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Definitions Flashcards

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1
Q

What is Physical Geography?

A

The study of all of the natural aspects of Earth as our habitat and home.

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2
Q

What is Geography?

A

The study of all aspects of the earth in its role as the home of our people.

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3
Q

What is Human Geography?

A

Concerns the natural processes and variations in time and space with human-generated phenomena.

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4
Q

What is Spatial Discipline?

A

Study of locational space, patterns and spatial distribution or differences among phenomena.

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5
Q

What is a System?

A

An organized entity that consists of interrelated and interacting components.

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6
Q

What is the Atmosphere?

A

Gaseous blanket of air that envelops, shields and insulates earth.

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7
Q

What is the Lithosphere?

A

Contains the solid earth, landforms, minerals, rocks and soils.

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8
Q

What is the Biosphere?

A

Composed of people, animals, plants and all other living things.

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9
Q

What is the Hydrosphere?

A

Includes the waters of the earth, oceans rivers and water in soil, atmosphere and in organisms.

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10
Q

What is Absolute Location?

A

Expressed as a coordinate.

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11
Q

What is Relative Location?

A

Identifies where a feature lies in relation to a landmark or something else.

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12
Q

What is Spatial Distribution?

A

Refers to the extent of the area or areas where the feature or feature exists.

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13
Q

What is Spatial Pattern?

A

Refers to how multiple individuals of the same type of feature or event are arranged over earth’s surface, randomly, or clustered together.

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14
Q

What is Spatial Interaction?

A

Exists if a condition or occurrence or a process in one place has an impact on another place.

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15
Q

What is Environment?

A

Our surroundings consist of all physical, social, and cultural aspects of the world that affect our growth, our health, and the way we live.

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16
Q

What is Ecology?

A

Study of the relationship between organisms and their environment.

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17
Q

What is an Ecosystem?

A

Refers to a community of organisms and their relationships to one another and to their environment.

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18
Q

What are Models?

A

A useful simplification of complex reality. A generalized representation of reality.

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19
Q

What are Pictorial and Graphic Models?

A

Include pictures, maps, graphs, diagrams and drawings.

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20
Q

What is a Physical Model?

A

A globe or other three-dimensional representation of the Earth.

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21
Q

What is a Mathematical or Statistical Model?

A

Used to predict the outcome or probability of an outcome.

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22
Q

What are Conceptual Models?

A

The mental imagery we use for understanding our surroundings.

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23
Q

What is an Open System?

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A

Undergo inputs and outputs across system boundaries.

24
Q

What is a Closed System?

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A

Do not undergo inputs and outputs across system boundaries.

25
What is the Equator?
Latitude line that forms a great circle which divides the planet into the northern and southern hemispheres. Located at 0*.
26
What is the Prime Meridian?
Longitude line passing through Greenwich England at 0*.
27
What are Parallels?
Latitude lines are spaced in parallels in increments of 15*.
28
What are Meridians?
Longitudinal lines are spaced in 15* increments called this.
29
What are Time Zones?
Based on relationships between Earth’s Rotation, longitude and time.
30
What is Solar Noon?
The sun is at the highest angle in the sky at a specific location.
31
What is the Global Positioning System (GPS)?
A network of satellites orbiting at 20,200 kilometers from Earth transmit radio signals that can be accessed by receivers to pinpoint locations from the surface or sky.
32
What is a Planar Projection?
Projecting the grid lines onto a plane or flat surface. These projections are best used for showing the polar regions.
33
What is a Conic Projection?
Commonly used for maps of middle latitude regions. Can portray these regions with minimal distortion.
34
What are Topographic Contours?
Isolines that connect points of equal elevation either above mean sea level or below sea level.
35
What is Gradient?
The closer the lines are together in a contour map the steeper the gradient or slope.
36
What are Passive Systems?
Remote sensing systems that make use of the energy available where the image is taken.
37
What are Active Systems?
Remote sensing systems that emit their own energy source and record reflected returns from surface features.
38
What are Sunspots?
Appear in dark regions are about 1500C* to 2000C* cooler than surrounding areas on the sun.
39
What is the Solar Constant?
A planet’s rate of receiving energy from the sun. Measured outside of the Earth’s atmosphere.
40
What is an Analemma?
Used to find the sun’s declination throughout the year. Looks like a figure 8.
41
What is Solar Declination?
Latitude where the sun is directly overhead at 90& on a given day.
42
What is Zenith?
The point the sun reaches during solar noon. (Highest angle in the sky)
43
What is the Karaman Line?
Located at 100km the height where air is too thin for planes to fly. The realm of astronauts. Below is 99% of the atmosphere.
44
What are Aerosols?
Tiny solids or liquids suspended in the atmosphere.
45
What are Particulates?
(A variety of aerosols) solid particles in the air.
46
What are Atmospheric Pollutants?
Harmful aerosols and gases that are potential health hazards.
47
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
An important natural process that influences the moderate temperature on earth.
48
What is the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?
Human made and increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to burning fossil fuels leading to an enhanced warming effect.
49
What is Terrestrial Radiation?
Emit from the surface including the ocean as thermal infrared energy, the dominant source of atmospheric heat is terrestrial radiation and the atmosphere mainly heats from the Earth’s surface upwards.
50
What is Conduction?
Energy transfer between two objects in contact with each other.
51
What is Convection?
Vertical heat transfer through the atmosphere like water boiling in a pot.
52
What is Advection?
Horizontal transfer of heat.
53
What is Latent Heat Exchange?
When stored heat is released as sensible heat. Water to water vapor.
54
What are Maritime Locations?
Locations over water bodies or land areas that receive oceanic winds. Have more moderate climates.
55
What are Isotherms?
The geographic distribution of temperatures can be represented on a map with line symbols called.

Earth Science (5 decks)

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