12 Geography: Static Revision Simplified

• Magnetic Poles: Earth has two sets of poles, geographic pole and magnetic poles. The magnetic field does not align
with the earth’s axis of rotation. As a result, a compass needle points towards the magnetic north pole and not the
geographic north (based on the axis of rotation of the Earth).
• Declination Angle: The angle between true North and magnetic North at any particular position on the Earth.

Polar Reversal
There is a complete reversal of the magnetic poles of the earth over several thousands of years. The reversal has been
attributed to changes in the convection pattern in Earth’s core.

Magnetosphere
It is the region above the ionosphere that is defined by the extent of the Earth’s magnetic field in space.
• Magnetopause: It is the abrupt boundary between a magnetosphere and the surrounding solar wind plasma.
• Magnetosheath: It is the turbulent magnetic region just outside the magnetopause.
• Bow Shock: It is located sunward of the magnetopause. Here, the solar wind slows abruptly.
• Plasmasphere: It is located Inside the magnetosphere. It is a region containing low-energy charged particles.

Van Allen radiation Belt

It is a zone of energetic charged particles, most of which originate from the solar wind. By trapping the solar wind, the
belts deflect the energetic particles and protect the atmosphere.

Geomagnetic Storm
40 satellites of Starlink project undertaken by Elon Musk were lost because of the geomagnetic storm.
What is Geomagnetic storm?
• Geomagnetic storm are disturbances of Earth’s magnetrosphere.
• Magnetosphere located in the upper atmosphere of the Earth acts as a shield and protects Earth from dangerous solar and
cosmic raditions.
• The magnetic storm is caused by the release of a high-speed stream of solar wind that emerges from the coronal holes of the
sun.
Effects of Geomagnetic storm
• These radiations interact with Earth’s magnetic field and affects the communication satellites.
• The radiations affect space-dependent technologies. Example: GPS, Radio, Flights, Electricity networks, etc.
• Affect the health conditions of the astronauts.

CONTINENTAL DRIFT THEORY, SEAFLOOR SPREADING AND PLATE TECTONICS

Criteria Continental Drift Seafloor Spreading Plate Tectonics

Propounded Alfred Wegner in 1912 Harry Hess in 1960’s D.P. McKenzie, R.L Parker, W.C
by Morgan and X. Le Pichon in
1967-168
Theory Explains that continental land Explains that sea-floor is spreading i.e. the lt says that earth’s lithospheric
masses are moving oceanic plates are moving plates (both continental
and oceanic) are moving
horizontally
Forces of Gravity, tidal currents Convection current within the earth Convection current within the
movement earth

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