IV Geography Flashcards
Understand how maps, geographic tools, and data interpretation, including spatial relations, as well as ecosystems and demographics impact society, resources, agriculture, and human behavior.
1
Q
Identify:
Geographer tools
A
- Maps
- GPS (Global Positioning System)
- GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
- Theodolites
- Remote sensors
2
Q
Explain:
What does a world region map show?
A
- Divides Earth’s surface into distinct geographical areas.
- Each area is characterized by shared physical, cultural, or political attributes.
- Help to visualize the spatial relationships between countries, continents, and regions.
- Highlights differences and similarities in climate, topography, population distribution, and cultural features.
3
Q
Identify:
7 geographical regions
A
- North America
- South America
- Europe
- Africa
- Asia
- Australia and Oceania
- Antarctica
4
Q
Define:
map projection
A
Method of representing the ellipsoidal Earth surface on a flat surface.
The characteristics of map projection are area, shape, distance, and direction.
5
Q
Identify:
Types of map projections.
A
- Mercator Projection
- Robinson Projection
- Goode’s Homolosine Projection
- Azimuthal Projection
- Mollweide Projection
- Lambert Conformal Conic Projection
- Peters Projection
6
Q
Explain:
remote sensing
A
- Any method of collecting data about an object or location without making physical contact with it.
- Main purpose is to determine information about an object or phenomenon that can’t be assessed through physical contact or that requires additional research.
7
Q
Identify:
3 remote sensing tools
A
- Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)
- Sound navigation ranging (Sonar)
- Spectrometers
8
Q
Explain:
How does a sun-synchronous orbit work?
A
It is an orbit a satellite takes around the Earth where the movement and orbit of the satellite always appear the same from the perspective of the Sun.
This means that the satellite is orbiting the Earth in such a way that it is always visible to the Sun, and orbits around the boundary between the daytime and nighttime side of Earth.
9
Q
Explain:
What are geostationary orbits and what are they used for?
A
- They are orbits undergone by satellites in which the satellite orbits directly over the Earth’s equator and completes a single orbital period at the same rate the Earth rotates.
- This amounts to the satellite remaining in the same position in the sky throughout the whole day. These orbits are used by spy satellites, communication satellites, and military defense satellites.
10
Q
Identify:
5 themes of geography.
A
- Location
- Place
- Human environment interaction
- Movement
- Region
Location - which includes both absolute and relative location.
Place - revolves around the physical and human characteristics of a place.
Human Environment Interaction - is the study of the how humans interact and adapt to the environment.
Movement - is a look at how people move themselves, goods, and information around the globe.
Region - seeks to divide the earth in manageable regions for study based on formal, functional and vernacular regions.
11
Q
Define:
cultural geography
A
Study of how people and their environment interact.
12
Q
How do geographers use spatial perspective?
A
- They look at the world in terms of the location of things on the Earth’s surface.
- They explain why things are arranged the way they are in geographic space and how they interact.
13
Q
Explain:
What are the different types of spatial organization?
A
- People and places
- Environment
People and places - people concentrated in a city because of the available resources in that area.
Environment - areas with temperate climates are more populated than extremely dry or cold areas.
An example of spatial organization would be a city every certain number of miles along a highway. Another example would be an aerial photograph of farmland that is illustrated by large, green, or yellow grid squares.
14
Q
Explain:
How is the scientific method used in geography?
A
- Used to investigate and acquire new knowledge or improve upon previous knowledge.
- Geographers use it to explain observations and solve puzzles about the world around us.
Geographers rely on hard data to base their conclusions. Without it, their findings would be less reliable, making the scientific method vital in geography.
15
Q
Explain:
How are spatial processes used in geography?
A
Geography studies why things vary from place to place on Earth, known as spatial distributions. Spatial processes aim to answer: Why does this spatial distribution exist?
Spatial distributions are patterns that can be mapped. Spatial processes help understand the reasons behind these patterns.
16
Q
Identify:
3 types of spatial processes
A
- Natural-physical systems
- Environment-society relationships
- Human systems
Natural-physical systems - such as the water mold that killed potato crops.
Environment-society relationships - such as the planting of crops.
Human systems - such as the human decision to move location.
17
Q
What is the difference between behavioral and humanistic geography?
A
- Behavioral geography studies how experiences, beliefs, and assumptions influence human decision-making and behavior in different spaces and places.
- Humanistic geography examines people’s relationships with places and spaces.
18
Q
Explain:
Why is spatial interaction important?
A
- It explains how places interact through the flow of things, people, information, and ideas.
- Understanding the decision-making and economic forces behind these flows helps geographers predict, plan for, and manage them effectively.
