Physical Geography of India and the World: Seasonal Impact of Shifting Pressure Belts

Physical Geography of India and
the World
TEST NO. : MT(GS)-1
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►QUESTION TAGS FOR L1 TESTS
 DEFINE - Give the precise meaning of
 ENUMERATE/ MENTION/ HIGHLIGHT - List out ALL the relevant points briefly (don’t get into
details). Note: Width is more important than depth.
 DESCRIBE/ EXPLAIN / ELUCIDATE/ SUBSTANTIATE / ELABORATE/ ILLUSTRATE / CLARIFY - Bring
clarity by giving relevant details (reasons, illustration, data, facts, examples, etc)
 ACCOUNT FOR / GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF - Provide a detailed narrative about the subject in
question
 DISTINGUISH / DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN - Bring out the differences between the subjects in
question (or relationship if any between them)
 COMMENT – Provide view-point or opinion on the subject in question. Conclusion is necessary.
 ANALYZE/ DISCUSS – Explore the various dimensions of the subject in detail. State clearly the pros
and cons or argue for and against. Authenticate by giving examples or support your argument (or
stand point) by giving evidence or reasons. Conclusion is necessary.
Please note:
 Give examples/ data wherever required to authenticate your arguments.

 In Geography, draw diagrams wherever possible.
 Understand the subject and demand of the question and get straight to the point.
SAMPLE ANSWERS | QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA AND THE WORLD
Question The Sample Answers have been constructed to train students about how
No. to write relevant and succinct answers in exam condition.
1. Describe the mountain building process of the Himalayas in the 10

light of the Plate Tectonic Theory. (150 Words)
 Introduction: Relationship between Plate tectonics and mountain building
 Body: Overview of the process that led to building of the Himalayas
 Conclusion: Present relevance of theory
Mountain building is the process through which a portion of land gets

uplifted due to endogenic forces.
According to plate tectonic theory, plates move relative to each other

and interact along their boundaries, where they converge, diverge, or
slip past one another. Where plates converge, the movement causes
mountains to rise.
Himalayas are understood to have formed as a result of the

convergence between the Indian and Eurasian Plates (continental –
continental convergence) which began 50 million years ago.
Indo-Australian plate while it was drifting northwards collided with a

much larger Eurasian Plate and the sediments of the Tethys Sea got
compressed.
Neither of the continental plates subducted below the other because of
their low density/high buoyancy and the Eurasian plate partly crumpled
and buckled up above the Indian plate causing the continental crust to
QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 1 P.T.O.

thicken due to folding and faulting pushing up the Himalayas.
It is believed that the Indo-Australian plate continues to move

northwards causing the Himalayas to rise further by 1 cm every year. It
is also the reason for the occurrence of shallow focus earthquakes in
the region today.
The GPS data, deep focus earthquake and Himalayan sediments all
point towards correctness of this theory.

2. Explain the seasonal impact of shifting of pressure belts. (150 Words) 10

 Introduction: Define Pressure belts and mention the different types of
Pressure belts with a diagram
 Body: Explain the shifting of pressure belts and its impacts
 Conclusion: Present relevance with respect to the climate change.
Pressure belts are horizontal gradients created above the earth’s

surface due to Coriolis force, spherical nature of earth and differential
heating.
The pressure belts are divided as: a) The Equilateral Low Pressure Belt,
b) The Sub-tropic High Pressure Belts, c) The sub polar low Pressure
Belts and d) The Polar high pressure belts.

Shifting of pressure belts
As the earth is inclined on its axis and it moves around the sun, the
pressure belts shift northward during summer months and
southwards during winter months.
Seasonal impact of shifting of pressure belts
 It is majorly felt in the northern hemisphere as presence of vast

ocean in the southern hemisphere neutralizes shifting of pressure
belts in the southern hemisphere.
 Gives rise to Mediterranean type of climate – Shift of subtropical
high pressure belts bring regions under influence of offshore trade
winds during summer months and onshore westerlies during
winter months giving rise to dry summers and wet winters.
Another manifestation is witnessed in the Indian Subcontinent’s

Monsoon phenomenon, resulting in shifting of ITCZ.
Climate change is complicating the links by the shifting of the pressure

cells and local climate as observed in delayed Indian monsoon
observed in 2019.

3. Each locale has a unique landscape that creates or modifies the 10

wind. Discuss the impact of local winds on the weather of a
particular region by giving suitable examples. (150 Words)
 Introduction: Define Local winds/how it generates
 Body: Mention varied impacts due to different types of local winds (also
one example of local wind of India)
Landscapes directly impact the flow pattern of the wind in the following
ways:
 Resistance provided by the surface
 Structural formations (mountains) guide the flow (diagram)
 Stability and instability of the wind is guided by the altitude

variation.
Local wind is generated due to localized difference in heating and

cooling of surface. Difference in pressure gradients eventually give rise
to local winds.
Weather impact of the local winds: Local winds are very important
from the perspective of influencing the weather of a particular area.
Land and sea breeze cool down the coastal regions and create
equitable maritime climatic conditions all year long.
Impact on agriculture: Many local winds like Loo etc have impact of
agriculture. Loo causes heat in the North Indian Gangetic Plains and it

also helps in ripening of crops in the region. It is also important for zaid
crops in the region.
Impact on economic activity: Chinook are warm and dry and allow
onset of spring in the region (enabling cultivation of spring wheat in N.
America). Mistral at the same time makes frosty condition making life
miserable.
Local winds although spatially and temporally limited have a deep

impact on socio-economic and climatic phenomenon of the region.

