Geography 2051 (Namikas, LSU) - Exam 1

Geography

the study of spatial distribution of phenomena (of earth's spatial surface)

Human Geography

study of people and cultures; might look at cities,industry & cultural ideas (and how they're spread)

Physical Geography

study of the physical/natural components of the environment

What are the four major spheres of he Earth system?

atmosphere,hydrosphere,biosphere,lithosphere

Atmosphere

Earth's air portion;

climatology subdivision

Hydrosphere

Earth's water portion;

hydrology subdivision

Biosphere

earth's living portion;

biogeography subdivision

Lithosphere

Earth's solid portion;

Geomorphology Subdivision

Theory

refers to generally accepted knowledge; well-tested & supported by many experiments; always try to be a little skeptical

Hypothesis

educated guess; not tested very much or not tested yet

Law

higher level of theory

Goal of scientific method

develop new knowledge about the natural world

Steps of Scientific Method

1. Pre-Existing Knowledge/Image of Real world

2. Gap in knowledge/problem/question

3. Develop hypothesis

4. Testing/Evaluation/Analysis

System

group of objects & their attributes that are linked together by flows of matter & energy

Open System

energy & matter are interrelated (entering & leaving the system)

Closed System

no energy & matter leaving (no environment) & cease functioning very quickly

Law of Conservation of Energy & Matter

energy/matter cannot be created nor destroyed

Positive Budget

inputs>outputs

storage increases

Negative Budget

inputs

Balanced Budge/Equilibrium

inputs equal outputs;

storage is balanced/constant

Static Equilibrium

fixed/unchanging equilibrium within ecosystem

Dynamic Equilibrium

always changing based on surrounding conditions

Lag Interval

time period between some change in environmental conditions & the response of the ecosystem to that change

Feedback

system response to some change that acts to influence that original change

Positive Feedback

enhances/encourages/increases the original change

(snowball effect)

Negative Feedback

reduces/discourages/eliminates the original change (helps to maintain equilibrium)

Map

Two-dimensional model of some portion of the Earth's surface; useful for data storage & retrieval

1-Dimensional Data

represents geographic quantity of location; where something is

Usually expressed by points

2-Dimensional Data

represents geographic quantity/elements of pathways/networks

-Expressed using lines

3-Dimensional Data

represents geographic quantity/elements of regions; continuous distributions

-Expressed using polygons

Choropleth Maps

maps that identify regions by using assortments of colors, lines, dots, etc

Isoline Maps

map including data described with numbers, lines

connect points of equal value/quantitative data: numeric data

Scale

tool that allows us to convert measurements on a map into real-life measurements

Graphic Scales

Representative Fraction

generally displayed in numbers; true fractions or ratio form

-Quick & easy to use, but won't be accurate if map size is reduced or enlarged

Verbal Scale

another type of representative fraction

Ex: one inch = 2000 feet

Legend/Key

used to determine/interpret symbols, colors, etc & what they represent on the map

Direction

allow us to reconstruct direction

Ex: North Arrow, Compass

Date & Source

Allows us to validate the information that's on the map

Coordinate Systems

used to identify locations

X,Y Graph

Limitation: it's flat & earth's surface is not

As surface area gets bigger, this system becomes inaccurate

Polar Coordinates

circular graph that uses two reference points & degrees

Latitude

parallel lines that run east to west around the globe; reference point is at the center of globe (Equator); tells positions north or south of reference point; aka Parallels

** 0-90 degrees North & South

Longitude

lines that run North & South around globe; tells positions east or west of the reference point ; aka Meridians

** 0-180 degrees East & West

Map Projection

tool that allows us to fill in gaps and give a continuous view of what things look like

What are the attributes needed to produce accurate maps?

-Shape (what shape things are)

-Area (how large things are)

-Distance (how far between locations)

-Proximity (what's next to what)

What are the three types of family projections?