19
Q
Identify:
3 principles of spatial interaction
A
- Complementarity
- Transferability
- Intervening Opportunity
Complementarity - supply and demand
Transferability - mobility
Intervening Opportunity - alternative point of supply
20
Q
Define:
cultural diffusion
A
It refers to when certain cultural values, ideas, or even cultures are adopted by different cultures.
These other cultures then either blend or merge with the adopted culture depending on circumstances such as level of influence or geographical proximity to the adopted culture.
21
Q
Identify:
3 types of cultural diffusion
A
- Stimulus diffusion
- Expansion diffusion
- Relocation diffusion
22
Q
What are pull and push factors that attract and force people to migrate?
A
- Pull: Better employment opportunities in another country.
- Push: War, famine, threat on personal life, and political instability.
23
Q
Identify:
biome
A
A regional area characterized by the plants, animals, and climate in that area.
Many of the plants and animals located in these areas are endemic to the biome. This means they are unique to that biome and only found in that specific part of the world.
Each biome has different temperatures, climates, and vegetation that define its characteristics.
24
Q
Identify:
5 basic types of biomes.
A
- Grasslands
- Desert
- Forest
- Aquatic
- Tundra
25
# Explain:
What is **biodiversity** and why is it important?
It is the **measurement of variety** within living systems. It is important because ecosystems with high diversity are more resistant to disturbances and rebound faster.
26
# Identify:
**3 types** of biodiversity
* Species diversity
* Genetic diversity
* Ecological diversity
27
# Explain:
How are ecosystems, habitat, and niche related?
* **Ecosystems** are the dynamic interaction between the **biotic** (living) and **abiotic** (nonliving) factors in a geographic area.
* The **habitat** is a place suitable for a particular organism to live.
* The **niche** of an organism is the unique and specific role it plays in its ecosystem.
28
# Identify:
Density-dependent and density-independent factors that affect **population density**
* **Density-dependent factors** (biotic) - disease, predation, competition for resources.
* **Density-independent factors** (abiotic) - weather, climate, pollution, amount of oxygen.
## Footnote
The **population density**, or numbers of individuals of a population within a certain sized area, will change as conditions change.
29
# Identify:
3 types of ecology.
1. Population ecology
2. Community ecology
3. Ecosystem ecology
## Footnote
**Population Ecology**: It studies the organisms of one species and how they interact with each other and their environment.
**Community ecology**: It studies all the species in an area and the surrounding environment.
**Ecosystem ecology**: It looks at all the living organisms (biotic factors) and the abiotic factors in an area and how they interact.
30
# Identify:
food chain
In an ecosystem, it is a representation of the feeding relationships between a specific group of organisms that describes **who eats whom in a linear fashion**.
31
# Identify:
5 **trophic levels** of food chain
1. **Producers** - create their own food.
2. **Primary Consumers** - feed on producers for energy.
3. **Secondary Consumers** - feed on primary consumers for energy.
4. **Tertiary Consumer** - feed on secondary consumers for energy.
5. **Quaternary Consumers** - feed on tertiary consumers for energy.
32
# Explain:
phosphorus cycle
Represents the flow of phosphorus **from inorganic to organic sources**.
## Footnote
Phosphorus is an essential element for living organisms and is found in DNA, RNA, and cell membranes.
33
# Identify:
**3 steps** in the phosphorus cycle
1. **Weathering** releases phosphates from rocks and sediments.
2. Plants and animals **absorb** these phosphates.
3. The **decomposition** of living organisms returns phosphates back to the environment.
34
# Explain:
What are the primary drivers of **climate change** and how do they impact global ecosystems and human societies?
* The primary drivers of climate change include **greenhouse gas emissions** from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
* These drivers lead to **rising global temperatures**, resulting in severe weather events, sea-level rise, and disruptions to ecosystems and human societies.
35
# Describe:
primary and secondary **succession**
* **Primary succession**: An example is the recovery of an ecosystem after lava covers the ground or a glacier retreats.
* **Secondary succession**: An example would be the recovery of a forest after a forest fire. Grasses, followed by shrubs and a variety of tree species, would eventually grow after some time.
## Footnote
Primary ecological succession occurs when an area experiences a disturbance so severe that **none of the original species survive**.
Secondary ecological succession is the type of succession that occurs when **an area experiences a disturbance that alters** the existing ecosystem but does not destroy all of the original species.
36
What **influences** where **people live**?
* Living by **flood plains** (rivers) for **agriculture**.
* Living by **natural resources** such as wood, stone, and metal ores for **trade**.
