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178
Geography
Undergraduate 1
06/29/2015

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Term
Geography
Definition
EARTHS DESCRIPTION..
Term
Geology
Definition
Science that deals with the earths physical structure and substance, its history, and the processes that act on it. 
Term
Meteorology
Definition
The scientific study of the atmosphere.
Term
Ecology
Definition
Branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and their physical surrounding.
Term
Pedology
Definition
Study of soils 
Term
Hydrology
Definition
Systematuc study of the Earth's water in all its states.
Term
Geomorphology
Definition
Geography of landscape
Term
Open System
Definition
Material system in which mass or energy can be lost to or gained from the environment
Term
Closed System
Definition

   Self-contained system exhibiting no exchange of energy or matter across its boundaries

Term
Atmosphere (&layers)
Definition

Exosphere

Thermosphere

Mesosphere

Stratosphere

Troposphere

Term
Continental Shelf
Definition

       gently sloping, relatively shallow, submerged plain ijust off the coast of a continent.

Term
Continental Slope
Definition
consists of muds and silts, and is often crosscut by submarine canyons.
Term
Ellipsoid
Definition
the entire mass of the planet has adjusted to the combination of gravity and centrifugal force, with the result that the spherical eaerth is SQUASHED... which becomes an ellipsoid
Term
Hemisphere 
Definition
Half-sphere
Term
Hydrosphere
Definition
Sphere of the Earth system that contains all the water that exists on and within the solid surface of our planet.
Term
Lithosphere
Definition
Outermost shell of the solid Earth, lying immediately below the land surface and ocean floor.
Term
Mid-Oceanic Ridge
Definition
High submarine volcanic mountain ranges, part of a global system of such ranges and found in central areas of the ocean basins.
Term
Cartography
Definition
Science, art, and technology of mapmaking, and map use.
Term
Conformal Projection
Definition
Map projection that perserves the true shape of the area being mapped.
Term
Conic Projection

Definition
One in which the transfer of the Earth grid is from a globe onto cone, which is then cut and laid flat.
Term
Contours
Definition
Representation of surface relier using isolines of elevation above sea level
Term
Cylindrical Projection
Definition
One in which the transfer of the Earth grid is from a globe onto a cylinder, which is then cut and laid flat.
Term
Degree
Definition
A measurement of plane angle.
Term
Equal Area Projection
Definition
One in which all the areas mapped are represented in correct proportion to one another.
Term
Equator
Definition
Parallel of latitude running around the exact middle of the globe, defined as 0 degree latitude.
Term
GIS (Geographic Information Sytem)
Definition
Assemblage of computer hardware and software that permits spatial data to be collected, recorded, stored, retrieved, manipulated, analyed, and displayed to the user.
Term
GPS(Global Positioning System)
Definition
 A radio navigation system that allows land, sea, and airborne users to determine their exact location, velocity, and time 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions, anywhere in the world.
Term
Great Circle
Definition
Circle formed along the edge of the cut when a sphere is cut in half.
Term
Small Circle
Definition

    The edges of all other cuts when a sphere is divided into two unequal portions.

Term
Isoline
Definition
Line connecting all places possessing the same value of a given phenomenon, such as "height" above the flat base of the surface being mapped.
Term
Latitude
Definition
Angular distance, measured in degrees north or south, of a point along a parallel from the Equator.
Term
Longitude
Definition
Angular distace, measured in degrees east or west, of a point along a meridian from the prime meridian
Term
Legend(map)
Definition
Portion of a map where its point, line, area, and volume symbols are identified.
Term
Map Projection
Definition
Orderly arrangement of meridians and parallels, produced by any systematic method, that can be used for drawing a map  of the spherical Earth on a flat surface.
Term
Mercator Projection
Definition
The spacing of parallels increases toward the poles.
Term
Meridians
Definition
North and South lines on the globe.
Term
Parallels
Definition
East-West lines of the grid
Term
Planar Projection
Definition
An imaginary plane touches the globe at a single point, exhibita wheel-like symmetry around the point of tangency between the plane and the sphere.
Term
Prime Meridian
Definition
Having a longitude of zero degrees.
Term
Antarctic Circle
Definition
Located at latitude 66.5 degrees S, recieves 24 hours of sunlight.
Term
Aphelion
Definition
Point in Earth's orbit that occurs every July 4th, where the distance to the SUn in maximized.
Term
Artic Circle
Definition
Latitude (66.5 degrees North) marking the southern boundary of the Northern Hemisphere 
Term
Axis
Definition
The imaginary line that extends from the North Pole----> South Pole through the center of the Earth.
Term