4. Explain the mechanism of sea-floor spreading and briefly mention 10

the characteristic features of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. (150 Words)
 Introduction: Explain the concept of sea floor spreading
 Body: Mention the characteristic features of Mid-Atlantic Ridges
 Conclusion: Significance of Mid-Atlantic Ridges.
Sea floor spreading is an endo-genetic process occurring at divergent

plate boundaries.
As tectonic plates slowly move away from each other, heat from the
mantle’s convection currents makes the crust more plastic and
less dense. The less-dense material rises, often forming an elevated
area of the seafloor. It leads to formation of younger oceanic crust.
Seafloor spreading occurs along mid-ocean ridges.
Characteristic features of the Mid-Atlantic ridges
 It is 16,000 km long and 80 to 120 km wide.
 It has been developed due to the divergent motion between the

Eurasian and North American plates in North Atlantic and African
and South American Plates in South Atlantic.

 The rising magma leads to formation of basaltic volcanoes and

islands. It is also an active site of volcanic activity and earthquakes.
 It’s a slow-spreading (@ of 2.5 cm p.a.) ridge and site of tall

underwater mountains. These mountains sometimes reach above
sea level, thus forming the islands. For e.g. Azores.
Mid Atlantic ridge is a hot spot for hydrothermal vents which provide
habitat for unique species that could provide insight into the origins of
life on Earth. It also leads to the formation of different minerals such as
copper, gold, silver, and zinc.

5. Describe the relation between Ocean Currents and Monsoon Winds 10

with reference to the Indian Ocean? (150 Words)
 Introduction: Briefly state relation between Ocean Currents and
monsoon winds in Indian Ocean.
 Body: Exemplify relation between ocean currents and monsoon winds
discussing different oceanic currents in the Indian Ocean
 Conclusion: Impact on India.
Ocean currents in the northern Indian Ocean change their direction

twice a year due to north-east and south-west monsoon winds.
Relation between Ocean currents and Monsoon Winds:
(i) North-east Monsoon Current (warm): North-east monsoon winds

blow from land to the ocean during winter season in the northern
hemisphere and thus westward blowing north-east monsoon
currents are produced between Andaman and Somalia. This
current flows to the south of 5° north latitudes.
(ii) Southwest Monsoon Current (warm): There is complete reversal in

the direction of monsoon winds during summer season. This

results in reversing the direction of ocean currents in the Indian

Ocean. The general direction of monsoon currents is from south-
west to north-east but several minor branches emerge from the
main branch and move in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. The
Indian counter current developed during winter season disappears
due to this current.
(iii) Indian Equatorial Current (warm): The currents of the southern

Indian ocean are least affected by seasonal change in the direction
of monsoon winds.
Indian ocean is unique in the sense that it is the only water body which
observes annual reversal of current direction.

6. Distinguish between Weathering and Mass Wasting. Explain the 15

causes and different types of Mass Wasting. (250 Words)
 Introduction: Write about the meaning and relationship between the two
concepts
 Body: Briefly write about the different causes and types of mass wasting
 Conclusion: Indian context
Weather and mass wasting are both a type of degradation process

driven by exogenic forces. The differences between them are:
Weathering is a process Mass Wasting (Mass Movement): It

which includes is the downslope movement of
denudation and weathered rock materials under
fragmentation of rocks the influence of gravity which may
due to some active natural be slow or fast depending upon
agents in situ (no the slope angle.
movement)
 Weathering is not essential for mass movement though it helps in

mass movements.
Causes of Mass Wasting

 The causes of mass wasting occur when gravitational force
overcomes the resistive forces of the mountain.
 It increases due to high slope and decrease in vegetation.
 The abundant water breaks apart the small sand particles and
destroys the structural stability.




ADMIN1: ADMIN2:
 Earthquakes can break off sections of mountains or hills causing

them to slide down the slope.
 Anthropogenic activities like surface mining or the building dams,

roads etc. can also contribute to mass wasting.
Types of mass wasting: Two types depending upon the speed of the
motion and the amount of water involved:
(A) Rapid
 Rockfall is a large amount of rock that falls independently from a

slope or cliff.
 Avalanche is a mass of falling rock but because of the presence of
soil and debris they have more moisture than a rockfall.
 Landslides includes the rock slides, slumps & sturzstroms.
Case study: MALIN LANDSLIDE: ignoring the process of mass wasting
in settlement planning led to the slope collapse which killed 151
people.
(B) Slow
 Solifluction means slow downhill flow of soil in arctic regions due to

chronic freezing conditions
 Soil Creeps means slow and continuous movements of soil or rock
downhill due to gravity.
 Other types are induced mass wasting, topple, slump, falls, flows etc.
India is particularly prone to mass movement related disasters
(Western Ghats and Himalayas). Also deep understanding of mass
wasting processes is a must for making disaster resilient infrastructure
under CDRI initiated by India in 2018.

