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258 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Geography
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the study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth
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Absolute location
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the exact place on earth where a geographic feature is found
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relative location
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describes a place in relation to other places around it
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hemisphere
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each half of the globe
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equator
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the imaginary line that encircles the globe, dividing the earth into northern and southern halves
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prime meridian
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the imaginary line at zero meridian used to measure longitude east to west, and dividing the earth's east and west halves
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latitude
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a set of imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator, and that are used in locating places north or south
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longitude
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a set of imaginary lines that go around the earth over the poles, dividing it east and west
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globe
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a three-dimensional representation of the earth
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maps
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a two-dimensional graphic representation of selected parts of the earth's surface
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cartographer
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a mapmaker
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map projection
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a way of mapping the earth's surface that reduces distortion caused by converting three dimensions into two dimensions
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topographic map
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a general reference map; a representation of natural and man-made features on the earth
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Landsat
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a series of satellites that orbit more than 100 miles above the earth
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Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
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a technology that uses digital map info to create a databank
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biosphere
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all the parts of the earth where plants and animals live, including the atmosphere, the lithosphere, and the hydrosphere
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continental drift
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the hypothesis that all continents were once joined into a supercontinent that split apart over millions of years
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hydrologic cycle
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the continuous circulation of water among the atmosphere, the oceans, and the earth
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drainage basin
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an area drained by a major river and its tributaries
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ground water
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the water held under the earth's surface, often in and around the pores of rock
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water table
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the level at which rock is saturated
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What is an opening in the earth, usually raised, through which gasses and lava escape from the earth's interior?
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volcano
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What is a narrow channel connecting two larger bodies of water?
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strait
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What is a body of land surrounded by water?
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island
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What is a lowland region that is saturated by water?
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swamp
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What is a point of land extending into an ocean or lake?
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cape/peninsula
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What is level of the ocean's surface, used as a reference point when measuring the height or depth of the earth's surface?
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sea level
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What is part of an ocean or lake partially enclosed by land?
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bay/gulf
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What is a sheltered area of water deep enough for docking ships?
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harbor
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What is the place where a river flows into a lake or an ocean?
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river mouth
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What is soft, wet, low-lying, grassy land that serves as a transition between water and land?
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marsh
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What is a triangular area of land formed from deposits at the mouth of a river?
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delta
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What is flat land near the edges of rivers formed by mud and silt deposited by floods?
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flood plain
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What is a raised, flat area of land with steep cliffs, smaller than a mesa?
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butte
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What is a spot of fertile land in a desert, fed by water from wells or underground springs?
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oasis
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What is a large, level area of grassland with few or no trees?
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prairie
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What is a wide, treeless grassy plain?
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steppe
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What is natural elevation of the earth's surface with steep sides and greater height than a hill?
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mountain
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What is low land between hills or mountains?
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valley
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What is a large ice mass that moves slowly down a mountain or over land?
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glacier
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What is a wide, flat-topped mountain with steep sides, larger than a butte?
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mesa
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What is a broad, flat area of land higher than the surrounding land?
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plateau
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What is a step-like series of waterfalls?
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cataract
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What is a narrow, deep valley with steep sides?
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canyon
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What is the steep, almost vertical edge of a hill, mountain, or plain?
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cliff
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continental shelf
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the earth's surface from the edge of a continent to the deep part of the ocean
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relief
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the difference in elevation of a landform from the lowest point to the highest point
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topography
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the combined characteristics of landforms and their distribution in a region
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tectonic plates
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an enormous moving shelf that forms the earth's crust
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3 types of boundaries
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divergent, convergent, transform
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fault
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a fracture in the earth's crust
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earthquake
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a sometimes violent movement of the earth, produced when tectonic plates grind or slip past each other at a fault
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seismograph
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a device that measures the size of the waves created by an earthquake
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epicenter
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the point on the earth's surface that corresponds to the location in the earth where an earthquake begins
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Richter Scale
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a way to measure information collected by seismographs to determine the relative strength of an earthquake
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tsunami
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a giant ocean wave, caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic, eruption, with great destructive power
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Ring of Fire
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the chain of volcanoes that lines the Pacific Rim
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Weathering
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physical and chemical processes that change the characteristics of rock on or near the earth's surface, occurring slowly over many years
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sediment
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small pieces of rock produced by weathering processes
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mechanical weathering
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natural processes that break, rock into smaller pieces
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chemical weathering
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a process that changes rock into a new substance through interactions among elements in the air or water and the minerals in the rock
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erosion
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the result of weathering on matter, created by the action of wind, water, ice, or gravity
