Major landforms such as mountain ranges, plateaus, and deserts play a crucial role in shaping the climate, ecosystems, and human life across the globe.
Mountain ranges are long, narrow chains of mountains formed by tectonic activities, while plateaus are elevated flatlands that can cover vast areas. Deserts are arid regions characterised by low precipitation. Key geological processes such as continental drift and orogeny contribute to the formation and continued evolution of these landforms.
The formation of mountain ranges often occurs through the collision of tectonic plates, a process known as orogeny. For instance, the Himalayas were formed as the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate. Plateaus can form due to volcanic activity, sediment deposition, or erosion. Deserts, on the other hand, can be created through rain shadow effects, where mountains block moisture, as seen in the case of the Sierra Nevada in North America, resulting in arid regions on their leeward side.
Mountain ranges influence climate by acting as barriers to prevailing winds, which can create microclimates. For example, the Andes Mountains in South America create a significant rain shadow effect that impacts the ecosystems of both the western and eastern slopes. Deserts, being regions with minimal vegetation, generally experience drastic temperature variations and support minimal biodiversity compared to other ecosystems. Human life in these regions often adapts to the challenging conditions through agriculture, settlement patterns, and resource utilisation.
Understanding terms such as lithosphere (the rigid outer layer of the Earth), biosphere (the global sum of all ecosystems), and orogeny is essential for comprehending the intricate relationships between these landforms and the environment.
