Podcast
Questions and Answers
What are the large landmasses on Earth's surface called?
What are the large landmasses on Earth's surface called?
Continents
What is the solid rock portion of Earth's surface called?
What is the solid rock portion of Earth's surface called?
Lithosphere
What is the thin layer of gases surrounding Earth called?
What is the thin layer of gases surrounding Earth called?
Atmosphere
What is the term for all the water at and near the surface of the earth?
What is the term for all the water at and near the surface of the earth?
Signup and view all the answers
What consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere?
What consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the hypothesis that the continents slowly move across Earth's surface called?
What is the hypothesis that the continents slowly move across Earth's surface called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the sun, planets, and all the other objects that revolve around the sun?
What is the term for the sun, planets, and all the other objects that revolve around the sun?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the Earth's core made of and where is it?
What is the Earth's core made of and where is it?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core called?
What is the layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle called?
What is the thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the cycle through which water in the hydrosphere moves called?
What is the cycle through which water in the hydrosphere moves called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a large stream of moving water that flows through the oceans called?
What is a large stream of moving water that flows through the oceans called?
Signup and view all the answers
What are swells and ridges produced by winds in water called?
What are swells and ridges produced by winds in water called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the regular rise and fall of the ocean's surface influenced by the moon's gravity pulling on earth called?
What is the regular rise and fall of the ocean's surface influenced by the moon's gravity pulling on earth called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the area from which a single stream or river and its tributaries drains all of the water called?
What is the area from which a single stream or river and its tributaries drains all of the water called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock?
What is the term for water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the upper level of the saturated zone of groundwater called?
What is the upper level of the saturated zone of groundwater called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a natural feature of the earth's surface called?
What is a natural feature of the earth's surface called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the earth's surface from the edge of a continent to the deep part of the ocean called?
What is the earth's surface from the edge of a continent to the deep part of the ocean called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the combination of the surface shape and composition of the landforms and their distribution in a region called?
What is the combination of the surface shape and composition of the landforms and their distribution in a region called?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the sections of the Earth's crust that move due to convection currents called?
What are the sections of the Earth's crust that move due to convection currents called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a plate boundary where two plates move away from each other called?
What is a plate boundary where two plates move away from each other called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a tectonic plate boundary where two plates collide, come together, or crash into each other called?
What is a tectonic plate boundary where two plates collide, come together, or crash into each other called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a plate boundary where two plates move past each other in opposite directions called?
What is a plate boundary where two plates move past each other in opposite directions called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a break in the earth's crust called?
What is a break in the earth's crust called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a device that measures the strength of an earthquake called?
What is a device that measures the strength of an earthquake called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the point on Earth's surface directly above an earthquake's focus called?
What is the point on Earth's surface directly above an earthquake's focus called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a giant wave usually caused by an earthquake beneath the ocean floor called?
What is a giant wave usually caused by an earthquake beneath the ocean floor called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is magma that reaches Earth's surface called?
What is magma that reaches Earth's surface called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a major belt of volcanoes that rims the Pacific Ocean called?
What is a major belt of volcanoes that rims the Pacific Ocean called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface called?
What is the breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface called?
Signup and view all the answers
What are small, solid pieces of material that come from rocks or living things called?
What are small, solid pieces of material that come from rocks or living things called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces by physical means called?
What is the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces by physical means called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the process in which rock is broken down by changes in its chemical makeup called?
What is the process in which rock is broken down by changes in its chemical makeup called?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the processes by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away (i.e. weathering, glaciation) called?
What are the processes by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away (i.e. weathering, glaciation) called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a landform made of sediment that is deposited where a river flows into an ocean or lake called?
What is a landform made of sediment that is deposited where a river flows into an ocean or lake called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a wind-formed deposit made of fine particles of clay and silt that produce fertile soil called?
What is a wind-formed deposit made of fine particles of clay and silt that produce fertile soil called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a large mass of moving ice and snow on land called?
What is a large mass of moving ice and snow on land called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a process by which glaciers form and spread called?
What is a process by which glaciers form and spread called?
Signup and view all the answers
What are piles of rocky debris left by melting glaciers called?
What are piles of rocky debris left by melting glaciers called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms called?
