1
the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these, including the distribution of populations and resources, land use, and industries.
geography
an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest
artifact
an imaginary straight line around which an object spins
axis
two times of the year when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in a "nearly" equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes
equinox
one of Earth's seven main divisions of land
continent
landform
the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock
fossil
object's orbital motion around another object
revolution
the very hot, very dense center of our planet
core
the shaking and vibration of the Earth's crust due to movement of the crust
earthquake
the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates
environment
the collection of eight planets and their moons in orbit around the sun, together with smaller bodies in the form of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets
solar system
add one day to our calendar approximately every four years
leap year
the mostly solid bulk of Earth's interior
mantle
a scientific theory that explains how major landforms are created as a result of Earth's subterranean movements
plate techtonics
U.S.-owned utility that provides users with positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services
Global Positioning System
the curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution
orbit
when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun
summer solstice
extremely hot liquid and semi-liquid rock located under Earth's surface
magma
a series of ocean waves that sends surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over 100 feet (30.5 meters), onto land
tsunami
computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface
Geographic Information System
the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet
atmosphere
when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun
winter solstice
the outermost shell of a terrestrial planet
crust
a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock
fault
the process of wearing or being worn by long exposure to the atmosphere
weathering
geological process in which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water.
erosion
a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface
glacier
distance above sea level
elevation
a broad area of relatively flat land
plain
an area of relatively level high ground
plateau
narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses and separates two bodies of water
isthmus
a piece of land almost surrounded by water or projecting out into a body of water
peninsula
a body of land surrounded by water
island
the edge of a continent that lies under the ocean
continental shelf
long, narrow depressions on the seafloor
trench
narrow waterway between two pieces of land that connects two large bodies of water
strait
landform consisting of the outline of a path of a relatively shallow and narrow body of water
channel
wetlands that form as rivers empty their water and sediment into another body of water, such as an ocean, lake, or another river
delta