The Geographer’s Toolkit Key Terms
Match each of the terms on the left with its definition on the right. Click on the term first and then click on the matching definition. As you match them correctly, they will move to the bottom of the activity.
anthropogenic atmosphere biosphere cartography chemical energy climate condensation contour line crust digital elevation model (DEM) Doppler radar energy equator erosion evaporation geographic grid geographic information system (GIS) geography geothermal energy Global Positioning System (GPS) great circle hydrosphere large scale latitude lithosphere longitude map map scale matter meridian parallel photosynthesis physical geography precipitation prime meridian radiant energy relief remote sensing small scale spatial scale system temporal scale topography tropics water vapor weather | The study of Earth’s living and nonliving physical systems and how they change naturally through space and time or are changed by human activity. The long- The process of transporting rock fragments via moving water, ice, or air. The rigid outermost portion of Earth’s surface. Falling rain, snow, sleet, or hail. An active remote sensing technology that uses microwave energy to measure the velocity and direction of movement of particles of precipitation within a cloud. The physical size, length, distance, or area of an object or the physical space occupied by a process. The study of the spatial relationships among Earth’s physical and cultural features and how they develop and change through time. The science and art of map making. Any material that occupies space and possesses mass. Water in a gaseous state. The angular distance as measured from Earth’s center to a point east or west of the prime meridian. A global navigation system that uses satellites and ground- The process of changing water vapor to liquid. The coordinate system that uses latitude and longitude to identify locations on Earth’s surface. Energy in a substance that can be released through a chemical reaction. The energy of electromagnetic waves. All of Earth’s water in its three phases: solid, liquid, and gas. A geographic scale that makes geographic features small to cover a large area of Earth’s surface. A set of interacting parts or processes that function as a unit. A geographic scale that pertains to a geographically restricted area and makes geographic features large to show more detail. A line that forms a circle on the globe by connecting points of the same latitude. The process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert the radiant energy of sunlight to chemical energy. The window of time used to examine phenomena and processes or the length of time over which they develop or change. The geographic region located between 23.5 degrees north and south latitude. Data collection from a distance. The difference in elevation between two or more points on Earth’s surface. The layer of gases surrounding Earth. A system that uses computers to capture, store, analyze, and display spatial data. The process of changing liquid water to water vapor. The angular distance as measured from Earth’s center to a point north or south of the equator. The rigid outer layer of Earth, called the crust, and the heated layer beneath it down to about 100 km (62 mi). Lines of equal elevation in relation to sea level used on a topographic map. The line of latitude that divides Earth into two equal halves. The equator is exactly perpendicular to Earth’s axis of rotation. All life on Earth. Heat from Earth’s interior. A continuous line that bisects the globe into two equal halves, such as the equator; it is the shortest distance between two points on Earth. Created or influenced by people. The shape and physical character of Earth’s surface. A line on the globe that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole and connects points of the same longitude. A digital representation of land surface or underwater topography. Zero degrees longitude; the line of longitude that passes through Greenwich, England, and serves as the starting point from which all other lines of longitude are determined. The capacity to do work on or to change the state of matter. The state of the atmosphere at any given moment. A flat two- A means of specifying how much the real world has been reduced on a map. |