What is organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the third planet from the Sun in the solar system called?
What is the third planet from the Sun in the solar system called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the distance from the Sun to Earth?
What is the distance from the Sun to Earth?
Signup and view all the answers
What are ice and dust spheres leaving vapor trails called?
What are ice and dust spheres leaving vapor trails called?
Signup and view all the answers
What are large rocky materials found in space called?
What are large rocky materials found in space called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the region between Mars and Jupiter's orbits called?
What is the region between Mars and Jupiter's orbits called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the approximate circumference of the Earth?
What is the approximate circumference of the Earth?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the approximate diameter of the Earth?
What is the approximate diameter of the Earth?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the liquid layer surrounding the inner core called?
What is the liquid layer surrounding the inner core called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the solid center of the Earth called?
What is the solid center of the Earth called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the layer surrounding the core containing most mass called?
What is the layer surrounding the core containing most mass called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is molten rock formed in the mantle called?
What is molten rock formed in the mantle called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the thin outer layer of rock on Earth's surface called?
What is the thin outer layer of rock on Earth's surface called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the name of the supercontinent that existed before continental drift?
What is the name of the supercontinent that existed before continental drift?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the ocean surrounding the supercontinent Pangaea called?
What is the ocean surrounding the supercontinent Pangaea called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the exact location of a place on the earth described by global coordinates called?
What is the exact location of a place on the earth described by global coordinates called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the position of a place in relation to another place called?
What is the position of a place in relation to another place called?
Signup and view all the answers
What describes the features of the earth's surface, such as landforms, water systems, climate patterns, and plant and animal life?
What describes the features of the earth's surface, such as landforms, water systems, climate patterns, and plant and animal life?
Signup and view all the answers
What includes a variety of factors such as history, government, social groups, economic systems, language, religion, clothing, housing, food, or art forms?
What includes a variety of factors such as history, government, social groups, economic systems, language, religion, clothing, housing, food, or art forms?
Signup and view all the answers
What describes the distinctive features, attributes, and qualities of a place?
What describes the distinctive features, attributes, and qualities of a place?
Signup and view all the answers
What examines the interactions between people and their environment?
What examines the interactions between people and their environment?
Signup and view all the answers
What describes the ways in which places are connected through the movement of people, ideas, or goods?
What describes the ways in which places are connected through the movement of people, ideas, or goods?
Signup and view all the answers
What describes how common geographic characteristics help us describe/understand a place?
What describes how common geographic characteristics help us describe/understand a place?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a region defined by government or administrative boundaries called?
What is a region defined by government or administrative boundaries called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a region defined by some function or reason called?
What is a region defined by some function or reason called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a region defined by what people think and the perceptions of the region called?
What is a region defined by what people think and the perceptions of the region called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a map that shows geographic locations on Earth's surface, such as the locations of cities or oceans (topographic) called?
What is a map that shows geographic locations on Earth's surface, such as the locations of cities or oceans (topographic) called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a type of map that displays one or more variables-such as population, or income level-within a specific area called?
What is a type of map that displays one or more variables-such as population, or income level-within a specific area called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a map that tells you how to get from place to place (aeronautical and nautical maps) called?
What is a map that tells you how to get from place to place (aeronautical and nautical maps) called?
Signup and view all the answers
What involves observing, measuring, and recording data that will be used for map accuracy?
What involves observing, measuring, and recording data that will be used for map accuracy?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a database of information called?
What is a database of information called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the distance north or south of the equator called?
What is the distance north or south of the equator called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees called?
What is the distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is either of the two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator called?
What is either of the two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the time or date (twice each year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length (about September 22 and March 20) called?
What is the time or date (twice each year) at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, when day and night are of equal length (about September 22 and March 20) called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place called?
What is the condition of Earth's atmosphere at a particular time and place called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the overall weather in an area over a long period of time called?
What is the overall weather in an area over a long period of time called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the formation of precipitation due to surface heating of the air at the ground surface called?
What is the formation of precipitation due to surface heating of the air at the ground surface called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is precipitation which results when two air masses of different temperatures meet and the warm air is forced over the cooler air called?
