Geography Lecture Notes Flashcards

Flashcards generated from lecture notes on Geography, covering topics such as compass direction, countries, borders, climate, latitude/longitude, map reading, and grid references.

Compass

An instrument that is used to indicate direction.

Border

A line that separates a country from other countries.

What are the two categories of borders?

Natural and political boundaries.

Geography

The study of different places, climates, and vegetation around the world.

What are two reasons for studying geography?

It teaches us how natural features in the environment are formed and helps us understand how processes in the environment work.

Greenhouse Effect

A process that occurs when greenhouse gasses trap the sun's heat on the Earth's surface.

Global Warming

An unusual increase in temperature around the earth, affecting normal weather and climate patterns.

Climate Change

The long-term change in the Earth's typical weather patterns and temperature.

Name two positive actions to combat climate change.

Switching off lights and electrical devices when not in use, and using public transport or walking/cycling.

Lines of Latitude and Longitude

Imaginary lines around the globe, used for locating points on Earth.

Equator

Divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Major line of Longitude

Splits and forms the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

What are lines of latitude also called?

Parallel lines.

What is another name to describe all lines of longitude?

Meridians.

What is the major line of Longitude?

The Prime Meridian or Greenwich Meridian.

Name examples of natural boundaries.

Mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, and coastlines.

Treaty

An agreement between two or more countries.

Map

A drawing of how a piece of land would look from above.

Cartography

The art and science of map making and charts.

Topography

The arrangement of natural and artificial features of an area.

Demography

The study of human population with reference to size, density, distribution, and vital statistics.

Super Continent

A large land mass made up of all or most of the earth's land.

Four-figure grid reference

Used to describe a square and its location within a grid system.

What are the steps for giving a four-figure grid reference?

Find the square, locate the southwest corner, give the double digits for each line, and remember eastings are given first.

Why are some lines called eastings?

Because all measurements are taken east of these lines.

Why are some lines called northings?

Because all measurements are taken north of these lines.

What is a national grid used for?

A national grid is used for giving accurate positions of places on Ordnance Survey maps.

Ordnance Survey Map

A map prepared by surveyors from actual measurements, made up of numbered vertical and horizontal lines 1 km apart.

Grid

A series of squares, where each grid square is 1 km square.

How big is 1 grid square?

1 km in real life.

From where are all grid squares numbered?

From the southwest corner.

What are the lines running North-South called?

Eastings.

What are the lines running West-East called?

Northings.

Eastings

Vertical lines on a grid system, with numbers seen at the base and top of the grid.

Northings

Horizontal lines on the grid system, given after Eastings.