Unit 0: Physical Geography Flashcards
elevation
its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly sea level
latitude
a coordinate that specifies the north–south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body
wind patterns
a current of air, sometimes of considerable force, moving generally horizontally from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
ocean currents
a continuous, directed movement of sea water generated by a number of forces acting upon the water
orographic effect
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.
leeward
the side that doesn’t face winds
windward
the side that faces wind
rain shadow effect
when a patch of land has been forced to become a desert because mountain ranges blocked all plant-growing, rainy weather.
archipelago
a group of islands
atoll
a ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral
bay
a broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward
cape
a high point of land that extends into a river, lake, or ocean
continent
one of Earth’s seven main divisions of land
continental shelf
the edge of a continent that lies under the ocean (does not have a slope).
desert
a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life.
delta
a landform shaped like a triangle, created by deposition of sediment that is carried by a river and enters slower-moving or stagnant water.
gulf
a deep inlet of the sea almost surrounded by land, almost always with a narrow mouth.
island
a piece of land surrounded by a body of water; continents are not considered islands because of their size
isthmus
a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger areas of land.
ocean
the body of saltwater that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of Earth’s water.
mountain
an elevated portion of the Earth’s crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock.
lake
a large body of water surrounded by land.
reservoir
a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply
plateau
an area of relatively level high ground
peninsula
a piece of land almost surrounded by water or projecting out into a body of water.
strait
a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water.
sea
the expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth’s surface and surrounds its landmasses.
river
a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream.
wetlands
land consisting of marshes or swamps; saturated land.
valley
a low area of land between hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream flowing through it.
tributary
a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake.
tectonic forces
geological forces that buckle, distort, and fracture the Earth’s crust, including warping, folding, faulting, and volcanic activity.
weathering
deterioration of rocks, soils and minerals as well as wood and artificial materials through contact with water, atmospheric gases, and biological organisms.
erosion
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.
equinox
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.
location on continent (continentality)
the temperature inland is more extreme than the temperature on the coast/over the water.
solstice
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).
tilt
angle between an object’s axis of rotation and its orbital axis, perpendicular to the orbital plane.
equator
an imaginary line around the middle of a planet or other celestial body.
prime meridian
the line of 0° longitude, the starting point for measuring distance both east and west around Earth.
arctic circle
the parallel of latitude that is approximately 66¹/₂ degrees north of the equator and that circumscribes the northern frigid zone.
antarctic circle
the parallel of latitude that is approximately 66¹/₂ degrees south of the equator and that circumscribes the southern frigid zone.
tropic of cancer
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.
tropic of capricorn
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.
seasons
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.
revolution
the action by a celestial body of going round in an orbit or elliptical course.
rotation
the circular motion of an object around its center.
longitude
imaginary lines that measure distance east or west of the prime meridian.
biosphere
the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms.
hydrosphere
the combined mass of water found on, under, and above the surface of a planet, minor planet, or natural satellite.
lithosphere
the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
atmosphere
the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.
