Memorial Press: Geography 2

geography

the study of the earth’s surface

topography

the study of the shapes and physical features of the earth’s surface

tropical climate

the temperature stay above 65°F all year; has rainy and dry seasons

temperate climate

the temperature does not reach extreme highs or lows; precipitation (rain and snow) is moderate

desert climate

precipitation usually stays below 10 inches per year

equatorial climate

a tropical climate with no dry season

continental climate

hot summers and winters cold enough to support snow cover on the ground

polar climate

long cold winters with the temperature rarely rising above 30°F

archipelago

a chain or group of islands

cape

a strip of land jutting out into a body of water

delta

a triangular area where a river divides before entering a larger body of water

equator

an imaginary line that divides the earth into a northern half and southern half

glacier

a “river” of ice that moves very slowly

gulf

an area of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land

highlands

elevated land

monsoon

winds flowing one direction part of the year and the opposite direction the other part; they bring heavy rain in the summer

mouth

the part of a river that empties into another body of water

oasis

a piece of lush land surrounded by desert

plateau

a high plain

rainforest

forests with roughly 100 or more inches of rainfall a year

savanna

large tropical grasslands near the equator

steppe

vast dry grasslands that are largely treeless

strait

a narrow strip of water joining two larger bodies of water

tributary

a stream or river that flows into another river

tsunami

a large ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake or volcano eruption

volcano

an opening in the earth’s crust through which magma erupts