Chapter 1 Physical, Spatial, And Environmental Science Flashcards

1
Q

What is physical geography?

A

The branch of geography that deals with the natural environment and physical processes.

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2
Q

What is geography?

A

The study of the Earth’s landscapes, environments, and the relationships between people and their environments.

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3
Q

What is human geography?

A

The branch of geography that focuses on the study of human activities and their relationship with the environment.

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4
Q

What is a spatial discipline?

A

A field of study that examines the arrangement of phenomena across space.

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5
Q

What is a region?

A

An area defined by certain unifying characteristics.

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6
Q

What is cartography?

A

The art and science of map-making.

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7
Q

What is the scientific method?

A

A systematic process for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.

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8
Q

What is a system?

A

A set of interconnected components that work together to form a complex whole.

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9
Q

What is the Earth system?

A

The complex system of interactions between the atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere.

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10
Q

What is a subsystem?

A

A smaller, self-contained system within a larger system.

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11
Q

What is the atmosphere?

A

The layer of gases surrounding the Earth.

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12
Q

What is the lithosphere?

A

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

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13
Q

What is the biosphere?

A

The global sum of all ecosystems, where life exists.

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14
Q

What is the hydrosphere?

A

All the water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater.

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15
Q

What is absolute location?

A

The precise location of a point on the Earth’s surface, usually expressed in coordinates.

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16
Q

What is relative location?

A

The position of a place in relation to other places.

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17
Q

What is spatial distribution?

A

The arrangement of a phenomenon across the Earth’s surface.

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18
Q

What is spatial pattern?

A

The geometric arrangement of objects in space.

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19
Q

What is spatial interaction?

A

The movement and flow of people, goods, and information between locations.

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20
Q

What is the environment?

A

The surrounding conditions in which an organism lives.

21
Q

What is ecology?

A

The branch of biology that studies the interactions between organisms and their environment.

22
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

A community of living organisms and their interactions with the environment.

23
Q

What is a natural hazard?

A

A natural event that poses a threat to human life or property.

24
Q

What is environmental degradation?

A

The deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources.

25
Q

What is pollution?

A

The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment.

26
Q

What is a natural resource?

A

Materials or substances occurring in nature that can be exploited for economic gain.

27
Q

What is environmental overshoot?

A

The situation where humanity’s demand on the Earth’s ecosystems exceeds what the planet can regenerate.

28
Q

What is environmental sustainability?

A

The ability to maintain the qualities that are valued in the physical environment.

29
Q

What is a model?

A

A simplified representation of a system used to understand and predict its behavior.

30
Q

What is a pictorial/graphic model?

A

A visual representation of a concept or system.

31
Q

What is a physical model?

A

A tangible representation of an object or system.

32
Q

What is a mathematical/statistical model?

A

A model that uses mathematical equations to represent relationships within a system.

33
Q

What is a computer-generated model?

A

A model created using computer software to simulate real-world processes.

34
Q

What is a conceptual model?

A

A representation of a system that outlines its components and relationships.

35
Q

What is a mental map?

A

An individual’s internal representation of the world or a specific area.

36
Q

What is systems analysis?

A

The study of a system’s components and their interactions.

37
Q

What is input?

A

The resources or data that are put into a system for processing.

38
Q

What is output?

A

The results or products generated by a system after processing inputs.

39
Q

What is an open system?

A

A system that exchanges matter and energy with its environment.

40
Q

What is a closed system?

A

A system that does not exchange matter with its environment.

41
Q

What is equilibrium?

A

A state of balance within a system.

42
Q

What is dynamic equilibrium?

A

A state of balance that changes over time but remains stable overall.

43
Q

What is feedback?

A

The process by which a system’s output is returned as input.

44
Q

What is negative feedback?

A

A process that reduces the output of a system, promoting stability.

45
Q

What is positive feedback?

A

A process that increases the output of a system, potentially leading to instability.

46
Q

What is a threshold?

A

The point at which a system changes from one state to another.

47
Q

What is resilience?

A

The ability of a system to recover from disturbances.

48
Q

What is a feedback loop?

A

A cycle in which outputs of a system are circled back as inputs.