51 Important Geographical Terms for UPSC

51 Most Important Geographical Terms for UPSC Preparation

Understanding is essential for UPSC preparation. This guide covers 51 important geographical terms that every aspirant should know. Mastering these concepts will help enhance your understanding of geography, which is crucial for both the Prelims and Mains exams.

1. Plate Tectonics: Theory explaining the movement of Earth’s lithospheric plates and its impact on mountain formation and earthquakes.

2. Continental Drift: A hypothesis by Alfred Wegener, stating that continents were once joined as Pangaea.

3. Subduction Zone: A region where one tectonic plate sinks beneath another, forming trenches and causing volcanic activity.

4. Seismic Waves: Energy waves generated during earthquakes, studied as P-waves, S-waves, and Surface waves.

5. Ring of Fire: A zone of high seismic activity around the Pacific Ocean, known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

6. Ocean Currents: Horizontal water movements like the Gulf Stream (warm) and Humboldt Current (cold), crucial for global climate regulation.

7. El Niño: A climate phenomenon causing the warming of Pacific waters, impacting global monsoon patterns, especially in India.

8. La Niña: Opposite of El Niño, marked by the cooling of Pacific waters, leading to increased monsoonal rains in India.

9. Trade Winds: Steady winds blowing from east to west between 30°N and 30°S latitudes, influencing Indian monsoons.

10. Westerlies: Winds blowing from west to east between 30° and 60° latitudes, affecting temperate weather.

11. Monsoon: Seasonal wind reversal impacting India’s rainfall, divided into the southwest and northeast monsoon.

12. Cyclones: Low-pressure systems, classified as tropical (e.g., Cyclone Fani) or temperate cyclones, causing heavy rainfall and strong winds.

13. Anticyclones: High-pressure systems with dry, clear weather, opposite to cyclones.

14. Orogeny: The process of mountain building through tectonic forces, e.g., the Himalayan orogeny.

15. Fold Mountains: Mountains formed by the folding of Earth’s crust, like the Himalayas and Alps.

16. Block Mountains: Formed by faulting, e.g., the Vindhya Range in India and the Sierra Nevada in the USA.

17. Volcanic Mountains: Created by volcanic activity, e.g., Mount Fuji and Mount Vesuvius.

 

18. Delta: A landform at a river’s mouth created by sediment deposition, like the Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta.

19. Estuary: A tidal mouth of a river, e.g., the Hooghly Estuary.

20. Strait: A narrow waterway connecting two larger water bodies, e.g., the Palk Strait between
India and Sri Lanka.

21. Isthmus: A narrow strip of land connecting two larger land masses, e.g., the Isthmus of Panama.

22. Lagoon: A shallow water body separated from the sea, e.g., Chilika Lake in Odisha.

23. Coral Reefs: Marine ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef, classified into fringing, barrier, and atoll reefs.

24. Atoll: A ring-shaped coral reef surrounding a lagoon, common in the Maldives.

25. Biosphere Reserve: Protected areas for biodiversity conservation, like the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

26. Watershed: A land area where all water drains into a single point, crucial for water conservation.

27. Aquifers: Underground water reservoirs, such as the Ganga-Brahmaputra Aquifer.

28. Erosion: The removal of soil or rock by wind, water, or glaciers.

29. Deposition: The process of depositing eroded material, forming features like deltas and alluvial fans.

30. Permafrost: Ground that remains frozen year-round, common in Arctic regions.

31. Fjord: A deep, glacially carved valley filled with seawater, found in Norway.

32. Karst Topography: Landscapes formed by the dissolution of limestone, e.g., the Karst Plateau in Slovenia.

33. Glacier: A large mass of ice moving under its own weight, e.g., Siachen Glacier.

34. Loess: Wind-deposited fine sediment, forming fertile plains, like in China.

35. Desertification: The degradation of land in arid regions due to overgrazing and deforestation.

36. Rain Shadow: A dry region on the leeward side of mountains, e.g., the Deccan Plateau.

37. Urban Heat Island: Urban areas experiencing higher temperatures due to human activities and reduced vegetation.

38. Insolation: Solar radiation received by Earth’s surface, affecting climate and vegetation.

39. Hydrological Cycle: The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

40. Soil Profile: Vertical layers of soil, including topsoil, subsoil, and bedrock.

41. Mangroves: Coastal vegetation adapted to saline water, e.g., the Sundarbans.

42. Lithosphere: The rigid outer layer of Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

43. Atmosphere: The gaseous layer surrounding Earth, divided into troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.

44. Hydrosphere: All water bodies on Earth, including oceans, rivers, and glaciers.

45. Biodiversity Hotspots: Regions with high species diversity under threat, e.g., the Western Ghats.

46. Greenhouse Effect: Warming of Earth due to greenhouse gases like CO₂ and methane trapping heat.

47. Global Warming: The rise in Earth’s average temperature due to human activities, leading to climate change.

48. Carbon Footprint: The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual or activity.

49. Resource Depletion: The exhaustion of natural resources like fossil fuels and groundwater due to overuse.

50. Sustainable Development: Development that meets current needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs.

51. Climate Change: Long-term changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, primarily due to human activities.

 

Tips for Using This Glossary in UPSC Preparation

1. Focus on Keywords: Use terms like “El Niño,” “Monsoon,” and “Delta” while writing UPSC answers.
2. Make Notes: Create crisp definitions with diagrams to reinforce understanding.
3. Relate to India: Use examples from Indian geography to make your answers impactful.