Understanding Earth's Landforms and Tectonics

Oh Senorita I wish this world was one. I wish there were no boundaries no nation no continent I know it sounds impossible kitty But it is said there was a time when this world was actually one big super continent called Pangea. Hey friends, in today's episode, let us learn about this enormous single landmass we call Pangea and answer a drifting question, how continents were formed? Zoom in. So, what is Pangea? Well, the Earth we see today didn't appear to look like this over 240 million years ago, as it didn't have seven continents. But instead, one giant supercontinent called Pangea, meaning all lands, which was surrounded by a single ocean called Pantalasa. Yes, my dear friends, all the countries lived harmoniously, with each other until great breakup began to happen, which is known as continental drift, as the continents slowly drifted to their current positions on Earth's surface. This theory was proposed by scientist named Alfred Wiegener in the year 1912, as he explained the similarities between the continents. He showed us how the South American and African contain fossils of animals like Mesosaurus in areas that match up across the ocean. He further explained, that it is physically impossible for these reptiles to swim across the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, we can say that these animals lived within the rivers and lakes of a single giant habitat that later broke apart. He also showed how the ancient rocks on the Brazilian coast also matched those found in West Africa and also explained the presence of similar plants in different continents. But the scientific community was not entirely convinced by Wegener's evidence due to lack of a mechanism for how it works. So later, The theory of continental drift was replaced by the science of plate tectonics. But the massive question is, what are these plate tectonics? And what causes the continents to drift apart? Well, for that, we need to look below our feet, deep inside the earth's surface. At the deepest layer of the planet, known as the core, where it's as hot as the surface of the burning sun. This center of the earth is surrounded by mantle, which is covered by the crust, the surface at which we live. However, the ground below you or the crust is not a single solid land. and is broken into many pieces like a jigsaw puzzle we call tectonic plates. And you won't believe, but the crust is continuously moving or traveling across the earth at the rate of about 10 centimeters per year in the process called plate tectonics. This motion occurs on the top two layers of the earth, the lithosphere and The asthenosphere, the speed at movement on which these tectonic plates move, is influenced by the temperature and pressure of the asthenosphere below. Although the scientific community is still trying to figure out the driving force behind this movement, but what we surely know is, these tectonic plates move in different ways, and the point at which they meet or interact is called the Boundaries that have created the world what we know today. How? Let me explain. The first type of interaction is convergent boundaries. In this process, the plates move towards each other. And when they collide, the land is pushed upward to form massive mountains. The second type of interaction is called the divergent boundary in which two plates move apart. In this process, the space between the two plates widens and becomes a massive rift, such as mid-Atlantic ridge between South America and Africa. And finally, the third interaction is called transverse. transform boundaries in which the earth's plate slide past each other in opposite directions. This grinding of the transform boundaries can create pressure that could lead to many earthquakes like what happens in San Andreas Fault. Here we go friends, now we know how the ground below us moves and will continue to change the world around us, forming mountains, islands, volcanoes and who knows, a new continent too. Trivia Time! Did you know the Himalayan mountains including Mount Everest were formed by the convergent boundary of the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate? Yes, you won't believe, but these plates are still colliding with each other, which is why Mount Everest grows at 1 cm per year. Hope you learned something new in today's episode. Until next time, it's me, Dr. Binox, zooming out. Oh, never mind. Oh, little kitty. Good to see you solving the seven continents puzzle. But kitty, confused. Don't worry, my dear, when Dr. Binocs is here. Hey friends, in today's episode, let us go around the world to explore the seven continents and learn what makes them unique, the culture, the key points and most importantly, answer a five marks question, what are the seven continents of the world? When we look at a globe, it is not difficult to spot these large solid areas of land we call continents. They come in all shapes and sizes from small to large and the earth has seven continents. continents in total. They are Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica. Although these continents are part of of one world but they all have different climatic conditions, environment, population and much more. So, let us have a brief look at what makes these continents so different from each other. Let's start with the largest continent of them all, Asia covering one-third of all the land on earth. Yes, my dear friends, it is home to a whopping two-thirds of the world's population living in 48 countries. Among these are China and India. They hold the number one and number two spots for being the most populous countries in the world. With nearly 1 billion people each, not only that, the world's highest mountain, Himalayas, as well as the highest plateau, the Tibetan Plateau, are located in the Asian continent and it is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. Next comes the second largest continent in the world, our very own Waka Waka Africa, that lies between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. It consists of 54 different countries that are more than any other continents. It is blessed with the world's longest river, the Nile in the east, and the northern part is engulfed with the world's largest desert. The Sahara Desert. Not only that, but this continent is also home to many wild animals, such as lions, elephants, zebras, rhinos, and much more. Next, let us visit the world's second smallest continent. And that is Europe. This place is home to one quarter of the total population in the world that stays in nearly 51 independent countries with various ethnic groups and languages. Europe's western coast is on the Atlantic Ocean while it is divided from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea in the south. The