Download Chapter 14, Section 1

Unit #1
The Basics of Geography
Chapters 1 — 4
Chapter 1 – The Five Themes of
Geography
Chapter Overview
This chapter explains the Five
Themes of Geography, and
describes such tools of
geographers as maps, globes,
satellite images, and Geographic
Information Systems (GIS).
Section 1: The Five Themes of
Geography



Geographers study the use of space on
earth.
Geographers organize information
about geography into five categories
or themes.
The Five Themes of Geography are
location, place, region, movement, and
human-environmental interaction.
Section 1: The Geographers
Perspective
Geography The study of the distribution
and interaction of physical
and human features on the
earth.
Human Geography The study of the humans and
their interaction with one
another and the environment.
Physical Geography The study of the physical
features found on earth.
Physical and Human Features
on Earth
Five Themes of Geography:
Location
Location “Where is it?”
 Described in two ways:
absolute and relative.
Absolute Location The exact place on earth
where a feature is found (e.g.
a city).
Relative Location Describes a place in
comparison with other places
around it (e.g. direction, time,
or direction).
Five Themes of Geography:
Location
Grid System A system of lines to locate
absolute locations on earth’s
surface.
Hemisphere One half of the globe (e.g.
Northern, Southern, Eastern,
Western).
Equator Imaginary line that divides North
and South.
Five Themes of Geography:
Location
Prime Meridian Imaginary line that divides East
and West.
 Also known as the Greenwich
Meridian because the line runs
through Greenwich, England.
Latitude Imaginary lines that run
parallel to the equator.
Longitude Imaginary lines that go around
the earth over poles.
Five Themes of Geography:
Place
Place “What is it like?”
 Place includes the physical
and cultural characteristics
of a location.
 Physical features include
climate, landforms, and
vegetation.
 Human features include
buildings, structures, and
cultural elements.
Five Themes of Geography:
Region
Region “How are places similar or
different?”
 A region is an area of the
earth’s surface with similar
characteristics.
 Features can include
physical, political,
economic, or cultural
characteristics.
 There are three types of
regions: formal, functional,
and perceptual.
Five Themes of Geography:
Region
Formal Region Defined by a limited number
of characteristics.
 The formal region discussed
this semester will include:
- Southwest Asia & North Africa
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- South Asia
- East Asia
- Southeast Asia, Oceania,
and Australia
- Europe
- Russia & the Republics
- Latin America
- Canada & the United States
Five Themes of Geography:
Region
Functional Regions Organized around a set of
interactions and connections
between places (e.g. a city
and its suburbs).
Perceptual Regions A region in which people
perceive, or see, the
characteristics of the region
in the same way (e.g. the
Midwest may be defined
differently by people).
Five Themes of Geography: HumanEnvironmental Interaction
Human-Environmental
Interaction “How do people relate to
the physical world?”
 People learn to use what the
environment offers them
and to change the
environment to meet their
needs.
 People also adapt to live
within the limits of their
environment.
Five Themes of Geography:
Movement
Movement “How do people, goods, and
ideas move from one
location to another?”
 Examples of movement
include clothing, music, or
places of entertainment.
 Geographers analyze
movement by looking at
three types of distance:
linear, time, and
psychological.
Five Themes of Geography:
Movement
Linear Distance How far an idea, person, or
product travels and how it
is affected by physical
geography.
Time Distance The amount of time it takes
an idea, person, or product
to travel.
Psychological Distance The perception of how
people view an idea,
person, or product travels.
Section 2: The Geographers Tools
Two basic tools of geographers are maps and
globes.
 Most mapmaking today relies on data
gathered by remote sensing, primarily by
aerial photography or by satellites.
 Other important tools of geographers are
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and
Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

