World Geo Chapter 1

Front 1

geography

Back 1

The study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth

Front 2

absolute location

Back 2

The exact place on earth where a geographic feature is found; geographers use a grid system of imaginary lines for precisely locating places on the Earth's surface

Front 3

relative location

Back 3

Describes a place in relation to other places around it

Front 4

hemisphere

Back 4

Each half of the globe; since the earth is round, a hemisphere can be north and south or east and west

Front 5

prime meridian

Back 5

The imaginary line at zero meridian used to measure longitude east to west and dividing the Earth's Eeast and west halves; also called the Greenwich Meridian because it passes through Greenwich, England

Front 6

equator

Back 6

The imaginary line that encircles the globe, dividing the earth into northern and southern halves

Front 7

latitude [lines]

Back 7

A set of imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator, and that are used in locating places north or south; the equator is labeled the 0 degree line for latitude

Front 8

longitude [lines]

Back 8

A set of imaginary lines that go around the earth over the poles, dividing it east and west; the Prime Meridian is labeled the 0 degree line for longitude

Front 9

place

Back 9

Place includes the physical features and cultural characteristics of a location; some features are the product of humans interacting with environment sound are the result of humans interacting with animals or with each other

Front 10

region

Back 10

A region is an area of the Earth's surface with similar characteristics; these may include physical political economic or cultural characteristics; geographers categorize regions in three ways: formal functional and perceptual regions

Front 11

human-environment interaction

Back 11

The relationship between humans and their environment; people learn to use what the environment offers them and to change that environment to meet their needs, but also to live with aspects of the environment that they cannot control, such as climate; human beings work to alter their environments to make them better places or to provide needed goods

Front 12

globe

Back 12

A three-dimensional representation of the earth; globes provide a way to view the earth as it travels through space; not easily portable

Front 13

map

Back 13

A two-dimensional graphic representation of selected parts of the Earth's surface; it is easily portable and can be drawn to any scale needed; the disadvantage is that distortion occurs as the earth's surface is flattened to create the map

Front 14

cartographer

Back 14

A mapmaker

Front 15

map projection

Back 15

A way of mapping the Earth's surface that reduces distortion caused by converting three dimensions into two dimensions

Front 16

topographic map

Back 16

A representation of natural and man-made features on the earth; topographic maps are a kind of general reference map

Front 17

Landsat

Back 17

A series of satellites that orbit more than 100 miles above the earth; each satellite picks up data in an area 115 miles wide; Landsat can scan the entire Earth in 16 days

Front 18

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)

Back 18

A weather satellite system; the satellites fly in orbit in sync with Earth's rotation so they always view the same area; they gather images of atmospheric conditions that are useful in forecasting the weather

Front 19

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Back 19

Technology that uses digital map information to create a databank; different data layers can be combined to produce specialized maps; GIS allows geographers to analyze different aspects of a specific place to solve problems; GIS creates a composite map combining the information which can include maps, aerial photographs, satellite images, or other data

Front 20

Global Positioning System

Back 20

Uses a series of 30 satellites called Navstars, which beam information to the earth; the exact position- latitude, longitude, altitude, and time- is displayed on a handheld receiver (phone); used to determine location

Front 21

Distance between each latitude degree

Back 21

70 miles

Front 22

Equidistant

Back 22

Latitudes

Front 23

Measured from 0° to 90° N and 0° to 90° S

Back 23

Latitude

Front 24

Parallels

Back 24

Latitudes

Front 25

Meridians

Back 25

Longitudes

Front 26

Not equidistant

Back 26

Longitudes

Front 27

Plotted on maps from 0° to 180° E and 0° to 180° W

Back 27

Longitudes

Front 28

1' of latitude

Back 28

1 mile

Front 29

1" of latitude

Back 29

100 feet

Front 30

Width of a time zone (degrees)

Back 30

15 degrees

Front 31

Width of 1° of longitude at the equator

Back 31

70 miles

Front 32

Width of 1° of longitude at 45° N/S latitude

Back 32

50 miles

Front 33

Width of 1° of longitude at the N/S Pole

Back 33

0

Front 34

1' of longitude

Back 34

1 mile

Front 35

1" of longitude

Back 35

100 feet

Front 36

1 hour of rotation (degrees)

Back 36

15 degrees

Front 37

Speed of Earth's rotation

Back 37

1050 mph (approx. 1000)

Front 38

Time zone info/equation

Back 38

15°=1hour=1050 miles (1000)

Front 39

Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Back 39

+3 hours

Front 40

Central Standard Time (CST)

Back 40

+2 hours

Front 41

Mountain Standard Time (MST)

Back 41

+1 hour

Front 42

Pacific Standard Time (PST)

Back 42

California time

Front 43

Can be used to measure time and distance

Back 43

Longitudes

Front 44

Used to measure distance

Back 44

Latitudes

Front 45

3 ways to categorize regions

Back 45

Formal, functional, and perceptual