World Geography Midterm Study Guide

These flashcards cover key concepts from the World Geography Midterm Study Guide, helping students prepare for the exam.

Geography

The study of physical features on the earth's atmosphere.

Human Geography

Features that are caused or made by humans.

Physical Geography

Natural features like rivers and mountains.

Human-Environment Interaction

How people interact with and change their environment.

Map Scale

Indicates how big a place is in comparison to its actual size.

Map Key/Legend

Tells you what symbols represent on a map.

Compass Rose

A figure on a map that denotes the cardinal directions: north, east, south, and west.

G.I.S.

Geographic Information System for mapping data.

Absolute Location

Exact location using coordinates.

Relative Location

Location described in relation to other places.

Physical Map

Shows physical features like mountains and rivers.

Political Map

Shows cities, and state lines.

Thematic Map

Shows a specific theme, like favorite ice cream flavors.

Formal Region

A measurable region like a city or country.

Perceptual Region

A non-formally recognized region like the 'Sun Belt'.

Functional Region

A region defined by a function or service, like a bus system.

Climate

Long-term weather patterns.

Weather

Temporary atmospheric conditions.

MELCO

Acronym for Mountains, Elevation, Latitude, Continentality, Ocean Currents.

Continentality

The effect of being near a large body of water on climate.

Urbanization

The process of rural areas developing infrastructure to become urban.

Gentrification

Wealthier people moving into lower class towns, often displacing residents.

Refugee

Someone who moves to a new country to escape war, persecution, or natural disasters.

Asylum Seeker

A person seeking refuge in another country due to persecution or violence.

Push Factors

Reasons that compel people to leave their homes, like war or economic hardship.

Pull Factors

Attractions that draw people to a new area, like job opportunities.

HDI (Human Development Index)

A measure based on health, education, and standard of living.

Apartheid

Extreme racism and segregation.

Nationalism

Excessive pride in one’s country, often at the expense of others.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

A model showing population change over time regarding birth and death rates.