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World geography 111
chapter 1 vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1. Geography | The study of the earths surface and the process 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 view point that is influenced by ones 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 tribute. |
| 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 land forms. |
| 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 earths 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 | The difference of 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, unanchored plates, or slabs of rock whose constant movement |
| 21.Continental drift theory | The idea that continents slowly shift their positions due to movement of the tectonics plates on which they ride. |
| 22. Ring on fire | A ring of volcanic mountains surrounding he 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 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 | Small particles of soil, sand, and gravel carried and deposited by water. |
| 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 ricked |