Maps & Globes
Globe A 3-D representation of the earth.
Map A 2-D representation of the earth.
 Portable and can be drawn to scale.
Cartographer A Mapmaker.
Map Projection A way of drawing the earth’s
surface to reduce distortion caused
by presenting a round earth on a
flat service.
Types of Maps
Thematic Maps Emphasize specific kinds of
information (e.g. climate or
population).
Navigational Maps Used by sailors and pilots to plot
distance and direction.
Topographical Maps Highlights general references (e.g.
natural or man-made features).
Surveying
Field Survey Surveyors observe, measure, and
record a specific area based on what
they can see.
Mapping & Remote Sensing From a distance, information is
gathered from aerial photography
(e.g. satellites) and stored for use.
Data Collection Includes information (e.g. elevation,
land cover, and variations of
temperature) which is used to
construct maps.
Satellites
Landstat A series of satellites which orbit
above the earth and can collect
data.
Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite (GOES) A weather satellite which can
orbit in sync with the earth’s
rotation to view the same area
and is used to forecast weather.
Geographic Informal Systems
(GIS) & Global Positioning
Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) GIS stores information about
the world in a digital database.
Global Positioning System (GPS) The system uses a system of 24
satellites to find exact positions
on the earth’s surface by
tracking latitude, longitude,
altitude, and time.
 GPS is used by hikers, sailors,
and drivers.
Map Projections
Planar (Azimuthal) Projection A projection on a flat surface.
 Distorts size and shape.
Conical Projection A projection onto a cone.
 Shape is accurate, but distorts
landmasses at the edge.
Compromise Projection A projection onto a cylinder.
 Three types of compromise
projections: Mercator, Robinson,
and homolosine.
Types of Maps
Physical Maps Help identify land features and
bodies of water.
 Shows relief, contour lines,
and shading.
Political Maps Shows features created by
humans.
 Shows cities, states, provinces,
territories, or nations.
Types of Maps
Thematic Maps Focuses on specific types of
information.
 Shows climate, vegetation,
natural resources, population
density, and economic
activities.
Flow-Line Maps Illustrates the movement of
people, goods, animals, or
glaciers.
 Shows location and direction
of movement can be seen.
Chapter 2 – Physical Geography:
A Living Planet
Chapter Overview
This chapter describes the
physical structure of the
earth and the internal and
external forces that shape the
planet.
Section 1: The Earth Inside and
Out
The earth is the only habitable planet in our
solar system.
 The earth consists of a series of shelves that
float on one another.
 The theory of the continental drift explains
the formation of the continents.

The Solar System
Solar System The solar system consists of
the sun and the nine known
planets, as well as the celestial
bodies that orbit the sun.
 The solar system also consists
of the comets, asteroids, and
other space debris orbiting
the sun.
Inside the Earth
Core The center of the earth and is
made up of nickel and iron.
Mantle Surrounds the core and is made
up of several layers.
Magma Found in the mantle and made
up of molten rock.
Crust Thin layer of rock at the earths
surface.
On & Above the Earth
Atmosphere Layer of gases which contains the
oxygen we breathe, protect the
earth from space debris, and
provide a medium for weather
and climate.
Lithosphere The solid rock portion of the
earth’s surface which make up
the uppermost mantle and crust.
 Also makes up the land masses
on the floor of the earth’s oceans
and the seven continents.
On & Above the Earth
Hydrosphere Made up of the water elements
on the earth’s surface which
include the oceans, rivers, lakes,
and water in the atmosphere.
Biosphere Made up of the lithosphere,
atmosphere, and hydrosphere
and is the part of the earth
where plants and animals live.
Continental Drift
Alfred Wegener German scientist who
presented a theory in 1912
called the “Continental
Drift” hypothesis.
Continental Drift Theory maintains that the
earth was once a supercontinent (Pangaea) that
divided and slowly drifted
apart for millions of years.
Section 2: Bodies of Water &
Landforms
Water covers three-fourths of the earth’s
surface and makes life possible.
 The water on earth is continuously
circulated between the atmosphere, the
oceans, and the earth.
 The ocean floor and the continents have
similar landforms.