What is precipitation which results when two air masses of different temperatures meet and the warm air is forced over the cooler air called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is precipitation caused by winds blowing warm, moist air toward coastal mountains; results when warm air rises over the mountains and cools enough to form clouds that release rain and snow called?
What is precipitation caused by winds blowing warm, moist air toward coastal mountains; results when warm air rises over the mountains and cools enough to form clouds that release rain and snow called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a dry region on the side of a mountain that is sheltered from wind called?
What is a dry region on the side of a mountain that is sheltered from wind called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a climate located along the equator that experiences rain every day of the year called?
What is a climate located along the equator that experiences rain every day of the year called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a climate located along the equator that has a dry season with little to no rain, usually in the winter called?
What is a climate located along the equator that has a dry season with little to no rain, usually in the winter called?
Signup and view all the answers
What climate has hot, dry summers and cool, dry winters?
What climate has hot, dry summers and cool, dry winters?
Signup and view all the answers
What climate has very dry weather conditions?
What climate has very dry weather conditions?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a climate marked by warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters called?
What is a climate marked by warm, dry summers and cool, rainy winters called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a moderate climate with cool summers and mild winters that is heavily influenced by maritime conditions called?
What is a moderate climate with cool summers and mild winters that is heavily influenced by maritime conditions called?
Signup and view all the answers
What climate is located on the east coast of continents; warm humid summers, mild to cool winters?
What climate is located on the east coast of continents; warm humid summers, mild to cool winters?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the climate located in the middle latitudes, the agriculturally productive, true four-season climate called?
What is the climate located in the middle latitudes, the agriculturally productive, true four-season climate called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the climate with limited precipitation, cool summers, and very cold winters called?
What is the climate with limited precipitation, cool summers, and very cold winters called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a vast treeless plain in the arctic regions between the ice cap and the tree line called?
What is a vast treeless plain in the arctic regions between the ice cap and the tree line called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the cold area near the North or South pole called?
What is the cold area near the North or South pole called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a climate found in mountains and on high plateaus, with cool to cold temperatures that change with altitude called?
What is a climate found in mountains and on high plateaus, with cool to cold temperatures that change with altitude called?
Signup and view all the answers
What are broadleaf trees that lose leaves in the cold season called?
What are broadleaf trees that lose leaves in the cold season called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the name for broadleaf trees that stay green year-round?
What is the name for broadleaf trees that stay green year-round?
Signup and view all the answers
What are needle leaf trees with cones that stay green year-round called?
What are needle leaf trees with cones that stay green year-round called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a scrubland biome of dense, spiny evergreen shrubs found at midlatitudes along coasts where cold ocean currents circulate offshore; characterized by mild, rainy winters and long, hot, dry summers called?
What is a scrubland biome of dense, spiny evergreen shrubs found at midlatitudes along coasts where cold ocean currents circulate offshore; characterized by mild, rainy winters and long, hot, dry summers called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees called?
What is a grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees called?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the name for temperate grasslands?
What is the name for temperate grasslands?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Continents and Earth's Layers
- Continents are large landmasses on Earth's surface.
- Lithosphere: Solid rock portion of Earth's surface.
- Atmosphere: Thin layer of gases surrounding Earth.
- Hydrosphere: All water at and near Earth's surface.
- Biosphere: All life on Earth and its environments (land, water, atmosphere).
Earth's Structure
- Earth's core is made of iron and nickel.
- Mantle: Layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core.
- Crust: Thin, solid outermost layer above the mantle.
The Hydrologic Cycle
- The hydrologic cycle describes water movement in the hydrosphere, including evaporation, precipitation, and runoff.
Oceans and Water Features
- Currents: Large streams of moving water in oceans.
- Waves: Swells and ridges produced by winds in water.
- Tides: Regular rise and fall of ocean surfaces due to lunar gravity.
- Drainage basin: Area drained by a single river and its tributaries.
- Groundwater: Water held underground in soil or rock.
- Water table: Upper level of the groundwater saturated zone.
Landforms and Topography
- Landforms: Natural features of Earth's surface.
- Continental shelf: Earth's surface from the continent edge to the deep ocean.
- Topography: Combination of landform shapes, compositions, and distributions in a region.
