Introduction to Geography

A collection of vocabulary terms and definitions related to the field of Geography.

Geography

The study of the interaction of all physical and human phenomena at individual places and how interactions among places form patterns and organize space.

Geographer

Someone who analyzes the Earth from many points of view.

Curiosty

The fundamental human trait that drives the study of Geography.

Spatial Variation

The study of how and why things differ from place to place on the surface of the earth.

Greenhouse Effect

The warming of Earth's surface due to the capturing of heat by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Atmosphere

A layer of gases that surround the Earth, composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen.

Hydrosphere

All the water on Earth, including surface water, groundwater, and atmospheric water.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer part of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Climate Change

A long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.