Geography- Chapter 1
Lithosphere
The solid part of the earth
Physical Geography
The study of Earth and it's resources ( the World as God made it)
Human/Cultural Geography
The study of humanity as they live on Earth and uses it's resources
Length, discharge, drainage area, navigability
4 comparisons for rivers
Equator
0 degrees latitude
Prime Meridian
0 degrees longitude
International Date Line
180 degrees longitude
Aquifer
A body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater.
Volcano
A cone-shaped hill or mountain created by molten material that rises form the interior of the earth to the surface
Relative Location
A point or place in relation to another point or place
Tributary
A stream or river that flows into a larger river
Earthquake
A sudden movement of the earth's crust caused by the release of stress accumulated along faults or by volcanic activity
Delta
A triangular area where a river divides before entering a larger body of water
Origins of rivers
Advantages of mountains for human habitation
Wide level areas of land, silt
Advantages of plains for human habitation
Distortion
All maps have some ____________
Ptolemy
Believed in the geocentric theory: earth centered world veiw
Keeping the earth cool, sea life habitat, and food provider
Benefits of Oceans
Drinking water, irrigation, and transportation
Benefits of rivers
Galileo
Confirmed the heliocentric theory and published a book about it; recant his statement after being bought to the church
Hipparchus
Created a grid pattern to determine location
Folding
Created when 2 plates that make up the earth's crust collide and when they are forced together, they bend and curve; mountain building
Fault
Deep cracks in the earth's surface where plates meet
Absolute Location
Describes the location of a place based on a fixed point on earth usually by using latitude and longitude
Copernicus
Devised a model of the universe with the Sun at the center, and not earth; didn't publish a book about his theory because of the Roman Catholic Church
Bad for growing food, traveling, and communication
Disadvantages of mountains for human habitation
None
Disadvantages of plains for human habitation
Poor soil, desert
Disadvantages of plateaus
Geocentric Theory
Earth-centered view of the universe
Changed the earth greatly
Effects of the Great Flood
Mercator
First to create a world map using grid lines; stretched along the poles and accurate around the equator; Greenland was larger than South America
External forces
Forces that break and wear away at the earth
Internal forces
Forces that build the earth up
Condensation
Gas to liquid
Creation Mandate
God's command in Genesis 1:28 requiring that man "subdue" or have stewardship over the earth.
Evaporation
Liquid to gas
Transpiration
Liquid to gas off vegetation
Outer Core
Liquid; iron and nickel
Eratosthenes
Measured the circumference of the earth; first to use the word geography; claimed the earth was a sphere
Mantle
Molten rock known as magma
2.5%
Proportion of fresh water to salt water
29%
Proportion of land on earth's surface
97.5%
Proportion of salt water to fresh water
71%
Proportion of water on earth's surface
Precipitation
Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground.
Humus
Rich, dark organic material formed by decay of vegetable matter, essential to soil's fertility
Lines of Latitude
Run East to West; measure North to South; parallels; an example is the Equator
Lines of Longitude
Run North to South and measure distance East to West; meet at poles; meridians; examples are the Prime Meridian and the International Date Line
Bodies of water
Seas, oceans, and gulfs
Inner Core
Solid; made of iron and nickel
Geography
Study of the earth
Heliocentric Theory
Sun-centered view of the universe
Atomosphere
The air around the earth
Weathering
The breakdown of rock by water, plant roots, ice, temperature changes, acid, and mineral crystals
Hydraulic Cycle
The continuous circulation of water among the atmosphere, the oceans, and the earth.
Continental drift
The hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations
Biosphere
The living part of the earth
Erosion
The natural breakdown of earth's surface; wind, wave, and glacial
River source
The point where a river begins
River mouth
The point where a river empties into a larger body of water
Cartography
The science of mapmaking
Plate Tectonic Theory
The theory that the lithosphere is broken up into large plates that move and then rejoin; considered the unifying theory of geology
Hydrosphere
The water part of the earth
Ring of Fire
The zone of seismic and volcanic activity that coincides in with the margins of the Pacific Plate
Crust
Thin outer layer