Geography

Study material
ATLAS

Book list

Goh Cheng Leong

Physical Geography
by Savinder singh
India:
comprehensive
geography by D.R.
Khullar
All PowerPoint Slides
available
at Mrunal.org/Download

Orient Longman
Study publication
India and world
Oxford publication

Schemes of the Geography

Meaning and span of Geography

Geo= earth and Graphy = study,

which means study of earth
Geography can be divided into two
parts:
Physical geography and Human
geography

Two Parts of Geography

Fundamentals of
Geography
1.
2.
3.
4.

Latitudes
Longitudes
Seasons on Earth
Time-zones

latitudes Latitudes

=angular
distance of a
place from the
equator
All latitudes are
concentric
circles
They are called
parallels as well

 Largest latitude
Latitudes

equator
Tropics heat
surplus
Temperate, polar
regions heat
deficit
Responsible for
pressure system
and planetary wind
system

Spherical Earth
1.Tropical Zones
2.Temperate
Zones

UPSC Prelims 2001

Q. Who among the following was first to

state that Earth was spherical?

A.Aristotle
B.Copernicus
C.Ptolemy
D.Strabo
1. Skip

Correct Answer is A

2. Attempt

3.

Reason for seasons: Tilted Earth

Summer and Winter Solstice

Question

Q. Variations in length of
daytime and night-time from
UPSC
season to season are due to
a) Earths rotation on its axis
b) Earths revolution around the
Prelims
sun in an elliptical manner
2013
c) Latitudinal position of the
place
d) Revolution of earth on a
tilted axis

Question

Variations in length of daytime

and night-time from season to
UPSC
season are due to
a) Earths rotation on its axis
b) Earths revolution around the
Prelims
sun in an elliptical manner
2013
c) Latitudinal position of the
place
d) Revolution of earth on a
tilted axis

Daylight Saving in Temperate regions

Longitudes
Angular distance of
a place from prime
meridian
Also called
meridians
0 degree =
Greenwich in UK
180 degree =
International date
line

International Date Line

 Earth rotates
360 s in 24
hours
360/24 = 15
15 longitude
= 1 hour

31 Dec
Morning
Russia
st

30th Dec
Morning
Alaska

International Date Line

Moving
West
1 DAY
Lost

Moving
East
1 DAY
Gain

Standard time

1) Every country selects its standard

meridian.
2) Angular distance between standard
meridian of a nation to Greenwich
meridian time (GMT)

Indian Standard Time

IST 82.5 E
Meridian
IST - 5.5 hours
ahead of GMT, so
GMT+5.5

British launched Chaibagaan

time (1 hr ahead of IST) 150
years ago in Assam
After independence rejected
2007 DST study rejected
admin challenges
Jan 2014 CM of Assam
declare to apply Chaibagaan
time

IST
Chaibagaa
n time
zone

Russian Time Zones

If 12 noon at GMT what is the

time at 75 E?
. Difference = 75
. 15 => 1 hour
. 75 => 5 hours
. East (means add) 12 +5 = 5
pm

Question
Time
zones

If 12 noon at GMT what is the

time at 30 W?
. Difference = 30
. 15 => 1 hour
. 30 => 2 hours
. East (means minus) 12 - 2 =
10 am

Question
Time
zones

Exercise

Q. If it is 10.00 am IST, then

what would be the local time at
UPSC
Shillong on 92 deg E Longitude?
a) 9.38 am
Prelims
b) 10.38 am
c) 10.22 am
1999
d) 9.22 am
Ans. B)

Q. Through which one of the

following groups of countries
does equator pass?
a) Brazil, Zambia and Malaysia
b) Columbia, Kenya and
Indonesia
c) Brazil, Sudan and Malaysia
d) Venezuela, Ethiopia and
Indonesia

Exercise
UPSC
Prelims
2006

Q. Which of the following cities

is nearest to the equator ?
a) Colombo
b) Jakarta
c) Manila
d) Singapore

Exercise
UPSC
Prelims
2008

Q. Which one of the following

straits is nearest to the
International Date Line?
a) Malacca Strait
b) Bering strait
c) Strait of Florida
d) Strait of Gibraltar

Exercise
UPSC
Prelims
2008

Malacca strait

Strait of Florida

Strait of Gibraltar

Q. Consider the following

countries:
1. Australia
2. Namibia
3. Brazil
4. Chile
Through which of the above
does the Tropic of Capricorn
pass?