Oceans & Motion
Oceans The interconnected body of
saltwater that covers 71% of the
earth’s surface.
 Geographers divide the oceans
into four main parts: Pacific,
Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic.
Ocean Motion The salty water of the ocean
circulates through three basic
motions: currents, waves, and
tides.
Oceans & Motion
Currents Act like rivers flowing through
the ocean moving water from
one area to another.
Waves Swells or ridges produced by
wind.
Tides The regular rise and fall of the
of the ocean created by the
moon and the sun.
Oceans & Motion
Transfer of Heat The motion of the ocean helps
regulate and distributes the
heat on the planet.
 Winds blow over the oceans
and are cooled or heated.
 Eventually, winds reach the
land and moderate the
temperature and air over the
land.
Hydrologic Cycle
Cycle of Water The hydrological cycle is the
continuous circulation of water
between the atmosphere, the
oceans, and the land.
(1) Water is heated and evaporates into the
atmosphere;
(2) as vapor, the water cools as it rises and
condenses;
(3) Clouds become saturated and the
condensed water falls to the earth as
rain, sleet, or snow;
(4) Water soaks into the ground, evaporates
into the atmosphere, or flows into rivers
to be recycled.
Lakes, Rivers, & Streams
Lakes Hold more than 95% of all the
fresh water and are usually the
result of glacier action from the
past.
Rivers & Streams Flow through channels and move
water to larger bodies of water.
Drainage Basin A area drained by a major river or
tributary.
Landforms
Landforms Naturally formed features on the
earth’s surface
Continental Shelf The edge of a continent to the
deep part of the ocean.
Ocean Landforms The floor of the ocean has ridges,
valleys, canyons, and plains.
 Islands raise above the surface of
the ocean from the ocean floor.
Landforms
Relief The major geographic feature
that separates one type of
landform from another relief.
Topography The combination of the
surface shape and
composition of the landforms
and their distribution in a
region.
Section 3: Internal Forces
Shaping the Earth
 The
earth’s crust consists of a number
of tectonic plates.
 The movement of the tectonic plates
continually reshapes the surface of the
earth.
 Movement of the plates produces
earthquakes and volcanoes.
Plate Tectonics
Tectonic Plates Large pieces of the lithosphere
which form one of three types of
boundaries: divergent, convergent,
or transform.
Divergent Boundary Plates move apart, horizontally
Convergent Boundary Plates collide causing one plate to
slide under another.
Transform Boundary Plates slide past one another.
Folds & Faults
Fold Changes in the crust caused
by the slow movement of
rock under great pressure.
 Folds create the
transformation of the crust
and only occurs in a few
centimeters or inches a year.
Fault The fracture in the earth’s
crust in which plates move
past one another.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes The sliding or colliding of
tectonic plates causing the
earth to shake or tremble.
Seismograph Detects earthquakes by
measuring the size of the
waves created by an
earthquake.
Epicenter The point directly above
where the center of the
earthquake occurred.
Earthquake Damage
Results of Earthquakes Earthquakes squeeze, stretch,
and shear the land and
structures by resulting in
damage.
Richter Scale Uses the information collected
by seismographs to determine
the strength of an earthquake.
Tsunami A large wave in the ocean
usually caused by an
earthquake.
Volcanoes
Volcano A crack in the earth’s surface.
Lava Magma which reaches the
earth’s surface.
Ring of Fire A zone around the rim of the
Pacific Ocean where a vast
majority of active volcanoes
exist.
 Eight of the major tectonic
plates meet at this zone.
Section 4: External Forces
Shaping the Earth
 Weathering
and erosion alter the
surface of the earth.
 Water, wind, and glaciers cause erosion
that produces a variety of landforms.
 Weathering and erosion help form soil.
Weathering
Weathering Refers to the physical and
chemical processes that
change the characteristics of
rock.
Sediment Identified as mud, sand, or
silt.
Weathering
Mechanical Weathering Only changes the size of the
rock, not its composition.
 When ice crystals can cause a
rock to fracture into smaller
pieces.
Chemical Weathering Occurs when rock is changed
into a new substance as a
result of the interaction
between air, water, and
minerals.
 Minerals can break down
when exposed to O or C.
Wind & Water Erosion
Erosion Occurs when weathered material
is moved by the action of wind,
water, ice, or gravity (e.g. glaciers,
waves, flow of water, or blowing
wind).
Delta When a river enters the ocean, the
sediment is deposited in a fan-like
V-shaped landform.
Loess Windblown silt and clay sediment
that produces fertile soil.
Building Soil
Forming Soil Weathering and erosion are part
of the process of forming soil.
 Organic matter in the soil helps
support plant life as well as water
and air.
 The variety of soils and the
climate in which they are found
determine the types of
vegetation.
Humus The amount of organic material
found in soil.
Chapter 3 – Physical Geography:
Climate & Vegetation
Chapter Overview
This chapter explains the causes
of the seasons, weather, and
climates, and describes the
world’s climate and vegetation
regions.
Section 1: Seasons & Weather
Seasons are caused by the earth’s tilt and
revolution around the sun.
 Daily weather is the result of many factors,
including solar energy, water vapor, cloud
cover, landforms, bodies of water, and air
movement.
 Types of extreme weather include
hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, droughts,
and floods.

