Understanding Geography Flashcards
Define geography
the study of the earth’s surface, including climate, topography, vegetation, and population
What is the spatial perspective?
the process of questioning in order to identify, explain, and predict the human and physical patterns of these spaces and how they’re connected
List the two main branches of geography
human or cultural geography and physical geography
Define human geography
examines humans and the culture they create relative to their space
Define physical geography
examines the planet earth and everything part of the 4 spheres
What are the 4 spheres?
atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere
Name the 5 themes of geography
location, place, human-environment interaction, region, and movement
What’s absolute location?
a position on the global grid with only one possible location, 85 degrees and 85 degrees west, 123 W Arroyo Drive, the Staples Center
What’s relative location?
a location described in relation to the places around it, the actually location may not change, but it’s relative location will change if the places around it changes, say if the montebello town center turns into a school
Define latitude
the parallel lines that run parallel and relative to the equator, which is 0 degrees
How does latitude affect climate?
latitude doesn’t “affect” climate, but the position of latitude will determine the climate in relation to the sun and the exposure that location receives
Define longitude
the lines that run north and south, intersect at the poles, and run relative to the prime meridian and international date line
What is a meridian?
any line of longitude, which run in circles around the earth
What is the prime meridian?
an arbitray line that runs through Greenwich and is 0 degrees, divides the world into eastern and western hemispheres
What is the international date line?
the prime meridian’s antimeridian that is 180 degrees and starts the new day, it lies ahead of Russia and Australia
Define place
a combination of the human and physical characteristics of a location, how
What are human characteristics of place?
mountains, rivers, beaches, animals, plants, etc.
What are physical characteristics of place?
architecture, structures, religion, language, artwork, etc.
Define human-environment interaction
how humans adapt and modify their environment, whether good or bad
Define region
an area that shares some soft of characteristic
List the 3 types of regions
formal, functional, vernacular or perceptual
Define formal region
uniform regions that have common cultural or physical features; places with official boundaries are formal, but so is a map that shows areas with the same climate or that practice the same religion
Define functional region
nodal regions are defined by their connections, and are linked together by some fuction’s influence on them; a map of a flu epidemic, flight routes, paper or magazine subscription regions or rumors being spread are examples of functional regions
Define vernacular region
areas that are grouped or determined by people’s beliefs; the south, where the cool kids sit, etc.
