Learn Geography

  FOREST FIRES:   Vulnerability: 54.40% of forests in India are exposed to occasional fires North-Eastern India and Central India along with some patches in Western ghats, Uttarakhand etc. Causes: Natural :  Lightening  Volcanic eruptions Dry leaves litters Swaying of Bamboos Rolling stones Heat waves and high temperatures. Anthropogenic causes:  Shifting cultivation  Invasive species brought into forest as plantations, increasing vulnerability.        Eg Chir pine in Uttarakhand.  Deliberate fires  Camp fires and irresponsible tourism in forest Burning farm residues Forest Fire Management: Preventing Moisture retention measures – landscape management, artificial water sources inside forest.  Forest fire prone zone identification and mapping. Effective forest floor biomass management – controlled burning Firelines Weed management. Preparedness Vulnerability assessment Early Fire detection and response. Digitisation of fore...

  LANDSLIDE Process involving the downward movement of a part of the slope forming material due to the action of gravity. 15% of land area prone to landslides and avalanches Prone areas – Himalayas, Northeastern India and Meghalaya Plateau, Western Ghats and Nilgiris CAUSES: Tectonic- Triggered by earthquakes. Slope failure Soil piping Soil erosion Avalanches and GLOF events cause landslide High intensity Rains- Cloudburst, Vagaries of Monsoon. Anthropogenic factors Mining and tunneling in hilly areas. Deforestation and land use change patterns Mismanagement of river embankments Illegal construction on slopes Improper management of slope                                                           ...

  Water availability Based on survival habits of plants they are classified as :   Xerophytes that can survive drought like conditions. Eg Cacti, Pineapple Phreatophytes develop deep roots to improve the water attaining ability. Some trees like acacia do have water storing capacity Eg Welwitschia, mesquite, alfalfa Succulents are plants with a shallow root system but perform maximum absorption and storing of waters especially in dry areas.  Eg Aloe Vera, Crown of Thorns, Flaming Katy,  Jade Plant   Sclerophyllous plants tolerate seasonal drought conditions without shedding leaves. Eg Scrub oak, Olive, Eucalyptus Halophytes are salt resistant varieties that can survive in waterlogged conditions Eg Avicenna species, sea lavender, rice grass etc Hydrophytes adapt to excess water conditions like rivers Lakes etc Eg Lotus, Water Lilly, Hydrilla, Valisineria, etc Mesophytes are plants adapted to balanced conditions Join the Geography telegram channel for latest upda...

  Austral Realm/ Notogean Realm    Evolution ; Biogeographical evolution is characterized by continental drifting and Orogenic changes  Drifting : Australia was having Mediterranean and temperate deciduous vegetation. As it started drifting by breaking away from Antarctica in the early Cenozoic period, it came under the influence of cold West wind drift current, increasing the aridity of Australia. Orogeny : As it drifted further to the north and reached the sub-tropics, the orogeny of Great Dividing range started and its rain shadow effect converted a large part of Australia into desert from the temperate forest and Mediterranean vegetation . The Xerophytic vegetation and arid climatic conditions restricted the growth of Mammal families in Australia. Most of the mammals in Australia are believed to have come from outside via the Island bridges and settled there, undergone speciation, to attain the present form. All major mammals including Monotremes like Duck ...