European part of Russia covers more area than any other country. And the Vatican City is the smallest country not only in Europe but also in the world. Now, let us move forward and visit the world's third largest continent, North America. North America is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean in the north. The Atlantic Ocean on the east, on the south by the Caribbean Sea and on the west by the North Pacific Ocean. It is made of 23 different countries, some of which are the USA, Canada, Mexico as well as the Caribbean Islands. This beautiful place is blessed with natural wonders such as Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon. The human-made Panama Canal separates North America from our next continent, South America. South America is the world's fourth largest continent, bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean. North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the North West. It consists of 12 sovereign states and some of them are famous for their soccer teams such as Brazil, Colombia and Argentina. It is also blessed with the Amazon River, rainforest, the world's driest desert, the Atacama, and the world's longest mountain range, the Andes. It is also home to many unique animals such as capybara, llamas, and anacondas. Next comes a continent which is also a country, and that is Australia. And when you add New Zealand, New Guinea and a few other islands to it, we also call this continent Australasia. Australia lies between the Indian Ocean in the west and the Pacific in the east. Some of the famous places in this region are the Opera House in Sydney, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, and much much more. And last, let us visit the South Pole of the Earth to see the fifth largest continent of the world, Antarctica, which is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. This place is almost entirely covered in ice and the temperature can drop below minus 80 degree Celsius. But despite such cold weather, this great white continent is home to many species such as seals, seabirds and many more. Trivia Time! Did you know, sometimes people think of Europe and Asia as a single continent and call it Eurasia? Also, India and many other regions around it like Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka makes the Indian subcontinent. Hope you learned something new in today's episode. Until next time. It's me, Dr. Binocs, zooming out. Oh, never mind. Dr. Binti? The highest landform in the world, little kitty. Landform? Yes, little kitty. Hey friends, in today's episode, let me take you around the globe to witness the natural beauty our earth is blessed with, known as the landforms, and briefly explore their exciting formation process with stunning graphics from our creative team. Zoom in! So, what are the landforms of the earth? Just like all living beings have certain physical features that distinguish them from each other, similarly, the planet Earth is made up of various unique features and characteristics we call landforms. Yes, my friends, the landform is the natural geographical or physical features of the Earth that are classified into various types such as mountains, hills, valleys, plateaus, plains, etc. But before we shed some light on these types of landforms, let us briefly examine the process leading to the formation of these features. First comes the external process in which external factors such as wind and rain shapes the earth's surface by erosion and deposition. Yes, erosion is a process in which sediments get deposited in a different location. Whereas sediments are the materials on the earth's surface such as soil and rocks. Next comes the internal process and as the name suggests, It is the process that occurs inside the earth's surface. Such as plate tectonics and volcano eruptions. These occur because of the extreme heat in the earth's core. Causing the molten rock in the mantle layer to move. As a result, causing uneven movement on the surface. These layers are either uplifting or sinking. Forming different types of landforms that can be categorized into mountains, plateaus and plains. So, let us explore these major types of landforms starting from the mighty mountains. Mountains are landforms higher and steeper than the surrounding areas. In general, the mountains are higher than 200 feet and divided into three categories. Fold, Block and Volcanic. Yes, when two tectonic plates collide and the edges of these plates fold Because of the tremendous force between them it creates the fold mountains on the other hand the block mountains form when large areas are broken and displaced vertically. These large areas of rock, sometimes stretching across hundreds of kilometers, are created by tectonic and localized stresses in the earth's crust. And the third type of mountains are the volcanic mountains that are formed due to the magma flowing up from the mantle to the crust of the earth. Next comes the plains. Most of the earth's surface consists of low and high plains that are flat or the low relief areas on the surface of the earth. These are the most fertile region of the planet and are the most suitable for human habitation and agriculture activities like farming and poultry. It might be formed as a result of of the sedimentation of eroded soil from the top of the hills and mountains or due to flowing lava deposited by the agents of wind, water and ice. Now, let us look at the landform we call plateaus. A plateau is a flat, elevated landform that rises sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Plateaus occur on both sides of the landform. on every continent and take up a third of the earth's land and are divided into two categories dissected plateaus and volcanic plateaus a dissected plateau forms due to the upward movement movement in the Earth's crust, caused by the slow collision of tectonic plates. Whereas, a volcanic plateau is formed by numerous small volcanic eruptions that slowly build up over time, creating a plateau from the resulting lava flows. And the fourth major type of landform is the ecological landscape known as the deserts. It is a dry piece of land with little or no vegetation due to lack of rainfall. In deserts, the atmospheric air is arid and the daytime temperature is high. The process by which fertile land becomes desert is called desertification. You won't believe. But human activities are a primary cause of desertification. Yes, these activities include overgrazing of livestock, deforestation, over-cultivation of farmland and poor irrigation practices. Overgrazing and deforestation remove plants that anchor the soil. As a result, wind and water erode the nutrient-rich soil. top soil. Also, hooves from feeding livestock compact the soil, preventing it from absorbing water and