Study Guide
Important things to know
Why do seasons occur and change?
The seasons change because of the tilt of the earth’s axis as it
revolves around the sun. Depending on which hemisphere is tilted
towards the sun, it allows varying amounts of sunlight around the
Earth during the year.
Which continents are in the western hemisphere?
North and South America
What are the components of a map?
Title, legend, scale, compass rose
Important vocabulary
EQUATOR
ABSOLUTE LOCATION
RELATIVE LOCATION
GLOBALIZATION
LATITUDE
PRIME MERIDIAN
HEMISPHERE
What does a map scale do and why are maps distorted?
It tells you the distance between places on map. Maps are
distorted because it takes the 3D model of earth and lays it flat on
2D surface. Some features are stretched and skewed as a result.
LONGITUDE
CARTOGRAPHER
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Where do tropical storms like hurricanes form?
In the tropics! Tropic of cancer.
What is weather and climate?
Weather is the day to day conditions of the atmosphere, climate
are the average conditions over a period of 30 years.
What are the factors of climate?
Latitude, elevation, wind currents, ocean currents, topography
(mountain barriers/rain shadow effect.)
What and where is the ring of fire?
The Ring of Fire is an area where a large number of earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean.
What are the lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and
hydrosphere?
The lithosphere is the earth’s upper mantle and crust, the
atmosphere is the air (mix of gasses), hydrosphere is all the water
vapor, lakes, rivers, and oceans on earth, and the biosphere is all
the others combined and that supports life on earth.
What is mechanical weathering and chemical weathering?
Mechanical weathering takes place when rocks are broken down
without any change in the chemical nature of the rocks. The rocks
are essentially torn apart by physical force, rather than by
Chemical reactions break down the
bonds holding the rocks together, causing them to fall
apart, forming smaller and smaller pieces.
chemical breakdown.
What are the three main types of erosion?
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
VALIDITY
ATMOSPHERE
CLIMATE
CYCLONE
EROSION
LITHOSPHERE
ROTATION
BIOSPHERE
CONIFEROUS FORESTS
DECIDUOUS FORESTS
HYDROSPHERE
MONSOON
CONVECTION
TECTONIC FORCES
El NINO
LA NINA
REVOLUTION
TSUNAMI
Water, wind, glacial
What are formal, functional, and perceptual regions?
Formal regions Formal regions are – defined by a common
characteristics
Functional regions Functional regions are defined by interactions
and connections between places.
Perceptual regions are defined by popular feelings or images; a
region the way people see it.
Why do geographers study maps?
Infer relationships between people and places.
What does a climagraph (alt. climograph) show?
The average temperature and precipitation of region in a given
time.
What are the four main types of tectonic activity?
Colliding, transform (slide), divergent, subduction