suns
radiation reaching the Earths surface. After the
recent Pinatoba and El Cion volcanic
eruptions, the average temperature of the earth
fell to some extent for some years.
The most important anthropogenic effect
on the climate is the increasing trend in the
concentration of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere which is likely to cause global
warming.

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The earlier chapters on climate summarised

our understanding of climate as it prevails now.
The type of climate we experience now might
be prevailing over the last 10,000 years with
minor and occasionally wide fluctuations. The
planet earth has witnessed many variations in
climate since the beginning. Geological records
show alteration of glacial and inter-glacial
periods. The geomorphological features,
especially in high altitudes and high latitudes,
exhibit traces of advances and retreats of
glaciers. The sediment deposits in glacial lakes
also reveal the occurrence of warm and cold
periods. The rings in the trees provide clues
about wet and dry periods. Historical records
describe the vagaries in climate. All these
evidences indicate that change in climate is a
natural and continuous process.
India also witnessed alternate wet and dry
periods. Archaeological findings show that the
Rajasthan desert experienced wet and cool
climate around 8,000 B.C. The period 3,0001,700 B.C. had higher rainfall. From about
2,000-1,700 B.C., this region was the centre
of the Harappan civilisation. Dry conditions
accentuated since then.
In the geological past, the earth was warm
some 500-300 million years ago, through the
Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian periods.
During the Pleistocene epoch, glacial and
inter-glacial periods occurred, the last major
peak glacial period was about 18,000 years
ago. The present inter-glacial period started
10,000 years ago.

crop failures, of floods and migration of people

tell about the effects of changing climate. A
number of times Europe witnessed warm, wet,
cold and dry periods, the significant episodes
were the warm and dry conditions in the tenth
and eleventh centuries, when the Vikings
settled in Greenland. Europe witnessed Little
Ice Age from 1550 to about 1850. From about
1885-1940 world temperature showed an
upward trend. After 1940, the rate of increase
in temperature slowed down.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate in the recent past

Variability in climate occurs all the time. The

nineties decade of the last century witnessed
extreme weather events. The 1990s recorded
the warmest temperature of the century and
some of the worst floods around the world. The
worst devastating drought in the Sahel region,
south of the Sahara desert, from 1967-1977
is one such variability. During the 1930s,
severe drought occurred in southwestern Great
Plains of the United States, described as the
dust bowl. Historical records of crop yield or

108

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

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The term greenhouse is derived from the

analogy to a greenhouse used in cold
areas for preserving heat. A greenhouse
is made up of glass. The glass which is
transparent to incoming short wave solar
radiation is opaque to outgoing long wave
radiation. The glass, therefore, allows in
more radiation and prevents the long
wave radiation going outside the glass
house, causing the temperature inside
the glasshouse structure warmer than
outside. When you enter a car or a bus,
during summers, where windows are
closed, you feel more heat than outside.
Likewise during winter the vehicles with
closed doors and windows remain warmer
than the temperature outside. This is
another example of the greenhouse effect.

Due to the presence of greenhouse gases, the

atmosphere is behaving like a greenhouse. The
atmosphere also transmits the incoming solar
radiation but absorbs the vast majority of long
wave radiation emitted upwards by the earths
surface. The gases that absorb long wave
radiation are called greenhouse gases. The
processes that warm the atmosphere are often
collectively referred to as the greenhouse effect.

it will take for earths atmospheric system to

recover from any change brought about by the
latter.
The largest concentration of GHGs in the
atmosphere is carbon dioxide. The emission
of CO 2 comes mainly from fossil fuel
combustion (oil, gas and coal). Forests and
oceans are the sinks for the carbon dioxide.
Forests use CO 2 in their growth. So,
deforestation due to changes in land use, also
increases the concentration of Co2. The time
taken for atmospheric CO2 to adjust to changes
in sources to sinks is 20-50 years. It is rising
at about 0.5 per cent annually. Doubling of
concentration of CO2 over pre-industrial level
is used as an index for estimating the changes
in climate in climatic models.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are products
of human activity. Ozone occurs in the
stratosphere where ultra-violet rays convert
oxygen into ozone. Thus, ultra violet rays do
not reach the earths surface. The CFCs which
drift into the stratosphere destroy the ozone.
Large depletion of ozone occurs over Antarctica.
The depletion of ozone concentration in the
stratosphere is called the ozone hole. This
allows the ultra violet rays to pass through the
troposphere.
International efforts have been initiated for
reducing the emission of GHGs into the
atmosphere. The most important one is the
Kyoto protocol proclaimed in 1997. This
protocol went into effect in 2005, ratified by
141 nations. Kyoto protocol bounds the 35
industrialised countries to reduce their
emissions by the year 2012 to 5 per cent less
than the levels prevalent in the year 1990.
The increasing trend in the concentration
of GHGs in the atmosphere may, in the long
run, warm up the earth. Once the global
warming sets in, it will be difficult to reverse it.
The effect of global warming may not be
uniform everywhere. Nevertheless, the adverse
effect due to global warming will adversely affect
the life supporting system. Rise in the sea level
due to melting of glaciers and ice-caps and
thermal expansion of the sea may inundate
large parts of the coastal area and islands,
leading to social problems. This is another
cause for serious concern for the world

Global Warming

Greenhouse Gases(GHGs)

The primary GHGs of concern today are carbon

dioxide (CO2), Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ozone
(O3). Some other gases such as nitric oxide (NO)
and carbon monoxide (CO) easily react with
GHGs and affect their concentration in the
atmosphere.
The effectiveness of any given GHG
molecule will depend on the magnitude of the
increase in its concentration, its life time in the
atmosphere and the wavelength of radiation
that it absorbs. The chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) are highly effective. Ozone which
absorbs ultra violet radiation in the
stratosphere is very effective in absorbing
terrestrial radiation when it is present in the
lower troposphere. Another important point to
be noted is that the more time the GHG
molecule remains in the atmosphere, the longer

109

WORLD CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE

annual near surface temperature over land

from 1856-2000, relative to the period
1961-90 as normal for the globe.
An increasing trend in temperature was
discernible in the 20th century. The greatest
warming of the 20th century was during the
two periods, 1901-44 and 1977-99. Over each
of these two periods, global temperatures rose
by about 0.4C. In between, there was a slight
cooling, which was more marked in the
Northern Hemisphere.
The globally averaged annual mean
temperature at the end of the 20th century was
about 0.6C above that recorded at the end of
the 19th century. The seven warmest years
during the 1856-2000 were recorded in the
last decade. The year 1998 was the warmest
year, probably not only for the 20th century
but also for the whole millennium.

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community. Efforts have already been initiated

to control the emission of GHGs and to arrest
the trend towards global warming. Let us hope
the world community responds to this challenge
and adopts a lifestyle that leaves behind a
livable world for the generations to come.
One of the major concerns of the world
today is global warming. Let us look at how
much the planet has warmed up from the
temperature records.
Temperature data are available from the
middle of the 19th century mostly for western
Europe. The reference period for this study is
1961-90. The temperature anomalies for the
earlier and later periods are estimated from the
average temperature for the period 1961-90.
The annual average near-surface air
temperature of the world is approximately
14C. The time series show anomalies of

Write an explanatory note

on global warming.

110

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

EXERCISES
1.

Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which one of the following is suitable for Koeppens A type of climate?
(a)

High rainfall in all the months

Mean monthly temperature of all the months more than 18o C

(d)

Average temperature for all the months below 10 C

(c)

(b) Mean monthly temperature of the coldest month more than freezing
point

(ii) Koeppens system of classification of climates can be termed as :

(a) Applied

(b) Systematic

(d) Empirical

(a) Af

(b) BSh

(iii) Most of the Indian Peninsula will be grouped according to Koeppens system
under:
(d) Am

(b) 1998

(d) 1950

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(a) 1990

(iv) Which one of the following years is supposed to have recorded the warmest
temperature the world over?

(v) Which one of the following groups of four climates represents humid
conditions?

(a)

ABCE

(b)

ACDE

(c)

BCDE

(d)

ACDF

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

Which two climatic variables are used by Koeppen for classification of the
climate?

(ii)

How is the genetic system of classification different from the empirical

one?

(iii)

Which types of climates have very low range of temperature?

(iv)

What type of climatic conditions would prevail if the sun spots increase?

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

Make a comparison of the climatic conditions between the A and B

types of climate.

(ii)

What type of vegetation would you find in the C and A type(s) of climate?

(iii)

What do you understand by the term Greenhouse Gases? Make a list of

greenhouse gases.

Project Work

Collect information about Kyoto declaration related to global climate changes.