fertilizers. Trivia Time! Did you know, the largest plateau in the world is the Tibetan Plateau, located in Central Asia? Yes, it stretches through the countries of Tibet, China and India and occupies an area of 2.5 million square kilometers. Also, landforms can exist underwater in the form of mountain ranges and basins under the sea. The Mariana Trench, the deepest landform on earth, is in the South Pacific Ocean. Hope you learnt something new in today's episode. Until next time, it's me, Dr. Binocs, zooming out. And the painting is done. Ah, never mind. Hey Kitty, look! A 17-year-old intern at NASA has discovered a new Earth-like planet. Isn't that brilliant? Let's go there! I understand your curiosity, Kitty. But one day, we might be able to settle on a different planet. But it's possible only if the new world has all the four major domains of Earth present on it. Two names? It's domains, Kitty! Hey friends, it is rightly said that heaven is under our feet and over our heads. But no wonder we fail to acknowledge it. So, in today's episode, let me tell you about those four major domains of the earth that make our earth indeed a heaven. Zoom in! So, What are the four domains of Earth? The massive universe formed millions of years ago has infinite undiscovered spaces, trillions of stars, millions of galaxies and the nine planets in our solar system. But the universe blessed planet Earth with living beings and to make life possible. Three different components meet so humans can survive and thrive. These are the elements of land, water and air. These are nothing but the domains of the earth. Namely, the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. Which give rise to the biosphere. Let's have a good look at each of them. Starting with the lithosphere and to know about it, let's peek a little beneath the earth's surface. As you can see, it is made up of various layers out of which the crust and the upper layer are made. layer of the mantle make the lithosphere which is basically the solid portion of the earth the lithosphere is further divided into two parts the continental crust which is the thick part of the Earth's crust which forms the large land masses and the oceanic crust that could be found deep under the ocean and seas, which are denser than the continental crust. Now, let us move further to learn about the Hydrosphere. You see, although the Earth seems hot and burning from inside, but when you look at it from space, you'll see one soothing cool planet due to its blue shade as around 71 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water and this water covered area is called the This 71% of the water is found in three different forms. That is, water located in a liquid state into the water bodies such as oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, etc. In a solid state such as ice and gaseous state such as water vapor. But always remember that out of the 71% of available water, only 2.5% is consumable by humans. So, it is advisable that you consume water wisely and do not waste or contaminate it. Now, let us move further and look at the sky. I know you feel that the area between the surface of the earth and space is a vacuum or there is nothing in between. But let me inform you that a lot is happening there as it is covered with a set of layers of gases we call the atmosphere that surrounds the earth. This invisible shield of gas performs various duties like keeping us warm, providing the oxygen and it is where the weather changes. The atmosphere is further composed of different layers and each layer has its prominence. The first layer is the troposphere. the lowest layer of atmosphere that ranges up to 5 to 9 miles above the earth's surface and is denser than other layers. The troposphere is where all of earth's weather occurs and contains approximately 80 percent of the total mass of the atmosphere. Now, as we move ahead up to 31 miles from the Earth's surface, we enter the stratosphere. This vital layer absorbs harmful UV rays coming from the sun towards the Earth with the help of the ozone layer present in it. The next layer is mesosphere, where meteors rushing with a high speed gets burnt up. And after that comes the thermosphere where the solar radiations are absorbed. And you can witness the aurora in the same layer. And the last layer is exosphere which meets space. Now coming back to the fourth domain of earth that brings all the elements such as land, water and air together is our last sphere, the biosphere. The biosphere represents every part of earth where living organisms are found. that could be commonly divided into two main parts, the plant kingdom and the animal kingdom. This sphere ranges from the vast sky to the base of the enormous water bodies such as oceans. It is believed to be formed millions of years ago. where the first living organism to be created was bacteria. So, here we go friends. These are the four domains of the earth. We need to survive and thrive on this vast universe. And the earth is the only planet to be blessed with it. So, cherish it, nourish it and make sure not to do anything to perish it. Because this is the only home we have. Our beloved planet Earth. Trivia time! Did you know? Scientists claim that the Earth is approximately 3.7 billion years old. Which also makes the biosphere to be almost the same age. Also, researchers say that the depth of the biosphere is complicated to measure. As there are fish known to be living as deep as 8,372 meters in the Puerto Rico Trench. Hope you learnt something new in today's episode. Until next time, it's me Dr. Binox, zooming out! Ah! Never mind! Ha ha ha ha! There seems to be some issue with the power supply, due to which the ice in the refrigerator has melted. Kitty needs ice! Well, for that, we need to visit a glacier. Hey friends, in today's episode, let us visit this cold region on the planet and explore some fantastic information about this white paradise we call glacier. Zoom in! So, what are glaciers? Glaciers are huge masses of ice made up of fallen snow that can be as small as soccer fields while others grow to be hundreds of kilometers Although these icy white masses may look rock solid, but you will be surprised to know that they aren't steady and slowly keep floating across the land they have resided upon, similar to how the rivers flow. Hence, they are bestowed with the title of Rivers of Ice. Glaciers are of two types, Alpine glaciers and ice sheets. Yes, the Alpine glaciers, also known as valley glaciers or mountain glaciers, tend to form along the mountain sides and move downwards through the valleys due to pressure. In comparison, the ice sheets cross the boundaries of the mountain areas when they form. At first, they create a dome. in the center from which they spread out in all directions