APPSC Paper I · Study notes

Physical and world geography notes for APPSC Paper I

60 notes in 7 chapters. Open a chapter, or go straight to a note.

4.1.1 Universe, solar system and the Earth 8

4.1.1.1Origin of the universe: Big Bang and the expanding universe
4.1.1.2Stars and galaxies: life cycle of a star and the Milky Way
4.1.1.3The Sun and the eight planets: key features compared
4.1.1.4Dwarf planets, asteroids, comets and meteors
4.1.1.5The Moon: phases, tides link and solar and lunar eclipses
4.1.1.6Earth's rotation and revolution: day and night, seasons, solstices and equinoxes
4.1.1.7Latitudes and longitudes: important parallels and heat zones
4.1.1.8Longitude and time: local time, standard time, IST and the International Date Line

4.1.2 Interior of the Earth and plate tectonics 9

4.1.2.1Interior of the Earth: crust, mantle, core and discontinuities
4.1.2.2Seismic waves: P, S and surface waves and shadow zones
4.1.2.3Continental drift theory: Wegener's evidence and its limits
4.1.2.4Sea-floor spreading and palaeomagnetism
4.1.2.5Plate tectonics: major plates and divergent, convergent and transform boundaries
4.1.2.6Earthquakes: focus, epicentre, magnitude and intensity scales and world belts
4.1.2.7Tsunamis: how they form and early warning systems
4.1.2.8Volcanoes: types, volcanic landforms and the Pacific Ring of Fire
4.1.2.9Diastrophism: folding, faulting and mountain building

4.1.3 Rocks and geomorphology 10

4.1.3.1Minerals and rocks: common minerals and the rock cycle
4.1.3.2Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks compared
4.1.3.3Geomorphic processes: endogenic and exogenic forces, weathering and mass wasting
4.1.3.4Fluvial landforms: V-shaped valleys to meanders, ox-bow lakes and deltas
4.1.3.5Glacial landforms: cirques, aretes, U-shaped valleys, moraines and drumlins
4.1.3.6Aeolian landforms: deflation hollows, mushroom rocks, dunes and loess
4.1.3.7Coastal landforms: cliffs, sea caves, spits, bars and lagoons; emergent and submergent coasts
4.1.3.8Karst landforms: sinkholes, caves, stalactites and stalagmites
4.1.3.9Mountains, plateaus and plains: types with world examples
4.1.3.10Cycle of erosion: Davis and Penck models

4.1.4 Atmosphere, temperature, pressure and winds 9

4.1.4.1Composition of the atmosphere: gases, water vapour and aerosols
4.1.4.2Structure of the atmosphere: troposphere to exosphere and the ionosphere
4.1.4.3Insolation: factors controlling its distribution
4.1.4.4Heat budget of the Earth: conduction, convection, radiation and albedo
4.1.4.5Distribution of temperature: isotherms, annual range and temperature inversion
4.1.4.6Pressure belts of the world and their seasonal shifting
4.1.4.7Planetary winds: Coriolis force, trades, westerlies, polar easterlies and the three-cell model
4.1.4.8Periodic and local winds: monsoons, land and sea breezes, Foehn, Chinook, Loo and others
4.1.4.9Jet streams: subtropical and polar front jets and their effects

4.1.5 Weather systems and world climates 10

4.1.5.1Humidity and condensation: dew, frost, fog and types of clouds
4.1.5.2Precipitation: convectional, orographic and cyclonic rainfall and world distribution
4.1.5.3Air masses and fronts: types and associated weather
4.1.5.4Tropical cyclones: formation, structure, naming and regional names
4.1.5.5Temperate cyclones and anticyclones
4.1.5.6Thunderstorms and tornadoes
4.1.5.7El Niño, La Niña, ENSO and the Indian Ocean Dipole
4.1.5.8Köppen climate classification: scheme and symbols
4.1.5.9Tropical climates of the world: equatorial, savanna, monsoon and hot desert
4.1.5.10Temperate and cold climates: Mediterranean, China type, west European, taiga and tundra

4.1.6 Oceanography 9

4.1.6.1Ocean floor relief: continental shelf, slope, abyssal plains, ridges and trenches
4.1.6.2Relief of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans: major ridges, trenches and deeps
4.1.6.3Temperature of ocean water: distribution and the thermocline
4.1.6.4Salinity of oceans and seas: controlling factors and distribution
4.1.6.5Ocean currents: causes and warm and cold currents
4.1.6.6Major currents of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and their effects
4.1.6.7Waves and tides: spring and neap tides, tidal bores and tidal energy
4.1.6.8Coral reefs: conditions, fringing, barrier and atoll types and coral bleaching
4.1.6.9Ocean resources and the Law of the Sea: UNCLOS, territorial waters and EEZ

4.1.7 Biogeography and soils of the world 5

4.1.7.1Soil formation: factors, processes and the soil profile
4.1.7.2Major soil types of the world and their distribution
4.1.7.3World forests: equatorial, monsoon, Mediterranean, temperate and coniferous
4.1.7.4World grasslands: savanna, prairie, steppe, pampas, veld and downs
4.1.7.5Deserts of the world: hot and cold deserts and polar regions

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