Word | Definition |
Geography | The study of the Earth's features that are on its surface including landforms, bodies of water, plants, animals and people |
Spatial | Relating to space or position of things |
Physical Geography | The studies of the natural features on the Earth's surface |
Human Geography | The studies of people and how they have spread across the world |
Relative Location | Where a place is located in relation to another place |
Absolute Location | The precise point where a place is located on Earth |
Distortion | A change in the shape, size, or position of a place when it is shown on a map |
Map Projection | A way of representing the spherical Earth on a flat surface |
Compass Rose | A diagram on a map that shows directions such as north, south, east, and west |
Cardinal Directions | The four main directions on a compass rose: north, south, east, and west |
Intermediate Directions | The directions on a compass rose, such as southeast, that are located between the cardinal directions |
Map Legend | A box or other display on a map that explains the meaning of the symbols used on the map |
Map Grid | A system of imaginary lines that divides up the space on a map |
Parallels of Latitude | An imaginary line around Earth that runs parallel to the equator |
Meridians of Longitude | An imaginary line between the North and South poles that crosses the equator at right angles |
Prime Meridians | The meridian of longitude labeled 0 degrees, from which all other degrees of longitude are measured. This passes through Greenwich, England |
International Date Line | The meridian of longitude located at 180º by international agreement, the date is one day earlier to the east of this line |
Coordinates | A set of numbers that together describe the exact location of something, such as a place on a map |
Map Scale | An element of a map that shows how a unit of distance on the map (such as an inch) relates to actual distance on the surface of Earth |
Hemisphere | One half of a sphere. Earth can be divided into eastern and western hemispheres or into northern and southern hemisphere |
Landmass | A very large, unbroken area of land |
Revolution | One complete trip by Earth around the sun |
Axis | An imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole through the center of Earth |
Tropic of Cancer | The northernmost line of latitude where the sun’s rays ever beat straight down. This line marks the northern limit of the tropical zone |
Tropic of Capricorn | The southernmost line of latitude where the sun’s rays ever beat straight down. This line marks the southern limit of the tropical zone |