Physical Geography Study Guide for Fin Exam

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in Physical Geography, focusing on climate, geologic processes, tectonics, and river systems.

Climate

The long-term atmospheric conditions in a particular area.

Climatology

The scientific study of climate and its variations.

Climatic regions

Areas classified according to their climate characteristics.

Climate Components

Factors such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind that define a climate.

Cold and Hot Climates

Climates characterized by low and high temperatures, respectively.

Wet and Dry Climates

Climates that are characterized by high and low levels of precipitation.

Generalized Climate Regions

Broad categories of climate types identified around the world.

Climographs

Graphical representations of climate data including temperature and precipitation over time.

Tropical Climates

Climates characterized by warm temperatures and significant rainfall.

Dry Climates

Climates with low precipitation, often classified as arid or semiarid.

Mesothermal Climates

Climates that experience moderate temperatures and seasonal variations.

Microthermal Climates

Climates characterized by colder temperatures and significant seasonal changes.

Polar Climates

Climates that are extremely cold, typically found near the poles.

Global Climate Change

Long-term changes in Earth's climate, particularly related to temperature and weather patterns.

Geologic Time Scale

A timeline for Earth's history, showing the chronological order of geological events.

Uniformitarianism

The principle that geological processes have remained consistent over time.

Punctuated Equilibrium

The theory that evolutionary development is marked by abrupt changes.

Core

The innermost layer of Earth, made primarily of iron and nickel.

Magnetism

The property of materials to attract or repel due to magnetic fields.

Earth’s Structure

The layered composition of Earth including crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.

Earth in Cross Section

A vertical representation showing Earth's layers.

Isostatic Adjustment

The balancing of tectonic plates in response to changes in surface load.

Continental Crust

The thick section of the earth's crust that forms the continents.

Oceanic Crust

The thinner part of Earth's crust that underlies the oceans.

Geologic Cycle

A natural cycle that describes the processes of rock formation, movement, and recycling.

Exogenic Processes

Geological processes occurring at the Earth’s surface, such as erosion and sedimentation.

Endogenic Processes

Geological processes occurring within the Earth, such as volcanic activity.

Plate Tectonics

The theory that explains the movement of Earth's plates and their interactions.

Continental Drift

The hypothesis that continents move across Earth's surface over geological time.

Rock Cycle

The continuous process of rock formation, alteration, and destruction.

Crustal Orders of Relief

The classification of terrain features based on scale.

Earth’s Hypsometry

The measurement and representation of the heights of the Earth's landforms.

Continental Shields

Large, stable landmasses composed of ancient crystalline rocks.

Terranes

Distinctive pieces of crustal material that have different geological histories.

Crustal Deformation Processes

Processes that change the shape of the Earth's crust, including folding and faulting.

Normal Fault

A fault where the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall.

Reverse Fault

A fault where the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall.

Strike-Slip Fault

A fault where two blocks of crust slide past each other horizontally.

Volcanism

The process by which magma and gases escape from the Earth.

Epicenter

The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.

Focus

The point within the Earth where an earthquake originates.

Effusive Eruptions

Eruptions characterized by the outpouring of lava.

Explosive Eruptions

Eruptions that expel ash, gas, and lava violently.

Cinder Cones

Small, steep-sided volcanoes built from ash and lava fragments.

Shield Volcanoes

Broad, gently sloping volcanoes formed from low-viscosity lava.

Composite Volcanoes

Volcanoes characterized by alternating layers of lava and ash.

Landmass Denudation

The process of erosion and weathering that shapes landforms.

Types of Denudation

Different mechanisms of land degradation, such as weathering and erosion.

Dynamic Equilibrium

A state in which Earth's landforms adjust and maintain balance.

Endogenic Events

Geological events arising from within the Earth.

Exogenic Events

Geological events occurring due to external forces, such as weather.

Weathering Process

The breakdown of rocks and minerals due to atmospheric conditions.

Physical Weathering

The mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their composition.

Chemical Weathering

The breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions.

Frost Action

The repeated freezing and thawing of water that breaks down rocks.

Exfoliation

The process where layers of rock peel away due to expansion and contraction.

Oxidation

A chemical reaction where a substance combines with oxygen, often leading to weathering.

Karst Topography

Landforms created by the dissolution of soluble rocks, leading to features like sinkholes.

Sinkhole

A depression or hole in the ground caused by the collapse of a surface layer.

Mass Movement Mechanics

The principles overseeing the movement of soil and rock down a slope.

Scarification

The process of making the land surface uneven or scarred by human activity.

Stream-related Processes

The actions of streams involving weathering, erosion, transportation and deposition.