Seasons
Earth’s Tilt & Revolution The seasons exist due to both
the tilt of the earth on its axis
and revolution of the earth
around the sun.
 Some locations receive more
direct sun rays because of the
earth’s tilt.
Tropics of Cancer & Capricorn The farthest points (north and
south in relation to the equator)
that the sun’s rays shine directly
overhead at noon.
Seasons
Solstice The seasons of summer (June 21)
and winter (December 22) begin.
 The farthest points (north and
south in relation to the equator)
that the sun’s rays shine directly
overhead at noon.
Equinox The seasons of spring (March 21)
and fall (September 23) begin.
 Day and night are equal in length.
Weather
Weather The condition of the
atmosphere at a particular
location and time.
Climate The Weather conditions at a
particular location over a long
period of time.
Precipitation Falling water droplets in the
form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail.
Weather Extremes
Hurricane A type of storm that forms over
warm, tropical waters and
transfers heat out of the tropics.
 Also called typhoons and
cyclones.
 The storm can take days to
develop and spread over an area.
Tornado A powerful storm which is
funnel-shaped and can develop
without warning.
Weather Extremes
Blizzard A heavy snowstorm with winds
over 35 miles which can dump
feet of snow over a period of
days.
Drought A long period of time without
rain or very minimal rainfall.
Flood Occurs when water spreads out
over an area not normally
covered with water.
Section 2: World Climate
Regions
 Four
major factors influence the
climate of a region: wind and ocean
current, latitude, altitude, and
topography.
 Climates change over time.
 Some climate changes are natural,
while others result from human
activities.
Factors Affecting Climate
Wind Currents Distribute heat from the one part
of the world to another part of
the world.
 Winds are caused by Convection
or the transfer of heat in the
atmosphere in an upward motion
of the air.
Ocean Currents Similar to rivers as warm water is
circulated to higher latitudes and
cold water flows back to the
equator.
Factors Affecting Climate
Zones of Latitude Low or tropical.
 Middle or temperate.
 High or polar.
Elevation The distance above sea level.
 Temperature decreases as altitude
increases.
Topography Mountains trap moist air on one
side and cause dry conditions on
the opposite side.
Changes in Climate
El Nino The warming of waters off the
coast of South America which
occurs every two to seven years.
 Brings heavy rain to the
Americas.
La Nina The cooling of waters off the
coast of South America which
occurs every two to seven years.
 Brings heavy rain to Asia.
Changes in Climate
Global Warming The increasing temperature of
the earth.
 Controversy exists as to the
actual causes of the warming.
Greenhouse Effect The layer of gases (released by
the manmade and natural
causes) into the atmosphere
causing higher temperatures in
the same way a greenhouse
traps solar energy.
Section 3: World Climate
Regions
 Climate
region definitions tell what
typical weather conditions are like in a
region.
 Temperature and precipitation define
climate regions.
 A place’s location on a continent, its
topography, and its altitude influence
its climate.
Defining a Climate Region
Factors that Define Climate

Temperature
Precipitation
Other Factors


Location on a continent
Topography of the land
Altitude
Five General Climate Regions



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Tropical
Dry
Mid-latitude
High Latitude
Highland
Tropical Climates
Tropical Wet Little variation in temperature
(average 80 degrees annually).
 Annual rainfall is near 80 inches.
Tropical Wet & Dry Temperatures range from cool
and dry winters and warm and
wet summers.
Dry Climates
Desert Deserts can be hot or cold and are
categorized by the amount of
rainfall.
 Receive less than 10 inches of
rainfall, annually.
Semiarid Annual rainfall is about 16 inches.
 Hot summers and mild-cold
winters.
 Found in the interior of
continents.
Mid-latitude Climates
Mediterranean Summers are dry and hot while
winters are cool and rainy.
Humid Sub-tropic Winters are mild and cool while
summers are warm.
Humid Continental Variation of temperature and
rainfall.
Marine West Coast Fog, damp, and moist conditions
with rainfall spread evenly, annually.
High-latitude Climates
Sub-Artic Evergreen forests generally cover
land in this region with extreme
weather variations.
Tundra Flat, treeless lands with permafrost
(frozen ground) that forms a ring
around the Arctic Ocean (less than
15 inches annually).
Icecap Snow, ice, and permanent freezing
temperatures annually.
Highland Climate
Highland Climate varies with altitude,
latitude, topography, and
continental location.
 Slope direction can also affect
wind and moisture.
Section 4: Soils & Vegetation
 Soil
characteristics and climate are
major influences on vegetation regions.
 There are four main types of biomes:
forest, grassland, desert, and tundra.
 Human activities have altered the
vegetation of many areas.
Soil Regions
Soil The thin layer of weathered
rock, humus, air, and water.
 Human activities depend on the
topsoil to support vegetation in
a region.
Vegetation Regions
Ecosystem An interdependent community
of plants and animals.
Biome The ecosystem of a region
which are divided into the
following: forest, grassland,
desert, and tundra.
Forest
Forest Categorized by the types of trees
they support.
Deciduous Broadleaf trees (e.g. maple, oak,
birth, and cottonwood).
Rainforest High concentration of broadleaf
trees found in the tropics.
Coniferous Needleleaf trees found in northern
climates.
Grassland
Grassland Mostly flat areas with some
trees.
Savanna In tropical areas, the flat, grassy,
mostly treeless plains.
Steppe Temperate grasslands sometimes
referred to as a prairie.
Desert & Tundra
Desert & Tundra In these extreme climates,
plants are adaptive to survive
cold and dry conditions.
Tundra Plants Plants hug the ground (e.g.
lichen and moss).
Desert Plants Plants conserve water and
withstand heat (e.g. cacti and
shrubs).
Chapter 4 – Human Geography:
People & Places
Chapter Overview
This chapter explains the basic
concepts in the main fields of
human geography: culture,
population, political systems,
and economic systems.
Section 1: The Elements of Culture
 Cultures
change through innovation
and the spread of ideas from one
culture to another.
 Language, religion, and the arts are
among the most important aspects of
cultures.
Defining Culture
Culture The total knowledge, attitudes, and
behavior shared by and passed on by
members of a group.

