Unit 1 Geography Vocabulary
What percent of the land do forests cover?
1/3
Desert covers about what percent of the Earth's surface?
1/5
Deserts
a barren region with little or no rainfall, usually sandy and without trees..
Lake
a body of freshwater surrounded by land
biome characterized by warm temperatures, with a dry season and a rainy season, vegetation includes tall grass and scattered trees
tropical glasslands (savannas)
Geographic Information System (GIS)
use of computer technology to collect, evaluate, process and display geographic data
RAdio Detection And Ranging (RADAR)
uses microwaves to map the terrain of an area. enables geographers to create accurate topographic maps. often used in rainforests.
Humans adapt to their environment
wear clothing appropriate for the environment, architects are developing "smart buildings" that can shift against strong winds or shake snow from the roof.
wind erosion
when the wind picks up dirt and dust and moves it from one place to another
Economic region
place where people do particular kinds of work
Main food producers in an ecosystem
plants
flora and fauna
plants and animals
producers
plants that make their own food
The Earth is made up of giant sections called:
plates
North american grasslands
prairie
human systems
processes initiated by people that shape earth's surface and interact with plant and animal life to create, sustain, and modify ecosystems
physical systems
processes occurring in nature that shape the earth's surface and interact with plant and animal life to create, sustain, and modify ecosystems
The biotic parts of an ecosystem can be grouped in three categories:
producers, consumers, decomposers
Desert animal life
reptiles and small animals
African Grassland
savanna
plates
section of the earth's crust that are continually moving
Asthenosphere
semi-solid layer of the earth lying between the top layer and the upper mantle
Political maps
show features created by humans, show boundaries of countries and states
Physical processes take place
slowly
In cold deserts, precipitation falls as
snow
Erosion carries
solids to a different location
hydrosphere
sphere containing all the earth's water—vapor, liquid, and solid
lithosphere
sphere containing the earth's landforms
trade winds
steady winds between about 30° north and south latitude and the equator helped sailors of trading ships reach their destinations quickly.
Freshwater
streams, rivers, lakes, underground, and in the air.
To sustain plant life, the soil must contain
sufficient nutrients
primary source of energy in an ecosystem
sun
Outer core
surrounds inner core; believed to be molten metal; mix of iron and sulfur
biome characterized by deep, nutrient-rich soil that supports many grass species
temperate grasslands
biome
term used to refer to similar ecosystems throughout the world
ecotourism
travel in natural environments that minimizes its environmental impact
Tropical forests
a woodland of tall trees growing in a region of year-round warmth and abundant rainfall
Azimuthal equidistant
accurate areas near poles, more distortion further from poles; useful for planning air routes
Robinson
accurate areas, distance and directions are distorted; provides attractive overall view
Mercator
accurate directions; areas near the poles appear larger than they are; useful for navigation
Interrupted area
accurate display of continents; useful for showing characteristics of regions
physical processes
activities occurring in nature that shape the earth's surface
Cultural region
an area in which a group of people share a similar culture and language
axis
an imaginary line that the earth rotates around
The movement of soil, mud, and rock which is caused by wind, water, gravity, and human activities
erosion
production, decomposition, recycling, and water and air purification, ecosystems
make life on earth possible
related to the sea; existing in or produced by the sea
marine
core
metallic layer at the earth's center; scientists dont know what its made of; includes inner and outer core
physical characteristics
naturally occurring features of the earth
GPS
network of twenty-four satellites used to provide the locations of places on earth
abiotic
nonliving parts of ecosystems
homogeneous
of the same kind or type
Decomposers
organisms that break down dead plants and animals and return nutrients to the soil
harvesting fish to the point that species are depleted and the value of the fishery reduced
overfishing
permafrost
permanently frozen soil beneath the surface in polar and near-polar areas
cartographer
person who creates maps
Temperature drops about ___ for each ___ feet of elevation
3.5F, 1000
Marine covers approximately
3/4 of the Earth's surface
Without the green house effect, the Earth would be about
60F cooler
Ecosystem
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Grasslands
A biome dominated by grasses and associated herbaceous plants
decidous forest
A forest biome with many kinds of trees that lose their leaves each autumn
Topographic
A map that shows the surface human made features of an area.
renewable resource
A natural resource that can be replaced at the same rate at which the resource is consumed
Place
A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular character.