7. What do you understand by Western Disturbance? Explain its 15

genesis and highlight its role in influencing India’s climate and
agriculture. (250 Words)
 Introduction: Define Western Disturbance and describe how from where

it originates.
 Body: Its impact on India’s Climate – Weather, Rainfall, Temperature,
Agriculture
 Conclusion: Current Relevance
 A Western Disturbance is an extra-tropical storm which mainly

impacts South Asian region during winter seasons.
 It travels from the western to the eastern direction.
Genesis of Western disturbance
The warm air mass generating from the Mediterranean & Caspian Sea
meets the cold air mass coming from the North (Ukraine) resulting into
the formation of front which gives rise to Western Disturbance.

Impact on India’s climate and agriculture

 It brings pre-monsoon rainfall across northwest India during winter
season. The moisture they carry comes from the Mediterranean
Sea or Atlantic Ocean. India gets close to 5-10% of its total annual
rainfall from western disturbances.
 This precipitation during winter is beneficial for Rabi crops (like

wheat, barley, mustard, sesame, and peas). So it helps India’s
agriculture & food security.
 The cloudy weather and rains reduces the night temperature and
prevent crops from extreme cold and frost. This prevents plants &
crops destruction.
 The winter rainfall in drizzle form increases soil moisture & water
table which improves agricultural productivity
 It may cause snowfall in high altitude areas like Jammu and

Kashmir & Himachal Pradesh etc.
 Over the Indo-Gangetic plains, they occasionally bring cold wave

conditions and dense fog. Fog will lead to low visibility problems in
areas of northern India.
 Excessive precipitation can cause crop damage, landslides, floods

and avalanches. E.g.: Uttarakhand floods (2013)
Like tropical cyclones, monsoon, earthquakes etc. western

disturbances should be studied in much more detail as proper
information is still not available and for its end to end tracking,
prediction and disaster preparedness.

Differentiate between El Nino and La Nina. Discuss its impact on

8. 15
India? (250 Words)
 Introduction: Differentiate between El Nino and La Nina

 Body text: Explain the impact of El Nino and La Nina on India
 Conclusion: Way forward to mitigate adverse impact
EL Nino and La Nina are two climatic phenomenon which occur due to
alteration of sea surface temperatures in pacific ocean. The key
differences between them are as follows:
El Nino La Nina
It causes warming of sea It causes cooling of sea surface

surface temperatures in the temperatures in the central and
central and eastern Pacific eastern Pacific Ocean
Ocean
Trade winds weaken, warm Strong Pacific trade winds blow

waters move east from surface water westward
High air surface pressure in Low air surface pressure in the

the western Pacific eastern Pacific
Winters are warmer and drier Winters are wetter and cause
than average in the Northwest above-average precipitation
of pacific, and wetter in across the Northwest of pacific
Southwest of pacific and and drier and below average
reduced snowfalls. precipitation in South west of
pacific
It occurs for 3 to 5 years Lasts from 1 to 3 years
IMPACT OF EL NINO AND LA NINA ON INDIA
La Nina
 It results in better than normal monsoon in India.

El Nino
 During winter it causes warm conditions over the Indian

subcontinent
 During summer it leads to dry conditions and deficient monsoon.
 Weak monsoon and rising temperature in India increases the

probability of drought and affects water supply.
 Low rainfall lowers the summer crops production such as rice,

sugarcane, cotton, oilseeds etc. This leads to high inflation rates and
lower GDP of economy.
 Weak monsoons also result in lesser power generation from hydro-

power dams thus leading to even lesser electricity for irrigation
purposes. This further reduces the crop yield.
 Livestock and the fisheries (source of income for the farmers) both
are affected severely by the drought.
We should work on our mathematical modelling to better our prediction

so that we can mitigate the adverse impacts of El-Nino and maximise
the positive impacts of La Nina.

What are the factors affecting salinity of ocean? Analyse the

9. 15
horizontal distribution of the salinity across the world? (250 Words)
 Introduction: Briefly define salinity of ocean water

 Body: Mention the factors affecting salinity and then its horizontal
distribution with suitable examples and diagram with examples
 Conclusion: Relevance
Salinity of ocean refers to the content of dissolved salt in seawater (that

is amount of salt per thousand grams). Salinity is an important property
of sea water.
Factors affecting ocean salinity are as follows:
1. Evaporation leads to high salinity E.g. Mediterranean Sea.
2. Precipitation increases flow of fresh water from rivers thereby

reducing salinity. As seen in case of the western part of Northern
hemisphere which comes under influence of influx of melted water
from Arctic sea.
3. Wind affects regional salinity by facilitating water transfer from one

region to another.
4. Ocean currents affect regional salinity. North Atlantic drift helps

reduce salinity of North Sea.
5. Landlocked regions observe higher salinity as seen in case of Red

sea, Caspian Sea, Mediterranean Sea.
6. Salinity, temperature and water density are interrelated - Change in

temperature affect salinity of the region (warmer water tend to hold
more salt than the cold water)
Horizontal distribution of salinity
1. Salinity is lower in equatorial waters because of heavy daily rainfall

and high humidity.
2. Highest salinity is recorded between 20°N - 30°N and between 20°W

- 60°W (Atlantic Ocean) due to comparatively high evaporation in
sub-tropical region and low precipitation.
3. Atlantic Ocean shows more salinity than Pacific Ocean as freshwater

evaporating from the North Atlantic subtropics feeds excess rainfall

in the Pacific Ocean's western tropical regions. The Atlantic gets

salty, the Pacific gets fresher.
4. Arabian Sea shows more salinity than Bay of Bengal as we have

more westward flowing rivers such as the Ganges that drain in Bay
of Bengal.
Ocean Salinity is the key determiner of the economic prospects of the

sea (through salt deposition) and also oceanic biome (example coral
distribution).