and cover the landforms such as hills, mountains and valleys. But the cold question is, how are the glaciers formed? Glaciers begin forming in places where a large amount of snow accumulates each year than melts. Once the snow falls, it starts to compress or become denser. and tightly packed and slowly changes from light crystals to hard ice pellets we call neve after this when more snow falls over the old ones it buries the neve underneath compressing it further and turning it into dense rainy ice called fern, an intermediate state between snow and glacier ice. This process of snow compacting into glacial fern is called fernification. And as time goes by, after many years and many snowfalls, layers of fern build on top of each other. And when the ice grows thick enough, the fern grains fuse into a huge mass of solid ice, forming the glaciers, which could take over a hundred years until we see them slowly free-flowing on serene water. But do not underestimate them by the way they move. Yes, although glaciers move gently, they are a force to reckon with and can destroy almost everything in their path. Even dense forests, mighty hills and mountain sides are no match for glaciers. Also, as these glaciers move, they erode or wear away the land beneath and around them. These white masses carry enormous amounts of rock, soil and clay. And some of the boulders they carry are as big as an elephant. But here is a thing to remember my friends, glacier ice today stores about three-fourths of all the fresh water in the world. Many people believe that if temperatures across the globe increased enough that the glaciers melted, sea levels would increase significantly, leading to floods along the coastal lines. Yes, we have witnessed a rise in sea levels every year. And scientists believe that melting glaciers could be a significant reason behind it. It is still unclear how much the sea level might eventually rise because of melting glaciers. But what is clear to all is that the Earth's average temperature has been increasing dramatically in recent times. And glaciers are important. important indicators of global warming and climate change in several ways that could have a severe effect on not only humans, but also other creatures. Yes, the increase in the level of fresh water will impact the ocean ecosystem as there are many organisms like corals and other saltwater fishes that depend on salt water for survival they may not be able to adjust to more freshwater habitat so it's to save the world from drowning we need to stop the temperature from rising Did you know, unlike red and yellow light waves, blue light can penetrate snow and ice? Yes, and hence this penetration results in making those glaciers appear blue. Also, talking about physical characteristics, Antarctica's Lambert's Glacier, which is said to be the largest, is about 270 miles long and 60 miles wide. Hope you learned something in today's episode. Until next time, it's me, Dr. Binox, zooming out. Never mind. And as the winter arrives, the mama bear and baby bear prepare to migrate to Tundra. To what? It's Tundra, little kitty. Haven't you heard of it before? No worries. So, in today's episode, let me take you and our beloved friends out there on a breathtaking journey of this chilly, freezy and breezy place we call Tundra Region. Zoom in! This world is divided into different regions where some are covered with lustrous green grass while others are engulfed in golden deserts. And these large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat is called a biome. And tundra is one such biome of this diverse environmental community. But the vital question is... How do we exactly identify a tundra region from its counterparts? Well, let me give you a quick tour. You see, one way to quickly identify the tundra region lies within its name, my friends. Yes, it gets its name from a Finnish word, Tunturia, which literally means a treeless plain. And with its long and extensive structure, ..seasons of dark freezing winter times and short summers that aren't much warmer. It's easy to see why few species of plants and animals can survive here. The tundras are of two types namely the Alpine and the Arctic. The Alpine tundra covers approximately 3% of Earth's land surface and it is mostly found in the Northern Hemisphere. This region exists at very high elevations atop mountains, where overnight temperatures fall below freezing. Whereas the Arctic tundra is located in the higher altitudes in the polar regions in the Northern Hemisphere and covers Almost 20% of the earth's surface. And believe it or not, despite being in such harsh conditions, the Arctic tundra is blessed with many living organisms, including plants, animals and humans, who need some special adaptation techniques to survive. You see, being a windy region, it takes a lot to survive here in the tundras. Also, the subsoil layer over here is permafrost, meaning the ground is completely frozen, making it impossible for the trees to grow, because of which the tundra has patchy, low-to-ground vegetation. This includes grasses, mosses and lichens, all of which are better adapted to withstand tundra's cold conditions. And not only plants but animals in the tundra such as polar bears, gray bulls, snow geese etc. are also adapted to its extreme conditions. For example, the caribou also known as reindeers build up stores of fat to sustain and insulate them through the winter. They also have thick coats of fur. for further insulation and save energy by hibernating during the long winter months, waiting for the summer to arrive. Yes, the summer brings a short relief and acts as a growing season that lasts 6 to 10 weeks. And during this period, the sun shines for 24 hours and hence, it is also known as the land of the midnight sun. But, Unfortunately, this isolated land is increasingly threatened due to human activities such as oil drilling. Yes, my dear friends, perhaps the greatest danger, however, comes from climate change. Warming temperatures could upset the cold tundra biome and the life in it and melt its underlying permafrost, releasing greenhouse gases that would further accelerate global warming. So, it's essential to limit human encroachment in this region, if we want to save the world. Did you know, tundra insects have also developed adaptations for the cold? Yes, mosquitoes for example, have a chemical compound that acts as antifreeze, lowering the freezing temperature in their bodily fluids. Also, animals in the tundra biome tend to have small ears and tails, which helps them to store more heat in the cold. While some of them tend to have huge feet, which help them to walk on top of the snow. Hope you learned something new in today's episode. Until next time, it's me, Dr. Binox, zooming out! Aww, never mind.

