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Human Systems

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processes initiated by people that shape the earth's surface and interact with plant and animal life to create, sustain, and modify ecosystems

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Physical Processes

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activities occurring in nature that shape the earth's surface

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Physical Systems

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processes occurring in nature that shape the earth's surface and interact with plant and animal life to create, sustain, and modify ecosystems

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Systems

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physical and human processes that shape the earth's surface and interact with plant and animal life to create, sustain, and modify ecosystems

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Genetic Engineering, Hoover Dam, Panamal Canal

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Which of the following represent human systems?

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The Gulf Stream, Amazon Rainforest, San Andreas Fault

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Which of the following are examples of physical systems?

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choice of occupation, method of transportation, recreational activities

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How do the earth's physical features affect people's activities?

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Axis

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an imaginary line around which the earth rotates

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Cartographer

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a person who creates maps

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Projection

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the representation of a three-dimensional object such as the earth onto a two-dimensional plane or map

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Compare the size of landforms, determine when it will be light or dark in different countries, estimate the distances between places

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Globes can help us to _____________.

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experience little change in weather throughout the year

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Locations near the equator do what?

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Mercator

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Lines of latitude and longitude intersect at right angles on this rectangular map. Directions are accurate, but areas and distances are distorted. Areas near the poles look bigger than they actually are. Areas far from the equator are badly distorted and appear much larger than they actually are.

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Robinson

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This elliptical map displays the earth in an ellipse with a flat top and bottom. Lines of latitude are parallel to the equator and are curved. In a Robinson projection, area is represented accurately, but the distances and compass directions are distorted (for example, compass lines are curved).

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Winkel Tripel

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Lines of latitude and longitude are both curved on this projection. Tries to minimize the distortions of distance, area, and direction. This projection works well when mapping the entire world, but is seldom used for small areas.

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Azimuthal Equidistant

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An important tool for calculating the distance from one point on the earth's surface to another by air is the azimuthal equidistant projection map. When the North Pole or the South Pole is placed at the center of this map, it's referred to as a polar projection. Sometimes this projection is called an "air-age map." Any point of the earth's surface can be chosen as the center of this map. Air distances are calculated by measuring the distance from the center of the map to any other point on the map. Lands close to the center of this projection are shown in true size and shape. Air routes use this type of map because routes are indicated more accurately than on other maps. As with other maps, distortion is also this map's greatest disadvantage. The size and shape of land masses becomes more distorted the farther they are from the center of focus.

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Interrupted Area

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To prevent distortion of the continents, blank areas are inserted in the map. These interruptions in the map are usually made in the water surface of the earth. This type of map allows areas to be studied with little distortion. This projection is also useful for showing characteristics of regions. Such characteristics could include natural resources, population, and distributions.

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Political Maps

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These maps show features that are created by humans. Instead of representing the physical features of an area, show the boundaries of countries and states. Frequently display capital cities, which are indicated by a star. Often, different colors are used to define boundaries more clearly.

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Outline Maps

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One type of political map. They are geographically accurate and provide an outline of the area being studied. While they do not give many details, they do provide a general visual representation which can be valuable in learning to recognize an area.

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Physical Maps

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These show the physical features of the earth—its topography. They display features such as elevation, landforms, and bodies of water.

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Relief Maps

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Type of physical map. It's a drawing of the earth's surface. Through the use of this map, you can become familiar with a region's size, shape, boundaries, and geographic features. Mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, and elevations are all made more real through the use of a this map. These maps use color or shading to indicate elevation. Generally, green is used to represent lower elevations and brown to represent higher elevations. Someof these maps are three-dimensional and use raised surfaces to show the physical features of a mapped area.These maps can help you to understand climatic conditions resulting from different elevations. Such knowledge helps plan what crops are grown, what clothing is worn, and the amount of annual rainfall.

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Topographic Maps

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Another kind of physical map. These are used to show various natural and human-made features. These (topo, for short) maps attempt to describe the three-dimensional surface of the earth on a two-dimensional flat surface. For instance, to describe elevation, this map uses contour lines to connect points of equal elevation. The closer together the lines are, the higher the elevation. These maps are used for many purposes, such as planning a hike or deciding where to build a school or park.