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loess
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wind-blown silt and clay sediment that produces very fertile soil
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glaciation
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the changing of landforms by slowly moving glaciers
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moraine
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a ridge or hill of rock carried and finally deposited by a glacier
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humus
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organic material in soil
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5 factors of soil
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parent material, relief, organisms, climate, time
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solstice
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either of two times of year when the sun's rays shine directly overhead at noon at the furthest points north or south, and that mark the beginning of summer and winter
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equinox
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each of the two days in a year on which day and night are equal in length
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weather
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the condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time
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climate
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the typical weather conditions at a particular location as observed over time
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rain shadow
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the land on the leeward side of hills or mountains that gets little rain from the descending dry air
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hurricanes
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a storm that forms over warm, tropical ocean waters,
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typhoons
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a tropical storm, like a hurricane, that occurs in the western Pacific
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tornado
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a powerful funnel-shaped column of spiraling air
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blizzard
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a heavy snowstorm with winds of more than 35 miles per hour and reduced visibility of less than one-quarter mile
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drought
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a long period without rain or with very minimal rainfall
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convection
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the transfer of heat in the atmosphere by upward motion of the air
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greenhouse effect
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the layer of gases released by the burning of coal and petroleum that traps solar energy, causing global temperature to increase
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tundra
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the flat treeless lands forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean
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permafrost
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permanently frozen ground
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biome
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a regional ecosystem
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deciduous
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a named characteristic of broadleaf trees
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rain forest
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a forest region located in the Tropical Zone with a heavy concentration of different species of broadleaf trees
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coniferous
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another word for needleleaf trees
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savanna
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the term for the flat, grassy, mostly treeless plains in the tropical grassland region
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steppe
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the term used for the temperate grassland region in the Northern Hemisphere
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culture
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the total of knowledge, altitudes, and behaviors shared by and passed on by members of a group
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ethnic group
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a group of people who share language, customs, and a common heritage
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society
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a group that shares a geographic region, a common language, and a sense of identity and culture
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innovation
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taking existing elements of society and creating something new to meet a need
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diffusion
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the spread of ideas, inventions, or patterns of behavior to different societies
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cultural hearth
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the heartland or place of origin of a major culture; a site of innovation from which basic ideas, materials, and technology diffuse to other cultures
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Acculturation
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the cultural change that occurs when individuals in society accept or adopt an innovation
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religion
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the belief in a supernatural power or powers that are regarded as the creators and maintainers of the universe, as well as the system of beliefs itself
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3 types of religion
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monotheistic, polytheistic, animistic
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birthrate
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the number of live births per total population, often expressed per thousand population
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fertility rate
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the average number of children a woman of childbearing years would have in her lifetime, if she had children at the current rate for her country
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mortality rate
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the number of deaths per thousand
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infant mortality rate
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the number of deaths among infants under age one as measured per thousand live births
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rate of natural increase
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also called population growth rate - the rate at which population is growing, found by subtracting the mortality rate from the birthrate
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population pyramid
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a graphic device that shows gender and age distribution of a population
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push factors
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a factor that causes people to leave their homelands and migrate to another region
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population density
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the average number of people who live in a measurable area, reached by dividing the number of inhabitants in an area by the amount of land they occupy
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carrying capacity
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the number of organisms a piece of land can support without negative effects
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nation
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a group of people with a common culture living in a territory and having a strong sense of unity
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democracy
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a type of government in which citizens hold political power either directly or through elected representatives
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monarchy
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a type of government in which a ruling family headed by a king or queen holds political power and may or may not share the power with citizen bodies
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dictatorship
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a type of government in which an individual or a group holds complete political power
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communism
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a system in which the government holds nearly all political power and the means of production
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landlocked
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having no outlet to the sea
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urban geography
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the study of how people use space in cities
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metropolitan area
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a functional area including a city and its surrounding suburbs and exurbs, linked economically
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urbanization
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the dramatic rise in number of cities and the changes in lifestyle that results
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central business district
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the core of a city, which is almost always based on commercial activity
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economic system
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the way people produce and exchange goods
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traditional economy
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goods and services are traded without exchanging money
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command economy
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production of goods and services is determined by a central government which usually owns the means of production
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market economy
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production of goods and services is determined by the demand from consumers
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mixed economy
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a combination of command and market economies provides goods and services so that all people will benefit
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infrastructure
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the basic support systems needed to keep an economy going, including power, communications, transportation, water, sanitation, and education systems
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In which hemisphere is the summer solstice the longest day and the winter solstice the shortest day?
