GEOG 1010 (Physical Geography)

geomorphology

the study of landforms and how the interactions of Earth’s processes and surface materials contribute to landform development and modification

biogeography

the study of plant and animal distributions of the present and past and how they may change in the future

spatial discipline

type of study dealing with locational space

region

an area identified by certain characteristics it contains that makes it distinctive and separates it from other areas

regional geography

the study of the characteristics of a region or of multiple regions

cartography

the science of mapmaking

scientific method

answering questions (hypotheses) by collecting evidence, objectively analyzing the evidence, and proposing answers based on what the evidence supports

system

group of interacting and interdependent units that together form an organized whole

Earth system

set of interrelated components, variables, processes, and subsystems (e.g., atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere), which interact and function together to make up Earth

subsystem

separate system operating within the boundaries of a larger Earth system

atmosphere

blanket of air, composed of various gases, that envelops Earth

lithosphere

a general term for the solid (rock) part of the Earth system, in contrast to the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere

biosphere

the life forms—human, animal, or plant—of Earth that form one of the major Earth subsystems

hydrosphere

major Earth subsystem consisting of the waters of Earth, including oceans, ice, freshwater bodies, groundwater, and water within the atmosphere and biomass

atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere

What are Earth’s four major subsystems?

absolute location

location of an object on the basis of mathematical coordinates on an Earth grid

relative location

a description of an object’s location, relative to the position of some other object or feature

Spatial distribution

location and extent of an area or areas where a feature exists

spatial pattern

arrangement of a feature as it is distributed through Earth space

spatial interaction

process whereby different phenomena are linked or interconnected, and, as a result, impact one another through Earth space

environment

surroundings, whether of people or of any other living organism; includes physical, social, and cultural conditions that affect the development of that organism

ecology

science that studies the interactions between organisms and their environment

ecosystem

community of organisms functioning together through interdependent relationships with the environment that they occupy

true

True or false? Natural regions can change in size and shape over time in response to environmental changes.

false

True or false? Boundaries separating different natural or environmental regions tend to be sharp.

natural hazard

any natural process that has a detrimental impact on humans and the built environment

environmental degradation

processes or results, usually related to human activities that are detrimental to an environment

pollution

the presence or introduction of a harmful substance into the environment

natural resources

any element, material, or organism existing in nature that may be useful to humans

environmental overshoot

a situation where the rate of resource use is unsustainable, given the existing supply or renewability of that resource

environmental sustainability

interacting with the environment in ways that will “. . . provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments both now and into the indefinite future.” (EPA)

model

simplified representation of a more complex reality that is useful for analysis and prediction

pictorial and graphic models

representation of a portion of Earth’s surface by means of maps, photographs, graphs, or diagrams

physical model

three-dimensional representation of all or a portion of Earth’s surface

mathematical and statistical models

quantitative representation of an area or Earth system using statistical data

computer-generated models

a computer-developed representation of a feature, process, or an environmental system

conceptual models

image in a person’s mind of an Earth feature or landscape as derived from personal experiences

mental map

conceptual model or mental image of an area or a location in map form that people develop in their minds

systems analysis

determining the parts of a system, the processes involved, and studying how changes in interactions among those parts and processes may affect the system and its operation

open system

system in which energy and materials can freely cross its boundaries

closed system

system in which no substantial amount of materials can cross its boundaries

equilibrium

state of balance between the interconnected components of a system, an organized whole

dynamic equilibrium

constantly changing relationship among the variables of a system, which produces a balance between the amounts of energy and/or materials that enter a system and the amounts that leave

feedback

sequence of changes in the elements of a system, which ultimately affects the element that was initially altered to begin the sequence

negative feedback

reaction to initial change in a system that counteracts the initial change and leads to dynamic equilibrium in the system

positive feedback

reaction to initial change in a system that reinforces the initial change and leads to imbalance in the system

threshold

a limiting condition that if it is exceeded (or not met) will cause a dramatic, often irreversible change in the system

resilience

the ability for a system to tolerate change

feedback loop

path of change as its effects move through the variables of a system until the effects impact the variable originally experiencing change