Download 1 - OnCourse

World Geography
Review for GEE
1.
Maps
Legend - list of the symbols on a map
Compass Rose - a symbol on a map to show direction
Distance Scale - a series of marks or points at known intervals used to measure distances
1” = 50 miles
Map Projections –
Globe -- spherical shape of the earth
Relief -- raised detail map which shows natural features like mountains and valleys
Cardinal Directions—North, South, East, and West
2.
Longitude -- imaginary lines (called meridians) that encircle the globe in a north to south direction;
measured in degrees
Latitude -- imaginary lines (called parallels) that encircle the globe in a west to east direction;
measured in degrees
The combination of meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude establishes a grid by which exact
positions can be determined: for example, a point described as 40° N, 30° W
Equator – line of latitude that is an equal distance between the north and south poles; it divides the
earth into the northern and southern hemispheres. The equator has a latitude of zero degrees.
Tropic of Cancer -- line of latitude that is approximately 23 1/2 degrees north of the equator and that is
the northernmost latitude reached by the overhead sun
Tropic of Capricorn -- line of latitude that is approximately 23 1/2 degrees south of the equator and that
is the southernmost latitude reached by the overhead sun
Prime Meridian – a line at 0 degrees longitude which runs through Greenwich, England, and is the line
from which other lines of longitude are measured.
3.
Axis – imaginary, angled pole which is located at the center of the globe, and on which the earth rotates
North and South Pole—the two extremes of the earth’s axis
Equinox -- either of two days per year (March 21 and September 23) when the sun crosses the equator
and the hours of day and night are equal in length
Solstice -- Either of the two moments in the year when the Sun's apparent path is farthest north or
south from Earth's Equator. In the Northern Hemisphere the summer solstice occurs on
June 21 or 22; the winter solstice on December 21 or 22. In the Southern Hemisphere the
seasons are reversed.
4.
Time zones—U.S. has several time zones, beginning with Eastern Standard Time, then Central
Standard Time, then Mountain Time, then Pacific Time. As you move from East to West, the
time of day gets earlier. For instance when it is 4 p.m. in the Eastern time zone, it is only 3 p.m.
in Central, and only 2 p.m. in Mountain, and 1 p.m. in Pacific.
International Date Line -- a line located at the 180th meridian designated as the place where
each calendar day begins
5.
Hemispheres – exactly one half of the globe. It could be the Northern or Southern half. Or it could be
the Eastern or Western Half. The United States is located in the Northern Hemisphere
and the Western Hemisphere.
6.
Crust – the outermost part of the earth (Blue part in picture below)
Mantle – the part of the earth that lies just beneath the crust. (yellow part in picture below)
Core – the innermost post of the earth (red part in picture below)
Plate tectonics - the earth is divided into a small number of plates which float on and travel
independently over the mantle. Shift in the plates causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Fault -- a fracture or break in the crust of the earth (caused by plate tectonics)
Fold -- a bend in the crust of the earth (caused by plate tectonics)
Earthquake -- a shaking or trembling of the earth caused by movement of tectonic plates
San Andreas Fault - zone of faults in California extending from the northern coast of California toward
head of Gulf of California. The fault runs along the coast of northern California for about 650 miles.
The fault zone is characterized by frequent earthquakes.
7.
Weathering -- the physical disintegration and chemical decomposition of earth materials at or
altering the color, texture, composition, or form of the earth.
Erosion -- to wear away the surface of the earth by the action of water, wind, or ice.
8.
Glacier -- a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a
land surface. (Melting and refreezing cause the movement)
9.
Plateau – a large land area with a fairly level surface, raised sharply above adjacent land on at
least one side.
Plains -- Plains are flat lands that have only small changes in elevation.
Peninsula--a body of land that is surrounded by water on three sides
peninsula
Cape -- pointed piece of land that sticks out into a sea, ocean, lake, or river.
