Unit 1: Introduction to Physical Geography Flashcards
Define Geography
The science that studies relationships among geographical areas, natural systems, society, cultural activities, and the interdependence of all these over space.
What are the 3 branches of geography?
Human, Techniques(geomatics), and physical.
Define human geography
The study of the interaction between humans and their environments across different spatial scales, communities, cultures, economies, and landscapes.
Define techniques
The science of acquiring and analyzing data about the surface of the earth, focusing on spatial component or geographical referenced information.
Define physical geography
The study of systems and cycles that produce natural features on earths surface operating at various scales. Includes the study of land formation, climate, ocean currents, distribution of flora and fauna.
List and define the two types of scales
Spatial scale: physical space occupied by a process or thing. (global scale:10,000kms; continental:1000kms; regional:10kms; local:kms; individual:ms and lower)
Temporal scale: length of time used to examine a process. (short-term: days-minutes; long-term: 100s-1000s of years)
What is energy?
The capacity to do work on or change the state of matter.
What are the 4 types of energy talked about in physical geography?
- radiant: (most important) energy that travels by waves or particles and comes from the sun. Drives most of earths processes. When absorbed it is turned into heat.
- chemical: energy that is stored in the bonds of chemical compounds and released in a chemical reaction. (biomass, fossil fuels, batteries)
- geothermal: generated and stored in the earth.
- Photosynthesis: biochemical process where green plants convert energy and carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbohydrates. It is a food source for animals.
What is matter?
Any physical substance that has mass, occupies space, and has a fixed volume.
What are the 3 types of mass?
- Solid: molecules are bonded to create a fixed structure, has a constant volume, and cannot break.
- Liquid: Flows freely but is a constant volume, molecular bonds form and break continuously.
- Gas: expands freely to fill any space and has no fixed volume, molecules are not bonded, and is a fluid substance.
What is a system?
Set of interacting parts of processes that function as a unit.
All systems have 4 components, what are they?
Input, output, power source, and pathways.
What are the 2 types of systems?
- Open flow systems: there is an input and output of energy or matter that are external to the system.
- Closed flow system: no separate inputs of outputs, energy or matter flows in a series of endless loops or paths. Like a cycle.
What does it mean to be anthropogenic?
To be created or influenced by people.
Define feedback
Response to an action or process that influences the operation of the system.
What is the difference between negative and positive feedback?
Negative: Used to stabilize a system, further production of the process decreases growth of the system.
Positive: Used to destabilize the system, further production of the process increases or stimulates the system. It would continue until an external thing stops it.
What are the earths spheres?
- Atmosphere: part that surrounds the earth, made up of gases/vapours, is fluid, has a mass, consists of various layers.
- Hydrosphere: part that is made up of water in all of its forms, continuously flows through various spheres.
- Cryosphere: component of the hydrosphere focusing on water in solid form.
- Lithosphere: made up of rocks and minerals, consisting of the upper most layers of the earth. (the ground)
- Biosphere: living organisms, plants, animals, bacteria, is dynamic and constantly changing.
In terms of maps, what is the difference between large scale and small scale perspective?
Large scale: geographic features are large and have more detail. (zoomed in)
Small scale: geographic features are small and cover a large region. (zoomed out)
