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World Geography – UPSC GS1

This module of the GS Paper 1: History, Culture, Geography & Society course covers earth's interior, plate tectonics, atmosphere and oceans. It has 2 study lessons and a 16-question practice quiz. Free lessons can be read in full; premium lessons show a preview.

Lessons in this module

1. Earth's Interior, Rocks and Plate Tectonics

Free 7 min

The Mohorovičić (Moho) discontinuity separates the crust and the mantle. The Gutenberg discontinuity separates the mantle and the core. We know this mainly from seismic waves. S-waves cannot pass through liquids, which tells us the…

2. Atmosphere, Winds and Ocean Currents

Premium 8 min

Water vapour varies from almost 0 to about 4%. Troposphere – all weather happens here. It is about 8 km thick at the poles and about 18 km at the equator. Temperature falls with height…

 Module quiz: World Geography (16 questions)

Maps & infographics in this module

World map of tectonic plate boundaries showing the Pacific Ring of Fire, Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Indian–Eurasian collision
Most earthquakes and volcanoes occur along plate boundaries, especially around the Pacific.
Cut-away diagram of Earth's crust, mantle, liquid outer core and solid inner core
Seismic waves reveal the layers: S-waves do not pass through liquids.
Continental and oceanic crust above the upper mantle
Continental and oceanic crust above the upper mantle. Credit: Wikimedia Commons · CC0.
The Earth's major tectonic plates
The Earth's major tectonic plates. Credit: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain.
World map of major warm and cold ocean currents: Gulf Stream, Kuroshio, Labrador, Humboldt, Benguela, California and others
Cold currents along west coasts (Humboldt, Benguela) are linked to coastal deserts such as the Atacama and Namib.
Chart of atmospheric layers with temperature changing with height and key features of each layer
Temperature falls in the troposphere, rises in the stratosphere (ozone), falls in the mesosphere and rises again in the thermosphere.

Frequently asked questions

Lessons: Earth's Interior, Rocks and Plate Tectonics; Atmosphere, Winds and Ocean Currents.

Answer: Mohorovičić. The Moho discontinuity marks the crust–mantle boundary.

Answer: The absence of S-waves passing through it. S-waves cannot travel through liquids, creating an S-wave shadow zone.

Answer: Limestone. Limestone metamorphoses into marble under heat and pressure.

Answer: Stratosphere. Most atmospheric ozone is in the stratosphere.

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