Term | Definition |
1.Geography | The study of earth's surface and the processes that shape it. |
2.Functional Region | A group of places connected by movement. |
3.Character of a Place | The physical and Human characteristics that help distinguish a place from other places. |
4.Absolute Location | The position on the earth in which a place can be found. |
5.Formal Region | A group of places that have similar attributes. |
6.GIS | A geographic information system, which uses computer technology to collect and analyze data about the earth's surface in order to solve geographic problems. |
7.Hemispheres | A half of the earth. North/South is separated by the equator, East/West is separated by the Prime Meridian. |
8.Relative Location | The position of a place in relation to another place. |
9.Perceptual Region | A group of places that is defined by peoples' attitudes and feelings. |
10.Perception | A viewpoint that is influenced by ones own experiences and cultures. |
11.Core | The earth's 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 earth's crust that surrounds the earth's core. |
13.Crust | The solid, rocky, surface layer of the earth. |
14.Lithosphere | The surface features of the earth including soil rocks and land forms. |
15.Atmosphere | The layer of the 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, North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. |
19.Relief | The differences in elevation or height of the land forms in any particular area |
20.Plate Tectonics | The theory that the earth's outer shell is made up of a number of large unanchored plates, or slabs or rocks,whose constant movement explains earthquakes and volcanic activity. |
21.Continental Drift theory | The idea that continents slowly shift their positions due to movements of the tectonic plates on which they ride. |
22.Ring of fire | A ring of volcanic islands in 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 rocks by forces such as ice and roots |
25.Chemical Weathering | The process by which the actual chemical structure of the rock is changed, usually water and carbon dioxide cause a breakdown of the rock |
26.Acid Rain | Rain whose high concentrate of chemicals, usually from industrial pollution, pollutes water, kills plant and animal life, and eats away 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. |