Physical Geography Chapter 1

Front 1

Model

Back 1

A simplified, idealized representation of part of the real world.

Front 2

Abiotic

Back 2

non-living. Spheres include: Atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere

Front 3

Biotic

Back 3

living. Sphere inlcudes: biosphere

Front 4

Atmosphere

Back 4

A thin gaseous veil surrounding the earth, held to the planet by the force of gravity.

Front 5

Hydrosphere

Back 5

The Earth's waters

Front 6

Cryosphere

Back 6

The portion of the hydrosphere that is frozen.

Front 7

Lithosphere

Back 7

Earth's crust and a portion of the upper mantle.

Front 8

Biosphere

Back 8

The intricate, interconnected web that connects all organisms with their physical environment.

Front 9

Ptolemy

Back 9

90-168 AD Geographer, Astronomer and mathematician. Contributed greatly to the development of modern maps. Divide circle into 360* with each degree having 60 minutes (60') and each minute having 60 seconds (60").

Front 10

Latitude

Back 10

East to West, parallel with the equator.  Used to determine your location in degrees North or South of the Equator.

Front 11

Parallel

Back 11

A line connecting all the same points along the same latitude

Front 12

Longitude

Back 12

North to South parallel with Prime Meridian.  Used to determine your location in degrees East or west of the Prime Meridian.

Front 13

Meridian

Back 13

A line connecting all points along the same longitude.

Front 14

Great Circle

Back 14

Any circle of Earth's whose center coincides with the center of the Earth.

Front 15

Small Circle

Back 15

A circle whose center does not coincide with Earth's center

Front 16

Earth Systems Science

Back 16

Study of physical, chemical, and biological systems that produce a whole Earth

Front 17

Geography

Back 17

Geo=Earth Grapein=to write.  science that studies the relationships among natural systems, geographic areas, society, cultural activities and the interdependence of all of these over space.

Front 18

Spatial

Back 18

Nature and character of physical space, its measurement, and the distribution of things within it

Front 19

Spatial Analysis

Back 19

A method that governs geography

Front 20

Process

Back 20

A set of actions or mechanisms that operate in some special order

Front 21

Physical Geography

Back 21

Spatial Analysis of all the physical elements and the process systems that make up the environment.

Front 22

System

Back 22

Any ordered, interrelated set of things and their attributes linked by flows of energy and matter as distinct from the surrounding environment outside the system.

Front 23

Open System

Back 23

Inputs of energy and matter flow into and out of a system`

Front 24

Closed System

Back 24

A system that is shut off from the surrounding environment.  Rarley found in nature.  Earth is essentially a closed system

Front 25

Feedback Loops

Back 25

Outputs that influence a systems operations. Outputs or information returns to various points in the system via pathways.

Front 26

Negative Feedback

Back 26

Feedback loops that discourage change in the system

Front 27

Positive Feedback

Back 27

Feedback Loops that encourage change in the system

Front 28

Steady-State Equilibirum

Back 28

When the rates of inputs and outputs in the system are equal and the amounts of energy and matter in storage within the system are constant. (fluctuate around an average)

Front 29

Dynamic Equilibrium

Back 29

A system demonstrating change over time

Front 30

Threshold

Back 30

Tipping point - System can no longer maintain its character, it lurches to a new operational level.

Front 31

Metastable Equilibrium

Back 31

The new operational level after a threshold event

Front 32

Five Themes of Geography

Back 32

Location, Place, Region, Movement, Human-Earth Relationship

Front 33

1st person to calculate the circumference of the Earth

Back 33

Eratosthenes 247BC

Front 34

GMT

Back 34

Greenwich Mean Time:  0 degree longitude, Universal Time Set

Front 35

IDL

Back 35

International Date Line:  Opposite Prime Meridian, Place where the day begins

Front 36

UTC

Back 36

Coordinated Universal Time:  Replaced GMT in 1972.  Reffered to as Zulu time (Z)

Front 37

Equal Area

Back 37

Map Projection involving equivalency

Front 38

Map Projection

Back 38

The reduction of the spherical earth to a flat surface

Front 39

True Shape

Back 39

Projection of a map involving conformality.  

Front 40

Mercator Projection

Back 40

Gerardus Mercator 1569.  Cylindrical projection of the earth (True Shape)

Front 41

Rhumb Line

Back 41

A line of constant direction on a Mercator Map

Front 42

GOES

Back 42

Geostational Operational Environment Satellites

Front 43

GIS

Back 43

Geographic Information Systems:  Computer-based data-processing tool for gathering, manipulating, and analyzing geographic information.