Chapter 1-1 Vocabulary Tools A B geography the study of the earth and its land, water, and plant and animal life absolute location the exact position of a place on the earth's surface hemisphere one-half of the globe; the Equator divides the earth into Northern and Southern hemispheres; the Prime Meridian divides the earth into Eastern and Western hemispheres latitude location north or south of the equator, measured by imaginary lines (paralles) numbered in degrees north or south longitude location east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured by imaginary lines (meridians) numbered in degrees east or west grid system network of imaginary lines on the earth's surface, formed by the crisscrossing patterns of the lines of latitude and longitude relative location the position of a place on the earth's surface in relation to another place place one of the geographic themes, describing the typical characteristics that distinguish on place from another environment natural surroundings movement one of the geographic themes, describing how people from different places interact region one of the geographic themes, defining parts of the earth that share common characteristics