Physical Geography for UPSC IAS General Studies
Geomorphology
- Fluvial Depositional Landforms | Types of Deltas
- Glacial Landforms: Erosional and Depositional
- Marine Landforms and Cycle of Erosion | Coastlines
- Arid Landforms: Wind Eroded & Water Eroded
- Karst Landforms & Cycle of Erosion | Stalactite & Stalagmite
- Lake | Classification of Lakes (types of lakes)
- Important Lakes on Earth & Facts About Lakes
- Plateau Formation & Types of Plateaus | Major Plateaus of The World
- Direct & Indirect Sources for Understanding the Earth’s Interior
- Seismic waves, Shadow Zone of P-waves and S-waves
- Earth’s Layers: Crust, Mantle & Core, Seismic Discontinuities
- Earth’s Magnetic Field, Dynamo theory, Magnetosphere
- Geomagnetic Reversal, Magnetic Declination & Inclination (Dip)
- Endogenic Geomorphic Movements: Epeirogenic & Orogenic
- Exogenic Geomorphic Movements: Denudation & Weathering
- Continental Drift Theory: Evidences and Drawbacks, Tectonics
- Paleomagnetism, See Floor Spreading, Convectional Currents
- Plate Tectonics vs. Continental Drift and See Floor Spreading
- Tectonic Plates & their interactions, Indian Plate Movement
- Ocean-Ocean Convergence and Volcanic Island Arc Formation
- Continent-Ocean Convergence, Formation of Fold Mountains
- Continent-Continent Convergence, Formation of the Himalayas
- Divergent Boundary, The Great Rift Valley (African Rift Valley)
- Classification of Mountains on the basis of Location, Origin
- Fold & Fault in Geology, Fold Mountains and Block Mountains
- Major Mountain Ranges of the World, Highest Mountain Peaks
- Volcanism: Andesitic & Basaltic Lava, Distribution of Volcanoes
- Volcanic Landforms: Extrusive & Intrusive Volcanic Landforms
- Volcanism: Explosive, Strombolian, Vulcanian, Plinian, Pelean
- Hotspot Volcanism, Mantle plumes, Flood Basalt, Supervolcanoe
- Rocks: Igneous, Sedimentary & Metamorphic Rocks, Rock cycle
- Earthquakes: Causes & Distribution, Shallow & Deep Quakes
- Richter Magnitude Scale & Earthquakes of Varying Strengths
- Tsunami: Mechanism & Properties, 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
- Soil Erosion: Wind and Water Erosion, Rill and Gully erosion
- Fluvial Erosional Landforms: Meander, Oxbow Lake, Peneplain
- Drainage Patterns: Concordant, Discordant, Dendritic, Trellis
Climatology
- Latitudes & Longitudes | Standard Time
- Motions of the earth: Rotation and Revolution
- Atmosphere: Role, Structure & Composition
- Temperature Distribution on Earth & Heat Budget
- Adiabatic Lapse Rate | Latent Heat of Condensation
- Atmospheric Pressure Belts and Wind Systems
- Factors Affecting Wind movement | Coriolis Force
- Types of Winds: Permanent, Secondary & Local Winds
- Temperature Inversion: Types & Effects on Weather
- Geostrophic Wind, Jet Streams & Rossby Waves
- Major Jet Steams: Subtropical Jet Stream & Polar Jet Stream
- Air Mass | Air masses based on Source Regions
- Fronts | Types of Fronts: Stationary Front, Warm Front, Cold Front & Occluded Front
- Humidity: Relative Humidity & Dew point
- Condensation | Forms of Condensation: Dew, Fog, Frost, Mist | Types of Clouds
- Smog: Photochemical smog & Sulfurous smog
- Precipitation: Types of Precipitation | Types of Rainfall
- Thunderstorm | Thunder & Lightning | Tornado
- Tropical Cyclones: Favorable Conditions for Formation, Stages of Formation & Structure
- Storm Surge | Naming of Cyclones | Cyclones in Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal
- Temperate Cyclones (Mid Latitude Cyclone or Extra tropical cyclones or Frontal Cyclones)
- Comparison of Tropical Cyclones & Temperate Cyclones
- El Nino | ENSO | La Nina | El Nino Modoki | Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
- Polar Vortex & Ozone Hole (Ozone Depletion)
- Rainforest Climate (Tropical Evergreen Climate)
- Monsoon Climate | Monsoon Forests
- Savanna Climate (Tropical Wet Dry Climate)
- Desert Climate | Hot Deserts & Mid-Latitude Deserts
- Steppe Climate (Temperate Grassland Climate)
- Mediterranean Climate (Western Margin Climate)
- China Type Climate, Gulf Type Climate & Natal Type Climate
- British Type Climate (European Maritime Climate)
- Taiga Climate | Coniferous Forests & Lumbering
- Laurentian Climate | Fishing off Newfoundland & Japan
- Tundra Climate (Polar Climate or Arctic Climate)
Oceanography
- Major and Minor Ocean Relief Features
- Marginal seas of the world | Bay, Gulf, Strait, Isthmus
- Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean & Indian Ocean
- Ocean currents: Forces Responsible For Ocean Currents | Desert Formation and Ocean Currents
- Pacific Ocean Currents | Phytoplankton and Fishing
- Atlantic Ocean Currents | Sargasso Sea
- Indian Ocean Currents | Effect of Monsoons on North Indian Ocean Currents
- Vertical & Horizontal Temperature Distribution of Oceans
- Ocean Salinity: Vertical & Horizontal Distribution of Ocean Salinity
- Tides: Spring Tide & Neap Tide| Tidal Bulge | Tidal Bore
- Coral Reef: Fringing Reef, Barrier Reef & Atoll
- Coral Reef Bleaching and Ideal Conditions for Coral Growth
