Geography Terms Chapter 1 Vocabulary terms for "Learning About Earth's Geography" Tools A B geography The study of the earth, how its feature affect human life, and how the earth is affected by human activities. vegetation Plant life. environment All the surroundings of a place, such as land, weather, plants, and the changes people have made. gazetteer A list of places of geographical significance, such as countries, cities, rivers, and deserts. climate The pattern of weather that an area has over a long period of time. precipitation Moisture in the form of rain or snow. latitude The distance north or south of the equator, expressed in degrees. tropical climate The climate of the tropics, characterized by intense heat much rain, and a lack of seasons. temperate climate Climate characterized by a lack of extremes in temperature. polar climate The climate of rhe earth's polar regions. altitude Height above sea level. current A portion of a body of water or air flowing in approximately the same path. natural resource Something in nature that is useful or essential to humans. mineral A natural substance that is reached by digging into the earth. renewable resource A natural resource that can be used again and again if used properly. nonrenewable resource A natural resource that can never be replaced once it is used.