LANDFORMS OF WIND EROSION IN DESERTS
In the combined processes of abrasion, deflation and attrition, a wealth of characteristic desert landforms emerge. 1) Rock pedestals or mushroom rocks: The sand-blasting effect of winds against any projecting rock masses wear back the softer layer so that an…
THE MECHANISM OF ARID EROSION
Arid landforms are as a result of many combined factors, one reacting upon the other. Insufficient rainfall, often less than 127 mm (5 inches), coming at most irregular periods, coupled with very high temperatures (31°C/87°F, is the average) and a…
THE RISE OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
Man’s universal demand for food, clothing, shelter and other comforts of life has prompted the creation of many new things. Foods are preserved or canned to last longer. Modern homes have telephones, television sets, refrigerators, washing machines and other luxuries.…
TYPE OF DESERTS
About a fifth of the world’s land is made up of deserts, some rocky, others stony and the rest sandy. Deserts that are absolutely barren and where nothing grows at all are rare and they are better known as ‘true…
IRON AND STEEL
Nature, properties and uses Iron is the commonest, cheapest and most versatile of all metals. It is, in fact, the basis of the modern industrial complex, About 90 percent of the world’s iron ore is used in the making of…
ELECTRICITY
Of the power sources, electricity is the cheapest. It is not exhaustible like coal or petroleum but is renewable. The French have aptly described it as ‘white coal’. There are two different sources of electricity. That which is derived from…
PETROLEUM
Petroleum is mineral oil, organic in origin, and occurs in the pore spaces of sedimentary rocks. It is derived from the decomposition of marine or vegetative matter. It normally occurs in dome-shaped anticilines, between layers of non-porous rocks. The oil…
COAL
Coal, comprising mainly carbon of vegetative origin, is one of the oldest forms of power. It provided the basis for the Industrial Revolution. Its importance as both fuel and raw material was greatly enhanced with the invention of the steam…
INTRODUCTION TO MINING AND POWER
Minerals are natural, chemical substances which make up the rocks of the earth’s crust. They have certain physical and chemical properties that differentiate them from one another. There are well over 2 000 known minerals scattered very unevenly throughout the…
SOME VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS AND DISTRIBUTION OF VOLCANOES IN THE WORLD
In the history of mankind perhaps the most disastrous eruptions were those of Mt. Vesuvius, Mt. Krakatoa and Mt. Pelee. Mt. Vesuvius Mt. Vesuvius, standing 1200m (4000 feet) above the Bay of Naples, erupted violently on 24 August A.D.…
CORAL REEFS
In tropical seas many kinds of coral animals and marine organisms such as coral polyps, calcareous algae, shell-forming creatures and lime-secreting plants live in large colonies. Though they are very tiny creatures, their ability to secrete calcium carbonate within their…
THE FORMATION AND ORIGIN OF LAKES
Lakes are amongst the most varied features of the earth’s surface. They occupy the hollows of the land surface in which water accumulates. They vary tremendously in size, shape, depth and mode of formation. The tiny ones are no bigger…
ISLANDS
An island is a piece of land surrounded on all sides by water. It may occur individually or in a group, in open oceans or seas. Smaller ones of only local significance are found even in lakes and rivers. Generally…
LAKES AND MAN
A careful examination of the lakes of the world will reveal their immense human significance. In countries where they are found in abundance, such as Finland, Canada, U.S.A ., Sweden and the East African States, lakes, together with other inland…
FACTS ABOUT EARTHQUAKES
An earthquake is defined as a violent tremor in the earth’s crust which sends out a series of vibrating waves in all directions. Causes of Earthquakes Earthquakes occur as a result of disturbances or movements within and below the…
TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON ROCK (PART 1)
Define the term sedimentary rock and describe any two processes of its formation Sedimentary rocks are rocks formed from sediments deposited either by water, wind or ice. These sediments are formed in layers or strata, one on top of the…
LOCAL GEOGRAPHY
Local Geography involves the study of our immediate environment. In other words, it involves the study of both physical and socio-cultural aspects of the locality. The physical aspect includes mountains, lowlands, valleys, rivers, vegetation, climate, etc. The socio-cultural aspect includes…
DISCOVER A RANGE OF CAREERS IN GEOGRAPHY
Geography provides a broad and integrating background for careers requiring an understanding of peoples, places, and processes. An education in geography can range from the scientific and highly empirical to the humanistic and broadly interpretive. Geography prepares individuals for work…
THE RELEVANCE OF GEOGRAPHY FOR SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
Geography is both a natural science and social science; it forms an interdisciplinary bridge to be sure, individual geographers tend to emphasize different aspects of the spatial world. Some geographers focus in physical geography by devoting their study to such…
FIVE KEY THEMES THAT MAKE UP GEOGRAPHY
The Five Themes were developed by the National Council for Geographic Education to provide an organizing framework for the presentation of geographic materials. There are five main themes of geography: location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and region. Collectively, these five…
WHY GEOGRAPHY IS IMPORTANT?
1. Cultural awareness Inevitably, anything concerning Geography and the Environment will involve human behavior, and the extent to which this behavior differs in regards to the environment. By studying the geography of a country, you can start to understand why…
HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHY
The first recorded use of the word geography was by Eratosthenes, a Greek scholar who lived from 276–194 BC who is credited with creating the discipline of geography. Geography is thought to have originated with the ancient Greeks. It was the…
THE MEANING OF GEOGRAPHY
The word ‘geography’ originates from two greek words. The first is ‘geo’ which means ‘the earth’ and the second Greek word is “graph” which means ‘to write about the Earth ’ or graphy comes from ‘graphein’, which means “description”. Therefore, Geography…
Study Guide