1) Cylindrical

2) Planar

3) Conic

Cylindrical Family Projection

uses a standard line and as you move further away from it, the more distortion there is

Planar Family Projection

uses a standard point and the paper is only touching one point of the map

Conic Family Projection

uses two standard lines to cut into and out of the map

very accurate, but still has distortions

Remote Sensing

collecting info without physical contact and from a distance

Ex: our eyes

Electromagnetic Spectrum

the full range of wavelengths of radiant energy

Wavelength

the distance between the two peaks of two waves

The hotter something is, the _____ the wavelengths are

shorter

What are wavelengths measured in?

microns

Active Sensors

sensors that can supply their own energy source

ex: using flash on cameras, radar

Passive Sensors

sensors that require an external energy source

ex: eyes, cameras

Observation Platforms

places that are used to mount and allow geographers to view and record large amounts of space/data at a time

Geostationary Orbits

orbits continuously around the earth at same rate of earth; give views of very large areas; very low resolution; useful for weather

Polar Orbits

orbits North and South as earth orbits east & west; much lower in the atmosphere, higher resolution; takes long time to repeat & only get images of certain areas after long periods of time; used for ocean temps

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

-digital map that allows geographers to create customized maps and overlay layers/coverages to analyze data

Nebular hypothesis

the theory that the solar and stellar systems were developed from a primeval nebula

Geologic Time Scale

scale that helps to organize the timeline of the history of earth

Precambrian Era

4.6 billion years ago-540 million years ago

Phanerozoic Era

540 million years ago-today

Quaternary Era

the current and most recent period, which is divided into epics

Pleistocene Era

beginning of quaternary period - 10000 years ago; Events during this time period had huge impacts on earth's surface (huge glaciers forming mountains, etc.)

Holocene Era

recent and current time period with warmer climate

Relative Dating

dating things relative to each other (ex. this is older than this); oldest dating technique

Superposition

type of relative dating; oldest will be at bottom, youngest at top (in terms of rocks)

Absolute Dating

dating by numerical ages

Dendrochronology

type of absolute dating; tree dating using tree rings; only allows us to put one side of information on it

Radiometric Dating

a technique used to date materials such as rocks or carbon, in which trace radioactive impurities were selectively incorporated when they were formed; useful for dating because it occurs at a fixed, constant rate

Isotope

elements can exist in different forms, some are stable, and some are unstable (can break down into different materials)

Parent Isotope

the original material

Daughter Isotope

material that's broken down from the parent isotope (breakdown is fixed/constant)

Half-Life

the time that's required for 50% of the parent isotope to break down into the daughter isotope

Uniformitarianism

theory with scientific approach to interpreting history of earth; "present is key to past," meaning we can use today's knowledge to interpret the past, since earth probably operated similarly

Catastrophism

theory that earth's surface was formed in a series of major catastrophies; greatly influenced and linked with biblical times/stories; Linked to idea that earth isn't very old-it's young

gradualism

theory that many of earth's processes happen very slowly & linked to idea that earth is very old

Channeled Scablands

area worked by Harland Bretts that were a result of a massive flood (Missoula Flood); shows that catastrophies were important to Earth's surface changing

Layers of the Earth

-Core

-Mantle

-Crust

Core

made up of two parts: inner and outer core; generates earth's magnetic field

Inner Core

solid iron/nickel; extremely hot, but still solid bc of huge amounts of pressure

Outer Core

liquid molten iron & other metals; still hot, but cool enough that metals are liquid; drives the earth's magnetic field; lower density

Mantle

largest layer of Earth's physical material (80% of earth's volume); made up of two parts (asthenosphere & uppermost mantle)

Asthenosphere

area in mantle that contains plastics that can bend and flow

Uppermost Mantle

outermost part of mantle, rigid/solid rock

Crust

two uppermost layers of earth that are referred to as "lithosphere"

Lithosphere

two uppermost layers of earth's crust (continental crust & oceanic crust)

Continental Crust

thicker than oceanic crust & composed of lowest density material (lightest)

Oceanic Crust

thinner & composed of higher density material

What's the temperature/density at the outer part of earth?

cooler temps, lower density

What's the temp/density of inner part of earth?

hotter temps, higher density

What are the major elements of Earth's crust?

oxygen & silicon (75% of earth's surface)

Element

basic/fundamental building blocks of all matter

Mineral

inorganic structure of elements in a crystallized form (occur naturally)

ex: Quartz, Feldspar, Mica

Rock

combination of multiple minerals

ex: Granite

Rock Cycle

the cycle through which rocks convert and change into igneous, metamorphic & sedimentary rocks by external conditions and processes

Lithification

process that binds sediments/materials together