Term | Definition |
1. geography | the study of where people, places, and things are located and how they relate to each other |
2. GIS | Geographic information system, which uses computer technology to collect and analyze data about the earths surface in order to solve geographic problems |
3. absolute location | the position on the earth in which a place can be found |
4. hemisphere | Half of the earth. The equator divides the northern and southern hemishperes. The prime meridian divides the eastern and western hemishperes |
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 ones own culture and experiences |
8. formal region | A group of places that has 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 peoples feelings and attitudes |
11. 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 |
12. Mantle | A thick layer of mostly solid rock beneath the earths crust that surrounds the earths core |
13. Crust | the solid rocky surface layer of the earth |
14.Lithosphere | the surface features of the earth including soil rocks and landforms |
15. Atmoshphere | The layer of gases, water vapor, and other substances above the earth |
16. Hydrosphere | The water contained in oceans, lakes, rivers, and under the ground |
17. Bioshpere | The world of pants, animals, and other living things in earths land and waters |
18. Continent | Any of the seven large landmasses of the earths surface: Africa, Antarctica, asia, Austrailia, Europe, North America, and South America |
19. Relief | The differences in elevation, or height, of the landforms in any particular area |
20. Plate Tectonics | The theory that the earths outer shell is composed of a number of large, anchored plates, or slabs of rock, whose constant movement explains earthquake and volcanic activity |
21. Continental Drift Theory | The idea that continents slowly shift their positions due to movement of the tectonic plates on which they ride |
22. Ring of Fire | A ring of volcanic mountains surrounding the Pacific Ocean |
23. Wheathering | The chemical or mechanical process by which rock is gradually broken down, eventually becoming soil |
24. Mechanical Weathering | The actual breaking up or physical weakening of rock by forces such as ice and roots |
25. 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 |
26. 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 |
27. Erosion | The movement of weathered materials, including gravel, soil, and sand, usually caused by water, wind, and glaciers |
28. Sediment | Particles of soil and rock carried and deposited by water, wind, or ice |
29. Loess | Fine-grained, mineral-rich loam, dust, or silt deposited by the wind |
30. Glacier | A huge, slow-moving mass of snow and ice |
31. Moraine | A ridge like mass of rock, gravel, sand, and clay carried and deposited by a glacier |
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