Geography and Environmental Sciences Terminology, Quizzes of Climatology

Download Geography and Environmental Sciences Terminology and more Quizzes Climatology in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 etymology DEFINITION 1 Etymology is the study of the history of words. By extension, the phrase "the etymology of [some word]" means the origin of the particular word. TERM 2 natural environment DEFINITION 2 The natural environment encompasses all living and non- living things occurring naturally, meaning in this case not artificial. TERM 3 impact DEFINITION 3 effects something has on another TERM 4 location DEFINITION 4 In geography, location and place are used to identify a point or an area on the Earth's surface or elsewhere. TERM 5 sustainability DEFINITION 5 Sustainability is the ability to exist constantly. In the 21st century, it refers generally to the capacity for the biosphere and human civilisation to coexist. TERM 6 cardinal DEFINITION 6 The four cardinal directions, or cardinal points, are the directions north, east, south, and west, commonly denoted by their initials N, E, S, and W. TERM 7 intercardinal DEFINITION 7 Theintercardinal(also called the intermediate directionsand, historically,ordinal) directions are northeast (NE), southeast (SE), southwest (SW), and northwest (NW). TERM 8 secondary intercardinal DEFINITION 8 The intermediate direction of every set of intercardinal and cardinal direction is called asecondary intercardinal direction, the eight shortest points in the compass rose that is shown (e.g. NNE, ENE, and ESE). TERM 9 easting DEFINITION 9 The terms easting and northing are geographic Cartesian coordinates for a point. Easting refers to the eastward- measured distance, while northing refers to the northward- measured distance (or the y-coordinate).Easting and northing coordinates are commonly measured in metres from the axes of somehorizontal datum TERM 10 northing DEFINITION 10 The terms easting and northing are geographic Cartesian coordinates for a point. Easting refers to the eastward- measured distance, while northing refers to the northward- measured distance (or the y-coordinate).Easting and northing coordinates are commonly measured in metres from the axes of somehorizontal datum TERM 21 transpiration DEFINITION 21 Transpiration is the process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers. TERM 22 condensation DEFINITION 22 Condensation is the change of the physical state of matter from the gas phase into the liquid phase, and is the reverse of vaporization. TERM 23 vapour DEFINITION 23 In physics, a vapor or vapour (British English; see spelling differences) is a substance in the gas phase at a temperature lower than its critical temperature, which means that the vapor can be condensed to a liquid by increasing the pressure on it without reducing the temperature. TERM 24 run-off water DEFINITION 24 Surface runoff is the flow of water that occurs when excess stormwater, meltwater, or other sources flow over the Earth's surface. TERM 25 murray-darling basin DEFINITION 25 TheMurrayDarling basinis a large geographical area in the interior of southeastern Australia. Its name is derived from its two major rivers, theMurray Riverand theDarling River. The basin, which drains around one-seventh of theAustralianland mass,[1]is one of the most significant agricultural areas in Australia. TERM 26 tributary DEFINITION 26 A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem river or a lake. TERM 27 catchment DEFINITION 27 A drainage basin is any area of land where precipitation collects and drains off into a common outlet, such as into a river, bay, or other body of water. TERM 28 consumption DEFINITION 28 A consumer good or final good is any commodity that is produced or consumed by the consumer to satisfy current wants or needs. TERM 29 agriculture DEFINITION 29 Agriculture is the science and art of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities. TERM 30 industry DEFINITION 30 An industry is a sector that produces goods or related services within an economy. The major source of revenue of a group or company is an indicator of what industry it should be classified in. TERM 31 irrigation DEFINITION 31 Irrigation is the application of controlled amounts of water to plants at needed intervals. Irrigation helps to grow agricultural crops, maintain landscapes, and revegetate disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of less than average rainfall.Irrigation systems are also used for coolinglivestock,dust suppression, disposal ofsewage, and inmining. Irrigation is often studied together withdrainage, which is the removal of surface and sub- surface water from a given area. TERM 32 impervious DEFINITION 32 Impervious surfaces are mainly artificial structures-such as pavements (roads, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots, as well as industrial areas such as airports, ports and logistics and distribution centres, all of which use considerable paved areas) that are covered by impenetrable materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, stone-and rooftops. TERM 33 urbanisation DEFINITION 33 Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural areas to urban areas, the gradual increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas, and the ways in which each society adapts to this change. TERM 34 saturated water DEFINITION 34 Water content or moisture content is the quantity of water contained in a material, such as soil, rock, ceramics, crops, or wood.