Zoom in. So, what is Pangea? Well, the Earth we see today didn't appear to look like this over 240 million years ago, as it didn't have seven continents. But instead, one giant supercontinent called Pangea, meaning all lands, which was surrounded by a single ocean called Pantalasa. Yes, my dear friends, all the countries lived harmoniously, with each other until great breakup began to happen, which is known as continental drift, as the continents slowly drifted to their current positions on Earth's surface.

This theory was proposed by scientist named Alfred Wiegener in the year 1912, as he explained the similarities between the continents. He showed us how the South American and African contain fossils of animals like Mesosaurus in areas that match up across the ocean. He further explained, that it is physically impossible for these reptiles to swim across the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, we can say that these animals lived within the rivers and lakes of a single giant habitat that later broke apart.

He also showed how the ancient rocks on the Brazilian coast also matched those found in West Africa and also explained the presence of similar plants in different continents. But the scientific community was not entirely convinced by Wegener's evidence due to lack of a mechanism for how it works. So later, The theory of continental drift was replaced by the science of plate tectonics. But the massive question is, what are these plate tectonics?

And what causes the continents to drift apart? Well, for that, we need to look below our feet, deep inside the earth's surface. At the deepest layer of the planet, known as the core, where it's as hot as the surface of the burning sun. This center of the earth is surrounded by mantle, which is covered by the crust, the surface at which we live.

However, the ground below you or the crust is not a single solid land. and is broken into many pieces like a jigsaw puzzle we call tectonic plates. And you won't believe, but the crust is continuously moving or traveling across the earth at the rate of about 10 centimeters per year in the process called plate tectonics. This motion occurs on the top two layers of the earth, the lithosphere and The asthenosphere, the speed at movement on which these tectonic plates move, is influenced by the temperature and pressure of the asthenosphere below. Although the scientific community is still trying to figure out the driving force behind this movement, but what we surely know is, these tectonic plates move in different ways, and the point at which they meet or interact is called the Boundaries that have created the world what we know today.

How? Let me explain. The first type of interaction is convergent boundaries.

In this process, the plates move towards each other. And when they collide, the land is pushed upward to form massive mountains. The second type of interaction is called the divergent boundary in which two plates move apart.

In this process, the space between the two plates widens and becomes a massive rift, such as mid-Atlantic ridge between South America and Africa. And finally, the third interaction is called transverse. transform boundaries in which the earth's plate slide past each other in opposite directions. This grinding of the transform boundaries can create pressure that could lead to many earthquakes like what happens in San Andreas Fault. Here we go friends, now we know how the ground below us moves and will continue to change the world around us, forming mountains, islands, volcanoes and who knows, a new continent too.

Trivia Time! Did you know the Himalayan mountains including Mount Everest were formed by the convergent boundary of the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate? Yes, you won't believe, but these plates are still colliding with each other, which is why Mount Everest grows at 1 cm per year.

Hope you learned something new in today's episode. Until next time, it's me, Dr. Binox, zooming out. Oh, never mind.

Oh, little kitty. Good to see you solving the seven continents puzzle. But kitty, confused.

Don't worry, my dear, when Dr. Binocs is here. Hey friends, in today's episode, let us go around the world to explore the seven continents and learn what makes them unique, the culture, the key points and most importantly, answer a five marks question, what are the seven continents of the world? When we look at a globe, it is not difficult to spot these large solid areas of land we call continents. They come in all shapes and sizes from small to large and the earth has seven continents. continents in total.

They are Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica. Although these continents are part of of one world but they all have different climatic conditions, environment, population and much more. So, let us have a brief look at what makes these continents so different from each other. Let's start with the largest continent of them all, Asia covering one-third of all the land on earth.

Yes, my dear friends, it is home to a whopping two-thirds of the world's population living in 48 countries. Among these are China and India. They hold the number one and number two spots for being the most populous countries in the world.

With nearly 1 billion people each, not only that, the world's highest mountain, Himalayas, as well as the highest plateau, the Tibetan Plateau, are located in the Asian continent and it is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. Next comes the second largest continent in the world, our very own Waka Waka Africa, that lies between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. It consists of 54 different countries that are more than any other continents. It is blessed with the world's longest river, the Nile in the east, and the northern part is engulfed with the world's largest desert. The Sahara Desert.

Not only that, but this continent is also home to many wild animals, such as lions, elephants, zebras, rhinos, and much more. Next, let us visit the world's second smallest continent. And that is Europe.

This place is home to one quarter of the total population in the world that stays in nearly 51 independent countries with various ethnic groups and languages. Europe's western coast is on the Atlantic Ocean while it is divided from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea in the south. The European part of Russia covers more area than any other country.

And the Vatican City is the smallest country not only in Europe but also in the world. Now, let us move forward and visit the world's third largest continent, North America. North America is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean in the north.

The Atlantic Ocean on the east, on the south by the Caribbean Sea and on the west by the North Pacific Ocean. It is made of 23 different countries, some of which are the USA, Canada, Mexico as well as the Caribbean Islands. This beautiful place is blessed with natural wonders such as Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon. The human-made Panama Canal separates North America from our next continent, South America. South America is the world's fourth largest continent, bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean.

