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World Geography
Ch1 Sec1 Vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
1.Geography | The study of the earths surface and the processes that shape it the complex connections between places and the complex relationships between people and their environment |
2.GIS | A geographic information system which uses computer technology to collect and analyse data about the earth's surface in order to solve geographic problems |
3.absolute location | The position on the earth in which a place can be found |
4.hemisphere | A half of the earth the Equator divides the Northern and Southern hemispheres; the Prime Meridian divides the Eastern and Western hemispheres. |
5.relative location | The position of a place in relation to another place. |
6.character of a place | The physical and human characteristics that help to distinguish a place from other places. |
7.perception | A viewpoint that is influenced by one's own culture and experiences. |
8.formal region | a group of places that have similar attributes for example a political region. |
9.functional region | a group of places connected by movement for example the region drained by the amazon river and its tributaries. |
10.perceptual region | A group of places that is defined by people's feelings and attitudes. |
1.core | The earths center consisting of very hot metal that is dense and solid in the inner core and molten or liquid in the outer core. |
2.mantle | a thick layer of mostly solid rock beneath the earth's crust that surrounds the earth's core. |
3.lithosphere | The surface features of the earth including soil rocks and landforms |
4.atmosphere | The layer of gases water vapor and other substances above the earth |
5.hydrosphere | The water contained in oceans lakes rivers and under the ground. |
6.biosphere | The world plants animal and other living things in earth's land and warters |
7.continent | any of the seven large landmasses of the earth's surface Africa Antarctica Asia Australia Europe North America South America |
8.relief | The differences in elevation or height of the landforms in any particular area |
9.plate tectonics | the theory that the earth's outer shell is composed of a number of large unanchored plates or slabs of rock whose constant movement explains earthquakes and volcanic activity |
10.continental drift theory | The idea that continents slowly shift their positions due to movement of the tectonic plates on which that ride |
11.Ring of Fire | A ring of volcanic mountains surrounding the Pacific Ocean. |
12.Crust | The solid rocky surface layer of the earth. |
1.Weathering | The chemical or mechanical process by which rock is gradually broken down eventually becoming soil. |
2.Mechanical weathering | The actual breaking up or physical weakening of rock by forces such as ice and roots. |
3.Chemical weathering | The process by which the actual chemical structure of rock is changed usually when water and carbon dioxide cause a breakdown of the rock. |
4.acid rain | Rain whose high concentration of chemicals usually from industrial pollution pollutes water kills plant and animal life and eats away at the surface of stone and rock a form of chemical weathering |
5.Erosion | The movement of weathered materials including gravel soil and sand usually caused by water wind and glaciers. |
6.Sediment | Particles of soil and rock carried and deposited by wind water or ice |
7.Loess | Fine grained mineral rich loam dust or silt deposited |
8.Glacier | A huge slow moving mass of snow and ice |
9.Moraine | A ridge like mass of rock gravel sand and clay carried and deposited by a glacier |