What are the objectives of recently launched Deep Ocean Mission?

10. In this context discuss how Ocean can act as next generation 15
resource? (250 Words)
 Introduction: Mention the objective of the Deep Ocean Mission.

 Body: Exemplify various minerals found in the deep ocean with their
usages.
 Conclusion: Write about technological challenge and other issues like
environment with recommendation.
Deep Ocean Mission proposes to explore the deep ocean similar to

the space exploration started by ISRO about 35 years ago. The main
objective of the mission is to explore metals and minerals at the
bottom of the seas.
Deep inside the ocean there are mountain ranges, ridges, forests,
seamounts, volcanoes etc.
Ocean can act as next generation resource in following ways:
 Mineral resource - Iron and cobalt nodules

 Biotic resource - Aqua culture (especially relevant for a country like
India)
 Land resource (creating island).
Case study: china is creating artificial islands in shallow regions of

south china sea
 Source of fresh water.
Example: Chennai is dependent on 3 desalination plants for 1/3rd of its

fresh water needs.
 Harvesting tidal and current energy.
With huge opportunities underlying, it also entails commercial viability

in the light of technological challenges and environment concerns in
the absence of a clear international charter. More studies should be
carried out to understand how the technology can be scaled up and
used efficiently. Also, there is an urgent need to regulate the industry
to address the environmental concerns.

ADDITIONAL
CONTENT
FOR
CONCEPTUAL
CLARITY
ADDITIONAL CONTENT | QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1
Additional Content for conceptual clarity and related information
1. PLATE TECTONIC THEORY

 There are nine major plates named after the landforms found on them. The nine major plates are North
American, Pacific, Eurasian, African, Indo-Australian,
Australian, Indian, South American and Antarctic.
 There are three main types of plate boundaries
1. Convergent boundaries– where two plates are colliding.
2. Divergent boundaries – where two plates are moving

apart.
3. Transform boundaries – where plates slide passed each

other.
Plate tectonic is the most recent and widely acclaimed theory

which gives most satisfactory answers to intricate and puzzling
questions regarding origin of continents and oceans, formation
of mountains, occurrence of earthquake and eruption of
volcanoes.
Plate tectonic is a theory of global dynamics in which the

lithosphere is believed to be broken into a series of separate
plates that move in response to convection in the upper
mantle. Plate is a broad segment of lithosphere (including rigid
upper mantle plus oceanic and continental crust) that is about
100 kilometres thick and floats on the underlying
asthenosphere and movers independently of other plates.
The margins of the plates are sites of considerable geological

activities such as sea-floor spreading, volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, crustal deformation, mountain building and
continental drift.
There are three types of plate

boundaries:
(i) constructive
(ii) destructive and
(iii) conservative
Constructive Boundaries
represents zones of ‘divergent
margins’. In this case, two plates
moves away from each other.
Destructive boundaries are also
known as ‘converging margins’.
In this case, two plates move
towards each other, converge
and in the process one plate
overrides the other. The overridden plate is subducted and goes under the asthenosphere and is lost or consumed.
Where the two plates slide pass along transform faults neither creating nor destroying earth crust it is called
conservative zone.

It is the converging boundary of the plates where folded mountains like the Himalaya build up. When two convergent
plates composed of continental crust collide against each other, the denser plate is subducted under the light of plate.
The resultant lateral compression squeezes and folds the sediment deposited on either side of the geosynclines lying
between the two.
The Himalayas are the product of such process on the convergence zone of the Asiatic plate in the north and the
Indian plate in the south. Some 70 million years ago, the Indian plate started moving towards Asian plate and the
Tethys sea began to contract due to the the movement of Indian and Asian plates towards each other. Since the
Indian plate was made of dense material then the Asian plate, the former began to subduct under the latter causing
lateral compression of the marine sediment in the bed of the Tethys. Geologists believe that the sediments got folded
in three successive phases giving rise to three important ranges of the Himalayas. Although the process of the Indian
Plate moving towards the Asian plate and formation of the Himalayan ranges was more or less completed about 10
million years ago, it is believed that the Indian Plate is still moving northwards and the Himalayas continue to rise
further.
2. PRESSURE BELTS
Regions witnessing higher insolation are hotter and thus have lower pressure while the region receiving lower
insolation are cooler and thus have high pressure. These pressure differences give rise to pressure gradients which
give rise to permanent wind system called pressure belts.
Characteristics of different pressure belts
(a) The Equatorial Low Pressure Belt: The sun

shines almost vertically on the equator
throughout the year. As a result, the air gets
warm and rises over the equatorial region and
produce equatorial low pressure. This belt
extends from equator to 50N and 50S latitudes.
Due to excessive heating horizontal movement
of air is absent here and only conventional
currents are there. Therefore, this belt is called
doldrums (the zone of calm) due to virtual
absence of surface winds. These are the regions
of convergence because the winds flowing from
sub-tropical high pressure belts converge here.
This belt is also known as-Inter Tropical
Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
(b) The Sub-tropical High Pressure Belts: The