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UNIT
V

WATER (OCEANS)

This unit deals with

Hydrological Cycle

Oceans submarine relief; distribution of temperature and

salinity; movements of ocean water-waves, tides and currents

CHAPTER

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WATER (OCEANS)

an we think of life without water? It is

said that the water is life. Water is an
essential component of all life forms that
exist over the surface of the earth. The creatures
on the earth are lucky that it is a water planet,
otherwise we all would have no existence. Water
is a rare commodity in our solar system. There
is no water on the sun or anywhere else in the
solar system. The earth, fortunately has an
abundant supply of water on its surface. Hence,
our planet is called the Blue Planet.

HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

Water is a cyclic resource. It can be used and

re-used. Water also undergoes a cycle from

the ocean to land and land to ocean. The

hydrological cycle describes the movement of
water on, in, and above the earth. The water
cycle has been working for billions of years
and all the life on earth depends on it. Next to
air, water is the most important element
required for the existence of life on earth. The
distribution of water on earth is quite uneven.
Many locations have plenty of water while
others have very limited quantity. The
hydrological cycle, is the circulation of water
within the earths hydrosphere in different
forms i.e. the liquid, solid and the gaseous
phases. It also refers to the continuous
exchange of water between the oceans,

Figure 13.1 : Hydrological Cycle

WATER (OCEANS)

113

Table 13.1 : Water on the Earths surface

Reservoir

crisis in different parts of the world spatially

and temporally. The pollution of river waters
has further aggravated the crisis. How can you
intervene in improving the water quality and
augmenting the available quantity of water?

Volume
(Million
Cubic km )

Percentage
of the Total

1,370

97.25

2.05

RELIEF

The oceans are confined to the great

depressions of the earths outer layer. In this
section, we shall see the nature of the ocean
basins of the earth and their topography. The
oceans, unlike the continents, merge so
naturally into one another that it is hard to
demarcate them. The geographers have divided
the oceanic part of the earth into five oceans,
namely the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian, and
Southern ocean the Arctic. The various seas,
bays, gulfs and other inlets are parts of these
four large oceans.
A major portion of the ocean floor is found
between 3-6 km below the sea level. The land
under the waters of the oceans, that is, the
ocean floor exhibits complex and varied
features as those observed over the land
(Figure 13.2). The floors of the oceans are
rugged with the worlds largest mountain
ranges, deepest trenches and the largest plains.
These features are formed, like those of the
continents, by the factors of tectonic, volcanic
and depositional processes.

Oceans
Ice Caps
and Glaciers
Groundwater

0.68

0.125

0.01

Soil Moisture

0.065

0.005

Atmosphere

0.013

0.001

Streams
and Rivers

0.0017

0.0001

Biosphere

0.0006

0.00004

OCEAN FLOOR

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9.5

Lakes

OF THE

Table 13.2 : Components and Processes

of the Water Cycle
Components

Processes

Water storage
in oceans

Evaporation
Evapotranspiration
Sublimation

Water in the
atmosphere

Condensation
Precipitation

Water storage in
ice and snow

Snowmelt runoff
to streams

Surface runoff

Stream flow freshwater

storage infiltration

Groundwater storage

Groundwater
discharge springs

Divisions of the Ocean Floors

atmosphere, landsurface and subsurface and

the organisms.
Table 13.1 shows distribution of water on
the surface of the earth. About 71 per cent of
the planetary water is found in the oceans. The
remaining is held as freshwater in glaciers and
icecaps, groundwater sources, lakes, soil
moisture, atmosphere, streams and within life.
Nearly 59 per cent of the water that falls on
land returns to the atmosphere through
evaporation from over the oceans as well as
from other places. The remainder runs-off on
the surface, infiltrates into the ground or a part
of it becomes glacier (Figure 13.1).
It is to be noted that the renewable water
on the earth is constant while the demand is
increasing tremendously. This leads to water

The ocean floors can be divided into four major

divisions: (i) the Continental Shelf; (ii) the
Continental Slope; (iii) the Deep Sea Plain;
(iv) the Oceanic Deeps. Besides, these divisions
there are also major and minor relief features
in the ocean floors like ridges, hills, sea
mounts, guyots, trenches, canyons, etc.
Continental Shelf

The continental shelf is the extended margin

of each continent occupied by relatively
shallow seas and gulfs. It is the shallowest part
of the ocean showing an average gradient of
1 or even less. The shelf typically ends at a
very steep slope, called the shelf break.
The width of the continental shelves vary
from one ocean to another. The average width

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

114

Continental Slope
The continental slope connects the continental
shelf and the ocean basins. It begins where the
bottom of the continental shelf sharply drops
off into a steep slope. The gradient of the slope
region varies between 2-5. The depth of the
slope region varies between 200 and 3,000 m.
The slope boundary indicates the end of the
continents. Canyons and trenches are observed
in this region.

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of continental shelves is about 80 km. The

shelves are almost absent or very narrow along
some of the margins like the coasts of Chile,
the west coast of Sumatra, etc. On the contrary,
the Siberian shelf in the Arctic Ocean, the
largest in the world, stretches to 1,500 km in
width. The depth of the shelves also varies. It
may be as shallow as 30 m in some areas while
in some areas it is as deep as 600 m.
The continental shelves are covered with
variable thicknesses of sediments brought
down by rivers, glaciers, wind, from the land
and distributed by waves and currents. Massive
sedimentary deposits received over a long time
by the continental shelves, become the source
of fossil fuels.

Deep Sea Plain

Deep sea plains are gently sloping areas of the

ocean basins. These are the flattest and
smoothest regions of the world. The depths
vary between 3,000 and 6,000m. These plains
are covered with fine-grained sediments like
clay and silt.
Oceanic Deeps or Trenches

These areas are the deepest parts of the oceans.

The trenches are relatively steep sided, narrow
basins. They are some 3-5 km deeper than
the surrounding ocean floor. They occur at the
bases of continental slopes and along island
arcs and are associated with active volcanoes
and strong earthquakes. That is why they are
very significant in the study of plate
movements. As many as 57 deeps have been
explored so far; of which 32 are in the Pacific
Ocean; 19 in the Atlantic Ocean and 6 in the
Indian Ocean.

Minor Relief Features

Figure 13.2 : Relief features of ocean floors

Apart from the above mentioned major relief

features of the ocean floor, some minor but
significant features predominate in different
parts of the oceans.
Mid-Oceanic Ridges

A mid-oceanic ridge is composed of two chains

of mountains separated by a large depression.
The mountain ranges can have peaks as high
as 2,500 m and some even reach above the
oceans surface. Iceland, a part of the midAtlantic Ridge, is an example.

WATER (OCEANS)

115

Seamount

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It is a mountain with pointed summits, rising

from the seafloor that does not reach the surface
of the ocean. Seamounts are volcanic in origin.
These can be 3,000-4,500 m tall. The Emperor
seamount, an extension of the Hawaiian Islands
in the Pacific Ocean, is a good example.
Submarine Canyons

These are deep valleys, some comparable to the

Grand Canyon of the Colorado river. They are
sometimes found cutting across the continental
shelves and slopes, often extending from the
mouths of large rivers. The Hudson Canyon is
the best known submarine canyon in the world.
Guyots

It is a flat topped seamount. They show

evidences of gradual subsidence through
stages to become flat topped submerged
mountains. It is estimated that more than
10,000 seamounts and guyots exist in the
Pacific Ocean alone.
Atoll

receive more heat due to their contact with

larger extent of land than the oceans in
the southern hemisphere.
(iii) Prevailing wind : the winds blowing from
the land towards the oceans drive warm
surface water away form the coast
resulting in the upwelling of cold water
from below. It results into the longitudinal
variation in the temperature. Contrary to
this, the onshore winds pile up warm
water near the coast and this raises the
temperature.
(iv) Ocean currents : warm ocean currents
raise the temperature in cold areas while
the cold currents decrease the
temperature in warm ocean areas. Gulf
stream (warm current) raises the
temperature near the eastern coast of
North America and the West Coast of
Europe while the Labrador current (cold
current) lowers the temperature near the
north-east coast of North America.
All these factors influence the temperature
of the ocean currents locally. The enclosed seas
in the low latitudes record relatively higher
temperature than the open seas; whereas the
enclosed seas in the high latitudes have lower
temperature than the open seas.

These are low islands found in the tropical

oceans consisting of coral reefs surrounding
a central depression. It may be a part of the
sea (lagoon), or sometimes form enclosing a
body of fresh, brackish, or highly saline water.

