World Geography Chapter 1-4 Review

What is the study of geography about?

It is the study of the Earth, rocks, and rainfall, people and places.

What is a spatial perspective?

It is used to look at patterns in where things are located on Earth and how they are arranged.

What are some careers associated with geography?

Cartography, Meterology, US Geological Surveyor, Travel/Tourism, International Sales, Geography Teachers

What are three types of regions in geography?

Formal : One or more common features that make it different from surrounding areas.
Ex. Sahel in Africa
Functional : Made up of different places that are linked together and function as a unit.
Ex. City Transit System
Perceptual : Region that reflects human feelings and attitudes. Our awareness and understanding of the environment around us.
Ex. "Back Home" The South, region sometimes called "Dixie

What are the six essential elements of geography?

World in spatial terms
Places and Regions
Physical Systems
Human Systems
Environment and Society
Uses of Geography

What are the five themes of geography?

M - Movement
R - Region
H - Human &
E - Environment Interaction
L - Location
P - Place

Provide the following information about lines of latitude and longitude: which direction they run; what they measure; the degree of each; and alternative names.

Lines of latitude: Run east and west; called Paralls; Measure distance north-south of equator ( 90 N & 90 S)
Lines of longitude: Run north and south; called Meridians; Measure distance east-west of prime meridian (180 E & 180 W)

Why are all maps distorted?

The planet is round and maps are flat so they are distorted.

What are three main types of map projections? Give the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Cylindrical - projection are designed as if a cylinder has been wrapped around the globe. Cylinder only touches the globe at the equator.
Conic - designed as if a cone has been placed over the globe. Most accurate along lines of latitude where it touches the globe.
Flat-plane - appear to touch the globe at one point, North Pole and South Pole.

What is scale? What does the large scale and small scale mean when you are reading a map?

Scale is a map's distance scale helps us determine real distances between points on a map. The size of an area and the level of detail that is shown.
Large scale - shows a small area of land in great (large) detail. (individual buildings in detail)
Small scale - shows more land, but in less detail. (Ideal for traveling by car or walking - think about the map for Universal Studios)

How do you find absolute location?

Locate a place using a coordinate grid, latitude/longitude.

What is relative location?

Locate a place relative to other landmarks

What is GPS?

Navigation system that uses satellites to identify the fixed location of Earth's surface.

What is GIS?

Special kind of computer system that stores, displays, and maps locations and their features. Map technique used to sort geographical data with GIS Technology. Tool to help us learn about human impacts on the environment and to study the changing nature of the planet. (Ex. are city planning, real estate, and environmental studies)

Which latitudinal region of Earth receives the most solar energy in a year? The least?

Most - Tropic region - near the equator, generally warm places, low-altitude areas
Least - Polar region, cold, high-altitude places

How do direct and angled rays affect solar energy on Earth's surface?

Direct vertical solar rays heat the Earth's surface more than angled rays. Amount of solar energy in a direct ray is concentrated on a smaller area. The same amount of energy in an angled ray is spread over a larger area.

What are solstices? When do they occur?

The time that Earth's poles point at their greatest angle toward or away from the Sun. They occur each year about Dec 21st (winter) and June 21st (summer)

What are equinoxes? When do they occur?

It is when the Earth's poles are pointed toward or away from the Sun. Occurs twice a year on March 21st (spring) and Sept 22 (fall)

How far apart are time zones?

Earth is divided into 24 time zones, Each time zone covers about 15 degrees of longitude. Time is an hour earlier for each 15 degrees you move westward. An hour later for each 15 degrees you move eastward. ONE HOUR BEFORE OR BEHIND FOR EACH 15 DEGREES!

What is the composition of Earth's atmosphere?

78% NITROGEN, 21% OXYGEN, 1 % OTHER GASES (Carbon dioxide,ozone, etc)

What would you find in the lithosphere?

Rocks and soil

What has the greatest influence on the climate of a place?

Tilt, rotation and revolution of the Earth.

What are the doldrums and where can you find them?

An area that has little wind. They are found in zones along the equator where it is calm, with no prevailing winds. Sailing ships could be caught there for long periods of time.

Briefly explain or illustrate the orographic effect using appropriate vocabulary?

Mountains influence climates through orthographic effect. They have higher levels of elevations which causes lower temperatures, cold. It creates different levels of precipitation on windward and leeward sides of the mountains.

What does a hurricane cause?

a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving a 73-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale) - up to 155 mph. Hurricanes cause flooding and severe wind damage, power outages.

What is El Nino and what does it cause?

It is a change in pattern of ocean currents and water temperatures in the middle of the Pacific region.

What climate regions have some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world?

Tropical

Where can most temperate climates be found? Most deserts?

Most temperate climates - Mid-latitude, mild summers and winters. Ex. Mediterranean
Most deserts - Dry, arid, semi-arid, low annual rainfall

What are the main types of plate movements? What happens in each?

Subduction - heavier sea plates dive beneath lighter continental plates.
Accretion - pieces of earth's crust come together slowly as the sea plate slides under the continental plate.
Spreading - Seat plates pull apart, rusults rift or deep crack which allows magma from within the earth to well up between the plates.
Folds - Bends in layer of rocks.
Faults - Plates slide or grind past each other, creating cracks in the earth's crusts. Occurs when the folded land cannot fold any further.

What are the three main processes that create landforms?

weathering, erosion, and tectonics and surface forces.

What is a delta?

accumulation of sediment at the mouth of a river.

In what way would a geographer apply the concept of scarcity?

preserve soil resources, contour plowing, reforestation, irrigation, less use of chemicals and apply crop rotation, decrease air pollution, recycling

Describe the "Movement" theme in Geography.

how people & things change location & the effects of those changes

Describe the "Region" theme in Geography.

organizes Earth into geographic locations with 1 or more shared characteristics

Describe the "Human/Environmental Interaction" theme in Geography.

the way people and environments interrelate with and affect each other

Describe the "Location" theme in Geography.

the exact location on Earth's surface is its absolute location. Relative location is its position on Earth relative to other locations.

Describe the "Place" theme in Geography.

the physical and human features of a location, for example how culture and experience influence people's perception.

What is an advantage and disadvantage of a cylinder map projection?

Advantage - The meridians are pulled apart and are parallel to each other instead of meeting at the poles.
Disadvantage - This causes landmasses near the poles to appear larger than they really are.
Example - Mercator

What is an advantage and disadvantage of a Flat-Plane map projection?

Advantage - Useful for showing true direction for airplane pilots and ship navigators. Shows true area sizes!
Disadvantage - It distorts shapes!

What is an advantage and disadvantage of a Conic map projection?

Advantage - Most accurate along the lines of latitude where it touches the globe. It retains almost true shapes and sizes of landmasses along those locations.
Disadvantage -

What is a map key?

guide that identifies symbols

How do high elevations and mountains influence weather and climate?

Increasing elevation causes drop in temperature. Orthographic effect can create different levels of precipitation on the windward and leeward sides of mountains.

What are population pyramids?

A population pyramid, also called age-sex pyramid and age structure diagram, is a graphical illustration that shows the distribution of various age groups in a human population (typically that of a country or region of the world), which normally forms the shape of a pyramid.

Identify the hemispheres, continents, oceans, Equator, Prime Meridian, Tropics of Cancer and Cancer?

Road Map

a map, esp. one designed for motorists, showing the roads of a city, state, or other area.

Weather map

A map or chart depicting the meteorological conditions over a specific geographic area at a specific time.

Locate northern and southern hemisphere