Geography

Geomorphology is the scientific study of the origin and evolution of Earth's landscapes, including current and past landforms. It explains how landscapes are formed and changed over time.

Japan is called the 'Land of the Rising Sun' because it is located to the east of the Asian continent, making it one of the first countries to see the sunrise each day. This geographical position results in Japan experiencing the earliest sunrise compared to many other countries.

Orographic rainfall occurs when moist air is forced to ascend over mountains, cooling and condensing to form precipitation. This is specifically related to mountainous terrain, unlike the other types of rainfall listed.

A canyon is a deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it, formed by erosion over a long period. Therefore, 'Gorge' is the correct term describing a canyon.

A wind that reverses its direction seasonally is called a monsoon. This phenomenon is characteristic of regions like South Asia, where the wind direction changes between summer and winter, bringing distinct wet and dry seasons.

The Sukkur Barrage on the river Indus at Sukkur was constructed during the British Raj from 1923 to 1932. It was officially completed and opened in 1932. Therefore, the correct answer is 1932, which corresponds to option A.

Each degree of longitude corresponds to a 4-minute difference in time because the Earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours, so 360 degrees/24 hours = 15 degrees per hour, and 60 minutes/15 degrees = 4 minutes per degree.

Frost shattering, also known as freeze-thaw weathering, occurs on valley sides above glaciers where water enters cracks, freezes, expands, and breaks the rock apart. This process is typical above the glacier surface, unlike plucking and abrasion which happen at the glacier base, and chemical weathering which is less dominant in cold environments.

Afternoon rains in equatorial regions are primarily caused by convectional rainfall, which occurs when the sun heats the land surface, causing warm air to rise, cool, condense, and form rain clouds in the afternoon.

The Gulf Stream is primarily caused by the difference in water level and density, which creates pressure gradients that drive the current. It is a western boundary current formed by the convergence of warm water from the Gulf of Mexico (via the Florida Current) and tropical water from the North Atlantic Equatorial Current. The prevailing winds and the Coriolis effect also contribute to its flow, but the key driver is the difference in water level and density along the Atlantic coast, which creates a pressure gradient that initiates and sustains the Gulf Stream.