* A warm, pleasant, and **temprate climate** can be attractive to live. Places prone to natural disasters can be less attractive to live.
37
# Identify:
Types and functions of **human settlements**.
**Types**:
1. Rural
2. Urban
3. Suburban
**Functions**:
1. Protection
2. Pooling economics
3. Sharing natural resources
4. Socioemotional connection
38
# Explain:
Characteristics of a **central business district**.
* It is the **geographic and commercial center of a city**.
* There is a concentration of **retail and office buildings**, few residential buildings, and that they often contain skyscrapers.
* **Rents are high** in a CBD, and retail stores are willing to pay the most in rent, followed by office buildings, followed by residential renters.
39
# Describe:
Characteristics of an **inner city**.
* It is a place where the neighborhood is **immediately surrounding the central business district**.
* It is also often used to refer to an **impoverished neighborhood**, with high housing density and few green spaces, a decline in industry and jobs, and a lack of services like grocery stores and banks.
40
# Explain:
Difference between **rural**, **urban**, and **suburban** areas.
* **Rural areas** have lots of open space and consist of small towns separated by a large distance of unpopulated countryside.
* An **urban area** is a very densely populated area, often with lots of tall buildings and very little green space. Many people live close and work close together, with many people sharing dwellings in buildings and businesses.
* The **suburbs** are very populated with very little, if any, open countryside. They are less dense, and most people live in single family homes. There is more green space, and businesses often have their own separate buildings.
41
# Describe:
demography
Study of the **size, density, and distribution** of human population.
42
# Identify:
**3 periods of population growth** in demography.
1. The pre-agricultural period
2. The agricultural period
3. The industrial period
43
# Explain:
**Difference** between a highly developed country and a developing country.
* A **highly developed country** - highly industrialized and has high per capita income levels.
* A **developing country** - has limited industrialization and has low per capita income levels.
44
# Explain:
**2 theories** of global population.
* **Malthusian Theory**: It said that at some point in the future, the world's population will hit a wall and collapse.
* **Expanding Technology Theory**: It says that humanity has always managed to innovate when properly incentivized to do so.
45
Describe a **minority** and give examples.
* Someone who is classified by their **distinctive identity**, either culturally, ethnically, racially, or by another subordinate characteristic.
* A minority may have **less access to resources** than the majority or may be viewed as a weaker person because of his or her distinctive characteristics.
* A **racial minority** is a group of people who share distinguishable biological traits; an **ethnic minority** is a group of people who share a cultural background; both are subordinated by society.
46
# Explain:
**Difference** between race, ethnicity, and nationality.
* **Race** is a division of people based on physical characteristics.
* **Ethnicity** is a categorization based on language or common ancestry.
* **Nationality** refers to citizenship in a particular nation.
47
What is **ethnic cleansing** and what are its impacts?
* **Forcible removal** of a certain ethnic, racial, or religious group, usually to create an ethnically homogeneous area.
* Conducted by **official government forces**, militias, insurgent groups, or civilians.
* Considered a **crime against humanity**.
48
# Identify:
What does **IPAT** stand for?
* I = Environmental Impact
* P = Population
* A = Affluence
* T = Technology
## Footnote
The equation is a framework that evaluates **environmental impact.**
49
# Identify:
Causes and effects of **deforestation**.
**Causes**:
* Natural events like parasitic infections of trees
* Forest fires
* Human activities (e.g., logging, agriculture, urbanization)
**Effects**:
* Loss of biodiversity
* Soil impairment
* Greenhouse gas emissions
50
# Describe:
pollution
* **Introduction of harmful substances or contaminants into the environment**, which can cause adverse effects on ecosystems, human health, and the natural world.
* Pollution can affect the air, water, and soil, and is often** caused by human activities** such as industrial production, transportation, agriculture, and waste disposal.
51
# Explain:
Why is the **greenhouse effect** significant?
* **Traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere**, which keeps the planet warm enough to sustain life.
* An enhanced greenhouse effect due to human activities can lead to global warming and climate change, **disrupting natural systems**.
52
# Identify:
6 main **greenhouse gases**.
* Carbon dioxide
* Methane
* Water vapor
* Nitrous oxide
* Ozone
* Fluorinated carbons
53
# Describe:
Impacts of **mining**.
* Extraction of minerals for everyday use
* Production of household products, jewelry, and energy for cars and buildings
* Erosion
* Air and water pollution
* Land destruction
* Harm to mine workers
54
# Identify:
Surface and subsurface mining.
* **Surface mining** removes ore deposits that are close to the surface.
* **Subsurface mining** removes minerals that are deep underground.
