Geography of India.
This is my presentation on The Geography of India.
MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Geographical location
India lies on the Indian Plate, the northern portion of the Indo-Australian Plate, whose continental crust forms the Indian subcontinent. The country is situated north of the equator. On the south, India projects into and is bounded by the Indian Ocean –- in particular, by the Arabian Sea on the southwest, the Laccadive Sea to the south, and the Bay of Bengal on the southeast. The Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar separate India from Sri Lanka to its immediate southeast, and the Maldives are some 400 kilometres (250 mi) to the southwest.
So what is Ecology?
Ecology is the branch of biology that deals with the interactions and relations of an organism with its environment. All the surroundings together make up the environment.
An environments has biotic components: trees, flowers, animals and has abiotic components: water, soil etc. An organism is affected by both abiotic components and influence of biotic components.
Photo by Peter R Steward
Ecology of India.
India has many villages and is often called the land of villages. A lot of people belong to rural parts of India. Some villages have a big population while some are sparsely populated. The physical structure or the way a rural society is formed decides the sociology of that rural area. This is because this structure helps us understand their pattern of settlement, like the way the noises are built, how far apart each house is, it's population etc. Each village has different features and they are based on a lot of environmental and ecological surroundings.
Photo by Nick Kenrick..
A national seminar on ‘Ecology in India: Retrospect and Prospect’ was organized by the Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University on 12–13 March 1999. Eminent scholars who have actively contributed to different aspects of ecology were invited to this seminar to review the progress of the subject in India and to outline the future directions required. Major issues discussed in the seminar were: (i) structure, functioning and management of major ecosystems such as forest, grassland, savanna, agro-ecosystem, wastelands, river, and lakes; (ii) sustainability of natural resources; (iii) conservation and monitoring of biological diversity, damaged eco-systems; (iv) ecology of noxious weeds; (v) causes and consequences of global change; (vi) socio-economic issues in
Photo by A.Davey
Environmental management; etc. Both oral and poster presentations were made.
The seminar was inaugurated by Y. C. Simhadri, Vice-Chancellor, Banaras Hindu University, who emphasized the role of higher education to promote sustainable development and environmental protection. Simhadri also highlighted the fact that environmental education at the university level is necessary for students to apply ecological principles to analyse environmental issues. While dedicating the seminar to the memory of late Ramdeo Misra, J. S. Singh highlighted contributions of Misra who laid the foundations of ecology and environmental science in the country. He was aptly called ‘Father of Indian Ecology’ by the ecologists world over. Misra breathed his last on 25 June 1998 in New Delhi.
Over the years, the Himalayan lakes have been subjected to considerable ecological stress by way of intense landuse, urbanization and poor management of watershed. As a consequence, the lakes are undergoing undesirable changes such as shrinkage of water area, reduction in depth and water volume, siltation, deterioration of water quality, accelerated eutrophication, decline in biodiversity and loss of recreational amenities. D. P. Zutshi, in his overview on ecology and management of Himalayan lakes, examined the present ecological state of some important Himalayan lakes and evaluated various approaches being used for their conservation and management.
Photo by Many Moon Honeymoon
Globally, about 10 million square km area consists of hyper arid or true desert region. An overview of desertification in semi-arid and arid regions of western India was presented by A. N. Pandey. It was reported that consistent depletion of clay particles and macroaggregates of soil results in disorganization of soil structure during the course of desertification. Simultaneous loss of organic substances with deterioration of ecosystem reinforces the disorganization of soil structure. The persistent decrease in N and P and an increase in Na, K, Ca and Mg during the course of desertification results in an entirely different proportion of soil nutrients than that at the reference forest ecosystem. Soil salinity increases with deterioration of ecosystem. Pandey emphasized that vegetal cover is
Photo by clara & james
necessary to check the loss of clay minerals and organic substances through soil erosion which, in turn, will maintain soil structure and prevent desertification. It was felt that there is an urgent need to study and monitor soil processes in order to check further deterioration of soils in fragile desert ecosystems.soil erosion which, in turn, will maintain soil structure and prevent desertification. It was felt that there is an urgent need to study and monitor soil processes in order to check further deterioration of soils in fragile desert ecosystems.
Photo by quapan
Varied types of forests are found in the Indian subcontinent. Primarily, there are 6 major groups, namely, Moist Tropical, Dry Tropical, Montane Sub Tropical, Montane Temperate, Sub Alpine, and Alpine, further subdivided into 16 major types of forests.
Photo by Kumaravel
The following are the principal types of natural vegetation in India: (1) Tropical Evergreen Rain Forests, (2) Deciduous or Monsoon Type of Forests, (3) Dry Deciduous Forests and Scrubs, (4) Semi Desert and Desert Vegetation, (5) Tidal or Mangrove Forests and (6) Mountain Forests.
