HISTORY

Absolute Location

the precise point where a place is located on earth

Relative Location

where a place is located in relation to another place

Distortion

a change in shape, size, or position of a place when it is shown on a map

Compass Rose

a diagram on a map that shows directions such as north, south, east, and west

Cardinal Directions

the four main directions on a compass rose: north, south, east, and west

Intermediate Directions

the directions on a compass rose, such as southeast, which are located between the cardinal directions

Map Legend

a box or other display on a map that explains the meaning of the symbols used on the map

Map Grid

a system of imaginary lines that divides up the space on a map

Global Grid

the system of imaginary lines (called parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude) used to divide the surface of earth on maps and globes

Parallels of Latitude

an imaginary line around Earth that runs parallel to the equator

Meridians of Longitude

an imaginary line between the North and the South poles that crosses the equator at right angles

Prime Meridian

the meridian of longitude labeled 0 degrees, from which all other degrees of longitude are measured. The prime meridian passes through Greenwich, England

International Date Line

the meridian of longitude located at 180 degrees. By international agreement, the date is one day earlier to the east of this line.

Coordinates

a set of numbers together that describe the exact location of something, such as a place on a map

Map Scale

an element of a map that shows how a unit of distance on the map, such as an inch, relates to the actual distance on the surface of Earth

Hemisphere

one half of a sphere. Earth can be divided into eastern and western hemispheres or into northern and southern hemispheres

Landmass

a very large, unbroken area of land

Revolution

one complete trip by Earth around the sun

Rotation

the spinning motion of Earth around its axis

Tropic of Cancer

the northernmost line of latitude where the sun's rays ever beat straight down.This line marks the northern limit of the tropical zone

Tropic of Capricorn

the southernmost line of latitude where the sun ever beats straight down. This line marks the southernmost limit of the tropical zone

Tropical Zones

the area between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer and between the equator and Tropic of Capricorn, where the climate is generally hot

Arctic Circle

the line at 60 degrees 30'N that marks the boundary of the northern polar zone

Antarctic Circle

the line of latitude at 60 degrees 30'S that marks the boundary of the southern polar zone

Polar Zones

the area between the Arctic Circle and the North pole or between the Antarctic Circle and the South pole. The weather here is generally col

Temperate Zones

the area between Earth's tropical and polar zones where the climate is relatively mild

Glaciers

a large mass of ice found near Earth's poles (continental glacier) or in a high, cold mountain valley (alpine glacier)

Ecosystem

a community of all the living things in an area and the environment in which they live

Freshwater

made up of water that is fresh, not salty. Also describes creatures that live in fresh water, such as freshwater fish

Watershed

a geographic area that includes all of the land and waterways that drain into a body of water. Also called a drainage basin

Food Web

all of the feeding relationships within an ecosystem. Each living thing in a food web provides food energy to other living things within that ecosystem

Food Chains

a series of plants and animals, each which depends on the one below it for food. A food chain usually forms part of a much bigger food web

Pollution

damage to the natural environment due to harmful substances. Also refers to harmful substances

Point Source Pollution

water pollution from a single place, such as a discharge pipe from a plant that treats sewage

Non Point Source Pollution

pollution that does not come from a single location, but rather from sources from many sources, such as runoff from farms

Sediment

bits of soil left in a place by moving water

Wetland

an area where the soil is usually wet or covered in water

Invasive Species

nonnative plants and animals that invade an ecosystem

Habitat

the natural environment in which a plant or animal lives

National Park

a large area of land that a government has set aside in order to preserve it in its natural state

Topographic Map

a map that uses elevation, or contour, lines and symbols to show a regions physical and human features. These features include hills, valleys, rivers, lakes, roads, trails, and buildings

Geyser

a spring that throws a jet of hot water or steam into the air

Fauna

all the animal life in a particular region

Flora

all the plant life in a particular region

Conservationist

someone who work to protect the beauty and the natural resources of the environment from pollution or destruction