Exercise
UPSC
Prelims
2009

a)
b)
c)
d)

1 only
2,3 and 4
1,2 and 3
1,2,3,4

Exercise
UPSC
Prelims
2009

1. Longitude
2. Latitude
3. Reason for
Seasons on Earth
4. Time zones

NCERT Class6: Chapter 2Longitudes, Latitudes and

time-zones
Map: Greenwich line passes
through which famous cities
and countries of the world?
Map: IST line passes
through which famous cities
and states of India?

Self Study
NCERT

Geomorphology

Origin of the Earth

Nebula Theory
Theory of Laplace

Geomorpho
logy
Overview

Origin of earth Nebular theory of Laplace

Gaseous cloud
of H, He
radiation
coolingContracting
Separation of
outer ring 9
parts => 9
planets

Nebular Theory of Laplace

Heavier
elements near
the core and
lighter at the
surface
Layered
structure of
earths interior

1. Density study:
2. Temperature study
3. Structural study
-. Direct evidences
-. Indirect evidences

Geomorphol
ogy

Interior of
the Earth

Edward Suess
Outer layer
(continents) SIAL
Mantle and oceanic
crust SIMA
Core Ni +Fe

Seismic wave studies

Seismic waves = mechanical waves = require
medium for propagation
Their behaviour changes with changes of
medium
2 imp waves: primary P and secondary S waves
S waves can travel into only S and G medium
P can travel in all 3 mediums
But speed is highest in S>L>G

S-wave Propagation

P-waves propagation

Observations
Asthenosphere semimolten
Beyond
Asthenospheremantle rocks are dense
Outer core liquid
The inner core is solid

Class11 Chapter3: Interior

of Earth

Self Study

NCERT

Composition of the interior of the earth

Earth as a whole
Iron (Fe) - highest
Oxygen (O2)
Silicon (Si)
Magnesium (Mg)
Sulphur (S)
Nickel (Ni)
Calcium (Ca)
Aluminum (Al) - lowest

Earths crust
Oxygen (O2) - highest
Silicon (Si)
Aluminum (Al)
Iron (Fe)
Calcium (Ca)
Magnesium (Mg)
Sodium (Na)
Potassium (K) - lowest

Igneous rocks
Metamorphous rocks
Sedimentary rocks

Geomorph
o
Rocks in
the crust

Rock cycle

formed due to solidification of

magma (I) or lava (E)
They dont have strata or
layers
Because entire lava is
solidified
They are crystalline
They dont have fossils

Rock Types
Igneous
Rocks

Rock Types

formed due to lithification of

soil
Sedimenta
erosion of rocks => deposition ry rocks
of granules => compaction =>
lithification
Always stratified
They may have fossils

Metamorphosed rocks

both igneous and sedimentary rocks

changed under heat or pressure or
both
No fossil
No stratification

Examples of metamorphosed rocks

Question

Consider the following statements

made about sedimentary rocks:
UPSC
1. Sedimentary rocks are formed at
earths surface by hydrological
system
Prelims
2. Formation of sedimentary rocks
2001
involves the weathering of preexisting rocks
3. Sedimentary rocks contains fossils
4. Sedimentary rocks occur in layers

Q. Quartzite is metamorphosed
from:
a) Limestone
b) Obsidian
c) Sandstone
d) shale

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2001

Interior of the earth

Different layers structure and
composition
Rocks
Properties of rocks

Geological time scale of Earth

years
4.6 -3.5
billion
3.5 -2.5
billion
2.5 to
545
million

Eon

Era

Importa
nce
PreProterozoi No Life
Cambrian c
Archean 1st life
form
Hadean
1st fish
eveloved

