Geography - Part II (Geographic features - Human adaptation)

Geosphere

everything that is solid on our planet, so it includes the core, mantle, crust, and rocks.

Hydrosphere

represents all water on Earth & includes water in all its forms (liquid, gas, or solid)

Atmosphere

the thin layer of gas on the Earth's surface

it protects life on Earth from dangerous radiation from space

Biosphere

All life on earth, from plants to animals and humans

Weathering

breaking down of rock

Erosion

the movement of sediment

Deposition

the dropping of sediment in a new place

Glaciation

the growth and shrinking of our glaciers

moraines

areas where glacier rock and sediment drop

Alfred Wegener (1915)

set the groundwork for the tectonic plate theory

Tectonic Plate Theory

the Earth’s lithosphere is broken up into a series of plates that are moved around the surface of the Earth by convection currents in the asthenosphere

converge

collide

diverge

pull apart

transform

slide past

Divergent Boundaries

Continental - Continental

Rift valleys

Ex. Great Rift Valley

Oceanic - Oceanic

Mid-ocean ridges

Ex: East Pacific Rise

Transform Boundaries

Oceanic - Oceanic

faults

Ex: San Andreas Fault

Convergent Boundaries

Continental - Continental

Mountain ranges (non-volcanic)

Ex: Himalayas

Continental - Oceanic

- Volcanic mountain ranges inland from the boundary

-Trenches at the plate boundary underwater

-Can be earthquake-prone

Ex: Andes Mountains

Oceanic - Oceanic

- Volcanic island arcs

-Trenches at the plate boundary underwater

Ex: Aleutian Islands

Himalayas

the highest mountain range in the world

located in Asia

Andes

the longest mountain range in the world

located along the Western coast of S. America

Rockies

North American mountain range (West)

The Alps

European mountain range

Atlas Mountains

North African mountain range

Mountains

landforms that are at least 1000ft above sea level

Plains

a region of flat or rolling land that is very fertile & used for agriculture

The Great Plains

North American area of fertile land

The Indo-Gangetic Plain

S. Asia area of fertile land

Northern European plain

a large lowland area that stretched across several countries

highly populated with Agricultural productivity

The Argentine Pampas

Argentinian area of fertile land known for their beef production

Valley

a low area between hills & mountains

The Grand Canyon

a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorodo River

located in Arizona

The Great Rift Valley

a geographical trench running a long the East coast of Africa

Peninsula

a landform surrounded by water on 3 sides

extends into a large body of water

The Iberian Peninsula

SW Europe - Spain/Portugal

bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

The Arabian Peninsula

Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar)

surrounded by the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf

The Korean Peninsula

East Asia (North Korea & South Korea)

surrounded by the Yellow Sea & the Sea of Japan

The Yucatán Peninsula

SE Mexico

It juts into the Gulf of Mexico & the Caribbean Sea.

isthmus

a narrow strip of land that connects 2 larger land masses & is bordered by water on both sides.

acts as a natural bridge between 2 larger bodies of land

The Isthmus of Panama

connects N. America & S. America, separating the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific Ocean.

It is known for the Panama Canal, an engineering marvel that allows ships to pass between the two oceans.

the Isthmus of Suez

Egypt

connects Africa and Asia

separates Mediterranean Sea from the Red Sea

home to the Suez Canal, a vital shipping route between Europe and Asia.

archipelago

a group of islands closely clustered together in a body of water

the Maldives

archipelago located in the Indian Ocean

The Phillippines

archipelago in SE Asia (Pacific Ocean)

The Hawaiian Islands

archipelago made of volcanic islands (Pacific Ocean)

The Greek Islands

archipelago in SE Europe (Aegean & Ionian Sea)

The 5 major oceans

• Atlantic

• Pacific

• Arctic

• Indian

• Southern (antarctic)

Lake Baikal

located in Siberia, Russia

The deepest, oldest freshwater lake on Earth

Has 20% of the world’s unfrozen water

Lake Superior

the largest of the Great Lakes in N. America

Shared by the U.S. & Canada

the worlds largest freshwater lake by surface area

Lake Victoria

located in E. Africa

the largest lake in Africa

2nd largest freshwater lake by surface area

gulf

a large body of water partially closed by land with a narrow connection to a larger body of water

cape

a pointed landmass that extends into a body of water

formed by erosive forces of water

Cape of Good Hope

S. Africa

where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean

Cape Horn

located in Chile

known for treacherous water

Tropical Climate Zone

humid

receive rain every month

average temp is at least 64°F

only 2 seasons: wet and dry. 

Tropical Wet Climate Zone

located near equator

avg temp of 80F

receive a lot of rain

(the rain forests)

Tropical Wet Dry

located North/South of equator

have both seasons

plants and wildlife struggle in one versus the other

(Savannah, Key West FL)

Humid Subtropical

located on the East coasts of all continents

have warm ocean/wind currents all year

Summers = long & rainy

Winters = short & mild temps

long growing season

(SE U.S., Sydney, S. Korea, Tokyo)

Temperate Climate

located between the tropics & polar region

most of the world lives here

• Humid Subtropical

• Mediterranean

• Marine West Coast

Mediterranean Climate

located on the Western coasts of continents

Summers = hot & dry

Winters = cool & wet

year-round growing season

affected by ocean & water currents

(California, Italy, Turkey)

Marine West Coast

located on the western coasts of continents

affected by mountains & oceans

summers = cool

winters = warm (high rainfall)