Continental Divide

a series of mountain ridges in North America that separate the streams and rivers that flow west into the Pacific Ocean from those that flow east into the Arctic and Pacific Oceans

Sewage

solid and liquid waste from homes and other building that is carried away by sewers or drains

Toxic Waste

waste materials from industry that are poisonous to humans and other living things

Consumption

the using up of goods and services; also the purchase and use of goods by consumers

Developed Country

a wealthy country with an advanced economy. These have many industries and provide a comfortable way of life for most of their people

Developing Country

a poorer country with a less advanced economy. In general, these are trying to increase their industries and improve life for their people

Gross Domestic Product

the total value of goods and service produced in a country in a year

Per capita

by or for each person. This figure is calculated by dividing the total amount of something by the number of people in a place

Calories

a measurement of the amount of energy in food

Technology

he creation and use of tools that meet practical needs; also refers to the tools themselves

Digital Divide

the difference in opportunities available to people who have access to computers and the Internet and those who don't

Recycling

the process of collecting used materials that would otherwise be thrown away and turning them into raw materials for new uses

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

Emigrate

to move from a country. People who leave a country are called this word, except an s is added to the end

Immigrate

to move to a country. People who move to another country are called this word, except an s is added to the end

Push Factor

something that encourages people to leave a place behind

Pull Factor

something that encourages people to move to a new place

Refugee

someone who seeks safety by going to another country

Persecution

unfair treatment of others because of who they are or what they believe

Drought

an unusually long period in which little or no rain falls

Brain Drain

the loss of well-educated people such as doctors or engineers to another country

Remittance

a payment sent by an immigrant to a relative in his or her home country

Spatial Inequality

the unequal distribution of wealth or natural resources in a geographic area, so that some places are richer than others

Plaza

a open square or marketplace

Standard of Living

the overall level of comfort and well-being of a group or a country

Aqueduct

a pipe or channel built to move water from one place to another

Urbanization

the movement of people moving from rural to urban areas, resulting in the growth of urban areas

Rural Decline

worsening economic conditions in the countryside, including rising unemployment and growing poverty

Communal Land

land that is held in common by a group of people

Unemployment

joblessness

Volcano

a break in the Earth's crust where magma and other material erupts from Earth's interior

Smog

a haze in the air caused by pollution, especially the exhaust from cars and other vehicles

Air Quality

the condition of the air based on the amount of pollution in it

Slum

an overcrowded, dirty area of the city where the housing is usually in very poor condition

Tenement

a rundown apartment building

Life Expectancy

the average age to which a person in a given population can expect to live. This varies from country to country

Isthmus

a narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses

Empire

a group of territories, peoples, or nations ruled by a single authority

Dictator

a leader who governs by force, without the consent of the people

Barter

conducting trade by exchanging goods or services instead of money

Indigenous people

natives of an area who have been conquered or dominated by people who have come later. Native American tribes, such as the Cherokee and Navajo, are indigenous peoples

Traditional culture

customs and ways of life handed down by ancestors

Subsistence farming

farming mainly carried out to provide food for farm families, with little surplus for sale to others

Adaptation

a change in a way of life to suit new conditions

Adobe

a type of brick that is made from clay mixed with straw and dried in the sun

Slash-and-burn

a way for clearing land for farming that involves cutting down and burning trees and other plants

Rituals

a set of actions performed as part of a ceremony

Eye wall

ring of thunderstorms that surround the eye

Rain bands

a band of dense clouds that swirl around the eye wall

Landmass

a very large, unbroken area of land

Storm surge

a wall of water pushed ashore by a storm

Extreme weather

severe of unusual weather conditions, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards

Natural disaster

great destruction or loss of life caused by natural forces rather than human actions

Tropical cyclone

a severe storm with high winds that spiral around a calm center. Depending on where they form, tropical cyclones are called hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones

Meteorology

the scientific study of climate and weather patterns