| A | B |
|---|
| Latitude | used to measure to north or south of the equator, also called parallels |
| Topography | the composition and shape of the earth and it's locations |
| Lithosphere | the solid rock portion of the earth's surface, both above and below the oceans |
| Basin | the area drained by a major river(s) and its tributaries |
| Plateau | an area of relatively level high ground |
| Equinox | the two days in the year in which there is an equal amount of time during day and night |
| Temperate | climate characterized by moderate temperatures |
| Weathering | the physical and chemical process in which rock is broken down |
| Dictatorship | an individual or group holds complete power |
| Longitude | used to measure east or west of the prime meridain |
| Hemisphere | equal halves of the earth |
| Hydrosphere | all of the water elements of the earth |
| Ground Water | the water held in the pores of rock under the surface |
| Continent | The largest pieces of the earth's surface |
| Weather | the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place at a particular time |
| Tropics | area between 23.5 degrees N or S of the equator with consistent high temperatures |
| Erosion | when weathered rock is moved by either wind, water, gravity, or ice |
| Communism | in this government and economic system, all power and means of production is held by the government |
| Prime Meridian | 0 degrees longitude which passes through Greenwich England |
| Absolute Location | exact place on earth where a physical feature is located using latitude and longitude |
| Biosphere | the part of the earth where plants and animals live |
| Water Table | the level at which the rocks are saturated with water |
| Earthquake | a sudden and violent shaking of the ground |
| Climate | condition of the atmosphere of a particular location over a period of time |
| Polar | area N or S of 66.5 degrees with consistent cold temperatures |
| Religion | a set of beliefs that govern a group of people's way of thinking about the unexplainable |
| Democracy | a government in which the citizens hold the power |
| Equator | 0 degrees latitude, bisects the earth in north and south hemispheres |
| Relative Location | location of a place on earth in relation to another spot on earth |
| Ecosystem | independent community of plants and animals |
| Plates | the surface pieces of the earth's crust that are "floating" on the magma below |
| Volcano | mountain or hill that has a crater at the top that vents steam, ash, and lava |
| Precipitation | any form of water that is in the atmosphere or falls from it |
| Semiarid | climate found usually in the interior of continents receives some precipitation, with hot summers and cold winters |
| State | an independent unit that occupies a specific territory, often called a country |
| Monarchy | a government that is headed by a king or queen |
| Map Projection | way of drawing the earth's surface to reduce the distortion of placing a round surface onto a flat one |
| Atmosphere | the layer of gase surrounding the earth's surface, contains primarily Nitrogen and Oxygen |
| Rain Forest | forest located in the tropical zone that receives a lot of rain |
| Fault | the place where the boundaries of the plates meet, a fracture of the earth's crust |
| Solstice | day when the sun is directly overhead on either the Tropic of Cancer or Tropic of Capricorn |
| Rain Shadow | Land on the leeward side of mountains that receives little moisture |
| Desert | this climate can be both hot or cold, but is characterized by the absence of precipitation almost the entire year |
| Nation | a group of people that share a common culture living in the same territory and having a strong sense of unity |
| Culture | the beliefs, values, and knowledge, and rules that govern a group of people's behavior |
| Peninsula | landform surrounded on three sides by water |
| Deciduous | A tree that sheds is leaves, they are broadleaf trees |
| Coniferous | cone-bearing trees with needlelike leaves |
