Social Studies Exam: Sociology and Geography ~ Impact On Location Flashcards
Situation
how a settlement relates to factors such as available building resources, water supply, food supply, roads, and available natural resources for consumption
Example: ample water supply
Site
the physical setting of a settlement
Example: on the riverbank
Location
The particular position of a place, described as absolute or relative terms. One of the 5 themes of geography.
Example: Longitude and latitude coordinates (absolute) or north of the river (relative)
Absolute Location
the location of a given point that does not require another frame of reference. Absolute locations include coordinates or addresses while relative locations describe a point’s location in relation to another point.
Example ~ Absolute Location: The city of london is located at 51.5°N and .13° W
Relative Location
describes a place’s location relative to another place. Relative locations can be helpful but require knowledge of the base location in order to understand the direction.
Example: the library is located across the street from the courthouse
Place
Refers to the physical and human aspects of a specific area. One of the 5 themes of geography.
Example: London (has a temperate climate and urban population)
Human-Environment Interaction
The ways in which people and places interact with and influence each other. One of the 5 themes of geography.
Example: Early civilizations developed near rivers because of the need for a reliable water supply.
Movement
stepwise or by leap
Equator
The center line of latitude around the middle of the Earth that divides the globe into a Northern and Southern hemisphere
International Date Line
The longitudinal line (180 degrees) that separates two consecutive dates
Grid System
Imaginary lines, spaced equally apart, running horizontally and vertically that divide the world for referencing absolute location
Region
A collection of different places that have one or more unifying characteristics. One of the 5 themes of geography.
Example: The Pacific Northwest (shares similar weather patterns)
Renewable Resources
resources which replenish at the same (or faster) rate than the rate at which they are used
Example: wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric power
Latitude
The horizontal lines of the grid system that measure distance above and below the Equator
Prime Meridian
The center line of longitude that divides the Earth into an eastern and western hemisphere
Longitude
The vertical lines of the grid system that converge at both poles and measure distance east and west of the Prime Meridian
Resource
any physical thing that is valued by people
Example: coal, wind, diamonds
Non-Renewable Resources
resources which will be depleted faster than they can be replenished
Example: natural gas, petroleum
Mining
extracting valuable resources from under the surface of the earth
Example: coal mining
Deforestation
clearing land of trees and other vegetation in order to use it for other purposes like agriculture or urban development
Reclamation
creating new, useable land or returning land to a former use
Example: reforestation, reclaiming submerged land
Underground Mining
extracting resources from deep underground using people and machines
Example: slope mining
Surface Mining
extracting resources from near the surface of the earth
Example: open-pit mining, strip mining, highwall mining