North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the North West. It consists of 12 sovereign states and some of them are famous for their soccer teams such as Brazil, Colombia and Argentina. It is also blessed with the Amazon River, rainforest, the world's driest desert, the Atacama, and the world's longest mountain range, the Andes.

It is also home to many unique animals such as capybara, llamas, and anacondas. Next comes a continent which is also a country, and that is Australia. And when you add New Zealand, New Guinea and a few other islands to it, we also call this continent Australasia.

Australia lies between the Indian Ocean in the west and the Pacific in the east. Some of the famous places in this region are the Opera House in Sydney, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, and much much more. And last, let us visit the South Pole of the Earth to see the fifth largest continent of the world, Antarctica, which is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. This place is almost entirely covered in ice and the temperature can drop below minus 80 degree Celsius. But despite such cold weather, this great white continent is home to many species such as seals, seabirds and many more.

Trivia Time! Did you know, sometimes people think of Europe and Asia as a single continent and call it Eurasia? Also, India and many other regions around it like Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka makes the Indian subcontinent.

Hope you learned something new in today's episode. Until next time. It's me, Dr. Binocs, zooming out.

Oh, never mind. Dr. Binti? The highest landform in the world, little kitty. Landform?

Yes, little kitty. Hey friends, in today's episode, let me take you around the globe to witness the natural beauty our earth is blessed with, known as the landforms, and briefly explore their exciting formation process with stunning graphics from our creative team. Zoom in!

So, what are the landforms of the earth? Just like all living beings have certain physical features that distinguish them from each other, similarly, the planet Earth is made up of various unique features and characteristics we call landforms. Yes, my friends, the landform is the natural geographical or physical features of the Earth that are classified into various types such as mountains, hills, valleys, plateaus, plains, etc. But before we shed some light on these types of landforms, let us briefly examine the process leading to the formation of these features. First comes the external process in which external factors such as wind and rain shapes the earth's surface by erosion and deposition.

Yes, erosion is a process in which sediments get deposited in a different location. Whereas sediments are the materials on the earth's surface such as soil and rocks. Next comes the internal process and as the name suggests, It is the process that occurs inside the earth's surface. Such as plate tectonics and volcano eruptions.

These occur because of the extreme heat in the earth's core. Causing the molten rock in the mantle layer to move. As a result, causing uneven movement on the surface. These layers are either uplifting or sinking.

Forming different types of landforms that can be categorized into mountains, plateaus and plains. So, let us explore these major types of landforms starting from the mighty mountains. Mountains are landforms higher and steeper than the surrounding areas.

In general, the mountains are higher than 200 feet and divided into three categories. Fold, Block and Volcanic. Yes, when two tectonic plates collide and the edges of these plates fold Because of the tremendous force between them it creates the fold mountains on the other hand the block mountains form when large areas are broken and displaced vertically.

These large areas of rock, sometimes stretching across hundreds of kilometers, are created by tectonic and localized stresses in the earth's crust. And the third type of mountains are the volcanic mountains that are formed due to the magma flowing up from the mantle to the crust of the earth. Next comes the plains.

Most of the earth's surface consists of low and high plains that are flat or the low relief areas on the surface of the earth. These are the most fertile region of the planet and are the most suitable for human habitation and agriculture activities like farming and poultry. It might be formed as a result of of the sedimentation of eroded soil from the top of the hills and mountains or due to flowing lava deposited by the agents of wind, water and ice. Now, let us look at the landform we call plateaus.

A plateau is a flat, elevated landform that rises sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Plateaus occur on both sides of the landform. on every continent and take up a third of the earth's land and are divided into two categories dissected plateaus and volcanic plateaus a dissected plateau forms due to the upward movement movement in the Earth's crust, caused by the slow collision of tectonic plates. Whereas, a volcanic plateau is formed by numerous small volcanic eruptions that slowly build up over time, creating a plateau from the resulting lava flows.

And the fourth major type of landform is the ecological landscape known as the deserts. It is a dry piece of land with little or no vegetation due to lack of rainfall. In deserts, the atmospheric air is arid and the daytime temperature is high.

The process by which fertile land becomes desert is called desertification. You won't believe. But human activities are a primary cause of desertification. Yes, these activities include overgrazing of livestock, deforestation, over-cultivation of farmland and poor irrigation practices.

Overgrazing and deforestation remove plants that anchor the soil. As a result, wind and water erode the nutrient-rich soil. top soil. Also, hooves from feeding livestock compact the soil, preventing it from absorbing water and fertilizers. Trivia Time!

Did you know, the largest plateau in the world is the Tibetan Plateau, located in Central Asia? Yes, it stretches through the countries of Tibet, China and India and occupies an area of 2.5 million square kilometers. Also, landforms can exist underwater in the form of mountain ranges and basins under the sea.

The Mariana Trench, the deepest landform on earth, is in the South Pacific Ocean. Hope you learnt something new in today's episode. Until next time, it's me, Dr. Binocs, zooming out. And the painting is done. Ah, never mind.

Hey Kitty, look! A 17-year-old intern at NASA has discovered a new Earth-like planet. Isn't that brilliant?

