chapter 1 Flashcards
physical geography
physical geography use spatial perspective to examine processes and events happening at specific locations, analyze air, water, land, and living systems
open and closed systems,
open system is when inputs of energy and matter flow into the system, and outputs of energy and matter flow from the system, like the earth and the sun, close system is when its shut off from the surrounding environment so that it is self-contained, like the earth and the its material resources,
Explain earths reference grid; latitude and longitude and latitudinal geographic zones and time
time, 360 degrees (360°), each degree is 60 minutes (60’), each minutes is 60 seconds (60”), latitude, parallel to the equator, longitude, perpendicular to the equator so parallel to the meridian, latitudinal geographic zones, equatorial, tropical, subtropical, midlatitude, subarctic, subantarctic, arctic, antarctic
Describe modern geoscience techniques - the global positioning systems (GPS) remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS)
GPS, relies on satellites in orbit to provide precise location and elevation, like remote sensing utilizes spacecraft, aircraft, and ground-based sensors to provide visual data that enhance our understanding of earth, GIS, is a means for storing and processing large amounts of spacial data as separate layers of geographic information, user friendly
Location
the exact location of a people, places, and things
Region
area
Human - Earth relationships
resources utilization and exploitation, impact of environmental modification and artificial landscape creation
Movement
migration, communication, and the interaction of people and processes across space
Place
tangible and intangible characteristics that make each location unique
Spatial analysis
examination of spacial interactions, patterns, and variations over area and or space
Process
actions and changes that occur in some special order
Earth systems science
interacting set of physical, chemical, and biological systems that produce the processes of a whole- earth system
Sustainability science
sustainable development related to functioning earth systems
System
any ordered, interrelated set of materials or items existing separate from the environment or within a boundary, link by flows of energy and matter, link together
Feedback loop
a portion of system output is returned as an information input, causing changes that guide further system operation
Steady-state equilibrium
the rates of inputs and outputs in the system are equal and the amounts of energy and matter in storage within the system are constant
Threshold
tipping point, no longer maintain is character, lurches to a new operational level, may not be compatible with previous conditions anymore
Geodesy
science that determines earths shape and size through surveys, mathematical means, and remote sensing
Geoid
the earth shape, not a perfect sphere
Photogrammetry
the science of obtaining accurate measurements from aerial photos and remote sensing; used to create and improve surface maps
Equal area
a trait of a map projection; indicates the equivalence of all areas on the surface of the map, although shape is distorted
True shape
a map property showing the correct configuration of coastlines
Rhumb line
constant line which intersects all meridians at the same angle, is straight on a mercator projection, for a plane, it would be the shortest distance between two points
Spatial
nature and character of physical space, a place where we are speak about something
Atmosphere
air, energy from sun
Hydrosphere
water. Creating life, cryosphere (the frozen portion of water on earth)
Lithosphere
ground, supporting life
Biosphere
ecosystem, essentiel for life, or ecosphere
Abiotic
non living, 3, atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere
Biotic
living, 1, biosphere
Albedo
is the ration of reflected solar radiation to the total incoming solar radiation, positive feedback
A great circle
any circle of earth’s circumference whose centre coincides with the centre of earth, there’s only one, the equatorial parallel
International date line
along the 180th meridian were you changed date of the day, not only an hour
Graphic scale
the scale enlarge or reduce with the map
Remote sensing
observing earth from space, acquisition of information about distant objects without having physical contact
Passive remote sensing
records wavelengths of energy radiated from a surface, particularly visible light and infrared, our own eyes are passive remote sensors
Active remote-sensing
direct a beam or energy at a surface and analyze the energy reflected back, radar
Geovisualization
is the technique of adjusting geospatial data sets in real time
Geography
The science that studies the interdependence and interaction among geographic areas, natural systems, processes, society, and cultural activities over space, a spacial science, geo mean earth, graphein mean to write
Dynamic equilibrium
When a system demonstrate a changing trend over time to a new operation level as it reaches a threshold called tipping point