Geological time scale of the Earth

Years

Eon

Era

Period

545 ml
245 ml

Phaneroz
oic

Paleozoic

Carbonife
rous

245 ml65 ml

Mesozoic

Triassic,
Jurassic,
Cretaceo
us

65 ml
present

Cenozoic

tertiary

65000
years

Epoch

Importa
nce
Coal
Reptiles
=>
Dinosaurs
=>
extinct

Oiligocen
e,
Pliocene

quaternar Holocene
y

Birds and
mammals
Human

Rodinia in Pre-Cambrian

Rodinia break up - Palaeozoic

Mesozoic merger - Pangaea

200 ml years ago break up of Pangaea

165 ml break up of Gondwana

Movement of India

3 Theories

Continenta
l drift

Sea-floor
spreading

Plate
tectonic
theory

Alfred Wegener
1st to propound
movement of
continents
His Continental Drift
Theory
His 4 main
observations

1st
Observation
Matching
Coastlines
zig-saw fit

2nd
Observation
Similarity of
Age of the
rocks

3th
Observation

Fossil
evidences

4th
observation
Palaeoclimatic
evidences
Glacial
evidenced in
Tropical lands

Continental Drift Theory

Super continent - Pangaea

Ocean Panthalasa
Continent SIAL rocks
Ocean SIMA rocks
Mid- Mesozoic Pangaea broke up and
drifted apart

Limitation of Continental Drift theory

Driving force?
Gravitational pull of sun and moon
Idea of SIAL and SIMA

Limitation of Continental Drift theory

What do you understand by

theory of continental drift?
Discuss the prominent
evidences in its support. (5)

Question
UPSC
Mains
2013

Q. Which of the following

phenomena might have
influenced the evolution of
organisms?
1. Continental drift
2. Glacial cycles
Ans. Both

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2014

Arthur Holmes
Arthur Holmes:
Convection current
theory
Convection cells
force behind drifting
of continents

3 Theories

Sea-floor mapping
During 1940s
and 1950s
Diversity of
ocean-floor
Submarine hills
guoyts MOR
Trench

Ocean floor mapping

Questions:
1) Ocean crust
not older than
mid-Mesozoic
2) Age increase
away from MOR
3) Sea-mounts
deformed at
trenches

Sea floor spreading Theory

1960s Harry Hass and Dietz answered

question regarding ocean mapping
using convection theory
revealed mystery of mid-oceanic
ridge and trenches

Mid- Oceanic Ridge

Mid Oceanic ridge

MOR

Rising limb of current breaks the

Ocean crust
Basaltic eruption
Accumulation of lava ridge => MOR
New Oceanic crust
Divergent limb expansion of ocean
crust

Trenches

MOR - Trench
At trench Ocean
floor destroyed
melted in mantle
Oceanic crust
heavier than
continental crust
Ocean floor act like
conveyor belt
Ocean floor cyclic
process 300 ml

Mariana trench

Q. In which one of the following

oceans the Diamantina Trench is
located?
a) Pacific Ocean
b) Atlantic Ocean
c) Indian Ocean
d) Arctic Ocean
Ans. C)

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2006

Diamantine trench

Palaeo-magentism
Magnetism of rocks
along MOR
Magnetometer
-Magnetic parallel
stripes normal and
reverse magnetic
profile
1st Carlsberg ridge
Indian ocean

Palaeo-magentism
Vine and mattheus
Molten lava get
polarity
geomagnetic field of
that period -Solidify
Ocean floor
magnetic tape

Palaeo-magnetism
conclusion
1) Periodic reversal of magnetic field of the
earth
2) Rate of sea-floor spreading decided by age +
distance between two equal magnetic stripes
Atlantic 1.0 cm/ year
Indian 1.5 cm/year
Pacific 6.0 cm/year

Q. Between India and East Asia,

the navigation time and
distance can be greatly reduced
by which of the following?
a) Deepening Malacca strait
between Indonesia and
Malaysia
b) Opening a new canal across
Kra Isthmus between gulf of
Siam and Andaman sea

Question
UPSC
Prelims
2011

3 Theories

Continenta
l drift

Sea-floor
spreading

Plate
tectonic
theory