Let's go there! I understand your curiosity, Kitty. But one day, we might be able to settle on a different planet.

But it's possible only if the new world has all the four major domains of Earth present on it. Two names? It's domains, Kitty!

Hey friends, it is rightly said that heaven is under our feet and over our heads. But no wonder we fail to acknowledge it. So, in today's episode, let me tell you about those four major domains of the earth that make our earth indeed a heaven.

Zoom in! So, What are the four domains of Earth? The massive universe formed millions of years ago has infinite undiscovered spaces, trillions of stars, millions of galaxies and the nine planets in our solar system. But the universe blessed planet Earth with living beings and to make life possible.

Three different components meet so humans can survive and thrive. These are the elements of land, water and air. These are nothing but the domains of the earth. Namely, the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. Which give rise to the biosphere.

Let's have a good look at each of them. Starting with the lithosphere and to know about it, let's peek a little beneath the earth's surface. As you can see, it is made up of various layers out of which the crust and the upper layer are made.

layer of the mantle make the lithosphere which is basically the solid portion of the earth the lithosphere is further divided into two parts the continental crust which is the thick part of the Earth's crust which forms the large land masses and the oceanic crust that could be found deep under the ocean and seas, which are denser than the continental crust. Now, let us move further to learn about the Hydrosphere. You see, although the Earth seems hot and burning from inside, but when you look at it from space, you'll see one soothing cool planet due to its blue shade as around 71 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water and this water covered area is called the This 71% of the water is found in three different forms.

That is, water located in a liquid state into the water bodies such as oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, etc. In a solid state such as ice and gaseous state such as water vapor. But always remember that out of the 71% of available water, only 2.5% is consumable by humans.

So, it is advisable that you consume water wisely and do not waste or contaminate it. Now, let us move further and look at the sky. I know you feel that the area between the surface of the earth and space is a vacuum or there is nothing in between.

But let me inform you that a lot is happening there as it is covered with a set of layers of gases we call the atmosphere that surrounds the earth. This invisible shield of gas performs various duties like keeping us warm, providing the oxygen and it is where the weather changes. The atmosphere is further composed of different layers and each layer has its prominence.

The first layer is the troposphere. the lowest layer of atmosphere that ranges up to 5 to 9 miles above the earth's surface and is denser than other layers. The troposphere is where all of earth's weather occurs and contains approximately 80 percent of the total mass of the atmosphere. Now, as we move ahead up to 31 miles from the Earth's surface, we enter the stratosphere. This vital layer absorbs harmful UV rays coming from the sun towards the Earth with the help of the ozone layer present in it.

The next layer is mesosphere, where meteors rushing with a high speed gets burnt up. And after that comes the thermosphere where the solar radiations are absorbed. And you can witness the aurora in the same layer.

And the last layer is exosphere which meets space. Now coming back to the fourth domain of earth that brings all the elements such as land, water and air together is our last sphere, the biosphere. The biosphere represents every part of earth where living organisms are found. that could be commonly divided into two main parts, the plant kingdom and the animal kingdom. This sphere ranges from the vast sky to the base of the enormous water bodies such as oceans.

It is believed to be formed millions of years ago. where the first living organism to be created was bacteria. So, here we go friends. These are the four domains of the earth.

We need to survive and thrive on this vast universe. And the earth is the only planet to be blessed with it. So, cherish it, nourish it and make sure not to do anything to perish it.

Because this is the only home we have. Our beloved planet Earth. Trivia time!

Did you know? Scientists claim that the Earth is approximately 3.7 billion years old. Which also makes the biosphere to be almost the same age. Also, researchers say that the depth of the biosphere is complicated to measure. As there are fish known to be living as deep as 8,372 meters in the Puerto Rico Trench.

Hope you learnt something new in today's episode. Until next time, it's me Dr. Binox, zooming out! Ah! Never mind! Ha ha ha ha!

There seems to be some issue with the power supply, due to which the ice in the refrigerator has melted. Kitty needs ice! Well, for that, we need to visit a glacier. Hey friends, in today's episode, let us visit this cold region on the planet and explore some fantastic information about this white paradise we call glacier.

Zoom in! So, what are glaciers? Glaciers are huge masses of ice made up of fallen snow that can be as small as soccer fields while others grow to be hundreds of kilometers Although these icy white masses may look rock solid, but you will be surprised to know that they aren't steady and slowly keep floating across the land they have resided upon, similar to how the rivers flow.

Hence, they are bestowed with the title of Rivers of Ice. Glaciers are of two types, Alpine glaciers and ice sheets. Yes, the Alpine glaciers, also known as valley glaciers or mountain glaciers, tend to form along the mountain sides and move downwards through the valleys due to pressure. In comparison, the ice sheets cross the boundaries of the mountain areas when they form.

At first, they create a dome. in the center from which they spread out in all directions and cover the landforms such as hills, mountains and valleys. But the cold question is, how are the glaciers formed? Glaciers begin forming in places where a large amount of snow accumulates each year than melts. Once the snow falls, it starts to compress or become denser.

and tightly packed and slowly changes from light crystals to hard ice pellets we call neve after this when more snow falls over the old ones it buries the neve underneath compressing it further and turning it into dense rainy ice called fern, an intermediate state between snow and glacier ice. This process of snow compacting into glacial fern is called fernification. And as time goes by, after many years and many snowfalls, layers of fern build on top of each other.

