Chapter 1 & 2 Vocabulary

the study of the spatial characteristics of the world’s land and people

• physical features

• region

• geography

• culture

the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular group

• geography

• culture

• location

• interactions

a spatial area of land that is unified by a common characteristic, such as political unity, linguistic unity, or common climate patterns

• map

• location

• place

• region

lines running east to west on the map that measure direction north and south of the equator

• latitude

• longitude

• Prime Meridian

• compass rose

lines running north and south on a map that measure distance east and west of the Prime Meridian

• equator

• compass rose

• longitude

• latitude

the layer of gases that surrounds Earth

• atmosphere

• lithosphere

• hydrosphere

• biosphere

the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

• axis

• weather

• precipitation

• climate

a large, unbroken mass of land

• tectonic plate

• fault

• glacier

• continent

the process in which water is used and reused on Earth

• isthmus

• trench

• groundwater

• water cycle

a narrow strip of land that connects two larger land areas

• plain

• plateau

• isthmus

• trench