Context:
A new study has linked continental break-up to new topological like plateaus and ‘escarpments’ form.
Escarpment:
- An area of the Earth where elevation changes suddenly.
- Usually refers to the bottom of a cliff or a steep slope. (Scarp) refers to the cliff itself.
- Formed by – Erosion or Faulting.
- By Erosion – Erosion creates an escarpment by wearing away rock through wind or water.
- One side of an escarpment may be eroded more than the other side.
- The result of this unequal erosion is a transition zone from one type of sedimentary rock to another.
- Example – Niagara Escarpment
- By Faulting – Faulting is movement of the Earths top layer, or crust, along a crack called a fault.
- It creates escarpments as it moves pieces of the Earth around.
- Example – Elgeyo Escarpment, part of Kenyas Great Rift Valley
- Distribution – Found on every continent, even Antarctica.
Source: Down to Earth
Previous Year Question
In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclones do not originate. What is the reason?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) Sea surface temperatures are low
(b) Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs
(c) Coriolis force is too weak
(d) Absence of land in those regions
Answer: (b)
