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Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Factors Controlling Landform Development

  • Internal (Endogenetic): Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanism
  • External (Exogenetic): Weathering, Erosion, Deposition, Mass Wasting

Exam Tip: Always show interrelation between internal and external forces in answer.

Endogenetic vs Exogenetic Forces

Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

Origin & Evolution of Earth’s Crust

Layers of the Earth:
Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

Fundamentals of Geomagnetism

Cause: Motion of molten iron in the outer core

Concepts:

  • Magnetic Poles ≠ Geographic Poles
  • Paleomagnetism: Key evidence for Plate Tectonics

Use in Plate Tectonics: Magnetic striping on ocean floor.

Physical Conditions of Earth’s Interior

Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

Geosynclines

A long, narrow, and shallow water depression where sediments accumulate and later form mountains.
Example: Tethys Geosyncline → Himalayan Orogeny

Continental Drift Theory

Alfred Wegener (1912)

Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

No mechanism → Later explained by Plate Tectonics

Isostasy

Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

Plate Tectonics Theory

Key Components:

  • Earth's lithosphere = 7 major + minor plates
  • Driven by mantle convection currents

Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

Recent Views on Mountain Building

  • Mountains form at convergent boundaries
  • Collision of continental plates (e.g., India-Eurasia → Himalayas)
  • Subduction zones: Andes-type orogen

Volcanicity

Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

Earthquakes & Tsunamis

  • Focus: Point inside Earth
  • Epicentre: Point on surface

Measured by:

  • Richter Scale (Magnitude)
  • Mercalli Scale (Intensity)

Tsunamis: Caused by undersea quakes/displacement

  • 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami → Plate subduction (Indo-Australian under Eurasian Plate)

Geomorphic Cycles & Landscape Development

Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

Denudation Chronology

  • Sequence: Weathering → Erosion → Transportation → Deposition
  • Landscapes often polycyclic
  • Influenced by climate changes and base level fluctuations

Channel Morphology

Types of River Channels:
Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

Erosion Surfaces

Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

Slope Development

Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

Applied Geomorphology

Use in:

  • Urban planning
  • Landslide & flood hazard mapping
  • Infrastructure development (roads, dams)

Example: Avoiding fault zones during tunnel construction in Himalayas

Geomorphology in Economic Geology & Environment

Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE

The document Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology | Geography for UPSC CSE is a part of the UPSC Course Geography for UPSC CSE.
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FAQs on Cheat Sheet: Geomorphology - Geography for UPSC CSE

1. What is geomorphology and why is it important in the study of the Earth?
Ans. Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them. It explores the formation, evolution, and classification of various terrains on the Earth's surface. Understanding geomorphology is crucial for several reasons: it helps in assessing natural hazards like landslides and floods, informs land-use planning and management, aids in environmental conservation, and contributes to understanding climate change impacts on landscapes.
2. What are the primary processes that influence landform development in geomorphology?
Ans. The primary processes influencing landform development include weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition. Weathering breaks down rocks into smaller particles, erosion involves the removal of these particles by agents like water and wind, transportation moves the eroded material, and deposition occurs when the material settles in new locations, forming features like deltas and alluvial fans.
3. How do tectonic activities affect geomorphological features?
Ans. Tectonic activities, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, significantly alter geomorphological features. Earthquakes can uplift or depress landforms, leading to the formation of faults and folds. Volcanic eruptions can create new landforms, such as volcanic mountains and islands. Tectonic movements also influence erosion and sedimentation patterns, ultimately reshaping the landscape over time.
4. What role do glaciers play in geomorphology?
Ans. Glaciers are powerful geomorphological agents that shape landscapes through processes such as glaciation, erosion, and deposition. They carve out U-shaped valleys, create fjords, and deposit moraines and drumlins. The movement of glaciers can significantly alter landforms and contribute to the development of unique geological features associated with cold environments.
5. How does human activity impact geomorphological processes and landforms?
Ans. Human activities, including urbanization, deforestation, mining, and agriculture, have profound impacts on geomorphological processes. These activities can accelerate erosion, disrupt natural sediment transport, and lead to the alteration of drainage patterns. Additionally, land use changes can increase the risk of natural disasters, such as landslides and flooding, by destabilizing the landscape and modifying hydrological processes.
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