Globographics

Land surfaces are also sculpted into a wide diversity of shapes through Erosion and Deposition by the actions of water, wind, waves, ice, etc

1. Fluvial Landforms

1.1 Major and Minor Plates of the World

Major Plates V shaped/ U shaped valleyPotholes and Plunge PoolsRapids & CataractTerracesRills and GulliesDrainage Basin

Pacific Plate

Pacific Plate: Mostly oceanic, it underlies the Pacific Ocean.

Formation

River capture happens when one river, typically a stronger or faster-flowing one, erodes its way into the drainage basin of a neighboring river, diverting the water from the weaker river and essentially “capturing” its flow, often through a process called headward erosion where the capturing river extends its channel upstream towards the other river’s headwaters, eventually diverting the water into its own course.

Introduction

V-shaped valley is a narrow valley with steeply sloped side. When the valley floor flattens out, Forming U shape its called a U- Shaped Valley

Formation

A V-shaped valley is formed by the erosive action of a river, where the flowing water cuts deep into the land, creating steep sides that meet at a point. As the cycle attains maturity, the lateral erosion (makes river wider) becomes prominent and the valley floor flattens out, Forming U shape

What is a Gorge ? Canyon?

A “gorge” is a smaller, narrower version of a V-shaped valley with steep sides, while a “canyon” is a much larger, deeper V-shaped valley

Introduction

While potholes are smaller, circular depressions in a riverbed plunge pools are large, deep depressions at the base of a waterfall 

Formation

Concentrated force of falling water carrying pebbles grind against the rock surface create these depressions

Introduction

Rapids and cataracts are both features of rivers that involve fast-moving water and obstacles. They are essentially circular movement of water. Cataracts are steeper rapids

Formation

Due to the unequal resistance of hard and soft rocks traversed by a river, the outcrop of a band of hard rock may cause a river to ‘jump’ or ‘fall’ down stream in a circular motion. 

Introduction

Stepped benches along the river course in flood plains

Formation

River terraces are basically products of erosion as they result due to vertical erosion by the stream into its own depositional floodplain.

Introduction

Slow movement of water creates small channels called rills which become larger to form gullies

Formation

They are typically formed in arid areas. Arid environments often have limited vegetation cover, leaving the soil exposed and more vulnerable to erosion by water runoff. As rills develop, they can channel more water into a smaller area, deepening and widening the channel, eventually forming a gully. 

Introduction

Streams and rivers and the land surface, all are included in the drainage basin. The drainage basin collects all the water within the basin and directs it to a single point. That is why it is also referred to as a funnel

Formation

A drainage basin forms as water, whether from precipitation or springs, flows downhill, creating streams and rivers that converge into a larger water body, like a river, lake, or ocean. 

Types of Drainage Patterns

1) Based on weather Relating to Topography or Not

Concordant

A drainage pattern is described as concordant if it correlates to the topology and geology of the area. The Rivers which follow the general direction of slope are known as the consequent rivers. It is of 4 types based on which Streams have developed first and later 

Subsequent Steam

Reconsequent Stream

Obsequent Stream

Discordant

A drainage pattern is described as discordant if it does not correlate to the topology [surface relief features] and geology [geological features based on both Endogenetic movements and exogenetic movements] of the area. In simple words: In a discordant drainage pattern, the river follows its initial path irrespective of the changes in topography.

It is of Two Types :

Antecedent : An antecedent stream is one whose path of flow within a valley was established before the mountainous structure was uplifted Hence this stream antecedates in  the Process of cutting through the uplifted portion (by river), and maintains its original slope

Super Imposed : Superimposed streams is one whose valley and direction of flow were developed much later than the underlying structure, and the river possessed sufficient stream power to cut through these underlying structures to maintains its shape

Superimposed Stream

A river flowing in a set path superimposes itself on the structure
without change in its set path

Antecedent Stream

A River Flowing in its designated path will keep on following that
path irrespective of Mountain structure being uplifted

2) Based on shape of main river and subsequent Stream

Concordant

A drainage pattern is described as concordant if it correlates to the topology and geology of the area. The Rivers which follow the general direction of slope are known as the consequent rivers. It is of 4 types based on which Streams have developed first and later 

Discordant

A drainage pattern is described as discordant if it does not correlate to the topology [surface relief features] and geology [geological features based on both Endogenetic movements and exogenetic movements] of the area. In simple words: In a discordant drainage pattern, the river follows its initial path irrespective of the changes in topography.

It is of Two Types :

Antecedent : An antecedent stream is one whose path of flow within a valley was established before the mountainous structure was uplifted Hence this stream antecedates in  the Process of cutting through the uplifted portion (by river), and maintains its original slope

Super Imposed : Superimposed streams is one whose valley and direction of flow were developed much later than the underlying structure, and the river possessed sufficient stream power to cut through these underlying structures to maintains its shape

Plates of the World

The Earth’s lithosphere is divided into seven major tectonic plates: the Pacific, North American, Eurasian, African, Antarctic, Indo-Australian, and South American plates. These plates move and interact, causing various geological phenomena. 

Major Tectonic Plates:

• North American Plate: Includes North America and parts of the Atlantic Ocean.
• Eurasian Plate: Comprises Europe and Asia.
• African Plate: Contains Africa and the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
• Antarctic Plate: Located around Antarctica and its surrounding oceanic crust.
• Indo-Australian Plate: Includes India, Australia, and the surrounding oceanic crust.
• South American Plate: Covers South America and parts of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Minor Tectonic Plates:

Beyond the major plates, there are also several minor plates, including: 

• Arabian Plate: Primarily the Saudi Arabian landmass.
• Caribbean Plate: Located in the Caribbean region.
• Cocos Plate: Situated between Central America and the Pacific Plate.
• Nazca Plate: Found between South America and the Pacific Plate.
• Philippine Plate: Located between the Asiatic and Pacific Plates.
• Scotia Plate: Located near the southern tip of South America.
• Juan de Fuca Plate: A small plate off the coast of the Pacific Northwest.