sub-tropical high pressure belts extend from
the 25 degrees to about 350 latitudes in both
the Hemispheres. In the northern hemisphere it
is called as the North sub-tropical high pressure
belt and in the southern hemisphere it is known as the South sub-tropical high pressure belt. The existence of
these pressure belts is due to the fact that the uprising air of the equatorial region is deflected towards poles due
to the earth’s rotation. After becoming cold and heavy, it descends in these regions and gets piled up. This results
in high pressure. Calm conditions with feeble and variable winds are found here.
(c) The Sub-polar low Pressure Belts: The sub-polar low pressure belts extend between 60 to 65 degree in the
northern and southern hemisphere. They are known as the North sub-polar low and the South sub-polar low

pressure belts respectively. Winds coming from the sub-tropical and the polar high belts converge here to
produce cyclonic storms or low pressure conditions. This zone of convergence is also known as polar front.
(d) The Polar High Pressure Belts: In Polar Regions, sun never shines vertically. Sun rays are always slanting here
resulting in low temperatures. Because of low temperature, air compresses and its density increases. Hence, high
pressure is found here. In northern hemisphere the belt is called the North polar high pressure belt while it is
known as the South polar high pressure belt in the southern hemisphere. Winds from these belts blow towards
sub-polar low pressure belts.
Shifting of Pressure belts and formation of Monsoon Winds
Monsoon climate occur due to northward migration of the sun due to which the north intertropical convergence
(NITC) is extended upto 30°N latitude over Indian subcontinent. Equatorial westerlies bring much rain because they
come from over the ocean and are associated with tropical atmospheric storms (cyclones). The NITC get withdrawn
from over the Indian subcontinent because of southward shifting of pressure belts in winters. Hence bring dry
conditions.
3. LOCAL WINDS
 Chinook (snow-eaters) are
warm and dry winds formed
due to adiabatic heating on
the leeward side of the Rocky
Mountain. It leads to cyclonic
activity which produces cloud
and precipitation on the
windward side of the
Mountain. The rise in
temperature due to it also
helps in early sowing of spring
wheat in the USA.
 Loo is a very hot and dry wind

blowing in the plains of

northern India and Pakistan in May and June. Its temperatures causes heatstroke to people.
 Harmattan (doctor winds) is a hot, dusty and dry wind originates from the Sahara Desert and blow towards the
Guinea coast of Africa. It reduces humidity and make pleasant dry weather.
 Sirocco - It is a hot, dust-laden, south or south-westerly wind which blows from the desert of Sahara towards the
Mediterranean Sea, especially during the summer season. There are different local names for sirocco in Africa e.g.
khamsin in Egypt (UAR), Gibliin Lybia, chilli in Tunisia etc. The warm and dry dusty winds in the Arabian Desert are
called 'simoom'. Sirocco, while passing over the Mediterranean Sea picks up moisture and yields rainfall in the
southern part of Italy where the rain associated with sirocco is called 'blood rain' because of fallout of red sands
with falling rains.
 Santa Anna: This is a local hot and dry wind of originating from the Mojave Desert of California (U.S.A.).
 Zonda: Similar to Chinook, it is a hot sultry wind of Argentina and Uruguay, observed on leeward side (eastern
slopes) of the Andes Mountains. In this case also, westerlies descend down the leeward side after crossing over
the Andes and thus are heated.
 Fohn: A warm and dry wind similar to Chinook is called 'fohn' along the northern slopes of the Alps Mountains.
These are more common during spring and autumn in Switzerland. The weather becomes quite pleasant in the
valleys due to melting of snow after the arrival of fohn winds.
 Blizzard: It is an intensely cold, strong, and abnormally high wind accompanied by falling snow. It is found in
Siberia, Canada and the northern United States. The arrival of these winds causes sudden drop in air temperature,
thick cover of snow on the ground surface and onset of cold waves. These winds reach the southern states of the
USA because of the absence of any east-west mountain barrier. They are called 'norther' in the southern USA and
'burran' in Siberia.
 Bora: A strong, cold and often very dry northerly or north-easterly wind experienced along the eastern coast of
the Adriatic Sea and in the northern Italy, mainly in winter (December to March).
 Mistral: It is a cold northerly or north-westerly wind experienced on the shores of north-west Mediterranean Sea,
especially in the Rhone Valley and its delta (France).
 Pampero: It is a north-westerly cold wind in the 'pampas' of South America.

