| Term | Definition |
|
geography |
the study of the world, its people, and the landscapes they create |
|
landscape |
the human and physical features that make a place unique |
|
social science |
a field that studies people and the relationships among them |
|
region |
a part of the world either one or more common features distinguishing it from surrounding areas |
|
map |
a flat drawing that shows part of Earth's surface |
|
globe |
a spherical model of the entire planet |
|
absolute location |
a specific description of where a place is |
|
relative location |
a general description of where a place is |
|
environment |
a plant or animal's surroundings(an area's land, water, climate, plants and animals, and other physical features) |
|
physical geography |
the study of the world's physical features, such aws landforms, bodies of water, climate, soils, and plants |
|
human geography |
the study of the world's people, communities, and landscapes |
|
cartography |
the science of making maps |
|
meteorology |
the study of weather and what causes it |
|
solar energy |
energy from the sun |
|
rotation |
one complete spin of Earth on its axis |
|
revolution |
one trip of Earth around the sun |
|
latitude |
the distance north or south of the Earth's equator |
|
tropics |
regions close to the equator |
|
freshwater |
water without salt |
|
glacier |
large area of slow-moving ice |
|
surface water |
water that is stored in Earth's streams, rivers, and lakes |
|
precipitation |
water that falls to Earth's surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail |
|
groundwater |
water found below Earth's surface |
|
water vapor |
water that occurs in the air as an invisible gas |
|
water cycle |
the circulation of water from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back |
|
drought |
a long period of lower-than-normal precipitation |
|
landforms |
shapes on Earth's surface, such as hills or mountains |
|
continents |
large landmasses |
|
plate tectonics |
a theory suggesting that Earth's surface is divided into more than 12 slow-moving plates, or pieces of Earth's crust |
|
lava |
magma, or liquid rock, that reaches Earth's surface |
|
earthquake |
sudden, violent movement of Earth's crust |
|
weathering |
the process of breaking rock into smaller pieces |
|
erosion |
the movement of sediment from one location to another |
|
weather |
the short term changes in the air for a given place and time |
|
climate |
a region's average weather conditions over a long period |
|
prevailing winds |
winds that blow in the same direction over large areas of Earth |
|
ocean currents |
large streams of surface seawater |
|
front |
a place where two air masses of different temperature or moisture content meet |
|
monsoon |
a seasonal wind that brings either dry or mosit air |
|
savanna |
an area of tall grasses and scattered trees and shrubs |
|
steppe |
a semi dry grassland or prairie |
|
permafrost |
permanently frozen layers of soil |
|
ecosystem |
a place where plants and animals depend upon each other for their survival and the enviroment in which they live |
|
habitat |
the place where a plant or animal lives |
|
extinct |
to die out completely |
|
humus |
decayed plant or animal matter |
|
desertification |
the spread of desertlike conditions |
|
natural resources |
any material in nature that people use and value |
|
renewable resources |
resources that can be replaced naturally |
|
nonrenewable resources |
resources that cannot be replaced |
|
deforestation |
the clearing of trees |
|
reforestation |
planting trees to replace lost forestland |
|
fossil fuels |
nonrenewable resources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals |
|
hydroelectric power |
the production of electricity by moving water |
|
Culture |
the set of beliefs, values, and practices that a group of people has in common |
|
Culture trait |
an activity or behavior in which people often take part |
|
Culture region |
an area in which people have many shared culture traits |
|
Ethnic group |
a group of people who share a common culture and ancestry |
|
Cultural diversity |
the state of having a variety of cultures in the same area |
|
Innovation |
a new idea or way of doing something |
|
Cultural diffusion |
the spread of cultural traits from one region to another |
|
Population |
the total number of people in a given area |
|
Population density |
Average number of people per sq mile or sq kilometer |
|
Birthrate |
annual number of births per 1,000 people |
|
Migration |
the process of moving from one place to live in another |
|
Democracy |
a form of government in which the people elect leaders and rule by majority |
|
Communism |
a political system in which the government owns all property and dominates all aspects of life in a country |
|
Market economy |
a system based on private ownership, free trade, and competition |
|
Command economy |
a system in which the central government makes all economic decisions |
|
Traditional economy |
a system in which people grow their own food and make thier own goods. Trade is often used. |
|
Gross domestic product |
the value of all goods and services produced within a country in a single year |
|
Developed countries |
countries with strong economies and a high quality of life |
|
Developing countries |
countries with less productive economies and a lower quality of life |
|
Globalization |
the process in which countries are increasingly linked to each other through culture and trade |
|
Popular culture |
it refers to culture traits that are well known and widely accepted |
|
Interdependence |
a relationship between countries in which they rely on one another for resources, goods, or services |
|
United Nations |
an organization of the world's countries that promotes peace and security around the globe |
|
Humanitarian aid |
assistance to people in distress |
|
Death rate |
The annual number of deaths per 1,000 people |
|
Rate of natural increase |
the rate at which a population is changing |
|
Population Distribution |
Where people REALLY live |
|
Monarchy |
Directly ruled by a king, queen,or head of a royal family. Oldest type of government. |
|
Dictatorship |
A single powerful ruler has total control |
|
Primary Industry |
People earn a living by providing raw materials or natural resources to others |
|
Secondary Industry |
Uses natural resources or raw materials to manufacture other products |
|
Tertiary Industry |
Provides goods and services to people and businesses |
|
Quaternary Industry |
Processes and distributes information |
|
Economic indicator |
Measure of a countries wealth |
|
Economic Development |
the level of economic growth and quality of life |
|
Economic Activity |
Ways in which people make a living |
|
Human Geography |
The study of the world's people, communites, and landscapes |