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 geography | the study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth |
| absolute location | the exact place on earth where a geographic feature (or place) is found |
| relative location | describes a place in relation to other places around it |
| latitude | imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator; used to locate places north or south of the equator |
| longitude | set of imaginary lines that go around the earth over the poles, dividing it east and west |
| hemisphere | a half of the globe |
| equator | imaginary line that encircles the globe, dividing the earth into northern and southern halves |
| prime meridian | imaginary line used to measure longitude; dividing the earth into eastern and western halves |
| place | The theme of geography that includes the physical features and cultural characteristics of a location. The theme answers the question "what is it like?" |
| region | This theme answers the question "how are places similar or different?" There are three types of these: formal, functional, and perceptual. |
| movement | This theme answers the question "how do people, goods, and ideas move from one location to another?" |
| globe | a 3-dimensional representation of the earth |
| map | a 2-dimensional graphic representation of selected parts of the earth's surface |
| drainage basin | the geographical area draining into a river or reservoir |
| landform | feature of Earth's surface (examples: mountains, valley, hill, plain, mesa) |
| topography | the configuration of a surface and the relations among its man-made and natural features |
| relief | the difference in elevation between the highest and lowest parts of an area |
| ring of fire | a major belt of volcanoes that rims the Pacific Ocean |
| climate | the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time |
| weather | the meteorological conditions: temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation |
| precipitation | the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist) |
| rain shadow | an area that has little precipitation because some barrier causes the winds to lose their moisture before reaching it |
| ecosystem | a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment |
| rainforest | a forest with heavy annual rainfall |
| culture | the attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization |
| ethnic group | people of the same race or nationality who share a distinctive culture |
| religion | a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny |
| diffusion | the spread of social institutions (and myths and skills) from one society to another |
| push factors | negative conditions and perceptions that induce people to leave their adobe and migrate to a new location |
| pull factors | a factor that draws or attracts people to another location |
| population density | number of individuals per unit area |
| society | an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization |
| natural resources | resources (actual and potential) supplied by nature |