Photo by CaptPiper
Deforestation started with the growth of agriculture, but was exacerbated in the nineteenth century when British commercial forestry operations destroyed Indian forests mainly in western and southern India. Several causes also supported deforestation, including colonization, agricultural expansion, firewood collection, timber harvesting and extension of cultivation on slopes.Due to the colonization from all over the country trees are cut down as a primary source of fuel .These trees are used for cooking food and other daily needs which require fuel. The effects are that it caused extinction of some animals and endangered others.
Photo by Konabish ~ Greg Bishop
Climate of India.
The Indian climate is a cycle of six seasons. There are areas where the distinction of the seasons is felt, but in most areas the six seasons overlap. The Indian seasons in the Christian calendar are:
Spring: Mid-Feb to April; Summer: May and June; Monsoon: July to September
Autumn: Sept to Mid-November; Pre-winter: Mid-Nov to December; Winter: Mid-December to Mid-February
Photo by ganzoman
It is quite possible to tour India the year round, avoiding blistering heat and the monsoons, provided we choose the area. While it is roasting in the South, it would be mild in the north and the Himalayan peaks will be covered with snow most of the year. The plains of India are at their freshest in the winter.
Photo by pantranco_bus
The whole of India has a tropical monsoonal climate, since the greater part of the country lies within the trophies, and the climate is influenced by the monsoons.
The position of the mountain ranges like the Himalayas, direction of the rain-bearing winds and deserts like the Thar are the three main factors that determine the climate of India
Alternating seasons is the chief characteristic of India's Climate.
Photo by gomattolson
India has 'Tropical Monsoon' type of climate. The word monsoon has been derived from the Arabic word 'Mausim' which means seasonal reversal of the winds during the course of the year.
Photo by khowaga1
Natural Resources in India
India is endowed with different types of natural Resources such as fertile soil, forests, minerals and water. These resources are unevenly distributed. The various types of different Natural Resources of India are discussed in the next few slides:
Photo by @Doug88888
1.Fisheries:
Fish production has been showing increasing trend. India is one of the leading fish producer.
Photo by juliamaudlin
2. Mineral Resource:
India is quite rich in some minerals like iron, coal, mineral oil, manganese, bauxite, chromites, copper, tungsten, gypsum, limestone, mica and so on.
A number of organizations like Geological Survey of India, Indian Bureau of Mines, etc. are engaged in the exploration and development of mineral resource in India.
Photo by Hypocentre
3. Soil Resource:
India has a large proportion of well watered fertile lands. In the alluvial soil of the Northern Great Plains of the Sutlej-Ganga plains and Brahmaputra Valley wheat, rice, maize etc.
In the black soil of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat cotton and sugarcane are grown.
The improper use of soil destroys its composition, texture and structure unscientific irrigation makes soil alkaline and unsuitable for cultivation. The proper management of soil is important for soil conservation in India.
Photo by Crystl
4. Horticulture
Diverse agro-climatic (relationship between crop adaptation and climate) conditions in India facilitate cultivation of a large number of horticulture crops such as vegetables, fruits, flower, medicinal and aromatic plant, mushroom, etc. and plantation crops (monoculture crops grown in a large scale) like tea, coffee and rubber.
They provide opportunities for growing spices.
Photo by ROSS HONG KONG
5.Livestock Resource:
Hills, mountains and less fertile lands are put under pasture. Scientific methods are followed in rearing cattle. India maintains rich domestic animal diversity.
India has good population of goat, sheep, poultry, cattle, buffalo, etc. Indian livestock plays a vital role in improving the socio-economic status of the rural masses.
6.Forest Resource:
India possesses a variety of natural vegetation since the country has a varied relief and climate. These forests are confined to the plateaus and hilly mountainous areas. India has a great variety of fauna. There are many national parks and hundreds of wild life sanctuaries.Forests are called ‘green gold’. They are renewable resources. They provide quality environment. They eat up CO2, the poisons of urbanization, industrialization, explosion of population, etc. They regulate climate as they act as natural ‘sponge’. Arresting soil erosion, increasing soil fertility growing forest based industries, providing medicinal herbs, animal habitats, cattle fodder, domestic fuel and foreign exchange they contribute
Photo by inottawa
Substantially to India's economy.
Unfortunately India’s forest cover is diminishing at an alarming rate. So, various measures for afforestation have been introduced.The forest (conservation) Act 1980 was made in India. No forest can be diverted for non-forest purpose. The Forest Research Institute was established at Dehradun for research in forestry development. Cutting trees selectively, planting new trees, protecting trees, observing world Forestry Day every March 21 by planting trees, etc. are the schemes of afforestation.
Photo by Wagner T. Cassimiro "Aranha"
