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Monday, 22 December 2014

Some Geographical Facts

Earthquakes:

• Tremors or vibrations of earth’s surface produced by internal forces.

• The point of origin of earthquake is called Seismic focus.

• The point on the earth’s surface vertically above the earth’s surface is called Epicentre.

• The passage of earthquake waves is recorded by Seismograph.

• The magnitude of waves is measured on Richter’s scale. For measurement of the intensity of the earthquake (damage caused), the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale is used.

Types of Waves Earthquakes:

• Primary Waves (P-Waves): Travel from the point of happening by the displacement of surrounding particles.

They are transmitted through solids, liquids and gases. Travels fastest.

• Secondary Waves (S-Waves):Travels through solids only. Thus they cannot pass through core.

• Surface Waves or Long Waves (L-Waves): Travels on earth’s surface and causes maximum destruction. They are recorded after the P and S waves.

Distribution of Earthquakes:

• Around the Pacific Ocean along a belt of volcanoes known as the Ring of Fire. 68 per cent of the volcanoes are experienced in this region.

• From the middle of Asia (Himalayas, Caspian Sea) through the Mediterranean Sea to West Indies. 21 per cent earthquakes are experienced in the region.

• Mid-Atlantic ridge belt which accounts for 11 per cent of the earthquakes

Earth Volcanoes:

• A volcano is a vent or opening usually circular in form through which heated materials consisting of gases, water, liquid lava and fragments of rocks are ejected from the highly heated interiors to the surface of the earth.

Classification of Volcanoes:

• Active Volcano: Volcano which erupt periodically. E.g. Maona Loa in Hawaii, Etna in Sicily, Vesuvius in Italy, Stromboli in Mediterranean Sea, etc.

• Dormant Volcano: Volcano which has been quiescent for a long time but in which there is a possibility of eruption. E.g. Fujiyama in Japan, Krakatoa in Indonesia, Barren island Volcano in Andamans, etc.

Distribution of Volcanoes in the World

• About 15% of world’s active volcanoes are found along the ‘constructive or divergent’ plate margins, whereas 80% volcanoes are associated with the ‘destructive or convergent’ plate boundaries.

Earth Mountains:

A mountain is a large landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area, usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill. Mountains are formed through tectonic forces or volcanism. These forces can locally raise the surface of the earth.

Types of Mountains:

• Fold Mountains of the World: They are formed when the rocks of the crust of the earth folded under stress, mainly by forces of compression (as a result of series of earthquakes). E.g. – All big mountain systems: Himalayas, Alps, Andes, Rockies, Atlas, etc.

Old Mountains

• They belong to pre-drift era, then subjected to denudation and uplift; many faults were formed; occur as relict mountains today. E.g. Pennines (Europe), Appalachians (US), Aravallis (India).

• Relict Mountains: Sometimes, the mountains are carved out as a result of erosion of plateaus & high planes by various agents of erosion. E.g., Highlands of Scotland, Sierras of Spain, Catskill mountains of New York and Nilgiri, Parasnath, Girnar, Rajmahal of India.

Major Mountain Ranges of the World (in metres)

• Andes - South America - 6,960

• Himalayas - Karakoram-Hindukush - South Central Asia - 8,850