55
# Explain:
**Difference** between renewable and non-renewable resources.
* **Renewable resources** are energy sources that can be replenished on a continuous basis.
* **Non-renewable resources** are energy sources that take millions of years to be replaced.
## Footnote
Oil is non-renewable because it is created by the decomposition of organisms deep under Earth's oceans. It takes millions of years to be created from these organisms, which is impossible for humans to recreate.
56
# Identfy:
**7 types** of **renewable resources**.
* Wind energy
* Solar energy
* Geothermal energy
* Biomass energy
* Hydropower
* Hydrogen power
* Ocean energy
57
# Describe:
political entity
* Distinct governmental body that engages in political activities.
* Can be either independent or dependent.
## Footnote
An independent political entity is sovereign, meaning it is self-ruled and self-regulated. Dependent political entities are controlled to some extent by other political entities.
Another term for a political entity is polity. A country is a political entity on a larger scale, with its own governmental body conducting political activities.
58
What is the **difference** between federal and unitary systems of government?
* In a **federal country**, the power and sovereignty is constitutionally divided and **shared** between the national (**federal**) government and units (**states**).
* In a **unitary country**, the power and sovereignty belongs to the **national government**, which might transfer some of it to territorial units.
## Footnote
Great Britain, France, and Italy are examples of a unitary government. The U.S. is an example of a federal government.
59
# Explain:
Physical and cultural boundaries.
* **Physical Boundaries**: Natural barriers that divide regions. Examples include mountains and ridges forming the boundary between Chile and Argentina.
* **Cultural Boundaries**: Divisions based on cultural differences such as religion, ethnicity, language, or social interaction. Examples include the language boundary between French and English speakers in Canada.
60
# Identfy:
constituency
Body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.
61
# Explain:
morphology
| (in human geography)
* Study of the shape, structure, and layout of human settlements and landscapes.
* Examines how physical forms, such as cities, towns, and villages, are organized and how they develop over time in relation to social, economic, and environmental factors.
## Footnote
**Human geography** is the branch of geography that studies the effects of physical features and the atmosphere on humans and vice versa.
62
# Identify:
**5 shapes** of states in **state morphology**.
* Compact states
* Elongated states
* Prorupted states
* Fragmented states
* Perforated states
## Footnote
**State morphology** is the shape and form of state boundaries.
63
# Define:
supranationalism
It is the idea or practice of **separate entities** or governments voluntarily coming together or forming associations to create policies that provide some mutual benefit to all involved.
## Footnote
These **alliances** often transcend national boundaries and involve decision-making related to legal and economic policies, politics, conflict, and military issues.
An example of supranationalism is the World Trade Organization (WTO), an intergovernmental organization that regulates international trade. The organization makes trade rules, negotiate trade agreements, and settles trade disputes between nations.
64
How do centripetal and centrifugal forces play a part in **politics**?
* **Centripetal** forces pull people together, creating national unity and holding a country together.
* **Centrifugal** forces push people apart, promoting regional identities and discouraging national unity.
65
# Explain:
Importance of **agriculture**.
* It allowed humans to live in a **permanent location** without having to hunt and gather food.
* It has allowed civilizations to come into existence and flourish and has made a great impact on **economic growth** for many countries.
66
# Identify:
**2 types** of agriculture.
1. Industrialized agriculture
2. Subsistence agriculture
## Footnote
**Industrialized agriculture** is farming for the purpose of mass production and economic growth.
**Subsistence agriculture** is farming to feed the family that works the farm.
67
# Explain:
History of **agriculture** and impact of technology.
* Most food in America was produced on **family farms**, supporting 25% of Americans.
* **Mechanization** began the decline of family farms.
* Today, large-scale **agribusinesses** and **smart farming** techniques dominate, using advanced technology to produce and process food.
68
# Define:
biotechnology
The utilization of **biological processes** for **industrial** or **commercial** purposes.
69
# Identify:
4 industry sectors **biotechnology** is used for.
1. Healthcare
2. Agriculture
3. Industrial
4. Environmental
## Footnote
**Healthcare**: Production of antibiotics from mold.
**Agriculture**: Hybridization of plants.
**Industrial**: Use of crops and other products for biofuels.
**Environmental**: Wetlands restoration.
70
# Explain:
**Genetically modified foods** and their use.
* **Genetically modified foods** are foods derived from organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques to introduce desirable traits, such as resistance to pests, improved nutritional content, or enhanced shelf life.
* They are used in agriculture to **increase crop yields**, **reduce the need for chemical pesticides**, and **improve food quality and sustainability**.
## Footnote
Livestock can also be genetically modified to grow faster, grow larger, and have more protein and nutrients.