Outline maps
A type of political map, provide general representation of an area
Continents where you find most tropical areas
Africa and South America
This biome has permafrost and is found at the top of mountains above the tree line
Alpine tundra
In every continent there is grasslands except
Antartica
Biome that encircles the Earth just south of ice-covered polar seas in the Northern Hemisphere
Arctic tundra
taiga forest
Biome in which the winters are cold but summers are mild enough to allow the ground to thaw
Political region
Can be defined by the type of political system it has adopted. Geography and politics are interrelated
Koppen's Climatic Classification System
Divides the world into 5 main climate regions: tropical, dry, moderate, continental, polar
Why does wind move in a circular pattern?
Earth rotates
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Enables us to gather, store, analyze, manipulate, and share information about our earth.
Earthquake activity is mostly near
Fault lines
What kind of water do most living beings need to survive?
Freshwater
Areas characterized as freshwater have low amounts of salt
Freshwater areas
Broken Bar Graph
Further development of a pictograph, used to compare items and relationships.
Climate maps
Indicated climate zones, temperatures, precipitation, wind, areas of similar weather patterns.
greenhouse effect
Natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases
What is the lithosphere?
Landforms; home to plants and animals that make up the biosphere
Physical processes can be grouped into:
Lithosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere
Five Themes of Geography
Location, Place, Human-Environment Interaction, Movement, Region
Plain
Low, flat area
Middle latitudes
Milder; winters are cool, summers are hot; never experience growth as dense as jungles
Where are middle latitudes found?
Most of North America, Europe, and Asia
Subduction
One plate's crust slides under another plate's crust
Why is the inner core dense and solid even though its so hot?
Other layers push down on it and create massive pressure
South American grasslands
Pampas
Why are ecosystems important?
People are dependent on the earth's ecosystems for life. The water we drink, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the air we breathe, the land on which we live are all part of an ecosystem
Why do hurricanes occur?
Physical processes in the hydrosphere
What is responsible for the earth's physical characteristics?
Physical processes; earthquackes, volcanoes, weathering, erosion
Thematic (special purpose) maps
Show specific information
Doldrums
Since there is little wind in the area surrounding the equator, ships that were powered by sails often got stranded there. Sailors called this area the 'doldrums.'
What slows down the rate of erosion?
Presence of plants in an area
People often build homes in coastal areas. Erosion threatens not only the coast, but these homes as well.
Problem with beach erosion
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Provides location, enables us to pinpoint where we are
Humans depend on their environment
Rain provides the water we need to grow crops for food, forests provide wood to build homes
Road or street maps
Represents different types of roads, highways, railroads etc. Helps with road travel.
Humans change their environment
Reservoirs are created to provide drinking water, irrigation is used to increase crop production, roads are built to connect people and places
Why is erosion important?
Sediment carried to new areas often enriches soils, making them more suitable for agriculture.
Land-use maps
Show land areas and their uses. Show land devoted to farming, grazing, and so forth. Used for city planning.
Physical maps
Show physical features such as elevation, land forms, bodies of water
Population maps
Show population density or size
A large area of flat unforested grassland in southeastern Europe or Siberia.
Steppe
the water cycle
The continuous process by which water moves from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back
Line graph
The most accurate, used for compare increases and decreases.
chemical weathering
The process that breaks down rock through chemical changes
beach erosion
The removal of beach materials into the sea or lakes by the action of waves, tides, or wind
Biology
The study of living things
Harshest climate of all ecosystems
Tundra
Relief maps
Type of drawn physical map, shows size, shape, boundaries of a region. some can be 3d, help understand climatic conditions.
Flow charts
Use symbols and connecting lines to diagram the progressions through a complicated process
Bar Graph
Used to compare different quantities at the same point in time.
Pictograph
Uses pictures to describe information. Used to compare items and relationships.
SOund Navigation And Ranging (SONAR)
Uses sound waves to analyze distance and location underwater. Helps georaphers map underwater Earth.
divergent boundary
When plates pull apart
conversion plate boundary
When the plates move towards each other and collide; move upward and form mountains
transform plate boundary
When two plates slide past one another; make fault lines
Ocean
a large body of salt water that surrounds a continent; Oceans cover two-thirds of the earth.
