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.