Geography
Geography
the study of the Earth
Define physical geography
The study of the land and its features.
Define Human Geography
Learning about the people and their culture(s)
Globe
a sphere with the map of the Earth on it
scale
the size of the map or globe compared to the Earth itself
The two halves of geography
physical and human
climate
average weather of a location over time
Human activity has little impact on geography.
False
physical map
map that shows/highlights landforms
projection
method of transferring a map from the curved surface of the Earth to a flat map
Plate tectonics (There are 4 specific parts that you should include in your answer.)
The theory that the crust of the Earth is broken into large plates that float on the mantle and shape the surface of the earth.
Vegetation
the plant life growing in an area
migration
movement of people from one place to another
political map
map that shows/highlights political boundaries, such as those of a country or state
latitude/longitude
The grid of lines on a map. The horizontal lines (parallels) measure distance north or south from the equator. The vertical lines (meridians) measure distance east and west from the Prime Meridian.
Describe the relative location of Houston with 3 examples. Use at least ONE direction word such as North, South, East, or West.
South of Dallas, West of Galveston, West of the Gulf of Mexico, North of Mexico, East of Austin, etc
Name 6 landforms
mountains, rivers, plateau, mesa, valley, plain, escarpment, etc
Culture
the customs, ideas, beliefs, and skills of a people
absolute location/relative location
The location of a place compared to another place. The exact location of a place, using latitude and longitude.
map that distorts as you get further away from the equator
Explain how the study of geography can be useful in urban planning.
Studying geography helps understanding the patterns and risks for an urban area. (For example, people in Galveston built a sea wall to protect against hurricanes after learning about the area's vulnerability to storms.)
What is the difference between weather and climate, and why does that distinction matter?
Weather is the day-to-day condition of the atmosphere, while climate is the average weather patterns over a long period. This distinction is important because it helps us understand long-term trends and plan accordingly, rather than focusing on short-term variations.
Explain how physical and human geography are connected. Give an example.
Physical and human geography are connected because the physical environment influences how people live, and people shape their environment. For example, in Texas, the Rio Grande Valley's rich soil (physical geography) attracted farmers who cleared land for crops (human geography).
Equator/Prime Meridian
Imaginary lines that divide the Earth into hemispheres. Equator separates the North and South, the Prime Meridian separates the East and West.