Involves:
- food
- religion
- family
- language
- education
- defense
- social organization
- creative expression
Defining Culture
Society A group that shares a
geographic region, a sense of
identity, and a culture.
Ethnic Group Used to refer to a group that
shares a language, customs,
and a common heritage.
Culture Change & Exchange
Innovation Taking existing elements of society and creating
something new to meet a need.
Diffusion The spread of ideas, inventions, or the pattern of behavior
to different societies.
Cultural Hearth The heartland or a place of origin of a major culture.
Acculturation The cultural change that occurs when individuals in a
society accept or adopt and innovation.
Language
Language Allows people within a culture the ability to
communicate.
Language Identity Language helps establish unity or nationalism.
Language Families The categorizing of languages of similar types in a group.
Dialects A version of a language that reflects changes in speech
patterns due to class, region, or cultural changes.
Religion
Religion The belief in a supernatural power or powers that are
regarded as the creators and maintainers of the universe.
Monotheism The belief in one god.
Polytheism The belief in many gods.
Animistic Belief in divine forces in nature.
Major Religions
Judaism

Established nearly 3,200 years ago.
Ethnic religion with followers called Jews follow the holy book known
as the Torah.
Christianity

Established 2,000 years ago.
Religion with followers called Christians who follow the teachings of
Jesus Christ and the New Testament of the Bible.
Islam

Established in A.D. 613.
A monotheistic religion based on the teachings of the prophet
Mohammad and whose followers are known as Muslims.
Major Religions
Hinduism Established nearly 5,000 years ago.
 Polytheistic religion concentrated
in India and whose followers
believe in the divine spirit known
as Brahman.
Buddhism Religion established in 563 B.C.
 An offshoot of Hinduism, its
founder Siddhartha Gautama
(Buddha) rejected the caste
system.
Creative Cultural Expressions
Performing Arts Developed by culture and is expressed through music,
dance, theatre, and film.
Visual Arts Architecture, painting, sculpture, and textiles are
culturally related.
Literature Poems, tales, and stories illustrate aspects of culture.
Section 2: Population Geography
 The
world’s population is growing at a
rapid rate because of improved living
conditions.
 Population density tells how heavily
populated an area is.
Worldwide Population Growth
Birthrates
The number of live births per total population, often expressed per
thousand population.
Fertility Rate
The average number of children a woman of childbearing years
would have in her lifetime.
Mortality Rate
The number of deaths per total population, often expressed per
thousand population.
Infant Mortality Rate
The number of deaths per infant under the age of one-year per
thousand live births.
Population Pyramid
Population Pyramid A graphic device that shows gender and age
distribution of a population.
Population Distribution
Habitable Lands Populations live in the midlatitudes with mild climates with
precipitation to support
agriculture.
 Most populations live near the
coast or rivers.
Urban-Rural Mix

