Geo Test

Geography

The study of the Earth as the home of humankind, including the study of physical and human aspects.

Plate Tectonics

The theory that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large plates that move and interact with each other.

Maps/GIS

Maps and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are tools used to create, view, manipulate, analyze, and store geospatial data.

Physical geography

The branch of geography that focuses on the physical features and processes of the Earth, such as landforms, climate, and ecosystems.

Human geography

The branch of geography that focuses on human activities, cultures, and societies, including topics like population, migration, and urban geography.

Regional Geographies

The study of specific regions, such as the US & Canada, South & East Asia, Middle East & North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe.

Formal Region

A region characterized by a uniform or homogeneous trait, such as political boundaries or shared cultural characteristics.

Functional Region

A region characterized by a central focus on some activity, such as a newspaper distribution boundary or a public school catchment boundary.

Vernacular Region

A region that exists in the minds of many people, often identified by common perceptions or stereotypes.

Coordinate Systems

Systems used to define the location of a place on the Earth's surface, such as latitude and longitude.

Map Projection

The method used to represent the curved surface of the Earth on a flat surface, often resulting in distortion.

Symbolization

The use of symbols, such as lines, fills, shapes, colors, and type, to represent certain important details on a map.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Computer-based tools that allow people to create, view, manipulate, analyze, and store geospatial data.

Remote Sensing

The science of acquiring information about the Earth's surface without being in direct contact with it, often using aerial photography, radar, or LIDAR.

Plate Tectonics

The theory that explains the movement and interaction of Earth's lithospheric plates.

Continental drift

The idea proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912 that suggests that the continents were once joined together as a supercontinent called "Pangaea" but have since moved apart.

Seafloor spreading

The process of two plates moving away from each other, leading to the creation of new oceanic crust.

Converging plates

Plates that are moving towards each other, which can trigger natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Seismic activity

Earth vibrations that occur when plates move past one another, resulting in earthquakes and other related phenomena.

Richter Scale

A scale used to measure the strength or magnitude of an earthquake.

Tsunamis

Large ocean waves caused by seismic activity, such as underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

Climate

The average weather of an area over a long period of time.

Vegetation

Plant life in a particular region or habitat.

Oceans

Large bodies of saltwater that cover 70% of the Earth's surface.

Precipitation

Any form of water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Köppen climate types

Major climate classifications based on precipitation, temperature, latitude, and elevation.

Biomes

Large-scale ecological communities characterized by distinct climate, vegetation, and animal life.

Tundra

A biome characterized by cold temperatures, low-growing vegetation, and permafrost.

Desert

A biome characterized by low precipitation and extreme temperatures.

Tropical Rainforest

A biome characterized by high rainfall and a diverse range of plant and animal species.

Mediterranean

A climate characterized by dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Biodiversity

The variety of plant and animal species present in an ecosystem.

Hydrologic cycle

The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface.

Seawater

Water from the ocean, which is salty and not suitable for drinking.

Evaporation

The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas, usually from the surface of the Earth to the atmosphere.

Precipitation

The process by which water vapor in the atmosphere condenses and falls to the Earth's surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Commercial Shipping Routes

Established paths used by ships for trade and transportation purposes.

Global Climate Change

The phenomenon of the Earth's surface warming due to human activities, as documented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

A United Nations-sponsored panel composed of 2,500 atmospheric scientists from over 130 countries, responsible for studying and reporting on climate change.

Global warming

The increase in the average global temperature, which has risen by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.78 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century, primarily caused by human production of greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Effect

The concept established by French mathematician Jean-Baptiste Fourier in 1827, which explains how Earth's atmosphere acts like a greenhouse by allowing sunlight to pass through but trapping some of the heat, making the planet habitable.

Greenhouse gases

Naturally occurring and human-derived gases in the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Carbon Dioxide Concentration

The measurement of the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which has been increasing over time and is a significant contributor to global warming.

Subsistence

The means of obtaining food and resources for survival.

Industrialization

The process of developing industries and manufacturing goods on a large scale.

Economic Development

The improvement of economic conditions in a country or region.

Agricultural Revolution

The shift from hunting and gathering to farming as the primary means of subsistence.

Industrial Revolution

The period of rapid industrialization and technological advancements that began in the 18th century in Europe.

Anthropocene

The current geological age characterized by significant human impact on the environment.

