Term | Definition |
1 geography | the study of the earths surface and the processes that shape it, the connections between places, and the complex relationships between people and their environments. |
2 gis | a 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 | 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 ones own culture and experiencies |
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 tributes. |
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 crust. |
13 crust | solid rocky surface layer of the earth. |
14 lithosphere | the surface features of the earth, including soil, rocks, and landforms |
15 atmosphere | 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 biosphere | the world of plants, animals, and other living things in earth's land and waters. |
18 continent | any of the seven large landmasses of the earths surface: africa, antarctica, asia ,australia, europe, north america, and south america. |
19 relief | teh differences in elevation, or height, of the landforms in any particular area. |
20plate tectonics | the theory that the earths outer shell is composed of a number of larger, unanchored plates, or slabs of rock, whose constant movement explains earthquakes 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 weathering | 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 b forces such as ice and roots |
25 chemical weathering | the process by which the actual chemical structure of rock is changed. |
26 acid rain | rain whose high concentration of chemicals, usually from industrial pollution, pollutes water kills, plant and animal life. |
27 erosion | the movement of weathered materials, including gravel, soil, and sand. |
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. |