4. SEA-FLOOR SPREADING
5. CURRENTS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN

(i) North-east Monsoon Current (warm): North-east monsoon winds blow from land to the ocean during winter
season in the northern hemisphere and thus westward blowing north-east monsoon currents are produced
between Andaman and Somali. This current flows to the south of 5° north latitude. Besides, some independent
currents originate in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea in south-westerly direction.
(ii) Indian Counter Current (warm): Indian counter current is originated during winter season (northern
hemisphere). This current flows in easterly direction between 2° and 8° latitudes from Zanzibar to Sumatra.
(iii) Southwest Monsoon Current (warm): There is complete reversal in the direction of monsoon winds during
summer season. In other words, north-easterly direction of winter monsoon winds becomes south-westerly
during summer season in the northern hemisphere. This reversal of direction of monsoon winds also reverses
the direction of ocean currents of Indian Ocean during summer season. North-east monsoon ocean currents
disappear and south-west monsoon ocean currents are developed. The general direction of monsoon currents is
from south-west to north-east but several minor branches emerge from the main branch and move in Bay of
Bengal and Arabian Sea. The Indian counter current developed during winter season disappears due to this
current.
(iv) Indian Equatorial Current (warm): The currents of the southern Indian ocean are least affected by seasonal
change in the direction of monsoon winds. The Indian equatorial current flows east to west between 10 ° south
and 15 ° south latitudes from Australian coast to African coast. After being obstructed by Madagascar this current
is divided into many branches. One major branch flows southward in the name of Agulhas current (warm) while
the other branch is directed towards the north.
(v) Mozambiqe Current (warm): One branch of the Southern Indian equatorial current moves southward to
Mozambiqe channel known as Mozambiqe current. This current joins the Auglhas current near 30 ° south latitude
and moves upto the southern tip of Africa and is ultimately diverted eastward.
West Wind Drift (Cold)




ADMIN1: ADMIN2:
Like Pacific and Atlantic Ocean eastward flowing current, known as west wind drift, is also generated in the Indian
Ocean. This current is produced due to eastward blowing westerlies along 40 ° N latitude known as ‘roaring
forties’. This current bifurcates in two branches near 110 ° east longitude. One branch turns north-ward and flows as
West Australia cold current along the western coast of Australia and near the Tropic of Capricorn turns towards west
and north-west and ultimately merges with the south equatorial current near hundred ° east longitude. The second
branch of the west wind drift turns southward.
6. WEATHERING AND MASS WASTING

Weathering is a static process which occurs in the place of occurrence while mass wasting is a dynamic process as it
involves moving away from the source of occurrence to down the slope under the influence of gravity and associated
natural agents like surface runoff.
Causes
 High slope steepness increases

mass wasting because the
gravitational force acting on a
steep slope is greater than the
force acting on a gentle slope.
 Vegetation stabilizes soil

particles on the surface and
anchors soil under the surface
through its root system. So if an
area has decreased vegetation, it
will be more prone to mass
wasting.
Other Types of Mass Wasting are:
 Induced Mass wasting is due to

human activities. It creates unstable piles of waste soil and rock and by removing the underlying support of
natural masses of soil, regolith, and bedrock.
 Topples occurs when rocks break away and fall from a slope
 Slump refers to slipping of the rock material.
 Falls occurs when rocks fell from the steep slopes such as a cliff face due to earthquakes, rain, plant-root wedging,
expanding ice etc.
 Flows have material within them saturated with moisture. Example: Mudflows occur quickly after heavy
precipitation saturates a surface. Earthflows are slower and saturated with moisture.
7. WESTERN DISTURBANCE
 It is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern
 It travels across the middle-east from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to enter the Indian sub-continent until the
Himalayas inhibits its development, upon which the depression rapidly weakens.

 Though it moves across the Indian region throughout the year, they are in their peak during winter months of
January and February. Their effect is minimal during the monsoon months in India.
 Disturbance means an area of “disturbed” or reduced air pressure. Equilibrium exists in nature due to which the
air in a region tries to normalise its pressure.
 In the term “extra-tropical storm”, storm refers to low pressure. “Extra-tropical" means outside the tropics. As
the WD originates outside the tropical region, the word “extra-tropical” has been associated with them.
 The term 'Western' refers to the direction from which they originate with regard to India.
 The term 'disturbance' is used because the air within the low pressure systems tends to be unstable or disturbed.
 Westerlies are prevailing winds from the west toward the east in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60
degrees latitude.
 Weak western disturbances are associated with crop failure and water problems across north India.
 Strong western disturbances can help residents, farmers and governments avoid many of the problems
associated with water scarcity.
8. EL NINO AND LA NINA

Both El Nino and La Nina are part of a larger
cycle called ENSO, or El Nino–Southern
Oscillation. The El Nino (warm event) and La Nina
(cold event).
La Nina
 During a La Nina year, the trade winds are

unusually strong, leading to increased
movement of water towards the western
Pacific. This creates a situation where the
waters in the east are abnormally cold and

the waters in the west are abnormally warm. This prevents the formation of clouds in eastern region. At the same
time, the waters in the west are very warm, leading to increased humidity and warmer atmospheric
temperatures.
 Monsoon seasons will be more intense in La Nina years,

while the western equatorial portions of South America
may be in drought conditions.
El Nino
 Winters are warmer and drier than average in the

Northwest of pacific, and wetter in Southwest of pacific
and experience reduced snowfalls.
 Warm water approaches the coasts of South America

which results in reduced upwelling of nutrient-rich deep
water impacting impacts on the fish population.
 El Nino results in a decrease in the earth's rotation rate (very minimal), an increase in the length of day,
and therefore a decrease in the strength of the Coriolis.
 El Nino affects the flow of moisture-bearing winds from the cooler oceans towards India negatively impact the
summer monsoon, which accounts for over 70% of annual rainfall.
 In India, Crops like Paddy, Maize, Groundnut, Guar, Castor, Tur, Moong and Bajra would also get impacted. This is
particularly true of major drought-prone regions such as southern and eastern Maharashtra, northern Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
 A lot of Farmers suicide because they are not be able to repay the loan they had taken for growing the crop.
 El Nino resulting in deficit rainfall tends to lower the summer crops production such as rice, sugarcane, cotton and
oilseeds and therefore the outcome might be seen in form of high inflation rates and lower GDP due to high
contribution of agriculture sector in Indian economy.
 In India, almost 50% of the area under cultivation is rain-fed. Indian agriculture is thus heavily dependent on the
climate of India: a favourable southwest summer monsoon is critical in securing water for irrigating Indian crops.
So, a significant reduction in total rain fall results in a drought like situation.
9. OCEAN SALINITY
All waters in nature, whether rain water or ocean water, contain dissolved mineral salts. 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 (‰) or ppt.
Salinity are an important property of sea water. Salinity of 24.7 ppt has been considered as the upper limit to
demarcate ‘brackish water’.
Factors affecting ocean salinity are mentioned below:
 The salinity of water in the surface layer of oceans depends mainly on evaporation and precipitation.
 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.
 Wind also influences salinity of an area by transferring water to other areas.

 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.
Horizontal distribution of salinity:
The salinity for normal Open Ocean ranges between 33 ppt and 37 ppt. In the land locked Red Sea, it is as high as 41
ppt, while in the estuaries and the Arctic, the salinity fluctuates from 0-35 ppt, seasonally. In hot and dry regions,
where evaporation is high, the salinity sometimes reaches to 70 ppt.
The salinity variation in the Pacific Ocean is mainly due to its shape and larger areal extent. Salinity decreases from 35
ppt - 31 ppt 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 ppt.
The average salinity of the Atlantic Ocean is around 36 ppt. The highest salinity is recorded between 15° and 20°
latitudes. Maximum salinity (37 ppt) is observed between20°N and 30°N and20°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 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 ppt. 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.
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.

Figure: Vertical distribution of salinity
Factors that affect the salinity of the oceans can be broadly grouped into two categories
Factors that decrease salinity

Factors that increase salinity
 precipitation
 evaporation
 melting of ice
 Ice formation
 advection of less saline water,
 advection of more saline water
 mixing with less saline deep water and
 mixing with more saline deep water and
 inflow of fresh water from land
 solution of salt deposits
Surface salinity changes are chiefly determined by three processes, namely,

(a) decrease of salinity by precipitation,
(b) increase of salinity by evaporation and
(c) change of salinity by mixing processes
However, over large areas in the oceans, changes in surface salinity depend mainly upon changes in the difference
between evaporation and precipitation
10. DEEP OCEAN MISSION

The program on Poly metallic nodules was initiated at CSIR-NIO with the collection of the first nodule sample from
Arabian Sea on board the first Research Vessel Gaveshani on 26 January 1981. India was the first country in the
world to have been given the Pioneer Area for exploration of deep-sea mineral viz. Polymetallic nodules in the
Central Indian Ocean Basin in 1987. This was based on the extensive surveys carried out by the scientists of CSIR-NIO,
on several research ships leading to the allocation of an area of 150,000 sq. km to the country with exclusive rights
under the UN Law of the sea.
Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India is all set to launch ‘Deep Ocean Mission’ To Boost India’s Sea
Exploration Capabilities. The mission proposes to explore the deep ocean similar to the space exploration started by
ISRO about 35 years ago.
The focus of the mission will be on deep-sea mining, ocean climate change advisory services, underwater vehicles and
underwater robotics related technologies.

Two key projects planned in the ‘Deep Ocean Mission’ report include:
(i) Desalination plant powered by tidal energy
(ii) Submersible vehicle that can explore depths of at least 6,000 metres.
Based on the resource evaluation, India has now retained an area of 75,000 sq km with an estimated resource of
about 100 million tons of strategic metals such Copper, Nickel, Cobalt besides Manganese and Iron. The
estimated resource of polymetallic nodules is about 380 million tonnes, containing 4.7 million tonnes of nickel, 4.29
million tonnes of copper and 0.55 million tonnes of cobalt and 92.59 million tonnes of manganese.
It is envisaged that 10% of recovery of that large reserve can meet the energy requirement of India for the next 100
years. It has been estimated that 380 million metric tonnes of polymetallic nodules are available at the bottom of the
seas in the Central Indian Ocean.
A First Generation Mine-site (FGM) with an area of 18,000 sq km has been identified. Latest technologies for
extraction of metals from the minerals have also been developed under the programme. Detailed environmental
data has been collected for compliance with International Seabed Authorities requirements. Besides identifying the
mineral resource and developing technologies for mining and extraction, the programme has also resulted in high
impact research as well as manpower development.
India's ambition to send men to the deep sea in a submersible vehicle is likely to be a reality in 2021-22 with the
'Samudrayaan' Project. The project proposes to send a submersible vehicle with three persons to a depth of about
6000 metres to carry out deep underwater studies. The indigenously developed vehicle is capable of crawling on the
sea bed at a depth of six kilometres for 72 hours.
Polymetallic nodules (also known as manganese nodules) are potato-shaped, largely porous nodules found in
abundance carpeting the sea floor of world oceans in deep sea.
Composition: Apart from manganese and iron, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, cadmium,
vanadium, titanium, of which nickel, cobalt and copper are considered to be of economic and strategic importance.
TESTS SCHEDULE
LEVEL 1
RELEASE DATE
TEST SYLLABUS
(For test & test discussion videos)
MT(GS)-1 Physical Geography of India & the World 13/10/19
MT(GS)-2 Economic Geography of Indian & the World 20/10/19
Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change &
MT(GS)-3 03/11/19
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MT(GS)-4 Indian Culture 10/11/19
MT(GS)-5 Modern History 17/11/19
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MT(GS)-9 Ethics in Governance – Case Studies 15/12/19
MT(GS)-10 Indian Polity & Governance - 1 22/12/19
MT(GS)-11 Indian Polity & Governance – 2 29/12/19
MT(Essay)-2 Essay (Themes from Polity and Ethics) 05/01/20
MT(GS)-12 Indian Society and Social Justice 12/01/20