Domestication

The process of taming and breeding plants and animals for human use.

Civilization

A complex society characterized by urban development, social stratification, and cultural advancements.

Carrying capacity

The maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain.

Culture hearths

Geographic regions where early civilizations and cultural innovations originated.

Industrialization

The process of developing industries and manufacturing goods on a large scale.

Colonization

The establishment of political and economic control over foreign areas.

Environmental Change

The alteration of the natural environment due to human activities.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of goods and services produced within a country in a specific time period.

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

A measure of the relative purchasing power of different currencies.

More Developed Countries (MDCs)

Countries with high levels of industrialization and economic development.

Less Developed Countries (LDCs)

Countries with low levels of industrialization and economic development.

Newly Industrializing Countries (NICs)

Countries that are experiencing rapid industrialization and economic growth.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A composite index that measures the overall development of a country based on factors such as life expectancy, education, and income.

Dependency theory

A theory that explains global economic inequality as a result of the historical and ongoing exploitation of less developed countries by more developed countries.

Demography

The study of population, including birth, death, marriage, and related issues.

Migration

The movement of people from one place to another, either within a community, within a country, or between countries.

Over-population

A situation where the number of people in a given area exceeds the available resources and infrastructure to support them.

Population Geography

The study of population with its spatial variations, including where people are located and how they consume resources.

Birth rate

The annual number of live births per 1,000 people in a population.

Death rate

The annual number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population.

Population change rate

The difference between the birth rate and death rate, which can represent either population growth or decline.

Doubling time

The number of years required for a population to double in size, calculated by dividing 70 by the growth rate.

Demographic transition model

A model that describes the stages of population growth and development, including preindustrial, transitional, industrial, and post-industrial stages.

Population pyramid

A graphical representation of a population's age and gender distribution, typically divided into 5-year age increments.

Push factors

Factors that drive people to leave a place, such as lack of economic opportunities, political instability, or natural disasters.

Pull factors

Factors that attract people to a particular place, such as job opportunities, better living conditions, or political stability.

Technocentrists

Optimists who believe that technological advancements can increase the Earth's carrying capacity and support a growing population.

People overpopulation

A characteristic of less developed countries (LDCs) where there are many people, but each person uses a small quantity of natural resources.

Consumption overpopulation

A characteristic of more developed countries (MDCs) where there are fewer people, but each person uses a large quantity of natural resources.

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Sustainable development

The practice of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Worldviews

The fundamental beliefs and values that shape an individual's perception of the world.

Value systems

The set of principles and ideals that guide an individual's behavior and decision-making.

Resources

The materials, energy, and other assets that are available in the environment and can be used to meet human needs.

Self-reliant community

A community that is able to meet its own needs without relying heavily on external resources or assistance.

Sustainable energy source development

The process of developing and utilizing energy sources that are renewable and have minimal negative impact on the environment, such as solar panels.

Peasant farming

Small-scale agricultural production carried out by rural communities, often using traditional methods.

Land reform

The redistribution of land ownership to address issues of inequality and promote social justice.

Development

The process of improving the economic, social, and environmental well-being of a country or region.

Environmental protection

The practice of conserving and preserving the natural environment to prevent degradation and ensure its sustainability.

LDCs

Least Developed Countries, referring to nations with low levels of economic development and high levels of poverty.

Population growth

The increase in the number of individuals in a population over time.

Women's status and education

The empowerment and education of women, which has been shown to have a positive impact on population control and development.

MDCs

More Developed Countries, referring to nations with high levels of economic development and industrialization.

Consumption overpopulation

The excessive consumption of resources by a population, leading to environmental degradation and resource depletion.

Megalopolis

A long, narrow urban belt from Virginia to Maine that includes 5 of the 20 largest cities in the US and Canada.

Immigration Act

A law passed in 1965 that lifted the quota system for immigration to the US and changed the nature of immigration.

Canadian Shield

A major landform in North America characterized by ancient rock formations and a rugged landscape.

Great Lakes

A group of large freshwater lakes located in North America, containing about 1/5 of the world's fresh water.

Appalachian Highlands

A major landform in North America that includes the Appalachian Mountains and surrounding areas.

Pleistocene Overkill Hypothesis

A theory that suggests that the extinction of certain species, such as woolly mammoths, was caused by overhunting by early humans.