Global Geography Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary and key concepts from Global Geography lecture notes covering environmental impacts, natural disasters, and population demographics.

Global Geography

The study of two-way interactions between humans and their environment.

Sustainable Development

Using natural resources in such a way to ensure that there will be sufficient supplies for future generations.

Global Village

The concept where telecommunications devices have made the world seem smaller by bringing people closer together.

Interdependence

When people are dependent on others for their health and wellbeing.

Interconnectedness

The ways in which people, places, or systems are linked, influencing and affecting each other through complex networks.

Thresholds

Critical levels of stability.

Global Inequality

The increasing difference between the number of rich and the number of poor people around the world.

North South Gap

The distribution of wealth where Northern countries have much of the wealth while southern countries have much less of the wealth.

Natural Hazards

Aspects of the physical world that have the potential to cause considerable harm to people.

Natural Disasters

Major events such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and tidal waves.

Slide

A rapid movement of soil or rock down a mountainside.

Avalanche

A rapid movement of snow and ice down a mountainside.

Coriolis Effect

A force that makes hurricanes spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

Tsunami

A Japanese word meaning harbor wave.

Global Warming

The phenomenon of rising average temperatures on earth resulting from increased $CO_2$ in the atmosphere from humans burning fossil fuels.

Greenhouse Effect

The absorption of heat in the earth's atmosphere by $CO_2$.

Biodiversity

A vast amount of life forms on Earth.

Deforestation

The cutting down and removal of all or most of the trees in a forested area.

Desertification

The process where a productive dry land becomes unproductive desert land.

Pollution

Any material or product produced by humans that interferes with the health of living organisms and environmental processes.

Persistent Pollution

Materials that can remain in the environment for many years without breaking down.

Non-persistent Pollution

Materials that do not stay in the environment for long periods because they are biodegradable.

Demography

The gathering and analysis of information about human population.

Census

An official periodic count of population.

Immigration

Movement of people to a country.

Emigration

Movement of people out of a country.

Brain Drain

The emigration of educated professionals.

Total Fertility Rate

The average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime.

Rate of Natural Increase

The annual rate of population growth without accounting for migration.

Cyclone

A very strong tropical storm in the Indian Ocean.

Typhoon

A very strong tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean.

Hurricane

A very strong tropical storm in the Atlantic Ocean.

Tornado

A cyclonic storm that originates over land.

Richter

Scale used to measure the strength of earthquakes.

Saffir-Simpson

Scale used to measure the strength of hurricanes.

VEI

Scale used to measure the strength of volcanoes.

Vertical Evacuation Structures

High structures used to keep people safe during a tsunami.

Ring of Fire

A horse-shoe shaped region surrounding the Pacific Ocean known for a high concentration of volcanoes and earthquakes.

Infant Mortality Rate

The number of children who die per $1000$ live births before their first birthday.

Location

The geographical concept answering 'Where did it happen?'

Region

An area of land with consistent and easily recognizable features.

Spatial Pattern

The occurrence of the same effect found in places far apart.

Spatial Interaction

The occurrence of events in one location affecting areas far away.

Human/Environmental Interaction

The concept that humans impact the environment and the environment impacts humans.

Culture

A way of life encompassing customs, traditions, and the world view of a particular group.

MDC

More Developed Countries; the richest of the industrialized nations.

LDC

Less Developed Countries; countries with little industrial development and high population growth.

LLDC

Least Developed Countries; extremely poor countries.

Atmospheric Natural Disasters

A category of natural disasters including hurricanes, floods, droughts, wildfires, tornadoes, heat/cold waves, and severe storms.

Biological Natural Disasters

A category of natural disasters including infectious diseases, parasitic diseases, plant diseases, and insect infestations.

Geological Natural Disasters

A category of natural disasters including volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, slides, and avalanches.

Push Forces

Conditions in a region that make people leave.

Pull Forces

Conditions in a region that attract people.

Absolute Change Formula

$$\text{pop}_2 - \text{pop}_1$$

Percent Change Formula

$$(\frac{\text{AC}}{\text{pop}_1}) \times 100$$

Annual Growth Rate Formula

$$\frac{\text{\% Change}}{\text{\# years}}$$

Rate of Natural Increase (RNI%) Formula

$$\frac{\text{BR} - \text{DR}}{10}$$

Doubling Time (DT yrs) Formula

$$\frac{70}{\text{RNI}}$$