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Thematic (Special Purpose) Maps

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In addition to political and physical maps, some maps are designed to show specific information.

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Population Maps

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These are used to show population size or population density, with each dot or color representing a certain number of people.

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Land-Use Maps

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Show land areas and their uses. They usually show land devoted to farming, grazing, and so forth. This type of map is often used for city planning. Look at a land-use map for your state, if one is available.

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Climate Maps

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This type of map indicates climate zones, areas of similar weather patterns, temperatures, precipitation, and wind. These may be shown by using colors or by using isotherms, which are lines connecting places with the same average temperature.

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Road or Street Maps

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Very commonly used, this map uses symbols to represent different types of road—regular streets, highways, toll roads, freeways, railroads, etc. Understanding these symbols will make planning a road trip easier and more enjoyable.

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Globe

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The best tool to use to compare the size of the continents is a _____.

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Political Map

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The best tool to use to locate the boundaries between countries is a(n) _____.

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Axis

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a vertical (y-axis) or horizontal (x-axis) line used in graphing

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Global Information System

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(GIS) use of computer technology to collect, evaluate, process, and display geographic data

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Global Positioning System

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(GPS) a network of twenty-four satellites used to provide the locations of places on Earth

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the elements contribute to understanding the information presented, it is simple, meaningful, attractive, and accurate, and whether the material is presented clearly.

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Points to consider when making charts and graphs include all of the following: _____.

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collects data from the Internal Revenue Service, can be used to create emergency plans in the event of natural disasters, and can be used for city planning

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Which statements describe Global Information Systems (GIS)?

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provides information about location, is a network of satellites orbiting the earth, and is available on some cell phones.

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Which statements describe Global Positioning Systems (GPS)?

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SONAR

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The best tool to use to measure distance underwater is _____.

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GPS

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The best tool to use to figure out where we are on the earth is _____.

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Atlas

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If your teacher gives you an assignment in which you are to complete a report for which you will need to find out much statistical information and view maps of different places around the world, the best tool for you to use to begin your research is a(n)_____.

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jobs they choose, means of travel, ways they spend their free time

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Ways the earth's physical features affect people's activities.

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earthquakes, erosion, chemical weathering, and volcanoes

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Examples of Physical Processes

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Land Use

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Rod is a city planner; the type of map he probably uses most often is the _____.

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Atlas

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A geographic resource containing map collections is called a(n) _____.

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RADAR

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This tool uses microwaves to map the earth and is useful when climate conditions prevent geographers from seeing the earth's surface.

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Human Characteristics

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the actions and ideas of people that change the earth

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Physical Characteristics

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naturally occurring features of the earth

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Location

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Geographic theme that helps us answer the question, "Where is it?" Sounds simple, doesn't it? The answer to this question is not as simple as it seems. There is usually more than one correct answer. That's because there is more than one way to describe location.

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Absolute Location

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Provides the exact position of a place on the earth's surface. This can be defined by latitude and longitude on a map or by a specific address.

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Relative Location

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This tells us where places are in relationship to other places. This indicates connections between places.

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Place

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Geographic theme that helps us answer the question, "What is it like?" To answer this question, you must consider both the physical characteristics and human characteristics. These characteristics do not exist by themselves; they are interactive and interdependent.

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Place

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Geographic Theme: Bolivia is one of two landlocked South American countries. It is bordered by Peru and Chile to the west, Brazil to the north and east, and Paraguay and Argentina to the south. Poverty here is high. It has three official languages: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara.

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Location

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Geographic Theme: The United States is north of Mexico and south of Canada.

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Human-environmental interaction

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focuses on the relationship between humans and their environment. This geographic theme deals with how we live in our environment—how people depend on the environment, how people adapt to the environment, and how people change the environment. Sometimes the changes people make to the environment are beneficial; sometimes they are destructive. Sometimes changes are planned, sometimes accidental. This geographic theme helps us answer questions, such as: •How do humans adapt to the environment? •How do humans depend on the environment? •How do humans change the environment?