Circle of Illumination

Definition
Ever shifting line of sunrise in the east and sunset in the west.
Term
Daylight Savings
Definition
When all the clocks in a time zone or subregion are set forward by 1 hour from standard time for at least part of the year.
Term
Equinox
Definition
One of the two days in the year when the Sun's noontime rays strike the Eaarth vertically at the equator.
Term
Insolation
Definition
INcoming SOLar radiATION
Term

International Date Line

Definition
The name of the meridian
Term
Perihelion
Definition
Point in Earth's orbit, which occurs every January 3rd (your birthday month :) ) where the distance to the Sun is minimized
Term

Plane of the Ecliptic

Definition
Plane formed by the Sun and Earth's orbital path
Term
Rotation
Definition
Spinning of a planet on its axis, the imaginary line passing through its center and both poles
Term
Revolution
Definition
One complete circling of the Sun by a planet.
Term
Solstice
Definition
When the Sun stands still
Term
Tropic of Cancer
Definition
The most northerly latitude where the Sun's noontime rays strike vertically.
Term

Tropic of Capricorn

Definition
The southernmost latitude where the Sun's noon rays can strike the surface at 90 degrees.
Term
Zenith
Definition
Point in the sky directly overhead, 90 degrees above the horizon.
Term

Albedo

Definition
The proportion of incoming radiation that is reflected by a surface.
Term
Conduction
Definition
An energy transfer accomplished by contact between individual molecules.
Term
Convection
Definition
Another mode of heat transfer.
Term
Greenhouse Effect
Definition
Widely used analogy describing the blanket-like effect of the atmosphere in the heating of Earth's surface.
Term
Latent Heat
Definition
A heat transfer associated with the flow of water vapor.
Term

Longwave Radiation

Definition
Radiation emitted by the Earth, which has much longer wavelength.
Term
Radiation
Definition
Transmission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves.
Term
Sensible Heat
Definition
The heat transfer that takes place when air or water at one temperature moves to a loacction with a different temperature. 
Term

Shortwave Radiation

Definition
Radiation coming from the Sun.
Term

Thermal Energy

Definition
HEAT
Term

Air Pollutants

Definition
Substances that impact organisms NEGATIVELY
Term

Carbon Dioxide

Definition
Dominated by exchanges occuring between air and sea.
Term

CFC’s

Definition
Release of ozone-destroying gases
Term
Climate
Definition
Long-term conditions of aggregate weather over a region
Term

Constant Gasses

Definition
Atmospheric gases always found in the same proportions.
Term
Fossil Fuels
Definition
Coal, oil, and natural gas, the dominant suppliers of energy in the world economy.
Term

Heterosphere

Definition
UPPER region of the atmosphere's two vertical regions
Term

Homosphere

Definition
LOWER OF THE ATMOSPHERE'S TWO VERTICAL REGIONS.
Term
Isotopes
Definition
Related form of a chemical element
Term

Layers of The Atmosphere

Definition
(In your notes)
Term

Methane

Definition
One of the 3 types of gas 
Term

Nitrogen

Definition
The air we breathe.
Term

Ozone Layer

Definition
Known as the ozonosphere, the ozone-rich layer of the stratosphere.
Term

Trace Gasses

Definition
Gas with low concentration and is present only in small amounts
Term

Variable Gasses

Definition
Atmospheric gases present in differing quanities at different times and places..... IMPORTANT for humans
Term
Water Vapor
Definition
Invisible gaseous form of water
Term
Weather
Definition
Immediate and short term conditions of the atmosphere that have an effect on daily human activities.
Term
Ozone Hole
Definition
Seasonal depletion of ozone above the Antartic region, which veery likely is caused by the discharge of artificial chemical compounds called CFC's.
Term

Adiabatic Rates

Definition
Air-parcel lapse rates in the troposhpere 
Term

Condensation

Definition
When the state of water changes from a gas to liquid 
Term

Diurnal

Definition
The patern of temperature change during the day
Term

Celsius

Definition
Metric temperature scale most commonly used in the entire world
Term

Fahrenheit

Definition
Temperature scale used in the U.S.
Term

Maritime Effect

Definition
Moderating influence of the ocean on air temperature, which produces cooler summers and milder winters
Term

Thermometer

Definition
Instrument for measuring temperature
Term

Anticyclone

Definition
Atmospheric high-pressure cell involving the divergence of air, which subsides at and flows spirally out of the center.
Term

Barometer

Definition
Instrument that measures atmospheric pressure...invented by TORRICELLI
Term

Chinook Winds

Definition
Name given to the foehn winds that affect the leeward areas of mountain zones in the western plateaus of Northern America.
Term

Coriolis Forces

Definition
Force that, owning to the rotation of the Earth, tends to deflect all objects moving over the surface of the Earth away from their original paths. 
Term

Gravitational Forces

Definition
The primary force exertying an influence on air molecules 
Term

Leeward

Definition
Areas in the "shadow" of protecting topographic barriers 
Term

Pressure-Gradient

Definition
Increases as the difference in air pressure across a specified distance increases.
Term

Santa Ana Winds

Definition
An occasional hot,dry airflow whose unpleasantness is heightened by the downward funneling of this wind from the high inland desert through narrow passes in the mountains that line the coast.
Term

Sea Breeze

Definition
Air moving from water to land during the day... :/
Term

Valley Breeze

Definition
Lower pressure to develop over the mountain ridges creates a valley breeze.
Term
Windward
Definition
Exposed, upwind side of a topographic barrier that faces the wind that flows across it.
Term
Upper Atmosphere
Definition
The part of the atmosphere above the troposphere
Term
Equational Low
Definition
Inter-tropical convergence zone
Term
Ferrel Cell
Definition
The average moition of air in the mid-latitudes
Term
Hadley Cell
Definition
A large scale atmospheric convection cell in which air rises at the equator and sinks at medium latitude
Term
ITCZ
Definition
(Inner Tropical Convegence Zone)
Term
Jet Streams
Definition
2 concetrated, high altitude, W&E flowing atmospheric circulation system
Term
Monsoon
Definition
"Season" a vegional windflow that streams onto and off certain landmasses on a seasonal basis.
Term
Polar Cell
Definition
This colliding air rises, creating a belt of low pressure near 60 degrees north
Term
Trade Winds
Definition
A wind blowing steadily toward the equator from the north east in the North Hemisphere
Term
Polar Winds
Definition
Winds that blow from the highs at the north and south poles towards low pressure areas.
Term
Zonal Flows
Definition
Westeny flow of winds that dominates the upper atmospheric circulationi system poleward of 15 degrees
Term
Evapotranspiration
Definition
Water changes from liquid to a gas
Term
Cirrus Cloud
Definition
Cloud category that encompasses thin, wispy sstreaklike clouds consisting of ice particles.
Term
Cumulus Clouds
Definition
Cloud category that has thick, puffy masses
Term
Deposition
Definition
Sediments, soil and rocks are added to a land form/ land mass
Term
Dew
Definition
Water droplets that condense on surfaces at and near the ground
Term
Evaporation
Definition

Combined processed 

1. Water evaporates from land

2. Passes into atmosphere by transpiration 

Term
Hydrologic Cycle
Definition
Complex system of exchange involving water
Term
Latent Heat
Definition
"Hidden heat" involved in the process of melting, freezing, evaporation, condensation
Term
Run-off
Definition
Removal- as water goes into the river
Term
Saturated air
Definition
Air that is holding all the water vapor molecules it can possibly contain as a given temperature.
Term
Sublimation
Definition
A solid can change into a gas
Term
Water Vapor
Definition
Invisible gas form of water
Term
Air Masses
Definition
Very large parrel of air in the boundary layer of the troposphere
Term
Cold Front
Definition
Produced an advancing cold air mass hugs the surface and displaces all other air as it goes under
Term
Warm Front
Definition
Produced when an advancing warm air mass intreges on a preexisting cooler one
Term
Fronts
Definition
Surface that bounds an air mass along which contact occurs with a neighboring air mass
Term
Tornadoes
Definition
Small vortex of air, that descends to the ground from rotating clouds
Term
Rain Shadow Effect
Definition
Dry conditions- at regional scale
Term