About 50% of the world’s
population live in rural areas.
The number of people moving to
urban settings is rising.
Population Distribution
Migration The movement of peoples
within a country or region.
Push Factors A factor that causes people to
leave their homelands and
migrate to another region.
Pull Factors A factor that draws or attracts
people to another location.
Population Density
Population Density
The average number of
people who live in a
measurable area (usually a
square mile).
Carrying Capacity
The number of organisms
that a tract of land can
support.
Section 3: Political Geography
 The
three main types of governments
are democracy, monarchy, and
dictatorship.
 Size, shape, and location influence a
nation’s political geography.
Nations of the World
State An independent unit that
occupies a specific territory
and has full control of its
internal and external affairs.
Nation A group of people with a
common culture living in a
territory and having a string
sense of unity.
Nation-State When a nation and a state
occupy the same territory.
Types of Government
Democracy A type of government in which
citizens hold political power either
directly or through elected
representatives.
Monarchy A type of government in which a
ruling family headed by a king or
queen holds political power and may
or may share the power with citizen
bodies.
Types of Government
Dictatorship A type of government in
which an individual or a
group holds total or
complete political power.
Communism An economic and political
system in which the
government holds nearly
all political power and the
means of production.
Geographic Characteristics of
Nations
Size
The size of a nation can determine the
power and wealth, but is not always true
(e.g. Britain).
Shape
The shape of a nation can impact how
easily it can be governed, how goods are
moved, and how it relates to its
neighbors.
Location
Some nations have access to the sea,
while others are landlocked.
Landlocked
Having no outlet to the sea.
National Boundaries
Natural Boundaries Based on a physical feature
(e.g. river, lake, or
mountain).
Artificial Boundaries A fixed line generally
following a latitude or
longitude line.
Regional Political Systems
Regional Political Systems
 Nations may join to form
international political, military,
or economic units.
- United Nations (Political)
- North Atlantic Treaty
Organization or NATO
(Military)
- European Union (Economic)
Section 4: Urban Geography
 Almost
half of the world’s population
lives in urban areas.
 Cities half the world have certain
geographic characteristics and land use
patterns in common.
Growth of Urban Areas
Urban Geography
The study of how people use space
in cities.
Cities
An area that is the center of
business and culture and has a
large population.
Suburbs
A political unit or community
touching the borders of the
central city or touching other
suburbs that touch the city.
Growth of Urban Areas
Metropolitan Area A functional area including a
city and its surrounding
suburbs and exurbs, linked
economically.
Urbanization The dramatic rise in the
number of cities and the
changes in lifestyle that
result.
Economic Systems
Economy The production and exchange of goods and services
among a group of people.
Economic System The way people produce and exchange goods.
Types of Economic Systems
Traditional Economy
A type of economic system which is passed on from family to family
(found primarily in under-developed and developing nations).
Command Economy
A type of economic system in which production of goods and services is
determined by central government, which usually owns the means of
production; also called a planned economy.
Market Economy
A type of economic system in which production of goods and services is
determined by the demand from consumers; also called a demand
economy or capitalism.
Mixed Economy
The type of economy which is market-oriented, but regulated by
government.
Economic Activities
Primary Activities The process of retrieving raw materials or resources for
human consumption (e.g. fishing, farming, mining).
Secondary Activities The process of taking raw materials and manufacturing them
into finished products (e.g. steel into cars, wheat into cereal).
Tertiary Activities The process of providing services (e.g. selling automobiles,
teaching, accounting, law, restaurant).
Quaternary Activities The process of providing and using information in society
(e.g. researching for vaccines).
Economic Natural Resources
Natural Resources A material on or in the earth, such as a tree, fish, coal,
that has economic value.
Renewable Resource A material that can replenished and used again (e.g.
trees, animals, etc.).
Non-Renewable Resource A material which cannot be replaced once it has been
used (oil, coal, natural gas, etc.).
Inexhaustible Resource A material which is boundless or plentiful (e.g. solar,
wind, and water power).
Economic Support Systems
Infrastructure
The basic support systems needed to keep an economy going,
including power, communications, transportation, water, sanitation,
and educational systems.
Per Capita Income
The average amount of money earned by each person in a political
unit.
Gross National Product (GNP)
The total value of all goods and services produced by a country in a
period of time.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The value of only goods and services produced within a country in a
period of time.
Economic Development Levels
Under-Developed Nations Nations which are characterized by the lack of
industrialization, infrastructure, high birth rates, high
death rates (e.g. Rwanda).
Developing Nations Nations still industrializing and modernizing
infrastructure, (e.g. Iraq).
Developed Nations Nations which are in post-industrialization, have a
sophisticated infrastructure, low birthrates, and long lifespans (e.g. the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan).