Introduction to Physical Geography Flashcards
Physical Geography (Earth Science)
The branch of geography dealing with natural features and processes of the Earth, including climate, landforms, vegetation, and water bodies
Science
A systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge through observation, experimentation, and explanation of natural phenomena
Scientific Inquiry
The process of exploring the natural world through asking questions, making observations, and conducting experiments to develop explanations and predictions
Hypothesis
A testable statement or educated guess about a phenomenon or relationship, often forming the basis of scientific experiments
Scientific Question
A question posed to investigate natural phenomena, leading to experimentation and analysis
Scientific Research
A methodical study undertaken to discover facts or principles about the natural world, often divided into pure and applied research
Scientific Discovery
The process or outcome of finding new knowledge, concepts, or phenomena through scientific research
Pure Research
Research conducted to gain fundamental understanding without immediate practical application
Applied Research
Research aimed at solving practical problems using scientific principles and findings
Geographic (Spatial) Inquiry
A method of studying the spatial relationships and interactions between people, places, and environments
Scientific Method
A systematic approach to investigation: observe, hypothesize, experiment, analyze, and conclude
Absolute Location
The exact position of a point on Earth’s surface, expressed in coordinates of latitude and longitude
Relative Location
The position of a place in relation to other locations
Plane of the Equator
An imaginary horizontal plane dividing Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
Great Circle
A circle on the surface of a sphere that divides it into two equal hemispheres, representing the shortest distance between two points
Circle of Illumination
The dividing line between the daylight and the nighttime sides of Earth
Plane of the Ecliptic
The plane along which Earth orbits the Sun
Small Circle
A circle on Earth’s surface that does not divide the planet into two equal parts
Latitude
Angular distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees
Parallel
A line of constant latitude running east-west on Earth’s surface
Zones of Latitude
Geographic divisions based on latitude: tropics, subtropics, mid-latitudes, subarctic, and polar zones
Longitude
Angular distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured in degrees
Meridian
A line of constant longitude running from the North Pole to the South Pole
Greenwich Meridian (Prime Meridian)
The zero-degree longitude line, passing through Greenwich, England
International Date Line
An imaginary line roughly following the 180* longitude where the date changes by one day when crossed
Time Zone
A region of Earth with a standard time, typically spanning 15* of longitude
Geographic Grid System
A coordinate system using latitude and longitude to locate points on Earth’s surface
Spatial Data (Geospatial Data)
Data that is associated with a specific location on Earth
Non-Spatial Data
Information that is not tied to a specific geographic location, such as statistical data
Geocoding
The process of converting an address or description into geographic coordinates
Remote Sensing
The collection of information about Earth from a distance, using tools like satellites and aerial photography
Satellite Imagery
Images of Earth captured by satellites for analysis and mapping
Aerial Photography
Photographs of Earth’s surface taken from an aircraft
Radar
A technology that uses radio waves to detect and map physical features of Earth’s surface
Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar)
A remote sensing method that uses laser light to measure distances and create high-resolution maps
Triangulation
A method of determining location by measuring angles from known points
Ephemeris
A table or dataset giving the positions of astronomical objects at specific times, used in GPS systems
Almanac
A dataset used in GPS providing information about satellite locations and health
Geographic Information System (GIS)
A system for capturing, storing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial and geographic data
Raster
A data format for GIS using a grid of pixels to represent spatial information, often used for images
Vector
A GIS data format using points, lines, and polygons to represent features like roads and boundaries
Georeferenced
Spatial data that is tied to a specific location on Earth
Electromagnetic Spectrum
The range of wavelengths used in remote sensing, from visible light to radar
Scale
The ratio of the distance on a map to the actual distance on the ground; affects detail and area coverage
