Mapping Earth's Surface
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Created by:
nicolecote on January 4, 2012
Description:
Chapter 1
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32 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 topography | the shape of the land determined by elevation, relief, and landforms |
| elevation | height above sea level |
| relief | the difference in elevation between the highest and lowest parts of an area |
| landform | a feature of topography formed by the processes that shape Earth's surface |
| landform region | a large area of land where the topography is similar |
| plain | a landform made up of flat or gently rolling land with low relief |
| mountain | a landform with high elevation and high relief |
| mountain range | a series of mountains that have the same general shape and structure |
| plateau | a landform that has high elevation and a more or less level surface |
| lithosphere | Earth's solid rock outer layer |
| atmosphere | the mixture of gases that surrounds Earth |
| hydrosphere | Earth's water and ice |
| biosphere | all living things |
| map | a model of all or part of Earth's surface as seen from above |
| globe | a sphere that represents Earth's surface |
| scale | used to compare distances on a map or globe to distance on Earth's surface |
| symbols | on a map, pictures used by mapmakers to stand for features on Earth's surface |
| key | a list of the symbols used on a map |
| equator | an imaginary line that circles Earth halfway between the North and South poles |
| hemisphere | one half of the sphere that makes up Earth's surface |
| prime meridian | the line that makes a half circle from the North Pole to the South Pole and that passes through Greenwich, England |
| degree | a unit used to measure distances around a circle |
| latitude | the distance in degreed north or south of the equator |
| longitude | the distance in degrees east or west of the prime meridian |
| map projection | a framework of lines that helps to show landmasses on a flat surface |
| satellite image | pictures of the land surface based on computer data collected from satellites |
| digitizing | converting information to numbers for use by a computer |
| pixel | the tiny dots in a satellite image |
| topographic map | a map that shows the surface features of an area |
| contour line | a line on a topographic map that connects points of equal elevation |
| contour interval | the difference in elevation from one contour line to the next |
| Global Positioning System | a method of finding latitude and longitude using satellites |
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