Geo 101
What is a continent?
A large, continuous mass of land. It also includes discrete islands surrounding it.
What is a Basin?
bowl shaped area of land by higher land
What kind of map would you most likely want to use when exploring a mountain and why?
Topographic- a detailed, two-dimensional representation of the Earth's three-dimensional surface, characterized by the use of contour lines to show elevation, shape, and steepness of terrain
Which sphere layer of the Earth is best known for showing aurora borealis?
Thermosphere
What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
Weathering is the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces (sediment) without moving them.
vs
Erosion is the transportation of that weathered material by agents like wind or water
Name all 7 continents
Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, Antartica, North America, South America
What is the term for a narrow piece of land connecting two larger land areas
Isthmus
What is the term for a group of islands?
Archipelago
List and explain the 4 main sphere layers of the Earth
Atmosphere- Layer of gas elements
Lithosphere- Layer of Rock elements
Biosphere- Plants and animals
Hydrosphere- Layer with water elements
What is Biological Weathering?
Caused by plants, animals, and microorganisms
Name all 5 major oceans
Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, Southern
Name and explain 5 landmarks that have to do with water
Oasis, Lake, sea, ocean, waterfall, river, tributary, riverbank, island, lagoon, coast, etc.
What is the difference between a swamp and a marsh?
Marshes are dominated by soft-stemmed, herbaceous plants like grasses and reeds.
Swamps are forested wetlands, dominated by woody vegetation such as trees and shrubs
What is the Theory called the Continental Drift?
A theory that Earth was once a super continent that divided and slowly drifted apart over millions of years. The supercontinent is known as “Pangaea” and was surrounded by an ocean called “Panthalassa”
What is an example of physical/ mechanical weathering?
Freeze- Thaw weathering/ frost wedgeing
What is Physical Geography?
The study of the natural features, processes, and systems of the Earth's environment, including the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere
How might an area's physical geography affect an areas economics?
The earth gives us natural resources and depending on what you have might determine what you trade and how powerful you are on the economic stage
What are some risks of living in certain areas with certain landforms?
Natural disasters can occur such as flooding, rockslides, wildfires, avalanches, volcano eruptions, etc. that occur when landforms rapidly shift, change, or move.
List and explain the three movements/ boundaries of tectonic plates
Divergent- At divergent boundaries, plates move away from each other. This movement results in the creation of new crust.
Convergent-Convergent boundaries are places where tectonic plates collide or come together. When two plates meet, their interactions can result in various geological phenomena.
Transform- Transform boundaries occur when two plates slide past each other horizontally. The movement along these boundaries can cause earthquakes.
What are some examples of rapid vs. slow changes?
Glaciers and landslides can alter landscapes quickly, while wind and water erosion typically cause slow, gradual change
What is the difference between a country and a nation?
A country- A nation with its own government and political borders
A nation- A group of people with a common, usually organic, heritage (shared language, culture, history) and a strong sense of unity.
Name 5 landforms that you would find in the midwest
Lake, Hill, Plains, Swamp, Cliff, Waterfalls, Peninsula, etc.
How do natural landforms like canyons and glaciers affect a region's water supply and hydroelectric power potential?
Glaciers act as natural, seasonal water reservoirs, releasing meltwater into rivers to support water supply and hydroelectric power during dry periods.
Canyons provide ideal, steep topography for dam construction, maximizing the potential energy of water for high-capacity hydropower generation
List each layer of the earths outer spheres in the correct order OR the inner layers in order
1. Exosphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere
2. Crust- Continental and Oceanic
Mantle- Upper and lower
Core- Inner and outer
Name at least 3/4 of the types of erosion
Soil/Water Erosion: Surface soil removal by water flow.
Aeolian (Wind) Erosion: Movement of dust and sand by wind.
Glacial Erosion: Ice scraping and moving rock and sediment.
Coastal Erosion: Waves and currents eroding shorelines.