Copy of 1st Semester Review

Population Density

  • Definition: Population density is the number of people per unit area.

  • Causes for Higher Density:

    • Availability of jobs and economic activities boosts population density.

    • Effective infrastructure (transport, energy, water, sanitation) leads to denser populations.

El Niño

  • Definition: El Niño is characterized by warming of the ocean surface, leading to above-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

  • Global Effects:

    • Causes the Pacific jet stream to shift southward and extend further east, affecting weather patterns worldwide.

Human-Environment Interaction

  • Definition: Interactions between human social systems and ecosystems.

  • Examples:

    • Deforestation (impact on biodiversity and climate).

    • Urban expansion (affecting local ecosystems and services).

Push and Pull Factors

  • Push Factors: Reasons prompting emigration (e.g., poverty, violence).

    • Examples: War, political instability, famine, drought.

  • Pull Factors: Reasons attracting individuals to settle in a new country.

    • Examples: Political stability, job availability, natural resources, better education, favorable climate.

Developed vs. Developing Countries

  • Developed Countries:

    • Industrialized, high standards of living, robust economic growth.

  • Developing Countries:

    • Agrarian, lower standards of living, weak economy, slow growth.

Population Pyramids

  • Definition: Graphs representing age-sex distribution of a population.

  • Information Derived:

    • Insights into birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns.

  • Growth Indicators:

    • Rapid Growth: Wide base, narrow top.

    • Slow Growth: Balanced distribution.

    • Negative Growth: Smaller proportion at both ends, concentrated in the middle.

Areas of Population Density

  • High Population Density:

    • Example Locations: Monaco, Macau (China).

  • Low Population Density:

    • Example Locations: Greenland, Mongolia.

Globalization

  • Definition: The acceleration of the movement and exchange of humans, goods, services, capital, technologies, and cultural practices globally.

Definition of Place

  • Definition: A space or location imbued with meaning.

  • Characteristics: Can encompass both physical (natural features) and human elements (cultural, economic).

Major World Religions

  • Five Major Religions:

    • Judaism: Primarily in the United States and Israel.

    • Christianity: Predominant in Europe, the Americas, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

    • Islam: Concentrated in the Middle East and North Africa.

    • Hinduism: Most prevalent in Nepal.

    • Buddhism: Prominent in Bhutan, Cambodia, and Thailand.

Seasonal Temperature Differences

  • Explanation: Temperature variations across seasons result from the angle and intensity of the Sun's rays.

    • Example: In January and June, differing distances and angles lead to seasonal weather patterns.

Five Themes of Geography

  • Key Themes:

    • Location

    • Place

    • Human-Environment Interaction

    • Movement

    • Region

Types of Regions

  • Formal Regions: Defined by official boundaries (e.g., political entities).

    • Example: Dairying regions of North America.

  • Functional Regions: Defined by a function or activity.

    • Example: Metropolitan areas.

  • Perceptual Regions: Defined by cultural identity.

    • Example: The South or Silicon Valley.

Government Types

  • Types:

    • Democracy: Rule by the people through elected representatives (e.g., United States).

    • Monarchy: A royal family holds power (e.g., The United Kingdom).

    • Dictatorship: Concentration of power in an individual or small group (e.g., Nazi Germany).

Catholicism

  • Predominantly in: Latin America.

Cultural Convergence and Divergence

  • Cultural Convergence: The blending of two or more cultures.

  • Cultural Divergence: The distinct differences that develop between two cultures.

Cultural Diffusion

  • Definition: The spread or merging of cultural ideas and practices.

Isthmus

  • Definition: A narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas with water on both sides.

Plate Tectonics

  • Theory: Explains geological processes influenced by Earth's internal heat, shaping environments over time.

GPS and GIS

  • GPS (Global Positioning System): Technology for pinpointing precise locations.

  • GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Technology for mapping and analyzing geographic data.

Landform Creation Processes

  • Plains: Formed through erosional and depositional processes.

  • Mountains: Created when two continental plates collide.

  • Islands: Formed when new land emerges (e.g., volcanic activity).