Unit 1 Flashcards
Define Projection Map
A systematic transformation of the latitudes and longitudes of location on a sphere to a flat area
Define World Geography
A field of study that tries to make sense of the world around us, helps us understand how people, places, and environments came to be and how they effect each other
Define GIS (Geographic Information System)
A system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographical data
Define GPS( Global Positioning System)
a satellite-based navigation system
Define Atmosphere
The envelope of gases surrounding a planet
Define Lithosphere
The rigid outer part of earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle
Define Biosphere
Regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth occupied by living organisms
Define Pangaea
A hypothetical continent consisting all of the earth’s land masses
Define Weathering
The various mechanical and chemical process that cause exposed rock to decompose
Define Erosion
The process of being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents
Define Continentality
The tendency of land to experience more thermal variation than water
Define Ecosystem
Biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
Define Biome
A large naturally occurring community of living and nonliving organisms occupying a major habitat
Define Deciduous Forest
A forest where the trees lose their leaves at fall
Define Coniferous Forest
A forest with trees that bare cones
Define Taiga
The sometimes swampy coniferous forest of high northern latitudes
Define Rain Forest
A luxuriant, dense forest rich in biodiversity, typically found in tropical areas with consistently heavy rainfall
Define Savannah
A grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees
Define Steppe
A large area of flat, unforested grassland
Define EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
An independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment
Define AQI (Air Quality Index)
Measure of the condition of air relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose
Define Alluvial Fan
A fan-shaped mass of alluvium deposited as the flow of a river decreases in velocity
Define Location
A definite or relative description of a location of a place
Define Place
A description of features of a place
Define Region
A formal, functional, or perceptional boundary or area
Define HEI (Human Environment Interaction)
How humans interact with the land
Define Movement
How people, goods, and ideas get around
What are the 5 Themes of Geography
Location, place, region, human environment interaction, and movement
What are the two types of location?
Absolute (definite) and Relative (direction)
What are the types of region?
Formal (definite boundary), Functional (different parts), and Perceptual (no definite boundary)
What is a globe?
A 3D representation of the earth
What are the types of projection maps?
Planar (azimuthal), conical, cylindrical (Mereator and Robinson), physical, political, and thematic
What makes up soil?
Weathered rock, humus, air, and water
What are the two tropics?
The Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees North) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees South)
What are the two Circles?
The Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees North) and the Antarctic Circle (66.5 degrees South)
What is the difference between weather and climate
Weather is short term and a particular condition of the atmosphere in a specific place at a specific time, and Climate is long term and weather conditions in a specific place over a period time
What is LACEMOPS?
L - latitude A - Air Mass C - Continentality E - Elevation M - Mountain Barriers O - Ocean Currents P - Pressure Cells S - Storm Tracks
What is a climate graph?
Overall climate of an area for one year
What are the conditions for different latitudes?
Tropical = hot all year Middle = varies Polar = cold all year
What are different air masses?
Maritime tropic, maritime polar/arctic, continental tropic, continental polar/arctic
What are the different conditions to elevation?
Higher up = colder
Lower down = warmer
What are mountain barriers?
Rain shadow (Orographic Effect) - windward side receives precipitation, leeward side doesn’t
What are different types of ocean currents?
Warm current and cold current
What are the different types of pressure cells?
Low pressure = wet and cold
High pressure = hot and dry
What are storm tracks?
Storms that are more frequent in some areas
What is a tropical wet climate like?
Along the equator
• has little variation in temperature (average 80 degrees F)
• receives over 100 inches of precipitation
• tall trees
• small mammals, insects, and birds
• rain forest
What is a tropical wet and dry climate like?
Around the equator • has a wet and dry season • temps from 64 and 77 degrees F • grasses, shrubs, few trees • wide range of animals • savannah
What is a semiarid climate like?
Near the Tropic of Cancer/Capricorn • experiences summer and winter • averages 10 to 20 inches of precipitation • few trees, small shrubs, grasses • large mammals • savanah
What is the desert like?
Near the equator and circles • less than 10 inches of rain • little vegetation • small mammals • hot/cold days, freezing nights
What is a Mediterranean climate like?
Between the topics and the circles
• long summers, mild winters
• hot and dry summers, wet and cool summers
• temperatures between 30 and 65 degrees F
• trees, shrubs, grasses
• small mammals
What is the marine west coast climate like?
Between tropics and circles • has summers and winters • mild and wet climate • cool summer and warm winter • 30 to 98 inches of precipitation • tall trees • birds, small mammals
What is a humid subtropical climate like?
Between 20 and 40 degrees North and South • average temp 62 degrees F • 48 inches of precipitation • variety of vegetation • mammals, birds
What is a humid continental climate like?
Above/below tropics • has 4 seasons • wide range of temps • between 20 to 50 inches of precipitation • wide variety of plants • small and large mammals
What is the subarctic climate like?
Above the arctic circle • winter and summer • temps between -40 and 85 degrees F • between 10 to 20 inches of precipitation • coniferous trees • large mammals
What is the tundra climate like?
Above the Arctic Circle • summer and winter • between -18 and 50 degrees F • between 5 to 15 inches of rain • mosses, lichens, and algae • large mammals
What is the ice cap climate like?
Above/below the Arctic/Antarctic Circles • summer and winter • between -16 and -90 degrees F • less than 10 inches of rain • moss and lichen • penguins, seals, whales
What are the highland climates like?
Near the tropics and equator • No seasons • temperature depends on elevation • rain depends on elevation • trees, shrubs • large mammals