TEMPERATURE

OCEAN WATERS

This section deals with the spatial and vertical

variations of temperature in various oceans.
Ocean waters get heated up by the solar energy
just as land. The process of heating and cooling
of the oceanic water is slower than land.
Factors Affecting Temperature Distribution

The factors which affect the distribution of

temperature of ocean water are :
(i) Latitude : the temperature of surface water
decreases from the equator towards the
poles because the amount of insolation
decreases poleward.
(ii) Unequal distribution of land and water :
the oceans in the northern hemisphere

Horizontal and Vertical Distribution

of Temperature

The temperature-depth profile for the ocean

water shows how the temperature decreases
with the increasing depth. The profile shows a
boundary region between the surface waters
of the ocean and the deeper layers. The
boundary usually begins around 100 - 400 m
below the sea surface and extends several
hundred of metres downward (Figure 13.3).
This boundary region, from where there is a
rapid decrease of temperature, is called the
thermocline. About 90 per cent of the total
volume of water is found below the thermocline
in the deep ocean. In this zone, temperatures
approach 0 C.
The temperature structure of oceans over
middle and low latitudes can be described as
a three-layer system from surface to the bottom.
The first layer represents the top layer of

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

116

hemisphere record relatively higher temperature

than in the southern hemisphere. The highest
temperature is not recorded at the equator but
slightly towards north of it. The average annual
temperatures for the northern and southern
hemisphere are around 19 C and 16 C
respectively. This variation is due to the
unequal distribution of land and water in the
northern and southern hemispheres. Figure
13.4 shows the spatial pattern of surface
temperature of the oceans.
It is a well known fact that the maximum
temperature of the oceans is always at their
surfaces because they directly receive the heat
from the sun and the heat is transmitted to
the lower sections of the oceans through the
process of convection. It results into decrease
of temperature with the increasing depth, but
the rate of decrease is not uniform throughout.
The temperature falls very rapidly up to the
depth of 200 m and thereafter, the rate of
decrease of temperature is slowed down.

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warm oceanic water and it is about 500m thick

with temperatures ranging between 20 and
25 C. This layer, within the tropical region, is
present throughout the year but in mid
latitudes it develops only during summer.
The second layer called the thermocline
layer lies below the first layer and is characterised
by rapid decrease in temperature with increasing
depth. The thermocline is 500 -1,000 m thick.

SALINITY

Figure 13.3 : Thermocline

The third layer is very cold and extends upto

the deep ocean floor. In the Arctic and Antartic
circles, the surface water temperatures are close
to 0 C and so the temperature change with
the depth is very slight. Here, only one layer of
cold water exists, which extends from surface
to deep ocean floor.
The average temperature of surface water
of the oceans is about 27C and it gradually
decreases from the equator towards the poles.
The rate of decrease of temperature with
increasing latitude is generally 0.5C per
latitude. The average temperature is around
22C at 20 latitudes, 14 C at 40 latitudes
and 0 C near poles. The oceans in the northern

OCEAN WATERS

All waters in nature, whether rain water or

ocean water, contain dissolved mineral salts.
Salinity is the term used to define the total
content of dissolved salts in sea water
(Table 13.4). It is calculated as the amount of
salt (in gm) dissolved in 1,000 gm (1 kg) of
seawater. It is usually expressed as parts per
thousand (o/oo) or ppt. Salinity is an important
property of sea water. Salinity of 24.7 o/oo has
been considered as the upper limit to
demarcate brackish water.
Factors affecting ocean salinity are
mentioned below:
(i) The salinity of water in the surface layer
of oceans depend mainly on evaporation
and precipitation.
(ii) Surface salinity is greatly influenced in
coastal regions by the fresh water flow
from rivers, and in polar regions by the
processes of freezing and thawing of ice.
(iii) Wind, also influences salinity of an area
by transferring water to other areas.
(iv) The ocean currents contribute to the
salinity variations. Salinity, temperature
and density of water are interrelated. Hence,
any change in the temperature or density
influences the salinity of water in an area.

WATER (OCEANS)

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117

Figure 13.4 : Spatial pattern of surface temperature (C) of the oceans

Highest salinity in water bodies

Lake Van in Turkey (330 o/oo),
Dead Sea (238 o/oo),
Great Salt Lake (220 o/oo)

Table 13.4 : Dissolved Salts in Sea Water

(gm of Salt per kg of Water)

Chlorine
Sodium
Sulphate
Magnesium
Calcium
Potassium
Bicarbonate
Bromine
Borate
Strontium

HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION

18.97
10.47
2.65
1.28
0.41
0.38
0.14
0.06
0.02
0.01

SALINITY

The salinity for normal open ocean ranges

between 33o/oo and 37 o/oo. In the land locked

Red Sea, it is as high as 41o/oo, while in the

estuaries and the Arctic, the salinity fluctuates
from 0 - 35 o/oo, seasonally. In hot and dry
regions, where evaporation is high, the salinity
sometimes reaches to 70 o/oo.
The salinity variation in the Pacific Ocean
is mainly due to its shape and larger areal
extent. Salinity decreases from 35 o/oo - 31 o/oo
on the western parts of the northern
hemisphere because of the influx of melted
water from the Arctic region. In the same way,
after 15 - 20 south, it decreases to 33 o/oo .
The average salinity of the Atlantic Ocean
is around 36 o/ oo. The highest salinity is
recorded between 15 and 20 latitudes.
Maximum salinity (37 o/oo) is observed between
20 N and 30 N and 20 W - 60 W. It gradually
decreases towards the north. The North Sea,
in spite of its location in higher latitudes,
records higher salinity due to more saline water
brought by the North Atlantic Drift. Baltic Sea
records low salinity due to influx of river waters
in large quantity. The Mediterranean Sea

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

118

120

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120

Figure13.5 : Surface salinity of the Worlds Oceans

records higher salinity due to high evaporation.

Salinity is, however, very low in Black Sea due
to enormous fresh water influx by rivers. See
the atlas to find out the rivers joining Black Sea.
The average salinity of the Indian Ocean is
35 o/oo. The low salinity trend is observed in
the Bay of Bengal due to influx of river water.
On the contrary, the Arabian Sea shows higher
salinity due to high evaporation and low influx
of fresh water. Figure 13.5 shows the salinity of
the Worlds oceans.
Vertical Distribution of Salinity

Salinity changes with depth, but the way it

changes depends upon the location of the sea.
Salinity at the surface increases by the loss of

water to ice or evaporation, or decreased by

the input of fresh waters, such as from the
rivers. Salinity at depth is very much fixed,
because there is no way that water is lost, or
the salt is added. There is a marked difference
in the salinity between the surface zones and
the deep zones of the oceans. The lower salinity
water rests above the higher salinity dense
water. Salinity, generally, increases with depth
and there is a distinct zone called the halocline,
where salinity increases sharply. Other factors
being constant, increasing salinity of seawater
causes its density to increase. High salinity
seawater, generally, sinks below the lower
salinity water. This leads to stratification by
salinity.

EXERCISES

Multiple choice questions.

(i)

Identify the element which is not a part of the hydrological cycle

(a) Evaporation
(b) Hydration

WATER (OCEANS)

119

(ii) The average depth of continental slope varies between

(a) 2-20m

(b) 200-2,000m

(d) 2,000-20,000m

(iii) Which one of the following is not a minor relief feature in the oceans:
(c) Oceanic Deep

(b) Atoll

(d) Guyot

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(a) Seamount

(iv)

(v)

(a) 10 gm

(b) 1,000 gm

(d) 10,000 gm

Which one of the following is the smallest ocean:

(a) Indian Ocean

(c) Atlantic Ocean

(b) Arctic Ocean

(d) Pacific Ocean

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

(ii)

Why do we call the earth a Blue Planet?

What is a continental margin?

(iii)

List out the deepest trenches of various oceans.

(iv)

What is a thermocline?

(v)

(vi)

Salinity is expressed as the amount of salt in grams dissolved in sea

water per

When you move into the ocean what thermal layers would you encounter?
Why the temperature varies with depth?
What is salinity of sea water?

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

(ii)

How are various elements of the hydrological cycle interrelated?

Examine the factors that influence the temperature distribution of the

oceans.

Project Work
(i)

Identify the areas of mid oceanic ridges from the Indian Ocean.

(ii)

Consult the atlas and show ocean floor relief on the outline of the world
map.

