Geography and Earth Sciences Review

A comprehensive set of flashcards based on key concepts and terms from the lecture notes on geography and earth sciences.

Eratosthenes

Coined the term geography, meaning 'Earth description'.

Three Questions of Geography

Where? Why? So what?

Geography (modern definition)

Study of interactions between human and physical systems.

Absolute Location

Exact position using latitude and longitude.

Relative Location

Position based on nearby places or landmarks.

Site

Physical and cultural characteristics of a place.

Situation

A place’s relationship to other locations.

Formal Region

Area with uniform characteristics.

Functional Region

Area defined by interactions, e.g., commuting zone.

Vernacular Region

Region based on perception, e.g., 'the South'.

Diffusion

Spread of ideas, people, or things.

Relocation Diffusion

Spread through movement of people.

Contagious Diffusion

Rapid spread through direct contact.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Spread through power structures or networks.

Barriers to Diffusion

Physical, cultural, political, or economic obstacles.

Map

2D representation of Earth.

Cartography

Science of making maps.

Latitude

Distance north/south of the equator.

Longitude

Distance east/west of Prime Meridian.

Prime Meridian

0° longitude line.

Equator

0° latitude line.

Geographic Grid

System of latitude and longitude.

Scale

Relationship between map distance and real distance.

Large-Scale Map

More detail, smaller area.

Small-Scale Map

Less detail, larger area.

Projection

Method of flattening Earth onto a map.

Map Distortion

Errors in area, shape, distance, or direction.

Thematic Map

Shows specific data, e.g., population, climate.

GPS

Satellite system used to determine location.

GIS

Computer system for analyzing spatial data.

Weather

Day-to-day atmospheric conditions.

Climate

Long-term weather patterns.

Insolation

Incoming solar radiation.

Earth’s Tilt

23.5°, causes seasons.

Radiation

Energy transfer through waves.

Shortwave Radiation

Energy from the sun.

Longwave Radiation

Heat radiated from Earth.

Greenhouse Effect

Trapping of heat by atmospheric gases.

Greenhouse Gases

CO₂, methane, ozone, water vapor.

Convection

Rising warm air.

Advection

Horizontal air movement.

Condensation

Gas → liquid.

Relative Humidity

% of moisture air holds.

Convectional Precipitation

Warm air rises, cools, and rains.

Orographic Precipitation

Air forced over mountains.

Frontal Precipitation

Air masses collide.

Atmospheric Pressure

Weight of air.

Wind

Movement of air from high to low pressure.

Coriolis Effect

Deflection of wind due to Earth’s rotation.

ITCZ

Low-pressure zone near equator.

Hurricane

Tropical storm over warm ocean water.

Climate Factors

Temperature and precipitation.

Geomorphology

Study of landforms.

Endogenic Processes

Build landforms (tectonics).

Exogenic Processes

Break down landforms (erosion).

Mineral

Natural chemical substance.

Rock

Combination of minerals.

Igneous Rock

Formed from cooled magma.

Sedimentary Rock

Formed from compressed sediments.

Metamorphic Rock

Changed by heat and pressure.

Plate Tectonics

Movement of Earth’s plates.

Pangea

Ancient supercontinent.

Asthenosphere

Soft layer driving plate movement.

Volcano

Opening where lava erupts.

Shield Volcano

Gentle eruption.

Composite Volcano

Explosive eruption.

Earthquake

Sudden movement of crust.

Focus

Origin of earthquake.

Epicenter

Surface point above focus.

Richter Scale

Measures earthquake magnitude.

Mercalli Scale

Measures damage intensity.

Weathering

Breakdown of rock.

Erosion

Movement of material.

Soil

Layer where plants grow.

Soil Horizons

Layers of soil (O, A, B, C).

Ecosystem

Living and nonliving interactions.

Producer

Makes its own food.

Primary Consumer

Eats plants.

Secondary Consumer

Eats animals.

Decomposer

Breaks down dead matter.

Food Chain

Linear energy flow.

Food Web

Interconnected food chains.

Biomagnification

Increase of toxins up food chain.

Bioaccumulation

Toxin buildup in organism.

Succession

Gradual ecosystem change.

Biodiversity

Variety of species.

Biome

Large ecological region.

Agriculture

Production of food.

Subsistence Farming

Food for self/family.

Commercial Farming

Food for sale.

Monoculture

Single crop farming.

Polyculture

Multiple crops.

Irrigation

Artificial watering of crops.

Nomadic Herding

Moving livestock for food.

Intensive Rice Farming

Labor-intensive wet rice production.

Ranching

Raising livestock commercially.

Plantation Farming

Large-scale single crop farming.

Agricultural Productivity

Affected by climate, technology, inputs.