Plate Tectonics
- Tectonic plates: Sections of Earth's crust that move due to convection currents.
- Divergent boundary: Plate boundary where plates move apart.
- Convergent boundary: Plate boundary where plates collide.
- Transform boundary: Plate boundary where plates slide past each other.
- Fault: Break in Earth's crust.
- Seismograph: Device measuring earthquake strength.
- Epicenter: Point on Earth's surface directly above an earthquake's focus.
- Tsunami: Giant wave caused by underwater earthquakes.
Volcanic Activity
- Lava: Magma that reaches Earth's surface.
- Ring of Fire: Belt of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean.
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition
- Weathering: Breaking down of rocks.
- Mechanical weathering: Physical breakdown of rocks.
- Chemical weathering: Breakdown of rocks by chemical changes.
- Erosion: Processes that remove and transport rock, sand, and soil.
- Sediment: Small pieces of rock or living things.
- Delta: Landform formed by river deposition at the ocean/lake outlet.
- Loess: Wind-formed deposit of fine silt and clay.
- Glacier: Large mass of ice and snow on land.
- Glaciation: Processes of glacier formation and spread.
- Moraine: Piles of rocky debris left by melting glaciers.
- Humus: Dark, organic material after decomposition.
Earth's Place in Space
- Solar system: Sun, planets, and their orbiting objects.
- Earth's distance from sun: 93 million miles.
- Comets: Ice and dust spheres with vapor trails.
- Asteroids: Large rocky materials in space.
- Asteroid belt: Region between Mars and Jupiter's orbits.
- Earth's circumference: About 24,900 miles.
- Earth's diameter: About 7,900 miles.
Geographic Concepts and Tools
- Absolute location: Exact position on Earth using coordinates.
- Relative location: Position of a place compared to another.
- Location: Where something is.
- Physical characteristics: Features of land (landforms, water, climate, organisms).
- Human characteristics: Factors affecting a place (history, people, culture, economy, religion, housing).
- Place: Descriptors of a location.
- Human-environment interaction (HEI): How people affect and are affected by environments.
- Movement: Connections between places.
- Regions: Common geographic features.
- Formal region: Area defined by government.
- Functional region: Area defined by function.
- Vernacular region: Area defined by perceptions.
- Reference map: Geographic locations.
- Thematic map: Variables in specific areas.
- Navigational map: Directions.
- Survey: Collecting data for maps.
- Global Information Systems (GIS): Database of geographic information.
- Latitude: Distance north or south of the Equator.
- Longitude: Distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
- Solstice: Time of year with longest/shortest days.
- Equinox: Time when day/night are equal lengths.
Weather and Climate
- Weather: Atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place.
- Climate: Long-term weather patterns in an area.
- Convectional precipitation: Precipitation from surface heating.
- Frontal precipitation: Precipitation from air mass collisions.
- Orographic precipitation: Precipitation from mountains.
- Rain shadow: Dry region on a mountain's leeward side.
Climate Types
- Tropical wet: Constant rain.
- Tropical wet and dry: Rainy and dry seasons.
- Semiarid: Hot, dry summers; cool, dry winters.
- Desert: Very dry conditions.
- Mediterranean: Warm, dry summers; cool, rainy winters.
- Marine west coast: Cool summers; mild winters, maritime influences.
- Humid subtropical: Warm, humid summers; mild/cool winters.
- Humid continental: Four distinct seasons.
- Subarctic: Limited precipitation, cool summers, very cold winters.
- Tundra: Treeless plain in arctic regions.
- Polar: Cold areas near poles.
- Highland: Cool to cold climates in mountains.
Vegetation Types
- Deciduous: Broadleaf trees that lose leaves in cold seasons.
- Rainforest: Broadleaf trees that remain green year-round.
- Coniferous: Needle-leaf trees with cones, remaining green.
- Chaparral: Scrubland, found in coastal areas, hot dry summers; rainy winters.
- Savanna: Grasslands with few trees in tropical and subtropical regions.
- Steppe/Prairie: Temperate grasslands.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on Earth's structure, including continents, layers, and the hydrologic cycle. This quiz covers fundamental concepts such as the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and various water features like tides and currents. Explore the interrelationships between Earth's physical components and their significance.
