Ch.1 Introduction To Earth

Spatial

The study of why a location is there and how it relates to other things.

Geography

The examination of how things differ from place to place and how they are interrelated.

Human Geography

A branch of geography that focuses on human activities and their relationship with the environment.

Environmental Geography

A field that studies the interactions between humans and the environment.

Physical Geography

The study of natural landscapes and processes of the Earth.

Global Environmental Change

Human-caused and natural processes that alter the landscapes of the world.

Globalization

The processes and consequences of an increasingly interconnected world.

Deductive Reasoning

A method of reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions.

Inductive Reasoning

A method of reasoning that involves making generalizations based on specific observations.

Theory

A best guess or conclusion derived from the scientific method, while a law is an absolute theory.

International System (SI)

A metric system of measurement using units like centimeter, meter, and kilometer.

English System

A system of measurement using units like inches, feet, and miles.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of the Earth made up of rocks and minerals.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding the Earth.

Hydrosphere

The total amount of water on Earth, including all forms of water.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems where living organisms exist.

Earth Systems

A collection of components and processes that operate as a whole.

Closed System

A self-contained system isolated from outside influences.

Open System

A system that allows energy exchange across its boundaries.

Equilibrium

A state where inputs and outputs are balanced, maintaining stability within a system.

Interconnected System

A system where changes in one part affect another part.

Feedback Loops

Outputs that reinforce changes within a system, which can be positive or negative.

Tipping Point

A threshold at which a small change can lead to significant effects in a system.

Solar System

The system that includes the Earth, planets, moons, and other celestial bodies.

Milky Way Galaxy

The galaxy that contains our solar system.

Big Bang

The scientific theory that explains the origin of the universe approximately 13.7 billion years ago.

Terrestrial Planets

The four inner planets that are smaller, denser, and composed of mineral matter.

Jovian Planets

The four outer gas giants with deep atmospheres and frozen interiors.

Oblate Spheroid

The shape of the Earth, slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.

Graticule

A grid system of latitude and longitude lines intersecting at right angles.

Equator

The imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Great Circles

Any plane that passes through the center of a sphere, representing the shortest distance between two points.

Latitude

The angular measurement of a location north or south of the equator.

Tropic of Cancer

The latitude at 23.5 degrees north.

Tropic of Capricorn

The latitude at 23.5 degrees south.

Parallel

A line connecting all points of the same latitude.

Descriptive Zones of Latitude

Bands defined by significant latitudes, including equatorial, tropical, subtropical, midlatitude, and polar zones.

Nautical Miles

A unit of measurement used in maritime and air navigation.

Longitude

The angular measurement of a location east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Meridians

Imaginary lines extending from pole to pole, used to measure longitude.

Prime Meridian

The meridian at 0 degrees longitude, established at Greenwich, England.

Earth Rotation

The spinning of the Earth on its axis, taking approximately 24 hours.

Circadian

Biological processes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle.

Perihelion

The point in Earth's orbit when it is closest to the sun.

Aphelion

The point in Earth's orbit when it is farthest from the sun.

Declination of the Sun

The latitude receiving vertical rays of the sun.

Circle of Illumination

The dividing line between day and night on Earth.

June Solstice

The time when vertical rays strike the Tropic of Cancer, resulting in the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.

December Solstice

The time when vertical rays strike the Tropic of Capricorn, resulting in the longest day in the Southern Hemisphere.

Equinox

The time when day and night are of equal length, occurring in March and September.

Standard Time Zone

A system of 24 time zones based on