Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AP Human Geography > Unit 0: Physical Geography > Flashcards

Unit 0: Physical Geography Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Geography flashcards World Geography flashcards
1
Q

elevation

A

its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly sea level

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

latitude

A

a coordinate that specifies the north–south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

wind patterns

A

a current of air, sometimes of considerable force, moving generally horizontally from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

ocean currents

A

a continuous, directed movement of sea water generated by a number of forces acting upon the water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

orographic effect

A

a phenomenon which occurs when air masses are forced to flow over high topography. As air rises over mountains, it cools and water vapor condenses; rain is then concentrated on this side.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

leeward

A

the side that doesn’t face winds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

windward

A

the side that faces wind

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

rain shadow effect

A

when a patch of land has been forced to become a desert because mountain ranges blocked all plant-growing, rainy weather.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

archipelago

A

a group of islands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

atoll

A

a ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

bay

A

a broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

cape

A

a high point of land that extends into a river, lake, or ocean

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

continent

A

one of Earth’s seven main divisions of land

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

continental shelf

A

the edge of a continent that lies under the ocean (does not have a slope).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

desert

A

a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

delta

A

a landform shaped like a triangle, created by deposition of sediment that is carried by a river and enters slower-moving or stagnant water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

gulf

A

a deep inlet of the sea almost surrounded by land, almost always with a narrow mouth.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

island

A

a piece of land surrounded by a body of water; continents are not considered islands because of their size

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

isthmus

A

a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger areas of land.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

ocean

A

the body of saltwater that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of Earth’s water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

mountain

A

an elevated portion of the Earth’s crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock.

22
Q

lake

A

a large body of water surrounded by land.

23
Q

reservoir

A

a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply

24
Q

plateau

A

an area of relatively level high ground

25
Q

peninsula

A

a piece of land almost surrounded by water or projecting out into a body of water.

26
Q

strait

A

a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water.

27
Q

sea

A

the expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth’s surface and surrounds its landmasses.

28
Q

river

A

a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream.

29
Q

wetlands

A

land consisting of marshes or swamps; saturated land.

30
Q

valley

A

a low area of land between hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream flowing through it.

31
Q

tributary

A

a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake.

32
Q

tectonic forces

A

geological forces that buckle, distort, and fracture the Earth’s crust, including warping, folding, faulting, and volcanic activity.

33
Q

weathering

A

deterioration of rocks, soils and minerals as well as wood and artificial materials through contact with water, atmospheric gases, and biological organisms.

34
Q

erosion

A

action of surface processes that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth’s crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited.

35
Q

equinox

A

a moment in time when the Sun crosses the Earth’s equator, which is to say, appears directly above the equator; day and night are equal length.

36
Q

location on continent (continentality)

A

the temperature inland is more extreme than the temperature on the coast/over the water.

37
Q

solstice

A

when the Sun appears to reach its most northerly or southerly excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere (longest/shortest day of the year).

38
Q

tilt

A

angle between an object’s axis of rotation and its orbital axis, perpendicular to the orbital plane.

39
Q

equator

A

an imaginary line around the middle of a planet or other celestial body.

40
Q

prime meridian

A

the line of 0° longitude, the starting point for measuring distance both east and west around Earth.

41
Q

arctic circle

A

the parallel of latitude that is approximately 66¹/₂ degrees north of the equator and that circumscribes the northern frigid zone.

42
Q

antarctic circle

A

the parallel of latitude that is approximately 66¹/₂ degrees south of the equator and that circumscribes the southern frigid zone.

43
Q

tropic of cancer

A

the parallel of latitude that is approximately 23¹/₂ degrees north of the equator and that is the northernmost latitude reached by the overhead sun.

44
Q

tropic of capricorn

A

the parallel of latitude that is approximately 23¹/₂ degrees south of the equator and that is the southernmost latitude reached by the overhead sun.

45
Q

seasons

A

each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) marked by particular weather patterns and daylight hours, resulting from the earth’s changing position with regard to the sun.

46
Q

revolution

A

the action by a celestial body of going round in an orbit or elliptical course.

47
Q

rotation

A

the circular motion of an object around its center.

48
Q

longitude

A

imaginary lines that measure distance east or west of the prime meridian.

49
Q

biosphere

A

the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms.

50
Q

hydrosphere

A

the combined mass of water found on, under, and above the surface of a planet, minor planet, or natural satellite.

51
Q

lithosphere

A

the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

52
Q

atmosphere

A

the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.

AP Human Geography (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions