Geography and Environmental Terms Glossary, Quizzes of Geography

Download Geography and Environmental Terms Glossary and more Quizzes Geography in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Altitude DEFINITION 1 the height jof anything above a given planetary reference plane, esp. above sea level on earth TERM 2 Antipodes DEFINITION 2 place diametrically opposite each other on the globe TERM 3 Anthropogenic DEFINITION 3 caused or produced by humans TERM 4 Apartheid DEFINITION 4 "apartness". Afrikaans term for south africa's pre 1994 policies of racial separation, a system that produced highly segregated socio-geographical patters TERM 5 Archipelago DEFINITION 5 set of islands grouped closley together, usually elongated into a chain TERM 6 Arroyo/Wadi DEFINITION 6 term used in different parts of the world used to describe the same geographical feature; canyons, often dry, eroded by streams or rivers TERM 7 Atoll DEFINITION 7 a ring-shaped coral reef or a string of closely spaced small coral islands, enclosing or nearly enclosing a shallow lagoon TERM 8 Butte DEFINITION 8 An isolated hill or mountain rising abruptly above the surrounding land TERM 9 Caldera DEFINITION 9 a large, basin-like depression resulting from the explosion or collapse of the center of a volcano TERM 10 Cape DEFINITION 10 a piece of land jutting into the sea or some other large body of water TERM 21 Global Warming DEFINITION 21 an increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect TERM 22 Greenhouse Effect DEFINITION 22 an atmospheric heating phenomenon, caused by short-wave solar radiation being readily transmitted inward through the earth's atmosphere but longer-wavelength heat radiation less readily transmitted outward, owing to its absorption by atmospheric carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and other gases; thus, the rising level of carbon dioxide is viewed with concern TERM 23 Gross National Product DEFINITION 23 the total value of all goods and services produced in a country by that state's economy during a given year, plus all citizens' income from foreign investment and other external sources TERM 24 GPS DEFINITION 24 global positioning system; system of satellites, computers, and receivers that is able to determine the latitude and longitude of a receiver on Earth by calculating the time difference for signals from different satellites to reach the receiver TERM 25 Imperialism DEFINITION 25 the drive toward the creation and expansion of a colonial empire and, once established, its perpetuation TERM 26 Hinterland DEFINITION 26 literally, "country behind", a term that applies to a surrounding area served by an urban center TERM 27 International Date Line DEFINITION 27 an imaginary line on the Earth's surface, mostly through the Pacific Ocean, to the east of which the calendar date is one dat earlier than to the west TERM 28 Koppen Climate Zone DEFINITION 28 classification system for varying climates; 5 climate classes- Equitorial, Desert, Humid Sub-tropical, Humid continental, and polar TERM 29 Occidental DEFINITION 29 the west; the countries of Europe and America; Western hemisphere TERM 30 Orient DEFINITION 30 the countries to the east of the Mediterranean TERM 31 Pangaea DEFINITION 31 the hypothetical landmass that existed when all continents were joined, from about 300 to 200 million years ago, former supercontinent of the Earth TERM 32 Permafrost DEFINITION 32 permanently frozen water in the near surface soil and bedrock of cold environments, producing the effect of completely frozen ground TERM 33 Relief DEFINITION 33 vertical difference between the highest and lowest elevations within a particular area TERM 34 Ring of Fire DEFINITION 34 an extensive zone of volcanic and seismic activity that coincides roughly with the borders of the Pacific ocean TERM 35 Scale DEFINITION 35 representation of a real-world phenomenon at a certain level of reduction or generalization TERM 46 Longitude DEFINITION 46 angular distance on the earth's surface, measured east or west from the prime meridian at Greenwich, England,- run north-south TERM 47 Meridians DEFINITION 47 line of longitude, aligned north-south across the globe that together with parallels of latitude forms the global grid system; all meridians converge at both poles and are at their maximum distances from each other at the equator TERM 48 Parallels DEFINITION 48 an east-west line of latitude that is intersected at right angles by meridians of longitude TERM 49 Waste Stream DEFINITION 49 overall waste disposal cycle for a given population TERM 50 Wetland DEFINITION 50 land that has a wet and spongy soil, as a marsh, swamp or bog TERM 51 Tropics DEFINITION 51 the region lying between and near these parallels of latitude; the Torrid Zone and neighboring regions TERM 52 World Bank DEFINITION 52 an international bank est. 1944 to help member nations reconstruct and develop, esp. by guaranteeing loans: a specialized agency of the United Nations TERM 53 Desertification DEFINITION 53 process of desert expansion into neighboring steppe-lands as a result of human degradation of fragile semiarid environments TERM 54 Steppe DEFINITION 54 semiarid grassland; short-grass prairie; also given to the semiarid climate type (BS) TERM 55 Sustainable development DEFINITION 55 any constructions that can be maintained over time without damaging the environment