Daily Answer Writing

Model Answer

Plate tectonics explains how the Earth’s lithosphere is divided into massive slabs, called tectonic plates, that shift over time. These plates interact at various types of boundaries, which are categorized as convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries.

Convergent Boundaries

• Description: Convergent boundaries occur when two plates collide, leading to various geological events.
• Effects: The collision can cause the edges of the plates to buckle into mountain ranges or result in one plate sinking into the Earth’s mantle, forming a subduction zone. This often leads to the creation of volcanoes and deep ocean trenches. Earthquakes are also common in these areas.
• Examples: Convergence can happen between oceanic and continental plates (e.g., the Andes), two oceanic plates (e.g., the Marianas Trench), or two continental plates (e.g., the Himalayas).
• Crust Interaction: At these boundaries, oceanic crust is destroyed as it sinks into the mantle, while continental crust is created as magma rises and solidifies into granite.

Divergent Boundaries

• Description: Divergent boundaries are formed when two tectonic plates move away from each other, creating space for new crust to form.
• Effects: As plates separate, magma from the mantle rises and solidifies, forming new oceanic crust. Earthquakes are frequent in these regions as the plates move apart.
• Examples: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a prominent example of a divergent boundary where new crust is continuously generated.

Transform Boundaries

• Description: Transform boundaries occur when two plates slide past each other horizontally.
• Effects: As the plates grind along, the boundary is often marked by fault valleys or undersea canyons. This movement causes earthquakes, but unlike convergent or divergent boundaries, the crust is neither created nor destroyed here.
• Examples: The San Andreas Fault in California is a well-known transform boundary.

Conclusion

The movement of tectonic plates at these boundaries shapes much of the Earth’s surface, contributing to the formation of mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes. Each boundary type plays a distinct role in the planet’s dynamic geological processes.

Model Answer

Coal is a vital and abundant fossil fuel in India, comprising more than 50% of the nation’s energy requirements. India’s coal reserves are primarily divided into two categories: Gondwana and Tertiary coal fields.

Gondwana Coal Fields

• Overview: The Gondwana coal fields are the most significant in India, accounting for about 98% of the nation’s coal reserves and nearly 99% of its coal production. These coal fields, approximately 250 million years old, are primarily located in the peninsular region.
• Major Coal-Producing States:
  • Jharkhand: Holds over 28% of the coal reserves and contributes more than 20% of the country’s coal production. Key coalfields include Jharia, Bokaro, and Rajmahal.
  • Odisha: With 24.64% of coal reserves, Odisha is the second-largest state in terms of reserves and the third-largest producer, contributing about 19% of India’s coal output. The Talcher coalfields are significant.
  • Chhattisgarh: Contains 16% of India’s coal reserves and produces over 21% of the coal. Prominent coalfields include Korba and Tatapani.
  • West Bengal: Holds 11% of the reserves but produces just over 4%. The Raniganj coalfield is the largest in the state.
  • Madhya Pradesh: Contributes about 13% of India’s coal production with 8% of the reserves. Major coalfields include Singrauli and Jhingurda.
  • Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: These states hold 7% of the reserves and produce around 10% of the coal. The Godavari Valley coalfields are central to their coal production.
  • Maharashtra: Although only possessing 3% of the reserves, Maharashtra produces over 7% of India’s coal, with Kamptee coalfields being significant.

Tertiary Coal Fields

• Overview: The Tertiary coal fields, which are younger (15 to 60 million years old), contribute only about 1% to the nation’s total coal production.
• Locations: These coalfields are found in states like Assam (Makum, Nazira), Meghalaya (Garo, Khasi, Jaintia hills), Arunachal Pradesh (Namchick-Namrup), Jammu and Kashmir (Udhampur, Kalakot), and Himachal Pradesh (Chamba district).

Lignite Coal

• Overview: Lignite, a form of coal with lower carbon content, has seen increased production in India. Tamil Nadu is the major producer, with the Neyveli coalfields accounting for 90% of the nation’s lignite reserves.
• Other States: Lignite deposits are also found in Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Puducherry.

Conclusion

India’s coal resources are heavily concentrated in the Gondwana coal fields, especially in states like Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, which are key contributors to the country’s energy needs.

Model Answer

Global atmospheric circulation is the large-scale movement of air across the planet, driven by the uneven heating of Earth’s surface and influenced by Earth’s rotation, pressure belts, and the distribution of land and sea. This system is vital in regulating climate and weather patterns.