Continental Divide – an imaginary line beginning in the Rocky Mountains in North America which
represents the highest points of land which separate the direction waters flow. On one side of
the Continental Divide, rivers all flow in a westerly direction. On one side they all flow in an
easterly direction or a northerly direction. The Continental Divide stretches from Northwest
Canada to Northwest South America.
10.
Archipelago -- a group or chain of islands clustered together in a sea or ocean.
Isthmus -- narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses. Isthmus has water on two sides.
Atoll -- a ring (or partial ring) of coral that forms an island in an ocean or sea.
Bay -- body of water that is partly enclosed by land (and is usually smaller than a gulf).
Lagoon – shallow (not very deep) body of water that is located alongside a coast. (see below)
Barrier reef -- a coral reef roughly parallel to a shore and separated from it by a lagoon
Lagoon
Barrier Reef
Coral
Ocean -- Oceans cover @ 70% of Earth's surface. They contain roughly 97% of the Earth's water supply.
Tides -- Tides are periodic rises and falls of large bodies of water. Tides are caused by the gravitational
pull between the Earth and the Moon. The gravitational pull of the moon causes the
oceans to bulge out in the direction of the moon. Another bulge occurs on the opposite side,
since the Earth is also being pulled toward the moon (and away from the water on the far side).
Since the earth is rotating while this is happening, two tides occur each day
11.
Continental Shelf – a shallow plain lying just below the ocean which forms a border to a continent and
typically ending in a steep slope to the oceanic abyss (abyss is the deepest part of the ocean)
12.
Ground Water -- see below
Aquifer -- Rock or soil beneath the surface of the earth in which water moves easily.
13.
Water Cycle -- (also known as the hydrologic cycle) it is the journey water takes as it circulates from
the land to the sky and back again. The sun's heat causes water to evaporate from the
Earth’s surface (lakes, oceans, etc.). Plants also lose water to the air (this is called
transpiration). The water vapor eventually condenses, forming tiny droplets in clouds.
When the clouds meet cool air over land, precipitation (rain, sleet, or snow) is triggered,
and water returns to the land (or sea). Some of the precipitation soaks into the ground.
Some of the underground water is trapped between rock or clay layers; this is called
groundwater. But most of the water flows downhill as runoff (above ground or
underground), eventually returning to the seas as slightly salty water.
14.
Volcanoes (vulcanism) -- is a mountainous vent in the Earth's crust. When a volcano erupts, it
out lava, ashes, and hot gases from deep inside the Earth.
spews
Ring of Fire – a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Over 75% of the world’s active
and dormant volcanoes are located there.
Asia
Pacific
Ocean
North America
South America
Australia
15.
Atmosphere -- Earth's atmosphere is a thin layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. It composed of
78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 0.03% carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of other
gases. This thin gaseous layer insulates the Earth from extreme temperatures; it keeps heat
inside the atmosphere and it also blocks the Earth from much of the sun's incoming ultraviolet
radiation.
Weather-- atmospheric conditions with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or
storm, clearness or cloudiness. Weather changes from day to day.
Climate -- average course or condition of the weather at a specific place usually over a period of years.
Includes average temperature, wind speed, and average precipitation.
Precipitation -- a deposit on the earth of hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow;
Greenhouse Effect -- increase in the temperature of a planet (Earth). This occurs when heat from
sunlight is trapped by the gaseous atmosphere. Excess carbon dioxide and water vapor
increase this global warming effect (general rise in temperature across the globe.)
Altitude – elevation (how high) of the earth above sea level.
Seasons -- The Earth's seasons are NOT caused by the differences in the distance from the Sun
throughout the year. The seasons are the result of the tilt of the Earth's axis.
The Earth's axis is tilted @23.5°. This tilting is what gives us the four seasons of the year. Since the
axis is tilted, different parts of the globe are angled towards the Sun at different times of the year.