Sea
a large body of salt water, usually connected to an ocean, that is partially or completely surrounded by land
River
a large body of water that usually flows into an ocean or sea
Fault lines
a line on a rock surface or the ground that traces a geological fault.
nonrenewable resource
a resource that cannot be replaced
axis
a vertical (y-axis) or horizontal (x-axis) line used in graphing
only a limited number of animals can live in an ecosystem because
animals depend on plants for food, balance will be destroyed
Consumers
animals that eat producers (plants) or other animals that eat consumers
horse latitudes
are regions of high pressue and gentle winds at about 30 degrees north and south latitude
region
area having a dominant or unifying characteristic
Plateau
area of flat land at high elevations that is higher than the surrounding land
estuaries
areas where freshwater and salt water meet
Polar regions
average temp under 50F; winters are long and harsh; less rainfall
Inner core
believed to be made of solid metal; metal temperature around 12,600 degrees;
Sphere containing earth's plant and animals life; can be found on land, air, water
biosphere
The Earth is in a constant state of _______.
change
The soil is rich in nutrients, Many birds build their nests on the ground, Much has been converted to grow crops.
characteristics of glasslands
hot air rises
cold air sinks
As warm air rises over cooler air, the warm air begins to...
cool
Physical regions
created by physical barriers such as mountains and oceans or borders
When plates pull apart, it causes
crust to collapse, magma rises through the rift
Climate regions
defined by their average temperature and the average precipitation they receive over a long period of time
Relative location
describes where something is using time, distance, or where it is in relationship to other places
Problem with maps
distortion
Winkel Tripel
distortions of distance, area, and direction minimized; useful for mapping entire world
Communities that support life
ecosystems
systems
physical and human processes that shape the earth's surface and interact with plant and animal life to create, sustain, and modify ecosystems
If ecosystems do not remain in balance, they can
fail
Living things (the biosphere) depend on the earth's atmosphere:
for air, to keep the earth's temp steady, to protect from the sun's radiation
Example of physical change
grand canyon
LAtitude areas
grouped according to where they are located
atmospheric circulation
hot air rises, moves, cools and sinks, and is heated again
What characteristics does a place have
human and physical
oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, water vapor
hydrosphere includes
Salt water
in oceans
Mountain
land that rises above the earth's surface that is higher than the surrounding land
How much of earth's surface is covered by freshwater?
less than 1%
the biosphere
living things
The biodiversity, number of species, of the tundra is
low
Valley
low area that usually lies between mountains or hills; Valleys frequently have a river running through them.
Lower and upper mantle
lower is the hottest part of the mantle; both are made of solid rock
Human Characteristics
the actions and ideas of people that change the earth
atmosphere
the air that surrounds the earth
Precipitation
the amount of water that falls on the earth (rain, snow, hail)
Weathering
the breakdown of rocks through exposure to air and water
crust
the earth's outermost layer; forms the lithosphere
Volcanic activity
the eruption of melted rock from the earth's interior
international treaty on climate change signed by more than 160 nations, addresses issues related to pollution
the kyoto protocol
ocean circulation
the large scale movement of waters in the ocean basins. Winds drive surface circulation, and the cooling and sinking of waters in the polar regions drive deep circulation.
biotic
the living parts of an ecosystem
Biodiversity
the number and variety of plants and animals living in an area
deforestation
the process of removing trees from an area
projection
the representation of a three-dimensional object such as the earth onto a two-dimensional plane or map
Anthropology
the study of humans, their culture and history
physics
the study of matter and energy
mathematics
the study of numbers, their operations, and relationships
Geology
the study of the Earth and the processes that formed it
Human Environment Interaction
the study of the interrelationship between people and their physical environment
Chemistry
the study of the properties, composition, and changes of matter (physical objects)
Astronomy
the study of the universe
Earthquakes
the sudden movement of the earth's surface
low latitudes
the tropics; have a high average temperature; have rainfall
Erosion
the wearing-away of soil and land by water or wind;
plate tectonics
theory that attributes the earth's physical processes to the movements of the sections of its crust
mantle
thick, hot layer of semi-solid rock in between core and crust; keeps heat in the core
wetlands
transitional area between land and water systems that supports aquatic plants