(Seattle, London)

Continental Climates

located at the interior of Asia & N. America

hot summer & cold winter

• Humid Continental

• Subarctic

Humid Continental Climate

located in N. Hemisphere

short growing season, but fertile soil

4 distinct seasons:

• warm-humid summer

• cool dry fall

• cold harsh winter

• warm wet spring

(NE U.S., Toronto)

Subarctic Climate

located in N. Hemisphere

2 seasons: summer & winter

winter = very long & very cold

summer = short

(Siberia, Alaska)

Polar Climates

located near N. & S poles

• Tundra

• Icecap

Tundra climate

located in N. Hemisphere

soil is in permafrost

winter = cold, harsh

summer = short, cool

(Coastal Greenland, Alaska, N. Siberia)

Icecap Climate

located in North & South Pole

Earths most extreme climate

has super deep ice coverage

summer & winter are similar in temps

daylight hours disappear in winter

(interior Antarctica)

Dry Climate

receives little precipitation all year

has no ice coverage because it is so dry & powerful wind

• semi-arid

• arid

• highland

Semi-Arid Climate

found in both North & South Hemisphere

Steppe

transition zones

can be warm or cold

long droughts

little rain for plants and animals

(Dakar, Denver)

Arid Climate

found in both North & South Hemisphere

true desert

very little rain

no distinct seasons

day - hot dry

night - cold dry

(Cairo, Phoenix)

Highland Climate

high mountain regions

Alpine region

elevate determines precipitation & temps

(Aspen, Tibet), Adis Ababa)

Tundra Terrestrial Biome

closest to poles

low temp, little rain

permafrost

animal adaptations: white fur, blubber, hibernation patterns

Taiga Terrestrial Biome

Subarctic region

low temp, Little precipitation

coniferous trees/large animals that can handle cold winter climate

(moose, wolves)

Temperate Rainforest Terrestrial Biome

coastal - mid-latitude

moderate temp, hi precipitation

Coniferous large trees (redwoods)

rainy winter

foggy summer

(Pacific Northwest)

Shrubland (Chaparral) Terrestrial Biome

West coastal (Mediterranean)

summer - hi temp, low precipitation

winter - low temp, hi precipitation

natural droughts/wildfires

has a lot of shrubs

Temperate deciduous forest terrestrial biome

mid-latitude

warm summer, cold winter

trees lose leaves in winter

(Eastern U.S.)

Tropical Rainforest Terrestrial Biome

around the equator

warm, wet, hi precipitation

Hi productivity

most diverse biome

distinct layers

bad soil

Savanna Terrestrial Biome

Near equator

warm temps

distinct wet & dry seasons

long dry seasons

open landscape - no small woody plants

fertile soils supporting many herbivores

Temperate Grassland Terrestrial Biome

Mid-Latitude of both Hemispheres

Summer - hot dry

Winter - cold harsh

common fires

windy

long growth season

supports large herbivores

(The Great Plains, the Euro Steppe)

Desert Terrestrial Biome

low-latitude (close to equator)

hi temp

little precipitation

plants adapt to preserve moisture

animals release/avoid heat

River Aquatic Biome

moving water

freshwater

nutrient rich in organic matter

Ponds/Lakes Aquatic Biome

still water

freshwater

plants along shorelines

Wetland Aquatic Biome

mostly still water

freshwater

shallow

can dry up from drought

swamp, marsh, bog

breeding ground for birds

flood damage control

filters water of pollutants

Marshland/Estuary Aquatic Biome

mostly still w/ some external turbulance

mix of salt/freshwater

along coastline

one of most productive biomes on earth

abundant plan life filters water

habitat for shellfish

Intertidal Aquatic Biome

Depends on hi/low tides

saltwater

Coral Reef Aquatic Biome

Shallow water beyond shoreline

saltwater

most diverse biome

shelter and food

low nutrients in water

Ocean Aquatic Biome (photic)

Hi turbidity near top

saltwater

has producers (algae, phytoplankton)

Ocean Aquatic Biome (aphotic)

low turbidity as you go deeper

saltwater

has chemosynthesis & bacteria

Climate impact on human settlement

Early hominids were limited to living on Africa/Middle East because they had no ability to survive winter everywhere else (no fire)

Mountains impact on human settlement

blocks ability to move across a region

served as a protection from outside invasion

The impact of technological innovation on historical geography

• cultural exchange (transport & communication & trade)

• migration (transport & communication)

• global networks (trade)

The impact of urbanization on historical geography

• pollution

• congestion

• resource depletion

• overconsumption of goods

The impact of climate change on historical geography

• agricultural productivity

• population distribution

• natural disasters

• migration

• ecosystem destruction

• change in weather patterns

Migration push factors

• loss of economic opportunity

• religious persecution

• natural disaster

• family needs

• lack of educational opportunities

• disease, war, famine, government corruption

Migration pull factors

• economic opportunities

• family needs

• educational opportunities

• higher standards of living

immigration

the act of moving into a new country with the intent of living there permanently.

migration

the general movement of individuals or groups from one place to another, whether within a country or across international borders

Residential Land

land used for housing

Agricultural Land

Land used for farming activities

Industrial Land

Land used for manufacturing, processing, warehousing, and distribution of goods.

Commercial Land

Land used for business, retail stores, offices, and services

Recreational Land

Land designated for parks, playgrounds, sports fields, and natural reserves