Summer is warmer than winter (in each hemisphere) because the Sun's rays hit the Earth at a more
direct angle during summer than during winter and also because the days are much longer than the
nights during the summer. During the winter, the Sun's rays hit the Earth at an extreme angle, and the
days are very short. These effects are due to the tilt of the Earth's axis.
16.
17.
Prevailing Winds --The earth is encircled by several broad prevailing wind belts. The direction and
location of these wind belts are determined by the sun’s radiation and the rotation of the earth
Monsoons -- windy and rainy season in the regions of the Indian Ocean and southern Asia
Cyclone -- also known as a tornado. A storm with winds that rotate rotates about a center of low
pressure and moves at about 20-30 miles per hour, often bringing heavy rain.
Hurricane -- a tropical cyclone with winds of 74 miles per hour or greater.
Tsunami – also called a tidal wave. A huge sea wave produced by an earthquake in the ocean or a
volcanic eruption.
El Nino – the flow of unusually warm surface waters from the Pacific Ocean toward the western Coast
of South America. Does not occur regularly. When it does occur, it disrupts global and regional
weather patterns.
Ocean currents -- Horizontal and vertical movement of ocean waters, produced by
gravity, wind friction, and changes in water density. Ocean currents
move clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the
Southern Hemisphere.
18.
Tropical savanna -- tropical or subtropical grassland containing scattered trees and drought-resistant
undergrowth.
Pampas -- a large generally grass-covered plain of in South America, east of the Andes Mountains
19.
Tundra -- A tundra is a very cold, treeless area.
Ice cap – a large glacier that never melts
Permafrost -- permanently frozen layer of earth at various depths below the surface. Found in frigid
regions, like the northernmost part of Russia.
Timberline--the highest elevation at which trees will grow in mountain regions or higher latitudes.
20.
Natural resources – minerals and other living things that are supplied by nature (coal, oil, trees, grass,
flowers, gold, silver, copper, diamonds)
Renewable resources—resources that replenish themselves. (ex. Trees can be replanted.)
21.
Tropical rainforest – dense forests with unusually tall trees found in a belt around the equator. There
are tropical rainforests across South America, Central America, Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia
(and nearby islands). It is almost always raining in the rainforest (which is how it gets its name). It is
never very cold nor very hot in the rainforest (usually between 75-80 degrees all the time) Tropical
rainforests cover about 7% of the Earth's surface and are VERY important to the Earth's ecosystem.
The rainforests recycle and clean water. Tropical rainforest trees and plants also remove carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their roots, stems, leaves, and branches. Rainforests affect
the greenhouse effect, which traps heat inside the Earth's atmosphere. Most importantly they create
oxygen for the Earth. Some of the plants found in the rainforest are used for medicines.
Deforestation – cutting down forests
Canopy -- upper parts of the trees in the rainforest. This leafy environment is full of life in a tropical
rainforest and includes: insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, and more.
Wetlands -- an area of land that is often wet; the soil in wetlands are often low in oxygen. There
are many types of wetlands, including swamps, marshes, and bottomlands.
22.
Sunbelt -- a region of the U.S. which gets a large amount of sun, located in the south and southwest.
Louisiana is in the Sunbelt.
23.
Population density – determining the number of people per square mile. Large cities like New York City
have a large number of people in a small geographic area, so they have a very high population
density. Places like Alaska and Montana are less densely populated.
Population distribution – patterns of settlement within a country or region.
Life expectancy -- Average number years a person could expect to live according to current mortality
trends. Life expectancy is shorter in poorer countries, longer in more industrialized nations.
Birth Rate—number of live births per 1,000 population in a given year.
Death Rate -- The number of deaths per 1,000 population in a given year.
Infant Mortality Rate -- Number of deaths of infants under age 1 per 1,000 live births in a given year.
