Physical Geography

Work of Sea Sea Coast: The land and sea meeting place is called the “coast”. Sea coasts may have many kinds of shapes. The chief types of sea coasts are (i) steep rocky cliffs, (ii) broad low beaches, (iii) small bays alternating with rocky headlands, and (iv) sandy tidal flats. Shorelines: A “shoreline” is the line along which the water meets the land. Shorelines are classified into three groups: (i) […]

A glacier is a thick mass of ice, which moves over the ground under the influence of gravity. It originates on land from the compaction and recrystallization of snow. Glaciers form in places where more snow accumulates each year than that melts away. They are found chiefly in high attitudes as in the Arctic regions, or at high elevations as on the Himalayan mountains above the snow-line. The snow line […]

To understand the concept of the cycle of landscape evolution, let us start with a relatively flat upland area in a humid region. During the youth stage, the area remains more or less flat. The stream valleys are generally narrow. In the mature stage, the land’s relief increases, and the landscape changes into one consisting of hills and valleys. The “relief” of an area may be defined as the maximum […]

A large portion of the rainwater is absorbed by the earth’s surface. Streams are created when excess water from rain, snowmelt, or near-surface groundwater accumulates on the ground surface and begins to run downhill. This excess water from rain or snowmelt generally occurs when the water accumulates at a faster rate than the soil and organic matter can absorb the water, plants can use it, or the water can be […]

A stream in geology refers to a body of water that flows on the Earth’s surface, typically in a channel with defined banks. A water channel is known to be a stream if it has the following features; Flow: Streams have a continuous flow of water, usually moving downhill due to gravity. Size: They can range from small creeks to large rivers. Channel: Streams flow in a defined path called […]

A glacier is a thick mass of ice, which moves over the ground under the influence of gravity. It originates on land from compaction and recrystallization of snow. Glaciers form in places in places where more snow accumulates each year than that melts away. They are found chiefly in high latitudes as in Arctic regions or in high altitudes as on high mountains like Andes, Rockies, Eurapean Alps, Alaska’s Brooke […]

The present status of geomorphology is the result of the gradual, but successive evolution of geomorphological thoughts postulated in different periods by innumerable philosophers, experts and geoscientists in the subject and outside the subject. Thus, the developmental phases of geomorphology indicate its dynamic nature. After taking its birth in the philosophical ideas of the ancient Romans and Greeks the subject has blossomed through the geomorphological methodological nutrients of the 18th […]

What is Geomorphology? Geomorphology is a branch of Geography, which is similar to the subject of Geology. It deals with the study, origins, development and classification of the landforms. It also discusses the processes impacting on the landforms. These processes shape the Earth’s surface, such as weathering, erosion, tectonic activities and volcanism. Geomorphologists investigate the topography of the Earth and seek to understand the forces and factors that contribute to […]

A natural drainage system refers to the network of flowing water. We can find flowing water in the form of rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater.  This network of natural features manages the flow of water across the landscape. These systems are essential for transporting water from higher elevations to lower elevations, regulating the water cycle, replenishing groundwater supplies, supporting ecosystems, and preventing flooding. Here’s a breakdown of the components […]

Longitudinal Profile The plot of the relative elevation of a stream bed from headwaters to mouth is called its “longitudinal profile”. In other words, the longitudinal profiles are plots of the elevation vs distance from the stream mouth to the upper reaches within the watershed basin. The longitudinal profile of a stream is generally concave upward, which is in accordance with the steady downstream decrease in slope. They help to […]