Key Drivers of Circulation

1. Latitudinal Temperature Gradient
   • Warm air rises at the equator due to intense solar heating. Cooler air sinks at the poles, creating a temperature-driven circulation.
2. Pressure Belts
   • Rising air at the equator forms low-pressure zones and rainfall, while sinking air at 30° north and south creates high-pressure zones and arid conditions.
3. Earth’s Rotation (Coriolis Effect)
   • This deflects moving air to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, shaping wind patterns.
4. Continental and Oceanic Distribution
   • Land and water absorb and release heat differently, affecting air circulation.
5. Migration with the Sun’s Path
   • Pressure belts shift with the Sun’s apparent movement, influencing seasonal wind patterns.

The Three Major Circulation Cells

1. Hadley Cell
   • Air rises at the equator, travels poleward, and sinks at 30° latitude. Surface winds return as easterly trade winds due to deflection.
2. Ferrel Cell
   • Found between Hadley and Polar cells, this cell is driven by storm activity in mid-latitudes, creating westerly surface winds.
3. Polar Cell
   • Cold air sinks at the poles, flows equatorward, and rises around 60-70° latitude, creating easterly winds.

Impact on Climate

• These cells determine global wind patterns, rainfall, and temperature. They also drive ocean currents, creating feedback loops that influence weather systems globally.

Model Answer

The sugar industry in India is a significant agro-based sector impacting the livelihood of approximately 50 million farmers and 5 lakh mill workers. India, the second-largest sugar producer globally after Brazil, has 732 sugar factories as of 2017, generating an annual output worth ₹80,000 crores.

• Northern India:
  • Uttar Pradesh: The Ganga-Yamuna doab and Tarai regions dominate sugarcane production.
  • Punjab and Haryana: Sugar mills operate near major agricultural belts.
  • Bihar and Madhya Pradesh: Smaller contributions to sugar output.
• Southern India:
  • Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore, Vellore, and Tiruchchirappalli districts are prominent.
  • Karnataka: Belagavi, Ballari, and Mandya districts lead production.
  • Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Coastal districts such as East and West Godavari and Nizamabad are key producers.
• Western and Other Regions:
  • Maharashtra: A major producer, with sugar factories well-integrated with cane cultivation.
  • Gujarat: A relatively new entrant to the industry.

Reasons for the Shift from Northern to Southern India

The sugar industry has gradually shifted southward due to the following factors:

1. Tropical Climate:
   • Southern India’s tropical conditions allow for higher yield and better-quality sugarcane with higher sucrose content compared to the subtropical north.
2. Longer Crushing Seasons:
   • The south benefits from a 7-8 month crushing season (October–May), unlike the north, which has a shorter 4-month period (November–February).
3. Crop Quality and Efficiency:
   • Southern sugar mills are newer, better equipped with modern machinery, and managed more efficiently under cooperative models.

These advantages, coupled with surplus production and government initiatives, have positioned Southern India as the emerging hub of sugar production.

Model Answer

Biome is a geographical region characterized by distinct plant and animal communities. The defining factors of biomes include climate conditions such as rainfall, temperature, humidity, and soil type, which influence the types of species that can thrive in these environments.

Biomes of the World

1. Aquatic Biomes
   • Freshwater biomes include lakes, rivers, and ponds with less than 1% salt content.
   • Marine biomes cover 75% of Earth’s surface, including oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries, which are vital for marine biodiversity.
2. Grasslands
   • Dominated by grasses and found in regions with warm, dry climates.
   • Tropical grasslands (Savannas) are near the equator and have scattered trees.
   • Temperate grasslands are further from the equator, with few trees and less rainfall, examples include prairies and steppes.
3. Forests
   • Tropical forests are warm and humid, near the equator, rich in biodiversity.
   • Temperate forests experience four seasons and are found at higher latitudes.
   • Boreal forests (Taiga) are cold, with long winters and are located in high latitudes, mainly in northern parts of the globe.
4. Deserts
   • Dry regions with less than 50 cm of rainfall annually. Deserts cover about 20% of Earth’s surface and host specially adapted wildlife like reptiles and small mammals.
   • They are categorized into hot and dry, semiarid, coastal, and cold deserts.
5. Altitudinal Biomes
   • Arctic and alpine biomes have harsh conditions, with temperatures ranging from -34 to 12°C and minimal precipitation.
   • Vegetation is limited to shrubs, mosses, and lichens due to poor soil quality and permafrost, which inhibits plant growth.

These biomes are shaped by climate, influencing biodiversity and adaptation strategies of the species within them.