Geography Module 1 Review (vocab, maps, themes, key places)

Vocabulary/Terms:

1. Earth – our planet, located on the solar system in the Milky Way galaxy
2. culture – way of life, it’s based on location and history and divided into:
   • politics (organization of government)
   • religion (beliefs)
   • economy (interchanging of goods and services)
3. Astronomy – study of the universe
4. Demography – study of population
5. Ecology – study of the environment
6. Topography – study of Earth’s physical features
7. Oceanography – study of oceans (bodies of water)
8. Climatology – study of climates (location)
9. Meteorology – study of weather (variations that occur in the atmosphere)
10. Geology – study of Earth’s structure and its components (can study fossils and minerals)
11. Archeology – study of what people make, build, and do
12. Anthropology – study of humans and evolution
13. Paleontology – study of dinosaurs
14. Geography – study of the Earth
15. Absolute Location – an exact location
16. Relative Location – a location named using reference points and cardinal directions, a position in relation to other objects
17. Hemisphere – a half of the Earth, there are 4 hemispheres: northern, southern, eastern and western
18. Equator – latitude that sits at 0°, dividing Earth into northern and southern hemispheres
19. Prime Meridian – longitude that sits at 0°, dividing Earth into eastern and western hemispheres
20. Latitudes or Parallels – imaginary lines that run to the north and south of the Equator from east to west (horizontally) from 0° to 90° (#° N/S)
21. Longitudes or Meridians – imaginary lines that run to the east and west of the Prime Meridian from north to south (vertically) from 0° to 180° (#° E/W)
22. Degree – unit of measurement used to identify each latitude & longitude
23. Continents – continuous land masses; there are 7: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America
24. Oceans – large bodies of water; there are 4: Pacific Ocean (largest and deepest), Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean (smallest)
25. Island – a piece of land surrounded by water on all its sides
26. Peninsula – a piece of land surrounded by water on 3 sides, but attached to land
27. Globe – scale model of planet Earth in sphere form, more accurate than a map, the ideal representation of Earth
28. Map – slightly distorted flat representation of the planet
29. Cartographer – person who creates maps
30. Cartography – art of map making
31. Map Projection – ways to transfer a round surface to a flat one
32. Topographic or Physical Map – map that represents physical features
33. Landsat – satellite belonging to the US which takes images of Earth
34. Geographic Information System (GIS) – bank that stores geographical information
35. Surveying – process of observing and taking note
36. Grid – system of horizontal and vertical lines used to pinpoint any location
37. Scale – part of the map that refers to the proportion of the actual distance and the distance on the map, it’s inaccurate because it’s a line and Earth is round
38. Great Circle Route – shortest distance between any two points on a map
39. Legend or Key – part of the map that defines the symbols and colors used on the map
40. Compass Rose – part of the map that displays the four main cardinal points (simple compass rose) and the four subdivisions (complex compass rose)
41. Directional Indicator – an arrow pointing either North or South used in certain modern maps instead of the compass rose
42. Physical Geography – describes Earth’s topography and physical features
43. Political Geography – associated to land borders and people
44. Thematic Map – map designed to show a particular theme
45. Qualitative Map – map that gives us information directly and briefly, it shows a pattern or tendency and is identified with the use of different colors and shapes
46. Flow-Line Map – map that shows movement with the use of arrows
47. Cartogram – map that shows information based on geographic features, the map base is distorted to show the information

What is Geography?

• Geography is the study of Earth.
• The word itself is of Greek origin, and means Earth’s description (geo = Earth, graphy = description).
• It’s divided into two parts:
  • Physical Geography (topography & location)
  • Human Geography (culture)
• Physical geography should always be studied before human geography, since should know where a country is and what it’s like physicalle before learning about its people.

Continents & Oceans

• The seven continents are: North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, Antarctica, and Europe.
• The four oceans are: Pacific Ocean (largest & deepest), Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean (smallest)

Globes vs. Maps

• Globes
  • Advantages: presents the reality of Earth…
  • Disadvantages: no detail, no portability, only one side can be seen at a time…
• Maps
  • Advantages: easy to measure location and distance, detailed, portable…
  • Disadvantage: distorted…

Qualitative Maps, Flow-Line Maps & Cartograms

• Qualitative Map 
  • Shows a particular pattern or tendency.
  • Situations are repeated.
  • Identified with the use of colors/shapes.
  • Give us information in a simple and concise form.

• Flow-Line Map
• Shows movement with the use of arrows.
• The thicker the arrow, the larger the quantity; the thinner the arrow, the smaller the quantity.

• Cartogram
  • Shows information based on geographic features.
  • Map base is distorted.
  • Larger = more, smaller = less.

The 5 Themes of Geography

1. Location (Where is it?)
   • Absolute – Latitudes & longitudes or adress (exact)
   • Relative – Position referring to other places (reference points)
2. Place (What is it like? – singular)
   • Physical Geography (topography)
   • Human Geography (culture)
3. Region (What are they like? – plural)
   • Physical Geography (topography)
   • Human Geography (culture)
4. Movement (constant coming and going)
   • people migrate because of economy, politics and religion
   • goods are imported and exported through commerce
   • ideas are moved through means of communication
5. Human-Environment Interaction (relationship between humans and environment)
   • Adapt (provide comfort without modifying nature)
   • Change (nature is modified)

Map Projections

1. Cylindrical Projection (used to make maps of the world)
   • i.e. Mercator, Robinson
2. Conic Projection (used to make maps of specific places)
3. Flat-plane Projection (used to make maps of the poles)

The 5 Parts of a Map

1. Title (tells what the map is about)
2. Legend/Key (defines the symbols and colors used on the map to help us understand the map)
3. Compass Rose (indicates direction, is sometimes substituted for directional indicator)
4. Grid (system of imaginary lines that helps us determine absolute location)
5. Scale (line on a map that indicates proportional distance on the map)

Key Places on Earth

• The Equator is located on latitude 0°, it divides Earth into northern and southern hemispheres.
• The Prime Meridian is located on longitude 0°, it divides Earth into eastern and western hemispheres.
• Seasons don’t affect Polar Zones nor Tropics very much.
• The Tropics are:
  • Tropic of Cancer – 23.5°N
  • Tropic of Capricorn – 23.5°S
• The Polar Zones are:
  • Arctic Circle – 66.5°N
  • Antarctic Circle – 66.5°S
• The Poles are located on:
  • North Pole – 90°N
  • South Pole – 90°S