CHAPTER

OCEAN WATER

wavelength of the wave, the wave breaks. The

largest waves are found in the open oceans.
Waves continue to grow larger as they move
and absorb energy from the wind.
Most of the waves are caused by the wind
driving against water. When a breeze of two
knots or less blows over calm water, small
ripples form and grow as the wind speed
increases until white caps appear in the
breaking waves. Waves may travel thousands
of km before rolling ashore, breaking and
dissolving as surf.
A waves size and shape reveal its origin.
Steep waves are fairly young ones and are
probably formed by local wind. Slow and
steady waves originate from far away places,
possibly from another hemisphere. The
maximum wave height is determined by the
strength of the wind, i.e. how long it blows and
the area over which it blows in a single direction.
Waves travel because wind pushes the
water body in its course while gravity pulls the
crests of the waves downward. The falling water
pushes the former troughs upward, and the

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he ocean water is dynamic. Its physical

characteristics like temperature,
salinity, density and the external
forces like of the sun, moon and the winds
influence the movement of ocean water. The
horizontal and vertical motions are common
in ocean water bodies. The horizontal motion
refers to the ocean currents and waves. The
vertical motion refers to tides. Ocean currents
are the continuous flow of huge amount of
water in a definite direction while the waves
are the horizontal motion of water. Water moves
ahead from one place to another through ocean
currents while the water in the waves does not
move, but the wave trains move ahead. The
vertical motion refers to the rise and fall of water
in the oceans and seas. Due to attraction of
the sun and the moon, the ocean water is raised
up and falls down twice a day. The upwelling
of cold water from subsurface and the sinking
of surface water are also forms of vertical
motion of ocean water.

MOVEMENTS

WAVES

Waves are actually the energy, not the water

as such, which moves across the ocean surface.
Water particles only travel in a small circle as a
wave passes. Wind provides energy to the
waves. Wind causes waves to travel in the ocean
and the energy is released on shorelines. The
motion of the surface water seldom affects the
stagnant deep bottom water of the oceans. As
a wave approaches the beach, it slows down.
This is due to the friction occurring between
the dynamic water and the sea floor. And, when
the depth of water is less than half the

Figure14.1 : Motion of waves and water molecules

121

MOVEMENTS OF OCEAN WATER

Wave amplitude : It is one-half of the wave

height.
Wave period : It is merely the time interval
between two successive wave crests or
troughs as they pass a fixed point.
Wavelength : It is the horizontal distance
between two successive crests.

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Wave speed : It is the rate at which the

wave moves through the water, and is
measured in knots.

Wave height : It is the vertical distance

from the bottom of a trough to the top of
a crest of a wave.

Wave crest and trough : The highest and

lowest points of a wave are called the crest
and trough respectively.

Characteristics of Waves

is less as it is farther away, the centrifugal force

causes tidal bulge on the other side (Figure
14.2).
The tide-generating force is the difference
between these two forces; i.e. the gravitational
attraction of the moon and the centrifugal force.
On the surface of the earth, nearest the moon,
pull or the attractive force of the moon is greater
than the centrifugal force, and so there is a net
force causing a bulge towards the moon. On
the opposite side of the earth, the attractive
force is less, as it is farther away from the moon,
the centrifugal force is dominant. Hence, there
is a net force away from the moon. It creates
the second bulge away from the moon. On the
surface of the earth, the horizontal tide
generating forces are more important than the
vertical forces in generating the tidal bulges.

wave moves to a new position (Figure 14.1).

The actual motion of the water beneath the
waves is circular. It indicates that things are
carried up and forward as the wave
approaches, and down and back as it passes.

Wave frequency : It is the number of waves

passing a given point during a onesecond time interval.

TIDES

The periodical rise and fall of the sea level, once

or twice a day, mainly due to the attraction of
the sun and the moon, is called a tide.
Movement of water caused by meteorological
effects (winds and atmospheric pressure
changes) are called surges. Surges are not
regular like tides. The study of tides is very
complex, spatially and temporally, as it has great
variations in frequency, magnitude and height.
The moons gravitational pull to a great
extent and to a lesser extent the suns
gravitational pull, are the major causes for the
occurrence of tides. Another factor is centrifugal
force, which is the force that acts to counter
balance the gravity. Together, the gravitational
pull and the centrifugal force are responsible
for creating the two major tidal bulges on the
earth. On the side of the earth facing the moon,
a tidal bulge occurs while on the opposite side
though the gravitational attraction of the moon

Figure14.2 : Relation between gravitational

forces and tides

The tidal bulges on wide continental

shelves, have greater height. When tidal bulges
hit the mid-oceanic islands they become low.
The shape of bays and estuaries along a
coastline can also magnify the intensity of tides.
Funnel-shaped bays greatly change tidal
magnitudes. When the tide is channelled
between islands or into bays and estuaries
they are called tidal currents.

122

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Types of Tides

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Tides vary in their frequency, direction and

movement from place to place and also from
time to time. Tides may be grouped into various
types based on their frequency of occurrence
in one day or 24 hours or based on their height.

Neap tides : Normally, there is a seven day

interval between the spring tides and neap
tides. At this time the sun and moon are at
right angles to each other and the forces of the
sun and moon tend to counteract one another.
The Moons attraction, though more than twice
as strong as the suns, is diminished by the
counteracting force of the suns gravitational
pull.
Once in a month, when the moons orbit is
closest to the earth (perigee), unusually high
and low tides occur. During this time the tidal
range is greater than normal. Two weeks later,
when the moon is farthest from earth (apogee),
the moons gravitational force is limited and
the tidal ranges are less than their average
heights.
When the earth is closest to the sun
(perihelion), around 3rd January each year,
tidal ranges are also much greater, with
unusually high and unusually low tides. When
the earth is farthest from the sun (aphelion),
around 4th July each year, tidal ranges are
much less than average.
The time between the high tide and low tide,
when the water level is falling, is called the ebb.
The time between the low tide and high tide,
when the tide is rising, is called the flow or flood.

The highest tides in the world occur in

the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, Canada.
The tidal bulge is 15 - 16 m. Because
there are two high tides and two low tides
every day (roughly a 24 hour period); then
a tide must come in within about a six
hour period. As a rough estimate, the tide
rises about 240 cm an hour (1,440 cm
divided by 6 hours). If you have walked
down a beach with a steep cliff alongside
(which is common there), make sure you
watch the tides. If you walk for about an
hour and then notice that the tide is
coming in, the water will be over your
head before you get back to where you
started!

Spring tides : The position of both the sun and

the moon in relation to the earth has direct
bearing on tide height. When the sun, the moon
and the earth are in a straight line, the height
of the tide will be higher. These are called spring
tides and they occur twice a month, one on
full moon period and another during new moon
period.

Tides of Bay of Fundy, Canada

Tides based on Frequency

Semi-diurnal tide : The most common tidal

pattern, featuring two high tides and two low
tides each day. The successive high or low tides
are approximately of the same height.
Diurnal tide : There is only one high tide and
one low tide during each day. The successive
high and low tides are approximately of the
same height.

Mixed tide : Tides having variations in height

are known as mixed tides. These tides generally
occur along the west coast of North America
and on many islands of the Pacific Ocean.
Tides based on the Sun, Moon and the Earth
Positions

The height of rising water (high tide) varies

appreciably depending upon the position of
sun and moon with respect to the earth.
Spring tides and neap tides come under this
category.

Importance of Tides
Since tides are caused by the earth-moon-sun
positions which are known accurately, the
tides can be predicted well in advance. This
helps the navigators and fishermen plan their
activities. Tidal flows are of great importance
in navigation. Tidal heights are very important,
especially harbours near rivers and within
estuaries having shallow bars at the entrance,
which prevent ships and boats from entering
into the harbour. Tides are also helpful in

123

MOVEMENTS OF OCEAN WATER

Types of Ocean Currents

The ocean currents may be classified based on

their depth as surface currents and deep water
currents : (i) surface currents constitute about
10 per cent of all the water in the ocean, these
waters are the upper 400 m of the ocean;
(ii) deep water currents make up the other 90
per cent of the ocean water. These waters move
around the ocean basins due to variations in
the density and gravity. Deep waters sink into
the deep ocean basins at high latitudes, where
the temperatures are cold enough to cause the
density to increase.
Ocean currents can also be classified
based on temperature : as cold currents and
warm currents: (i) cold currents bring cold
water into warm water areas. These currents
are usually found on the west coast of the
continents in the low and middle latitudes
(true in both hemispheres) and on the east
coast in the higher latitudes in the Northern
Hemisphere; (ii) warm currents bring warm
water into cold water areas and are usually
observed on the east coast of continents in the
low and middle latitudes (true in both
hemispheres). In the northern hemisphere
they are found on the west coasts of continents
in high latitudes.

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Ocean currents are like river flow in oceans.

They represent a regular volume of water in a
definite path and direction. Ocean currents are
influenced by two types of forces namely :
(i) primary forces that initiate the movement of
water; (ii) secondary forces that influence the
currents to flow.
The primary forces that influence the
currents are: (i) heating by solar energy;
(ii) wind; (iii) gravity; (iv) coriolis force. Heating
by solar energy causes the water to expand.
That is why, near the equator the ocean water
is about 8 cm higher in level than in the middle
latitudes. This causes a very slight gradient
and water tends to flow down the slope. Wind
blowing on the surface of the ocean pushes the
water to move. Friction between the wind and
the water surface affects the movement of the
water body in its course. Gravity tends to pull
the water down the pile and create gradient
variation. The Coriolis force intervenes and
causes the water to move to the right in the
northern hemisphere and to the left in the
southern hemisphere. These large accumulations
of water and the flow around them are called
Gyres. These produce large circular currents
in all the ocean basins.

OCEAN CURRENTS

Differences in water density affect vertical

mobility of ocean currents. Water with high
salinity is denser than water with low salinity
and in the same way cold water is denser than
warm water. Denser water tends to sink, while
relatively lighter water tends to rise. Cold-water
ocean currents occur when the cold water at
the poles sinks and slowly moves towards the
equator. Warm-water currents travel out from
the equator along the surface, flowing towards
the poles to replace the sinking cold water.

desilting the sediments and in removing

polluted water from river estuaries. Tides are
used to generate electrical power (in Canada,
France, Russia, and China). A 3 MW tidal
power project at Durgaduani in Sunderbans
of West Bengal is under way.

Characteristics of Ocean Currents

Currents are referred to by their drift.

Usually, the currents are strongest near
the surface and may attain speeds over
five knots. At depths, currents are
generally slow with speeds less than 0.5
knots. We refer to the speed of a current
as its drift. Drift is measured in terms
of knots. The strength of a current refers
to the speed of the current. A fast current
is considered strong. A current is usually
strongest at the surface and decreases
in strength (speed) with depth. Most
currents have speeds less than or equal
to 5 knots.

Major Ocean Currents

Major ocean currents are greatly influenced by

the stresses exerted by the prevailing winds and
coriolis force. The oceanic circulation pattern
roughly corresponds to the earths atmospheric
circulation pattern. The air circulation over the
oceans in the middle latitudes is mainly
anticyclonic (more pronounced in the southern
hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere).
The oceanic circulation pattern also
corresponds with the same. At higher latitudes,

124

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FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Fig.14.3 : Major currents in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans

where the wind flow is mostly cyclonic, the

oceanic circulation follows this pattern. In
regions of pronounced monsoonal flow, the
monsoon winds influence the current
movements. Due to the coriolis force, the warm
currents from low latitudes tend to move to the
right in the northern hemisphere and to their
left in the southern hemisphere.
The oceanic circulation transports heat
from one latitude belt to another in a manner
similar to the heat transported by the general
circulation of the atmosphere. The cold waters
of the Arctic and Antarctic circles move towards
warmer water in tropical and equatorial
regions, while the warm waters of the lower
latitudes move polewards. The major currents
in the different oceans are shown in Figure14.3.
Prepare a list of currents which are
found in Pacific, Atlantic and Indian
Oceans.
How is the movement of currents
influenced by prevailing winds? Give
some examples from Figure14.3.

Effects of Ocean Currents

Ocean currents have a number of direct and
indirect influences on human activities. West
coasts of the continents in tropical and
subtropical latitudes (except close to the
equator) are bordered by cool waters. Their
average temperatures are relatively low with a
narrow diurnal and annual ranges. There is
fog, but generally the areas are arid. West coasts
of the continents in the middle and higher
latitudes are bordered by warm waters which
cause a distinct marine climate. They are
characterised by cool summers and relatively
mild winters with a narrow annual range of
temperatures. Warm currents flow parallel to
the east coasts of the continents in tropical and
subtropical latitudes. This results in warm and
rainy climates. These areas lie in the western
margins of the subtropical anti-cyclones. The
mixing of warm and cold currents help to
replenish the oxygen and favour the growth of
planktons, the primary food for fish population.
The best fishing grounds of the world exist
mainly in these mixing zones.

125

MOVEMENTS OF OCEAN WATER

EXERCISES
1.

Multiple choice questions.

(i) Upward and downward movement of ocean water is known as the :
(a) tide
(b) current

(ii) Spring tides are caused :

As result of the moon and the sun pulling the earth gravitationally
in the same direction.

(b)

As result of the moon and the sun pulling the earth gravitationally
in the opposite direction.

(c)

Indention in the coast line.

(d)

None of the above.

(a)

(b) Perigee

(d) Apogee

The earth reaches its perihelion in:

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(iv)

(a) Aphelion

(iii) The distance between the earth and the moon is minimum when the moon
is in :

(b) September

(d) January

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

(ii)

What are waves?

Where do waves in the ocean get their energy from?

(iii)

What are tides?

(iv)

How are tides caused?

(v)

(a) October

How are tides related to navigation?

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

(ii)

How do currents affect the temperature? How does it affect the temperature
of coastal areas in the N. W. Europe?
What are the causes of currents?

Project Work
(i)

Visit a lake or a pond and observe the movement of waves. Throw a stone
and notice how waves are generated.

(ii)

Take a globe and a map showing the currents of the oceans. Discuss why
certain currents are warm or cold and why they deflect in certain places
and examine the reasons.

d
he
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UNIT
VI

LIFE

ON THE

EARTH

This unit deals with

Biosphere importance of plants and other organisms;

ecosystems, bio-geo chemical cycle and ecological balance;
biodiversity and conservation

CHAPTER

ON THE

EARTH

ECOLOGY

You have been reading about ecological and

environmental problems in newspapers and
magazines. Have you ever thought what
ecology is? The environment as you know, is
made up of abiotic and biotic components. It
would be interesting to understand how the
diversity of life-forms is maintained to bring a
kind of balance. This balance is maintained in
a particular proportion so that a healthy
interaction between the biotic and the abiotic
components goes on.
The interactions of a particular group of
organisms with abiotic factors within a
particular habitat resulting in clearly defined
energy flows and material cycles on land, water
and air, are called ecological systems.

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y now you might have realised that all

units of this book have acquainted you
with the three major realms of the
environment, that is, the lithosphere, the
atmosphere and the hydrosphere. You know
that living organisms of the earth, constituting
the biosphere, interact with other environmental
realms. The biosphere includes all the living
components of the earth. It consists of all plants
and animals, including all the micro-

LIFE

Life on the earth is found almost

everywhere. Living organisms are found
from the poles to the equator, from the
bottom of the sea to several km in the
air, from freezing waters to dry valleys,
from under the sea to underground water
lying below the earths surface.

organisms that live on the planet earth and their

interactions with the surrounding environment.
Most of the organisms exist on the lithosphere
and/or the hydrosphere as well as in the
atmosphere. There are also many organisms
that move freely from one realm to the other.
The biosphere and its components are very
significant elements of the environment. These
elements interact with other components of the
natural landscape such as land, water and
soil. They are also influenced by the
atmospheric elements such as the temperature,
rainfall, moisture and sunlight. The
interactions of biosphere with land, air and
water are important to the growth,
development and evolution of the organism.

The term ecology is derived from the Greek

word oikos meaning house, combined
with the word logy meaning the science
of or the study of . Literally, ecology is
the study of the earth as a household,
of plants, human beings, animals and
micro-organisms. They all live together
as interdependent components. A
German zoologist Ernst Haeckel, who
used the term as oekologie in 1869,
became the first person to use the term
ecology. The study of interactions
between life forms (biotic) and the
physical environment (abiotic) is the
science of ecology. Hence, ecology can be
defined as a scientific study of the
interactions of organisms with their
physical environment and with each other.

128

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

The structure of an ecosystem involves a

description of the available plant and animal
species. From a structural point of view, all
ecosystems consist of abiotic and biotic factors.
Abiotic factors include rainfall, temperature,
sunlight, atmospheric humidity, soil
conditions, inorganic substances (carbon
dioxide, water, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus,
potassium, etc.). Biotic factors include the
producers, the consumers (primary,
secondary, tertiary) and the decomposers. The
producers include all the green plants, which
manufacture their own food through
photosynthesis. The primary consumers
include herbivorous animals like deer, goats,
mice and all plant-eating animals. The
carnivores include all the flesh-eating animals
like snakes, tigers and lions. Certain carnivores
that feed also on carnivores are known as top
carnivores like hawks and mongooses.
Decomposers are those that feed on dead
organisms (for example, scavengers like
vultures and crows), and further breaking
down of the dead matter by other decomposing
agents like bacteria and various microorganisms.

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Ecosystems are of two major types: terrestrial

and aquatic. Terrestrial ecosystem can be
further be classified into biomes. A biome is a
plant and animal community that covers a
large geographical area. The boundaries of
different biomes on land are determined mainly
by climate. Therefore, a biome can be defined
as the total assemblage of plant and animal
species interacting within specific conditions.
These include rainfall, temperature, humidity
and soil conditions. Some of the major biomes
of the world are: forest, grassland, desert and
tundra biomes. Aquatic ecosystems can be
classed as marine and freshwater ecosystems.
Marine ecosystem includes the oceans,
estuaries and coral reefs. Freshwater

Structure and Functions of Ecosystems

Types of Ecosystems

ecosystem includes lakes, ponds, streams,

marshes and bogs.