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Northern Hemisphere
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pull factor
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a factor that draws or attracts people to another location
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per capita income
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the average amount of money earned by each person in a political unit
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gross natural product (GNP)
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the total value of all goods and services produced by a country in a period of time
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gross domestic product (GDP)
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the value of only goods and services produced by a country in a period of time
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Appalachian Mountains
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one of two major mountain chains in the eastern United States and Canada, extending 1,600 miles from Newfoundland south to Alabama
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Great Plains
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a vast grassland of central North America that is largely treeless and ascends to 4,000 feet above sea level
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Canadian Shield
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a northern part of the interior lowlands that is a rocky, flat region covering nearly two million square miles and encircling Hudson Bay
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Rocky Mountains
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a major mountain system of the United States and Canada, extending 3,000 miles from Alaska south to New Mexico
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Continental Divide
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the line of the highest points in North America that marks the separation between rivers flowing eastward and westward
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Great Lakes
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a group of five freshwater lakes of central North America between the United States and Canada
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Mackenzie River
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Canada's longest river, which is part of a river system that flows across the Northwest Territories to the Arctic Ocean
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prevailing westerlies
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winds that blow from west to east
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Everglades
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a large subtropical swampland in Florida of about 4,000 square miles
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nomads
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a person with no permanent home who moves according to the seasons from place to place in search of food, water, and grazing land
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Beringia
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a land bridge thought to have connected what are now Siberia and Alaska
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St. Lawrence Seaway
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North America's most important deepwater ship route, connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the St. Lawrence River
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locks
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a section of a waterway with closed gates where water levels are raised or lowered, through which ships pass
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migration
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the movement of peoples within a country or region
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Columbian Exchange
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a northern part of the interior lowlands that is a rocky, flat region covering nearly two million square miles and encircling Hudson Bay
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Louisiana Purchase
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the territory, including the region between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, that the United States purchased from France in 1803
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frontier
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the free, open land in the American West that was available for settlement
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suburbs
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a political unit or community touching the borders of the central city or touching other suburbs that touch the city
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representative democracy
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a government in which the people rule through elected representatives
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exports
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a product or good that is sold from one economy to another
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free enterprise
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an economic system in which private individuals own most of the resources, technology, and businesses and can operate them for profit with little control from the government
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service industry
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any kind of economic activity that produces a service rather than a product
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postindustrial economy
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an economic phase in which manufacturing no longer plays a dominant role
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multinationals
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a corporation that engages in business worldwide
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New England
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the six northern states in the Northeast United States - Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut
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megalopolis
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a region in which several large cities and surrounding areas grow together
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Midwest
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the region that contains the 12 states of the north-central United States
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The South
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a region that covers about one-fourth of the land area of the United States and contains more than one-third of its population
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metropolitan area
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a functional area including a city and its surrounding suburbs and exurbs, linked economically
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The West
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North American region, consisting of 13 states, that stretches from the Great Plains to the Pacific Ocean and includes Alaska to the north and Hawaii in the Pacific
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provinces
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a political unit
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Dominion of Canada
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the loose confederation of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, created by the British North America Act in 1867
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confederation
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a political unit
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parliamentary government
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a system where legislative and executive functions are combined in a legislature called a parliament
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parliament
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a representative lawmaking body whose members are elected or appointed and in which legislative executive functions are combined
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prime minister
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the head of a government; the majority party's leader in parliment
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First Nations
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a group of Canada's Native American people
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metis
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a person of mixed French-Canadian and Native American ancestry
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reserves
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public land set aside for native peoples by the government
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Atlantic Provinces
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the provinces in Eastern Canada - Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland
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Quebec
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one of Canada's Core Provinces
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Ontario
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one of Canada's Core Provinces
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Prairie Provinces
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in Canada, the provinces west of Ontario and Quebec - Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta
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British Columbia
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Canada's westernmost province, located within the Rocky Mountain range
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Nunavut
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one of Canada's territories and home to many of Canada's Inuiet; it was carved out of the eastern half of the Northwest Territories in 1999
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terrorism
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the use of, or threatened use of, force or violence against individuals or property for the purpose of intimidating or causing fear for political or social ends
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global network
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a worldwide interconnected group
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coalition
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an alliance
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Biological weapons
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a bacterium or virus that can be used to harm or kill people, animals, or plants
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urban sprawl
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poorly planned development that spreads a city's population over a wider and wider geographic ara
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smart growth
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the efficient use and conservation of land and other resources
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sustainable communities
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a community where residents can live and work in harmony with the environment
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Andes Mountains
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a large system of mountain ranges located along the Pacific coast of Central and South America
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llanos
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a large, grassy, treeless area in South America, used for grazing and farming
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cerrado
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a savanna that has flat terrain and moderate rainfall, which make it suitable for farming
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pampas
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a vast area of grassland and rich soil in south-central South America
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Orinoco River
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a river mainly in Venezuela and part of South America's northernmost river system
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Amazon River
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Parana River
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slash-and-burn
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Terraced farming
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spanish conquest
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Tenochtitlan
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Industrial Revolutionary Party
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mestizo
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Maquiladoras
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NAFTA
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United Provinces of Central America
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Panama Canal
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Calypso
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Regae
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informal economy
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Inca
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Quechua
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Treaty of Tordesillas
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Carnival
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samba
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Capoeira
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biodiversity
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deforestation
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global warming
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debt-for-nature swap
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oligarchy
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junta
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caudillo
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land reform
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fjords
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uplands
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Meseta
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Massif Central
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North Atlantic Drift
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mistral
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sirocco
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dikes
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polder
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seaworks
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terpen
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Zuider Zee
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Ijsselmeer
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city-state
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republic
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Crusades
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Renaissance
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aqueducts
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Benelux
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Reformation
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feudalism
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Nationalism
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Holocaust
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Berlin Wall
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Nordic countries
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parliament
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Silicon Glen
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euro
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cultural crossroads
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balkanization
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satellite nations
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market economy
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folk art
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anti-Semitism
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Slobodan Milosevic
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South Slavs
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ethnic cleansing
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KLA
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Vojislav Kostunica
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cyanide
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European Environmental Agency
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particulates
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smog
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ozone
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sources of water pollution
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sewage, chemical fertilizers and oil spills
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