GE111 – Chapter 1: Essentials of Physical Geography Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the basic concepts of Physical Geography, including five themes, Earth systems, mapping, and geographic technologies.

Geography

The science that studies the relationships among geographic areas, natural systems, society, cultural activities, and human interaction with the environment.

Spatial

A term referring to the arrangement and distribution of things across Earth's surface.

Absolute Location

The exact position of a place using latitude and longitude coordinates, such as $34^{\circ}N, 87^{\circ}W$.

Relative Location

Describes a place in relation to another place, such as stating Decatur is south of Huntsville.

Place

The physical characteristics (climate, mountains, vegetation) and human characteristics (culture, architecture, religion) that make a location unique.

Region

An area that shares common characteristics, such as the Southeast United States, the Arctic, or the Sahara Desert.

Movement

The transfer of people, goods, information, and ideas from one place to another.

Human-Environment Relationships

Studies how humans depend on, adapt to, and modify the environment, such as building dams to control flooding.

Hypothesis

A testable explanation for an observation.

System

A collection of connected parts that interact through the exchange of energy and matter.

Open System

A system that allows both energy and matter to enter and leave, such as a forest ecosystem.

Closed System

A system where little or no matter enters or leaves; Earth is considered a closed system for matter.

Negative Feedback

A process that reduces change and promotes stability, helping to maintain equilibrium.

Positive Feedback

A process that increases change and promotes instability by amplifying changes, such as the Arctic Ice melting example.

Steady-State Equilibrium

A state where inputs equal outputs and the system remains stable.

Dynamic Equilibrium

A state where the system changes while maintaining overall balance, fluctuating within a normal range.

Tipping Point

A threshold where a system experiences major change and shifts to a new state.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding Earth responsible for weather, climate, and air circulation.

Hydrosphere

All water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater, and ice.

Lithosphere (Geosphere)

The solid Earth, including rocks, soil, mountains, and Earth's crust.

Biosphere

All living organisms, including plants, animals, humans, and microorganisms.

Latitude

Measures distance north or south of the Equator ($0^{\circ}$), ranging from $0^{\circ}$ to $90^{\circ}$ North or South; lines are parallel and run east-west.

Tropical Zone

Latitudinal zone between $23.5^{\circ}N$ and $23.5^{\circ}S$ characterized by being warm year-round and receiving direct sunlight.

Temperate Zones

Latitudinal zones between the tropics and polar circles characterized by moderate temperatures and distinct seasons.

Polar Zones

Latitudinal zones near the poles characterized by very cold temperatures and limited sunlight.

Longitude

Measures distance east or west of the Prime Meridian ($0^{\circ}$), ranging from $0^{\circ}$ to $180^{\circ}$; lines run north-south and are called meridians.

Prime Meridian

Located at $0^{\circ}$ longitude, passing through Greenwich, England; used as the starting point for longitude measurements.

Great Circle

A line that divides Earth into two equal halves, such as the Equator; the shortest route between two locations follows this path.

Small Circle

A line that does not divide Earth into two equal halves; most latitude lines are examples of this.

International Date Line

Located near $180^{\circ}$ longitude; crossing it changes the calendar date by adding a day (traveling west) or subtracting a day (traveling east).

Cartography

The science and art of making maps.

Map Scale

The relationship that compares map distance to actual Earth distance, which can be representative fraction, written, or graphic.

Large Scale Map

A map that shows a small area with greater detail, such as a campus or city map.

Small Scale Map

A map that shows large areas with less detail, such as world or country maps.

Map Projections

Methods used to represent Earth's spherical surface on a flat map; all of these contain some form of distortion.

Equal Area Projection

A map projection that preserves the size (area) of features but distorts their shape.

Conformal Projection

A map projection that preserves the shape of features but distorts their area (size).

GPS (Global Positioning System)

A system using satellites and radio signals to determine location; it is one type of GNSS.

GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems)

A collective term for satellite navigation systems including GPS (United States), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (European Union), and BeiDou (China).

Remote Sensing

The collection of information about an object or area without physically touching it, using tools like satellites, drones, or aircraft.

Active Remote Sensing

A method that sends energy and measures the return signal, such as Radar or LiDAR.

Passive Remote Sensing

A method that records naturally reflected or emitted energy, such as satellite photographs or thermal imagery.

GIS (Geographic Information System)

A computer-based system used to collect, store, analyze, and display geographic data using multiple information layers.

Spatial Data

Information in a GIS that answers "Where is it?", such as the location of rivers.

Attribute Data

Information in a GIS that answers "What is it?", such as a river's name, water quality, or population.