| A | B |
|---|
| plains | large, relatively flat areas of land |
| coastal plains | broad, flat areas of land shaped by oceanic process |
| interior plains | make up a large portion of the center of the U.S. |
| Great Plains | flat, grassy, dry area between the Mississippi lowlands and the Rocky Mountains |
| plateaus | relatively flat, raised areas of land |
| Colorado Plateau | just west of Rocky Mtns; includes the Grand Canyon |
| folded mountains | form when rock layers inside the Earth are squeezed from opposite sides |
| upwarped mountains | form when the crust was pushed up by forces inside Earth |
| fault-block mountains | form when faults occur, pushing some rock bodies up, while others move down |
| volcanic mountains | form when molten material reaches the surface and the material piles up |
| latitude | refers to distance in degrees north or south of the equator |
| prime meridian | reference point for east/west gridlines |
| longitude | refers to distances in degrees east or west of the prime meridian |
| International Date Line | 180 degree meridian; on opposite side of Earth from the prime meridian |
| Mercator projection | continental shapes are correct, but their areas are distorted |
| Robinson projection | lines of latitude parallel, but lines of longitude are curved to prevent polar distortion |
| conic projection | lines of longitude are radiating, lines of latitude are slightly curved |
| topographic map | shows changes in elevation of the Earth's surface as well as natural and cultural features |
| contour line | connects point of equal elevation |
| contour interval | the difference in elevation between 2 adjacent contour lines |
| index contour | contour lines with elevations labeled |
| hachure line | type of line used on topographic maps to show a basin or depression |
| map legend | used to describe what the symbols on the map indicate |
| map scale | describes the relationship between distances on the map with actual distances on the Earth's surface |
| Landsat Satellites | detect different wavelengths of energy from the Earth's surface |
| Topex-Poseidon Satellite | orbits the Earth; uses radar to compile data used to draw ocean bottom topographic maps |
| sonar | refers to the use of sound waves to detect structures underwater |
| Sea Beam | new technology; uses dozens of sonar devices on a ship traversing the ocean to make detailed maps of the ocean floor |