A habitat in the ecological sense is the totality

of the physical and chemical factors that
constitute the general environment. A system
consisting of biotic and abiotic components is
known as ecosystem. All these components in
ecosystem are inter related and interact with
each other. Different types of ecosystems exist
with varying ranges of environmental
conditions where various plants and animal
species have got adapted through evolution.
This phenomenon is known as ecological
adaptation.

Figure 15.1 : Structure and functions of ecosystems

129

LIFE ON THE EARTH

aquatic and altitudinal biomes. Some features

of these biomes are given in Table 15.1.
Biogeochemical Cycles

The sun is the basic source of energy on which

all life depends. This energy initiates life
processes in the biosphere through
photosynthesis, the main source of food and
energy for green plants. During photosynthesis,
carbon dioxide is converted into organic
compounds and oxygen. Out of the total solar
insolation that reaches the earths surface, only
a very small fraction (0.1 per cent) is fixed in
photosynthesis. More than half is used for plant
respiration and the remaining part is
temporarily stored or is shifted to other
portions of the plant.
Life on earth consists of a great variety of
living organisms. These living organisms exist
and survive in a diversity of associations. Such
survival involves the presence of systemic flows
such as flows of energy, water and nutrients.
These flows show variations in different parts
of the world, in different seasons of the year
and under varying local circumstances. Studies
have shown that for the last one billion years,
the atmosphere and hydrosphere have been
composed of approximately the same balance
of chemical components. This balance of the
chemical elements is maintained by a cyclic
passage through the tissues of plants and
animals. The cycle starts by absorbing the
chemical elements by the organism and is
returned to the air, water and soil through
decomposition. These cycles are largely
energised by solar insolation. These cyclic
movements of chemical elements of the
biosphere between the organism and the
environment are referred to as biogeochemical
cycles. Bio refers to living organisms and geo
to rocks, soil, air and water of the earth.
There are two types of biogeochemical
cycles : the gaseous and the sedimentary cycle.
In the gaseous cycle, the main reservoir of
nutrients is the atmosphere and the ocean. In
the sedimentary cycle, the main reservoir is the
soil and the sedimentary and other rocks of
the earths crust.

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The producers are consumed by the

primary consumers whereas the primary
consumers are, in turn, being eaten by the
secondary consumers. Further, the secondary
consumers are consumed by the tertiary
consumers. The decomposers feed on the dead
at each and every level. They change them into
various substances such as nutrients, organic
and inorganic salts essential for soil fertility.
Organisms of an ecosystem are linked together
through a foodchain (Figure 15.1). For
example, a plant eating beetle feeding on a
paddy stalk is eaten by a frog, which is, in turn,
eaten by a snake, which is then consumed by
a hawk. This sequence of eating and being
eaten and the resultant transfer of energy from
one level to another is known as the food-chain.
Transfer of energy that occurs during the
process of a foodchain from one level to
another is known as flow of energy. However,
food-chains are not isolated from one another.
For example, a mouse feeding on grain may
be eaten by different secondary consumers
(carnivores) and these carnivores may be eaten
by other different tertiary consumers (top
carnivores). In such situations, each of the
carnivores may consume more than one type
of prey. As a result, the food- chains get
interlocked with one another. This interconnecting network of species is known as food
web. Generally, two types of food-chains are
recognised: grazing food-chain and detritus
food-chain. In a grazing food-chain, the first
level starts with plants as producers and ends
with carnivores as consumers at the last level,
with the herbivores being at the intermediate
level. There is a loss of energy at each level
which may be through respiration, excretion
or decomposition. The levels involved in a foodchain range between three to five and energy
is lost at each level. A detritus food-chain is
based on autotrophs energy capture initiated
by grazing animals and involves the
decomposition or breaking down of organic
wastes and dead matter derived from the
grazing food-chain.
Types of Biomes

In the earlier paragraphs, you have learnt the

meaning of the term biome. Let us now try to
identify the major biomes of the world. There
are five major biomes forest, desert, grassland,

The Water Cycle

All living organisms, the atmosphere and the
lithosphere maintain between them a

130

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Table 15.1 : World Biomes

A1. 10 N-S
A2. 10 - 25 N-S
B. Eastern North
America, N.E.
Asia, Western
and Central
Europe
C. Broad belt of
Eurasia and
North America
(parts of
Siberia,
Alaska,
Canada and
Scandinavia)

A1. Temp. 20-25C,

evenly distributed
A2. Temp. 25-30C,
Rainfall, ave. ann.
1,000mm, seasonal
B. Temp. 20-30 C,
Rainfall evenly
distributed 7501,500mm, Welldefined seasons
and distinct winter.
C. Short moist moderately warm
summers and long
cold dry winter;
very low
temperatures.
Precipitation mostly
snowfall
400 -1,000mm

Flora and Fauna

A1. Acidic,
poor in
nutrients
A2. Rich in
nutrients
B. Fertile,
en-riched
with
decaying
litter
C. Acidic and
poor in
nutrients,
thin soil
cover

A1. M u l t i - l a y e r e d
canopy tall and
large trees
A2. Less dense, trees
of medium height;
many varieties coexist. Insects,
bats, birds and
mammals are
common species
in both
B. Moderately dense
broad leaved trees.
With less diversity
of plant species.
Oak, Beach, Maple
etc. are some
common species.
Squirrels, rabbits,
skunks, birds,
black
bears,
mountain lions etc.
C. Evergreen conifers
like pine, fur and
spruce etc. Wood
peckers, hawks,
bears, wolves,
deer, hares and
bats are common
animals

Tropical
Equatorial
Deciduous
Temperate
Boreal

Soil

A.
1.
2.
B.
C.

Climatic
Characteristics

Regions

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Forest

Subtypes

Biomes

Desert

Hot and Dry A.

desert
B. Semi arid
desert
B.
C. Coastal
desert
D. Cold desert C.
D.
A.

Grassland A.

Tropical
Savannah
Temperate
Steppe

S a h a r a ,
Kalahari,
Marusthali,
Rub-el-Khali
Marginal areas
of hot deserts
Atacama
Tundra climatic
regions

A. Temp. 20 - 45C.
B. 21 - 38C.
C. 15 - 35C.
D. 2 - 25C
A-D Rainfall is less than
50 mm

Rich in
nutrients with
little or no
organic matter

A-C. Scanty vegetation; few large

mammals,
insects, reptiles
and birds
D. Rabbits, rats,
antelopes
and ground
squirrels

Large areas
of A f r i c a ,
Australia,
South
America and
India
P a r t s of
Eurasia and
North America

Warm hot
climates, Rainfall
500-1,250 mm
Hot summers and
cold winter.
Rainfall 500 900 mm

Porous with
thin layer of
humus.
Thin flocculated soil,
rich in bases

Grasses; trees
and large shrubs
absent; giraffes
zebras, buffalos,
leopards, hyenas,
elephants, mice,
moles, snakes
and worms etc.,
are common
animals
Grasses; occasional trees
such as cottonwoods, oaks and
willows; gazelles,
zebras, rhin-

131

LIFE ON THE EARTH

oceros,
wild
horses, lions,
varieties of birds,
worms, snakes
etc., are common
animals

Altitudinal

Slopes of high
mountain ranges
like the Himalayas,
the Andes and the
Rockies

Temperature and
precipitation vary
depending upon
latitudinal zone

Regolith over
slopes

Deciduous to tundra
vegetation varying
according to altitude

dioxide and are returned to the atmosphere

(Figure 15.2).

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circulation of water in solid, liquid or gaseous

form referred to as the water or hydrologic cycle
(Chapter 13 of this book).

Algal and other aquatic

and marine plant
communities with
varieties of water
dwelling animals

Lakes, streams, A-B Temperatures vary A. Water, swamps

widely with cooler air
rivers
and
and marshes
wetlands
temperatures and
Oceans, coral
high humidity
B.Water, tidal
reefs, lagoons
swamps and
and estuaries
marshes

Freshwater A.
Marine

A.
B.

Aquatic

The Carbon Cycle

Carbon is one of the basic elements of all living

organisms. It forms the basic constituent of
all the organic compounds. The biosphere
contains over half a million carbon compounds
in them. The carbon cycle is mainly the
conversion of carbon dioxide. This conversion
is initiated by the fixation of carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
Such conversion results in the production of
carbohydrate, glucose that may be converted
to other organic compounds such as sucrose,
starch, cellulose, etc. Here, some of the
carbohydrates are utilised directly by the plant
itself. During this process, more carbon dioxide
is generated and is released through its leaves
or roots during the day. The remaining
carbohydrates not being utilised by the plant
become part of the plant tissue. Plant tissues
are either being eaten by the herbivorous
animals or get decomposed by the microorganisms. The herbivores convert some of the
consumed carbohydrates into carbon dioxide
for release into the air through respiration. The
micro-organisms decompose the remaining
carbohydrates after the animal dies. The
carbohydrates that are decomposed by the
micro-organisms then get oxidised into carbon

Figure 15.2 : Carbon Cycle

The Oxygen Cycle

Oxygen is the main by-product of

photosynthesis. It is involved in the oxidation
of carbohydrates with the release of energy,
carbon dioxide and water. The cycling of
oxygen is a highly complex process. Oxygen
occurs in a number of chemical forms and
combinations. It combines with nitrogen to
form nitrates and with many other minerals
and elements to form various oxides such as
the iron oxide, aluminium oxide and others.
Much of oxygen is produced from the
decomposition of water molecules by sunlight

132

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

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Nitrogen is a major constituent of the

atmosphere comprising about seventy-nine
per cent of the atmospheric gases. It is also an
essential constituent of different organic
compounds such as the amino acids, nucleic
acids, proteins, vitamins and pigments. Only
a few types of organisms like certain species of
soil bacteria and blue green algae are capable
of utilising it directly in its gaseous form.
Generally, nitrogen is usable only after it is
fixed. Ninety per cent of fixed nitrogen is
biological. The principal source of free nitrogen
is the action of soil micro-organisms and
associated plant roots on atmospheric nitrogen
found in pore spaces of the soil. Nitrogen can
also be fixed in the atmosphere by lightning and
cosmic radiation. In the oceans, some marine
animals can fix it. After atmospheric nitrogen
has been fixed into an available form, green
plants can assimilate it. Herbivorous animals
feeding on plants, in turn, consume some of it.
Dead plants and animals, excretion of
nitrogenous wastes are converted into nitrites
by the action of bacteria present in the soil.
Some bacteria can even convert nitrites into
nitrates that can be used again by green plants.
There are still other types of bacteria capable
of converting nitrates into free nitrogen, a
process known as denitrification (Figure 15.3).

Other than carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and

hydrogen being the principal geochemical
components of the biosphere, many other
minerals also occur as critical nutrients for
plant and animal life. These mineral elements
required by living organisms are obtained
initially from inorganic sources such as
phosphorus, sulphur, calcium and potassium.
They usually occur as salts dissolved in soil
water or lakes, streams and seas. Mineral salts
come directly from the earths crust by
weathering where the soluble salts enter the
water cycle, eventually reaching the sea. Other
salts are returned to the earths surface through
sedimentation, and after weathering, they again
enter the cycle. All living organisms fulfill their
mineral requirements from mineral solutions
in their environments. Other animals receive
their mineral needs from the plants and animals
they consume. After the death of living
organisms, the minerals are returned to the soil
and water through decomposition and flow.

The Nitrogen Cycle

Other Mineral Cycles

during photosynthesis and is released in the

atmosphere through transpiration and
respiration processes of plants.

Figure 15.3 : Nitrogen Cycle

Ecological Balance

Ecological balance is a state of dynamic

equilibrium within a community of organisms
in a habitat or ecosystem. It can happen when
the diversity of the living organisms remains
relatively stable. Gradual changes do take
place but that happens only through natural
succession. It can also be explained as a stable
balance in the numbers of each species in an
ecosystem. This occurs through competition
and cooperation between different organisms
where population remains stable. This balance
is brought about by the fact that certain species
compete with one another determined by the
environment in which they grow. This balance
is also attained by the fact that some species
depend on others for their food and
sustenance. Such accounts are encountered
in vast grasslands where the herbivorous
animals (deer, zebras, buffaloes, etc.) are found
in plenty. On the other hand, the carnivorous
animals (tigers, lions, etc.) that are not usually
in large numbers, hunt and feed on the
herbivores, thereby controlling their
population. In the plants, any disturbance in
the native forests such as clearing the forest
for shifting cultivation usually brings about a

133

LIFE ON THE EARTH

the ecosystem. This has destroyed its originality

and has caused adverse effects to the general
environment. Ecological imbalances have
brought many natural calamities like
floods, landslides, diseases, erratic climatic
occurrences, etc.
There is a very close relationship between
the plant and animal communities within
particular habitats. Diversity of life in a
particular area can be employed as an
indicator of the habitat factor. Proper
knowledge and understanding of such factors
provide a strong base for protecting and
conserving the ecosystems.

change in the species distribution. This change

is due to competition where the secondary
forest species such as grasses, bamboos or
pines overtakes the native species changing
the original forest structure. This is called
succession.
Ecological balance may be disturbed due
to the introduction of new species, natural
hazards or human causes. Human interference
has affected the balance of plant communities
leading to disturbances in the ecosystems.
Such disturbances bring about numerous
secondary successions. Human pressure on
the earths resources has put a heavy toll on

EXERCISES
Multiple choice questions.

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(i) Which one of the following is included in biosphere?

(a) only plants

(c) only animals

(b) all living and non-living organisms

(d) all living organisms

(ii) Tropical grasslands are also known as :

(a) the prairies

(c) the steppes

(b) the savannas

(d) none of the above

(iii) Oxygen combines with iron found in the rocks to form :

(iv)

(a) iron carbonate

(c) iron oxides

(b) iron nitrites

(d) iron sulphate

During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide combines with water in the

presence of sunlight to form :
(a) proteins

(b) amino acids

(d) vitamins

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) What do you understand by the term ecology?

(ii) What is an ecological system? Identify the major types of ecosystems in

the world.

(iii) What is a food-chain? Give one example of a grazing food-chain identifying

the various levels.
(iv) What do you understand by the term food web? Give examples.
(v) What is a biome?

134

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i) What are bio-geochemical cycles? Explain how nitrogen is fixed in the
atmosphere.
(ii) What is an ecological balance? Discuss the important measures needed
to prevent ecological imbalances.

Project Work

(i) Show the distribution of the different biomes on the outline map of the
world with a note highlighting the important characteristics of each biome.

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(ii) Make a note of trees, shrubs and perennial plants in your school campus
and devote half a day to observe the types of birds which come to the
garden. Can you describe the diversity of birds?

CHAPTER

AND

CONSERVATION

the earth are today extinct. Biodiversity is not

found evenly on the earth. It is consistently
richer in the tropics. As one approaches the
polar regions, one finds larger and larger
populations of fewer and fewer species.
Biodiversity itself is a combination of two
words, Bio (life) and diversity (variety). In
simple terms, biodiversity is the number and
variety of organisms found within a specified
geographic region. It refers to the varieties of
plants, animals and micro-organisms, the
genes they contain and the ecosystems they
form. It relates to the variability among living
organisms on the earth, including the
variability within and between the species and
that within and between the ecosystems.
Biodiversity is our living wealth. It is a result
of hundreds of millions of years of evolutionary
history.
Biodiversity can be discussed at three
levels : (i) Genetic diversity; (ii) Species diversity;
(iii) Ecosystem diversity.

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ou have already learnt about the

geomorphic processes particularly
weathering and depth of weathering
mantle in different climatic zones. See the
Figure 6.2 in Chapter 6 in order to recapitulate.
You should know that this weathering mantle
is the basis for the diversity of vegetation and
hence, the biodiversity. The basic cause for
such weathering variations and resultant
biodiversity is the input of solar energy and
water. No wonder that the areas that are rich
in these inputs are the areas of wide spectrum
of biodiversity.

BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity as we have today is the result

of 2.5-3.5 billion years of evolution. Before
the advent of humans, our earth
supported more biodiversity than in any
other period. Since, the emergence of
humans, however, biodiversity has begun
a rapid decline, with one species after
another bearing the brunt of extinction
due to overuse. The number of species
globally vary from 2 million to 100 million,
with 10 million being the best estimate.
New species are regularly discovered
most of which are yet to be classified (an
estimate states that about 40 per cent of
fresh water fishes from South America
are not classified yet). Tropical forests are
very rich in bio-diversity.

Biodiversity is a system in constant

evolution, from a view point of species, as well
as from view point of an individual organism.
The average half-life of a species is estimated
at between one and four million years, and 99
per cent of the species that have ever lived on

Genetic Diversity

Genes are the basic building blocks of various

life forms. Genetic biodiversity refers to the
variation of genes within species. Groups of
individual organisms having certain
similarities in their physical characteristics are
called species. Human beings genetically
belong to the homo sapiens group and also
differ in their characteristics such as height,
colour, physical appearance, etc., considerably.
This is due to genetic diversity. This genetic
diversity is essential for a healthy breeding of
population of species.

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You have studied about the ecosystem in the

earlier chapter. The broad differences between
ecosystem types and the diversity of habitats
and ecological processes occurring within each
ecosystem type constitute the ecosystem
diversity. The boundaries of communities
(associations of species) and ecosystems are not
very rigidly defined. Thus, the demarcation of
ecosystem boundaries is difficult and complex.

Ecosystem Diversity

This refers to the variety of species. It relates to

the number of species in a defined area. The
diversity of species can be measured through
its richness, abundance and types. Some areas
are more rich in species than others. Areas rich
in species diversity are called hotspots of
diversity (Figure 16.5).

ecosystem evolves and sustains without any

reason. That means, every organism, besides
extracting its needs, also contributes something
of useful to other organisms. Can you think of
the way we, humans contribute to the
sustenance of ecosystems. Species capture
and store energy, produce and decompose
organic materials, help to cycle water and
nutrients throughout the ecosystem, fix
atmospheric gases and help regulate the
climate. These functions are important for
ecosystem function and human survival. The
more diverse an ecosystem, better are the
chances for the species to survive through
adversities and attacks, and consequently, is
more productive. Hence, the loss of species
would decrease the ability of the system to
maintain itself. Just like a species with a high
genetic diversity, an ecosystem with high
biodiversity may have a greater chance of
adapting to environmental change. In other
words, the more the variety of species in an
ecosystem, the more stable the ecosystem is
likely to be.

Species Diversity

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

136

Economic Role of Biodiversity

Figure 16.1 : Grasslands and sholas in Indira Gandhi

National Park, Annamalai, Western Ghats an
example of ecosystem diversity

Importance of Biodiversity

Biodiversity has contributed in many ways to

the development of human culture and, in
turn, human communities have played a major
role in shaping the diversity of nature at the
genetic, species and ecological levels.
Biodiversity plays the following roles:
ecological, economic and scientific.
Ecological Role of Biodiversity

Species of many kinds perform some function

or the other in an ecosystem. Nothing in an

For all humans, biodiversity is an important

resource in their day-to-day life. One important
part of biodiversity is crop diversity, which is
also called agro-biodiversity. Biodiversity is
seen as a reservoir of resources to be drawn
upon for the manufacture of food,
pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. This
concept of biological resources is responsible
for the deterioration of biodiversity. At the same
time, it is also the origin of new conflicts dealing
with rules of division and appropriation of
natural resources. Some of the important
economic commodities that biodiversity
supplies to humankind are: food
crops, livestock, forests, fish, medicinal
resources, etc.
Scientific Role of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is important because each species
can give us some clue as to how life evolved
and will continue to evolve. Biodiversity also
helps in understanding how life functions and
the role of each species in sustaining

137

BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION

It includes those species which are in danger

of extinction. The IUCN publishes information
about endangered species world-wide as the
Red List of threatened species.

BIODIVERSITY

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Since the last few decades, growth in human

population has increased the rate of
consumption of natural resources. It has
accelerated the loss of species and habitation
in different parts of the world. Tropical regions
which occupy only about one-fourth of the
total area of the world, contain about threefourth of the world human population. Overexploitation of resources and deforestation
have become rampant to fulfil the needs of large
population. As these tropical rain forests
contain 50 per cent of the species on the earth,
destruction of natural habitats have proved
disastrous for the entire biosphere.
Natural calamities such as earthquakes,
floods, volcanic eruptions, forest fires,
droughts, etc. cause damage to the flora and
fauna of the earth, bringing change the
biodiversity of respective affected regions.
Pesticides and other pollutants such as
hydrocarbons and toxic heavy metals destroy
the weak and sensitive species. Species which
are not the natural inhabitants of the local
habitat but are introduced into the system, are
called exotic species. There are many
examples when a natural biotic community of
the ecosystem suffered extensive damage
because of the introduction of exotic species.
During the last few decades, some animals like
tigers, elephants, rhinoceros, crocodiles, minks
and birds were hunted mercilessly by poachers
for their horn, tusks, hides, etc. It has resulted
in the rendering of certain types of organisms
as endangered category.

Endangered Species

LOSS

The International Union of Conservation of

Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has
classified the threatened species of plants and
animals into three categories for the purpose
of their conservation.

ecosystems of which we are also a species. This

fact must be drawn upon every one of us so
that we live and let other species also live their
lives.
It is our ethical responsibility to consider
that each and every species along with us have
an intrinsic right to exist. Hence, it is morally
wrong to voluntarily cause the extinction of any
species. The level of biodiversity is a good
indicator of the state of our relationships with
other living species. In fact, the concept of
biodiversity is an integral part of many human
cultures.

Figure 16.2 : Red Panda an endangered species

Figure 16.3 : Zenkeria Sebastinei a critically

endangered grass in Agasthiyamalai peak (India)

Vulnerable Species

This includes the species which are likely to

be in danger of extinction in near future if the
factors threatening to their extinction continue.
Survival of these species is not assured as their
population has reduced greatly.

138

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Rare Species

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Figure 16.4 : Humbodtia decurrens Bedd highly rare

endemic tree of Southern Western Ghats (India)

Population of these species is very small in the

world; they are confined to limited areas or
thinly scattered over a wider area.

conservation strategy has suggested the

following steps for biodiversity conservation:
(i) Efforts should be made to preserve the
species that are endangered.
(ii) Prevention of extinction requires proper
planning and management.
(iii) Varieties of food crops, forage plants,
timber trees, livestock, animals and
their wild relatives should be preserved;
(iv) Each country should identify habitats
of wild relatives and ensure their
protection.
(v) Habitats where species feed, breed, rest
and nurse their young should be
safeguarded and protected.
(vi) International trade in wild plants and
animals be regulated.
To protect, preserve and propagate the
variety of species within natural boundaries,
the Government of India passed the Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972, under which national
parks and sanctuaries were established and
biosphere reserves declared. Details of these
biosphere reserves are given in the book India:
Physical Environment (NCERT, 2006).
There are some countries which are situated
in the tropical region; they possess a large
number of the worlds species diversity. They
are called mega diversity centres. There are
12 such countries, namely Mexico, Columbia,
Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Democratic Republic of
Congo, Madagascar, China, India, Malaysia,
Indonesia and Australia in which these centres
are located. In order to concentrate resources
on those areas that are most vulnerable, the
International Union for the Conservation of
Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has
identified certain areas as biodiversity hotspots
(Figure 16.5). Hotspots are defined according
to their vegetation. Plants are important
because these determine the primary
productivity of an ecosystem. Most, but not all,
of the hotspots rely on species-rich ecosystems
for food, firewood, cropland, and income from
timber. In Madagascar, for example, about 85
per cent of the plants and animals are
found nowhere else in the world, Other
hotspots in wealthy countries are facing

CONSERVATION

BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity is important for human existence.

All forms of life are so closely interlinked that
disturbance in one gives rise to imbalance in
the others. If species of plants and animals
become endangered, they cause degradation
in the environment, which may threaten
human beings own existence.
There is an urgent need to educate people
to adopt environment-friendly practices and
reorient their activities in such a way that our
development is harmonious with other life forms
and is sustainable. There is an increasing
consciousness of the fact that such conservation
with sustainable use is possible only with the
involvement and cooperation of local
communities and individuals. For this, the
development of institutional structures at local
levels is necessary. The critical problem is not
merely the conservation of species nor the
habitat but the continuation of process of
conservation.
The Government of India along with 155
other nations have signed the Convention of
Biodiversity at the Earth Summit held at
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992. The world

139

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BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION

Figure 16.5 : Ecological hotspots in the world

different types of pressures. The islands of

Hawaii have many unique plants and animals

that are threatened by introduced species and

land development.

EXERCISES

Multiple choice questions.

(i) Conservation of biodiversity is important for :

(a) Animals

(b) Animals and plants

(d) All organisms

(ii) Threatened species are those which :

(a) threaten others
(b) Lion and tiger

(c) are abundant in number

(d) are suffering from the danger of extinction

(iii) National parks and sanctuaries are established for the purpose of :
(a) Recreation

(b) Hunting

(d) Conservation

140

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

(iv)

Biodiversity is richer in :
(a) Tropical Regions
(b) Polar Regions

(v)

In which one of the following countries, the Earth Summit was held?
(a) the UK

(b) Mexico

(d) China

What is biodiversity?

(ii)

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)

What are the different levels of biodiversity?

What do you understand by hotspots?

(iv)

Discuss briefly the importance of animals to human kind.

What do you understand by exotic species?

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)

What are the roles played by biodiversity in the shaping of nature?

What are the major factors that are responsible for the loss of biodiversity?
What steps are needed to prevent them?

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(ii)

(iii)
(v)
3.

(d) Oceans

(c) Temperate Regions

Project Work

Collect the names of national parks, sanctuaries and biosphere reserves of the
state where your school is located and show their location on the map of India.

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