And when the ice grows thick enough, the fern grains fuse into a huge mass of solid ice, forming the glaciers, which could take over a hundred years until we see them slowly free-flowing on serene water. But do not underestimate them by the way they move. Yes, although glaciers move gently, they are a force to reckon with and can destroy almost everything in their path. Even dense forests, mighty hills and mountain sides are no match for glaciers. Also, as these glaciers move, they erode or wear away the land beneath and around them.

These white masses carry enormous amounts of rock, soil and clay. And some of the boulders they carry are as big as an elephant. But here is a thing to remember my friends, glacier ice today stores about three-fourths of all the fresh water in the world.

Many people believe that if temperatures across the globe increased enough that the glaciers melted, sea levels would increase significantly, leading to floods along the coastal lines. Yes, we have witnessed a rise in sea levels every year. And scientists believe that melting glaciers could be a significant reason behind it. It is still unclear how much the sea level might eventually rise because of melting glaciers.

But what is clear to all is that the Earth's average temperature has been increasing dramatically in recent times. And glaciers are important. important indicators of global warming and climate change in several ways that could have a severe effect on not only humans, but also other creatures.

Yes, the increase in the level of fresh water will impact the ocean ecosystem as there are many organisms like corals and other saltwater fishes that depend on salt water for survival they may not be able to adjust to more freshwater habitat so it's to save the world from drowning we need to stop the temperature from rising Did you know, unlike red and yellow light waves, blue light can penetrate snow and ice? Yes, and hence this penetration results in making those glaciers appear blue. Also, talking about physical characteristics, Antarctica's Lambert's Glacier, which is said to be the largest, is about 270 miles long and 60 miles wide. Hope you learned something in today's episode.

Until next time, it's me, Dr. Binox, zooming out. Never mind. And as the winter arrives, the mama bear and baby bear prepare to migrate to Tundra.

To what? It's Tundra, little kitty. Haven't you heard of it before?

No worries. So, in today's episode, let me take you and our beloved friends out there on a breathtaking journey of this chilly, freezy and breezy place we call Tundra Region. Zoom in!

This world is divided into different regions where some are covered with lustrous green grass while others are engulfed in golden deserts. And these large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat is called a biome. And tundra is one such biome of this diverse environmental community. But the vital question is... How do we exactly identify a tundra region from its counterparts?

Well, let me give you a quick tour. You see, one way to quickly identify the tundra region lies within its name, my friends. Yes, it gets its name from a Finnish word, Tunturia, which literally means a treeless plain. And with its long and extensive structure, ..seasons of dark freezing winter times and short summers that aren't much warmer.

It's easy to see why few species of plants and animals can survive here. The tundras are of two types namely the Alpine and the Arctic. The Alpine tundra covers approximately 3% of Earth's land surface and it is mostly found in the Northern Hemisphere.

This region exists at very high elevations atop mountains, where overnight temperatures fall below freezing. Whereas the Arctic tundra is located in the higher altitudes in the polar regions in the Northern Hemisphere and covers Almost 20% of the earth's surface. And believe it or not, despite being in such harsh conditions, the Arctic tundra is blessed with many living organisms, including plants, animals and humans, who need some special adaptation techniques to survive.

You see, being a windy region, it takes a lot to survive here in the tundras. Also, the subsoil layer over here is permafrost, meaning the ground is completely frozen, making it impossible for the trees to grow, because of which the tundra has patchy, low-to-ground vegetation. This includes grasses, mosses and lichens, all of which are better adapted to withstand tundra's cold conditions.

And not only plants but animals in the tundra such as polar bears, gray bulls, snow geese etc. are also adapted to its extreme conditions. For example, the caribou also known as reindeers build up stores of fat to sustain and insulate them through the winter. They also have thick coats of fur.

for further insulation and save energy by hibernating during the long winter months, waiting for the summer to arrive. Yes, the summer brings a short relief and acts as a growing season that lasts 6 to 10 weeks. And during this period, the sun shines for 24 hours and hence, it is also known as the land of the midnight sun.

But, Unfortunately, this isolated land is increasingly threatened due to human activities such as oil drilling. Yes, my dear friends, perhaps the greatest danger, however, comes from climate change. Warming temperatures could upset the cold tundra biome and the life in it and melt its underlying permafrost, releasing greenhouse gases that would further accelerate global warming. So, it's essential to limit human encroachment in this region, if we want to save the world.

Did you know, tundra insects have also developed adaptations for the cold? Yes, mosquitoes for example, have a chemical compound that acts as antifreeze, lowering the freezing temperature in their bodily fluids. Also, animals in the tundra biome tend to have small ears and tails, which helps them to store more heat in the cold.

While some of them tend to have huge feet, which help them to walk on top of the snow. Hope you learned something new in today's episode. Until next time, it's me, Dr. Binox, zooming out! Aww, never mind.

Transcript for:Understanding Earth's Landforms and Tectonics

Transcript for:
Understanding Earth's Landforms and Tectonics