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Movement

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Geographic Theme: Has to do with moving people, products, and ideas from different places.

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Road constructions, home buildings, and gold mines,

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Which items are examples of human-environmental interaction?

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Human-environmental interaction

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Geographic Theme: As a protection from rising seawater caused by hurricanes, many houses in Galveston, Texas, are built on stilts.

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Homogeneous

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of the same kind or type

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Precipitation

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some form of water that falls on the earth (rain, snow, hail)

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Region

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an area having a dominant or unifying characteristic

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Regions

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the most commonly used geographic theme, is perhaps the most useful. This theme lets us group places together that have common characteristics. This concept allows geographers to divide the world in many ways to focus and simplify its study.

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physical (or geographic), climate,cultural, political, and economic.

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The regions geographers most commonly study include:

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Physical

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Region: defined by the earth's land systems and bodies of water

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Climate

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Regions: defined by average precipitation and temperature

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Cultural

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Regions: defined by factors including language, religion, or customs

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Economic

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Regions: defined by agreements between nations creating free trade zones

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Political

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Regions: defined by their government systems

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Snow, Rain, Hail

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Which words name a type of precipitation?

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Regions

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What do geographers call areas whose residents share a common characteristic?

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The people here speak English.

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Which statement is true of a homogeneous region?

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Asthenosphere

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the semi-solid layer of the earth lying between the top layer and the upper mantle

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Core

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the metallic layer at the earth's center

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Crust

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the earth's outermost layer

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Mantle

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the thick, hot layer of semi-solid rock surrounding the earth's core

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Permafrost

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permanently frozen soil beneath the surface in polar and near-polar areas

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Lower mantle

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the hottest part of the mantle

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Top Layer

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the firm layer between the crust and the asthenosphere

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Upper Mantle

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the layer between the asthenosphere and lower mantle

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Outer Core

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the layer surrounding the inner core

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Continental

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Which climate zone has the greatest change in temperature between winter and summer months?

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Tropical

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Temperatures in which climate region stay about the same all year long?

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Atmosphere

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the air that surrounds the earth

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Hydrosphere

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the sphere containing all the earth's water-vapor, liquid, and solid

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Insulating atmosphere, solar radiation, gases and water vapor

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Which phrases describe causes of the greenhouse effect?

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doldrums

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Sailors refer to the area where ships powered only by sails frequently get stuck as the ________.

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Sun

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What powers the water cycle?

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Lithosphere

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the sphere containing the earth's landforms

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Plates

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the sections of the earth's crust that are continually moving

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PlateTectonics

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the theory that attributes certain of the earth's physical processes to movements of sections of its crust

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Transforming Fault

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Which type of plate movement is often the cause of earthquakes in the ocean?

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move away from each other

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Divergent plate boundaries result when the earth's plates _____.

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Biosphere

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Which of the earth's spheres contains its plants and animals?

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Weathering

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What is the physical process responsible for soil creation called?

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Erosion

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What physical process will likely cause people to move from coastal cliffs?

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Abiotic

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nonliving parts of ecosystems

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Biodiversity

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the number and variety of plants and animals living in an area

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Biome

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a term used to refer to similar ecosystems throughout the world

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Biotic

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the living parts of an ecosystem

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Consumer

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animals that eat producers (plants) or other animals that eat consumers

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Decomposer

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organisms that break down dead plants and animals and return nutrients to the soil

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Ecotourism

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travel in natural environments that minimizes its environmental impact

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Estuaries

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areas where freshwater and salt water meet

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Permafrost

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a frozen layer of soil beneath the earth's surface

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Producers

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plants that make their own food

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Wetlands

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a transitional area between land and water systems that supports aquatic plants

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Dry and Hot, dry and cold, recieves less than ten inches of rain per year

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Which are characteristics of a desert ecosystem?

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grassland has been converted to grow crops, many birds of the grasslands build their nests on the ground, the soil is rich in nutrients

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Which statements are true about a grassland ecosystem?

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Forest

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What ecosystem would be damaged the most by a fire?

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Marine

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Most of the world's rain and snow comes from this ecosystem.

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