Association Between Global Distribution of Fold Mountains, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes Introduction The surface of the Earth is shaped by a dynamic system of forces operating deep within its interior and acting upon its crust. Among the most striking landforms created by these forces are fold mountains, which rise dramatically along the margins of continents. These…
Introduction The Indonesian and Philippine archipelagos are among the most remarkable island groups in the world. Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelagic state, consists of more than 17,000 islands, while the Philippines comprises over 7,600 islands. These islands are not only geographically significant but also hold immense ecological, cultural, and economic value. The origin of these…
Introduction The world is presently facing an unprecedented resource crisis. Rising population, expanding industrialization, and unsustainable consumption have placed tremendous pressure on terrestrial resources such as land, forests, freshwater, and minerals. Against this backdrop, the oceans, which cover nearly 71% of the Earth’s surface, are emerging as a vast frontier of untapped resources. They offer…
Introduction Tropical cyclones are among the most powerful meteorological phenomena on Earth. Known by different names in different regions—hurricanes in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, typhoons in the western Pacific and South China Sea, and cyclones in the Indian Ocean—they are characterized by intense low-pressure systems with spiraling winds, heavy rainfall, and destructive storm…
Introduction Climate variability is one of the most pressing concerns in contemporary meteorology and environmental science. Unusual weather events such as prolonged droughts, floods, cyclones, heatwaves, and cold spells often disrupt ecosystems, agriculture, and human livelihoods. Among the various phenomena studied to explain such irregularities, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)—particularly its warm phase, El Niño—has…
Introduction The Himalayas, often referred to as the “Third Pole”, host the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar regions. They are the lifeline of several major rivers in South Asia, including the Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries, which support over 1.5 billion people. In recent decades, these glaciers have been shrinking at an…
Introduction Tea cultivation has been an integral part of India’s colonial agricultural history. Introduced and popularized by the British during the 19th century, tea plantations transformed the socio-economic and ecological landscape of the Himalayan foothills. The Shivaliks and Lesser Himalaya, stretching from Assam in the east to Himachal Pradesh in the northwest, were initially targeted…
Introduction The Green Revolution in India, initiated in the 1960s, marked a transformative period in Indian agriculture. It was characterized by the introduction of high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of wheat and rice, intensive use of chemical fertilizers, expansion of irrigation infrastructure, and adoption of modern farming practices. While this revolution dramatically increased food grain production in…
Introduction Africa, the world’s second-largest continent, is endowed with abundant natural resources, including oil, natural gas, coal, uranium, rare earth minerals, timber, and fertile agricultural land. Over the last two decades, Africa has emerged as a critical economic and strategic partner for many global powers seeking to secure energy, minerals, and markets for industrial growth….
Introduction The iron and steel industry has historically been the backbone of industrialization, shaping economic development, urbanization, and global trade patterns. Steel is indispensable for infrastructure, construction, automobiles, machinery, and defense industries. Over time, the spatial distribution of iron and steel production has undergone significant changes, influenced by technological advancements, resource availability, globalization, and policy…