Brain Drain – The emigration (moving away) of a significant proportion of a country's highly skilled,
highly educated professional population, usually to other countries offering better economic and
social opportunity (for example, physicians leaving a developing country to practice medicine in
a developed country
Megalopolis-- a large interconnected group of cities. (Like Dallas/Forth Worth and the surrounding
small towns.)
24.
Assimilation – giving up one’s own culture to blend in with another culture.
Melting Pot v. Salad Bowl – Melting Pot promotes assimilation. Salad Bowl allows people of different
cultures to maintain their cultural identities while becoming part of a larger group. At one time
the United States promoted a Melting Pot culture or assimilation, but now we promote a Salad
Bowl culture. Immigrants who came to the U.S. during the time when we promoted assimilation
were forced to hide their cultural roots or be persecuted for them.
25.
Green Peace – An international group that promotes awareness and sound choices with regard to the
environment. They promote such things as save the wetlands, save the whales, etc.
Acid Rain – any form of precipitation, including snow, that contains a large amount of sulfuric and nitric
acids. It is a serious problem in large cities and industrial areas in North America, Europe and
Asia. Manufacturing plants emit gases from their smokestacks, the gases mix with water vapor
in clouds, and then it returns to earth in the form of acid rain. Acid rain contaminates lakes and
streams, kills fish and other water life, kills or damages plants and trees, corrodes buildings and
other structures. Even though the acid raid occurs where the factories are located, winds can
carry the acid rain to nearby communities.
Pollution – contaminating the environment with any type of pollutant, especially man-made waste.
26.
Hydroelectricity -- producing electricity by waterpower, often through the use of dams.
Dams – a barrier for holding back water, often so it can be used to produce electricity.
Hoover Dam
27.
Mountain Ranges –
Rocky
Mountains
Appalachian
Mountains
Alps
Andes Mountains
Himalayas
Mountains have a windward and a leeward side.
Also, the higher up you go in the mountains the cooler the
temperature.
Windward – facing the direction FROM which the wind is blowing
Leeward – facing the direction TOWARD which the wind is blowing
Chinook-- a warm dry wind that descends the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
Mt. Everest – Highest mountain in the world. Located in the Himalayas.
28.
Rivers -- Natural stream of water that flows in a channel with more or less defined banks
Canals – Artificial or man-made waterway used for transportation of people or goods OR for
draining or irrigating land
Nile River – Longest river in world. Located in Africa.
Amazon River – Second longest river in the world. Located in South America
Mississippi River – Longest river in United States
Erie Canal – Located near in New York
Panama Canal – Located in Central America (Isthmus of Panama)
Headwaters – the source of a stream or river (where it first begins)
Tributary -- a stream or river that flows into a larger river.
Delta -- low, watery land formed at the mouth of a river. It is formed from the silt, sand and
small
rocks that flow downstream in the river and are deposited in the delta. A delta is often
(but
not always) shaped like a triangle (hence its name, delta, a Greek letter that is shaped like
a triangle).
Strait - a narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water
.
Gulf -- is a part of the ocean (or sea) that is partly surrounded by land (it is usually larger than a
bay).
Bay – similar to a gulf but smaller in size.
29.
Desert – arid (dry) land with little to no vegetation; usually has a very warm climate, but cold
deserts do exist.
Desert Pavement -- surface of the desert that is made up of interlocking bits and pieces of
pebbles, gravel, or larger rocks. Usually forms on level or gently sloping desert flats.
Oasis – a fertile or green area in a desert
Desalination – Removing the salt from salt water to make it potable (drinkable). An important issue for
those who live in desert areas with an ocean nearby, such as the Saharan or Arabian deserts.
Desertification – causing an area to become a desert by mismanaging the land or because of a climate
change.
Dune -- hill or a ridge made of sand. Dunes are shaped by the wind and change all the time.
30.
Urbanization – building the infrastructure necessary to create a city in a particular location.
Industrialization – building/operating factories in a particular location.
Agriculture – farming or the raising of livestock (farm animals)