Orographic Lifting

Definition
Rainfall produced by moist air parcels
Term
Convergence
Definition
State of converging
Term
Divergence
Definition
The inner product of the operator deo and given vector
Term
Eye (hurricane)
Definition
Open vertical tube that makes the center of a hurricane
Term
Hurricane
Definition
Tropical cyclone capable of inflicting great damage
Term
Potential Energy
Definition
The energy that an object has due to its position in a force field or that a system has due to the configuration of its parts.
Term
Storms
Definition
Organized, moving atmospheric disturbance
Term
Tropical Cyclone
Definition
Capable of inflicting great damage
Term
Tropical Storm
Definition
Intensified tropical depression
Term
Asthenosphere
Definition
The highly viscous, mechanically weak and ductilely deforming region of the upper mantle of the Earth.
Term
Continental Shield
Definition
Any of the large stable areas of low relief in the Earth's crust that are composed of Precambrian crystalline rocks. 
Term
Earthquake
Definition
Shaking/trembling of Earth's surface
Term
Felsic Rocks
Definition
Igneous rocks that are rich in elements
Term
Inner Core
Definition
Solid, most inner portion of the Earth
Term
Lithosphere
Definition
Outmost shell of the solid Earth
Term
Lower Mantle
Definition
A large fraction of Earth's interior
Term

Mafic Rocks

Definition
Mafic is an adjective describing a silicate mineral or rock that is rich in magnesium and iron, and hence is a contraction of "magnesium" and "ferric".
Term
Orogenic Belt
Definition
 develop when a continental plate is crumpled and is pushed upwards to form mountain ranges, and involve a great range of geological processes collectively called orogenesis.
Term
Relief
Definition
Vertical distance between the highest and lowest elevation in a given area
Term
Seismic Wave
Definition
The waves of energy caused by the sudden breaking of rock within the earth or an explosion.
Term
Upper Mantle
Definition
Viscous interior shell of the Earth
Term
Continental Drift
Definition
A theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth's surface. Set forth in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a geophysicist and meteorologist, continental drift also explained why look-alike animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents.
Term
Convergent Boundary
Definition
An actively deforming region where two (or more) tectonic plates or fragments of the lithosphere move toward one another and collide.
Term
Divergent Boundary
Definition
A linear feature that exists between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other.
Term
Island Arc
Definition
Volcanic island chain produced in a zone where 2 oceanic plates are converging
Term
Lithospheric PLate
Definition
One of the fragmented, rigid segments of the lithosphere
Term
Pangea
Definition
Supercontinent, hypothezised by Alfred WEGNER
Term
Plate Techtonics
Definition
The theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core. 
Term
Rift/Valley
Definition
  1. A large elongated depression with steep walls formed by the downward displacement of a block of the earth's surface between nearly parallel faults or fault systems.
Term

Seafloor Spreading

Definition
A process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge.
Term
Subduction
Definition
The process that takes place at convergent boundaries by which one tectonic plate moves under another tectonic plate and sinks into the mantle as the plates converge
Term
Transformation Boundary
Definition
Soil-layer formation process involving the weathering of rocks and minerals
Term
Accretion
Definition
The process of growth or increase, typically by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter.
Term
Isostasy
Definition
The state of gravitational equilibrium between Earth's crust and mantle such that the crust "floats" at an elevation that depends on its thickness and density.
Term
Suspect Terrane
Definition
Subregion of rocks processing properties that sharpy distinguish it from surrounding regional rocks
Term
Terrane
Definition
  1. A fault-bounded area or region with a distinctive stratigraphy, structure, and geological history.
Term
AA
Definition
Angular, jagged, blocky shaped lava formed from the nardening or not especially fluid lava
Term
Caldera
Definition
Steep-walled, circular volcanic basin, usually formed by the collapse of a volcano whose magma chamber emptied out
Term
Cinder Cone
Definition
Volcanic Landform consisting mainly of pyoclastics
Term
Composite Volcano
Definition
Volcano formed, usually above a subduction zone, by the eruption of a succession of lava and pyroclastics
Term
Flood Basalts
Definition
Very extensive lava flow of basaltic compostion that has issued from a tissue
Term
Hot Spots
Definition
Place of very high temperatures in the upper mantle that reaches the surface as a "plume" of extraordinary high heat
Term
Lahar
Definition
hot or cold mixture of water and rock fragments flowing down the slopes of a volcano and (or) river valleys.
Term

Pahoehoe

Definition
lava with a smooth, shiny, or swirled surface and comes from the Hawaiian verb hoe, "to paddle"
Term

Pyroclastic Flow

Definition
a fast-moving current of hot gas and rock
Term
Shield Volcano
Definition
 a type of volcano usually built almost entirely of fluid magma flows. 
Term
Vent
Definition
Opening through the Earth's crust from which lava erupts
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