ADMIN1: ADMIN2:
MT(GS)-13 S&T 19/01/20

MT(GS)-14 International Relations & Internal Security 27/01/20
MT(Essay)-3 Essay (Themes from Indian Society and IR) 02/02/20
MT(GS)-15 Economic Development – 1 09/02/20
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Geography + Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity + Disaster
ST(GS)-1 28/06/20
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History - Culture, Modern, Post-Independence & World History
ST(GS)-2 05/07/20
(GS Paper-1)
Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude - Theory & Case Studies (GS Paper -
ST(GS)-3 12/07/20
4)
ST(GS)-4 Indian Polity & Governance (GS Paper-2) 19/07/20
ST(GS)-5 Indian Society & Social Justice + S&T (GS Paper-1+2) 26/07/20
International Relations & Internal Security
ST(GS)-6 02/08/20
(GS Paper-2+3)
ST(GS)-7 Economic Development (GS Paper-3) 09/08/20
LEVEL 3
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videos)
FLT (Essay) - 1 Essay 16/08/20 9 am – 12 pm
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Physical Geography of India and the World: Seasonal Impact of Shifting Pressure Belts

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Physical Geography of India and

EBOOKS & UPSC PRELIMS USPC MAINS VIDEO FOR DAILY

SECUREIAS UPSC PRELIMS UPSC MAINS DELHI CIVILSERVICES

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS BOOKS, STATE PCS, SSC, BANKING

 Give examples/ data wherever required to authenticate your arguments.

1. Describe the mountain building process of the Himalayas in the 10

Mountain building is the process through which a portion of land gets

According to plate tectonic theory, plates move relative to each other

Himalayas are understood to have formed as a result of the

Indo-Australian plate while it was drifting northwards collided with a

QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 1 P.T.O.

thicken due to folding and faulting pushing up the Himalayas.

It is believed that the Indo-Australian plate continues to move

QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 2 P.T.O.

2. Explain the seasonal impact of shifting of pressure belts. (150 Words) 10

Pressure belts are horizontal gradients created above the earth’s

QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 3 P.T.O.

Shifting of pressure belts

Seasonal impact of shifting of pressure belts

 It is majorly felt in the northern hemisphere as presence of vast

Another manifestation is witnessed in the Indian Subcontinent’s

Climate change is complicating the links by the shifting of the pressure

QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 4 P.T.O.

3. Each locale has a unique landscape that creates or modifies the 10

 Structural formations (mountains) guide the flow (diagram)

 Stability and instability of the wind is guided by the altitude

Local wind is generated due to localized difference in heating and

QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 5 P.T.O.

Local winds although spatially and temporally limited have a deep

QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 6 P.T.O.

4. Explain the mechanism of sea-floor spreading and briefly mention 10

Sea floor spreading is an endo-genetic process occurring at divergent

Seafloor spreading occurs along mid-ocean ridges.

Characteristic features of the Mid-Atlantic ridges

 It is 16,000 km long and 80 to 120 km wide.

 It has been developed due to the divergent motion between the

QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 7 P.T.O.

 The rising magma leads to formation of basaltic volcanoes and

 It’s a slow-spreading (@ of 2.5 cm p.a.) ridge and site of tall

QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 8 P.T.O.

5. Describe the relation between Ocean Currents and Monsoon Winds 10

Ocean currents in the northern Indian Ocean change their direction

(i) North-east Monsoon Current (warm): North-east monsoon winds

(ii) Southwest Monsoon Current (warm): There is complete reversal in

QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 9 P.T.O.

results in reversing the direction of ocean currents in the Indian

(iii) Indian Equatorial Current (warm): The currents of the southern

QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 10 P.T.O.

6. Distinguish between Weathering and Mass Wasting. Explain the 15

Weather and mass wasting are both a type of degradation process

Weathering is a process Mass Wasting (Mass Movement): It

 Weathering is not essential for mass movement though it helps in

Causes of Mass Wasting

 It increases due to high slope and decrease in vegetation.

QIP-MTS-20/MT(GS)-1/RAU’S IAS TEST SERIES 11 P.T.O.

EBOOKS & UPSC PRELIMS USPC MAINS VIDEO FOR DAILY

SECUREIAS UPSC PRELIMS UPSC MAINS DELHI CIVILSERVICES

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS BOOKS, STATE PCS, SSC, BANKING

 Earthquakes can break off sections of mountains or hills causing

 Anthropogenic activities like surface mining or the building dams,

 Rockfall is a large amount of rock that falls independently from a

 Solifluction means slow downhill flow of soil in arctic regions due to