Physical and Human Geography Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts from physical geography, human geography, earth processes, climates, resource classification, culture, and settlement patterns.

Physical geography

The study of Earth's physical features and natural processes.

Human geography

The study of people and how they interact with places and environments.

Economic geography

The study of where economic activities happen, focusing on production, distribution, and consumption.

Geology

The study of the solid Earth, its rocks, and the processes that change them over time.

Latitude

Measures how far north or south a place is from the Equator, with lines running east and west.

Longitude

Measures how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian, with lines running north and south.

Absolute location

The exact location of a place, usually given using coordinates.

Relative location

Describes where something is in relation to another place.

Continent

A large landmass that is part of Earth's crust.

Tectonic plates

Large, slowly moving pieces of Earth's crust.

Colliding plate movement

A movement where two plates move toward each other, which can create mountain ranges and ocean trenches.

Separating plate movement

A movement where two plates move away from each other, allowing magma to reach Earth's surface and create new crust.

Sliding plate movement

A movement where two plates slide past each other, which can cause earthquakes.

Weathering

The process by which rock is broken down into smaller pieces.

Erosion

The movement of sediment from one location to another.

Monsoon

A seasonal wind pattern that can bring dry or moist air.

Steppe

A semi-dry grassland or prairie often found near dry climates.

Temperate climate

A moderate or mild climate that often features four seasons, warm summers, and cool winters.

Permafrost

A permanently frozen layer of Earth.

Highland climate

A climate found in mountainous areas where temperature decreases as elevation increases.

Habitat

The specific place where a plant or animal lives.

Ecosystem

A group of living and nonliving things that interact with each other.

Biome

A large region made up of similar climates, plants, and animals and containing many ecosystems.

Natural resources

Materials that come from nature and are useful to humans.

Man-made resources

Things people create using natural resources.

Renewable resources

Resources that can naturally replace themselves in a relatively short amount of time.

Nonrenewable resources

Resources that are limited and take extremely long periods of time to form.

Culture

The beliefs, traditions, customs, and way of life shared by a group of people.

Cultural trait

One specific part of a culture, such as language, clothing, or religion.

Ethnic group

A group of people who share a common ancestry, language, history, and culture.

Diffusion

The spread of ideas, customs, technology, or cultural traits from one place to another.

Population

The number of people living in an area.

Population density

A measure of how crowded an area is.

Urban areas

Cities or densely populated areas that often have many people, tall buildings, and businesses.

Rural areas

Areas with fewer people and more open land, often including farms and small towns.

Linear settlement

A settlement pattern where buildings are arranged along features such as a road, river, or railroad.

Cluster settlement

A settlement pattern where buildings are grouped closely together around a central area, such as a town square.

Grid settlement

A settlement pattern where buildings and streets are arranged in a pattern of blocks and straight lines.

Slash-and-burn

A farming method where farmers clear land by cutting and burning vegetation before planting crops.

Terraced farming

A farming method where farmers create steps or terraces on steep slopes to grow crops.

Pastoral farming

A farming method where farmers raise livestock, such as cattle, sheep, or goats.