World Geography Glossary

AD: Anno Domini; in the year of our Lord
It is used to indicate that a time division falls within the Christian era. Another abbreviation for this time period is CE (the Common Era).
adapt: to adjust oneself, tools, and/or surroundings to the conditions of the environment
agriculture: the science or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock
arable farming: the cultivation of land to grow crops
atmosphere: the envelope of gases, aerosols, and other materials that surrounds Earth and is held close by gravity
axis: the imaginary line that runs through the center of the Earth from the North Pole (top center point) to the South Pole (bottom center point)
BC: before Christ
Another abbreviation for this time period is BCE (before the Christian Era or Before the Common Era.)
barrier(s): an obstacle that blocks an action
biome: various ecosystems made up of specific plants and animals
A biome exists in a biosphere. An example of a biome is a forest.
biosphere: the realm of Earth which includes all plant and animal life forms (including humans)
birth rate: the number of live births per 1000 people in a given place in a given time
border: the edge or boundary of a territory or region
capital: assets that contribute to the worth of an economy or a company
climate: the weather at a particular place over a period of years
climate zone: an area, or region, with the same long-term patterns of temperature and rainfall (precipitation)
climograph: a graphical representation of the yearly average temperature and precipitation for a location
colonization: the process by which one nation establishes its presence in another region of the world
communist economic system: an economic system where the government regulates economic activities (often referred to as a command economy)
commercial farming: growing crops for commercial sale and distribution
communication: the delivery or exchange of information, ideas, or feelings in various methods (written, visual, audio)
cultural boundary: an area that contains the presence of some kind of cultural difference
cultural change (impact): a response to a variety of human processes including migration and proximity to other culture groups
The process of cultural change accelerates with improvements in transportation and communication.
cultural convergence: the interaction of cultures as they come in contact with each other, influencing and being influenced by each other
cultural diffusion: the spread of cultural traits from one culture to another
cultural divergence: the tendency for culture groups to disassociate from others in order to protect or preserve their culture from influence or change
culture: the total pattern of human behavior and its products embodied in thought, speech, action, and artifacts; it encompasses the body of customs, beliefs, social forms, and material traits which are distinct to a racial, ethnic, religious, or social group
death rate: the number of deaths per 1000 people in a given place in a given time
democratic: relating to the form of government in which citizens rule by choosing his or her leaders
democracy: a form of government in which the citizens are involved in making decisions either directly by voting or indirectly through their elected representatives
demographic data: specific information about a country that includes birth and death rates (usually measured as a percentage per 1000) of the population), and growth rate (birth rate + in-migration - death rate)
demographic transition model: a graphic representation of population over time
A demographic transition model illustrates how birth rate and death rate affect the total population of a country.
deposition: the end process of erosion when the transported particles fall out of the transporting medium and settle on a surface
discrimination: the unfair treatment of a person or group of people based on differences
disparity: a marked inequality
distribution: the position or arrangement over an area or throughout a space or unit of time
economic activities: activities that involve the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services at all levels within a society
economic globalization: economic interdependence of national economies across the world through an increase in the movement of goods, technology, and capital across borders
economic needs: what a society needs to sustain itself
ecosystem: a community of organisms that acts as a single environment
elevation: the altitude of a place above sea level or ground level
emit: put out
energy: usable power (as heat or electricity); the resources for producing such power
environmental issues: issues that surround and impact the environment and possible change of the environment
erosion: the process of weathering and transport of sediment, soils, and rocks in the natural environment
ethnic cleansing: a public policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove another group of people (ethnic, religious, etc.) by violent and terror-inspiring means
ethnicity: identity with a group of people who share the cultural traditions of a particular homeland or hearth
ethnolinguistic: the study of an area focusing on how language affects culture and culture affects language
EU: the European Union, a political and economic organization of 27 European nations
euro: the official currency of the European Union
exploitation: the use of something or someone for an unjust purpose
exploration: the search for new things, often in places where no one else has looked or in ways which no one else has tried
famine: an extreme shortage or scarcity of food
fatalities: deaths resulting from a disaster
folding: the buckling that results from the collision of two plates, resulting in the formation of mountain ridges
free enterprise economic system: an economic system where the economic decisions are driven by the laws of supply and demand in the market without government interference (frequently referred to as a market economy)
free trade zone: an area within which goods may be landed, handled, or manufactured without the intervention of the customs authorities
GDP: (Gross Domestic Product) the total value of everything that is made (goods) and the services provided within a country
genocide: the deliberate destruction of a racial, cultural, or political group
geographic factors: the physical characteristics of a place such as landforms, bodies and sources of water, vegetation, climate and weather patterns, and animal life
global: pertaining to the whole world
globalization: a process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation, and trade
gross domestic product (GDP): the total monetary value of all goods and services produced domestically by a country
hemisphere: half of the Earth
human characteristics: characteristics that reflect the human make-up of an area
human development index: a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education, and standards of living for countries worldwide
human modification: changes made by humans modify to alter the physical environment to suit their needs
Example: Farmers must clear the land they intend to use to plant their crops.
hurricane: a tropical cyclone with winds of 74 miles per hour or greater and usually accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning
hydrosphere: the water realm of Earth that includes water contained in oceans, lakes, rivers, ground water, glaciers, and as vapor in the atmosphere
immigration: human movement from one country to another to establish a permanent residence
implication: a major connection or significance
infant mortality: the rate at which babies die at birth per 1000 live births
infrastructure: the underlying foundation or basic framework of a system or organization
innovation: an original idea or invention
interdependence: mutual dependence
landforms: physical features on the Earth’s surface including plains, plateaus, mountains, hills, and valleys
Each landform is distinctive for its shape, form, and the process by which it was formed.
latitude: an imaginary line aligned parallel to the equator
Latitudes are used for locating places north or south. The equator is labeled the zero-degree line for latitude.
level of development: extent to which a country has progressed with regard to economy, industrialization, and use of technology
life expectancy: the average age to which a person in a given country will live
literacy rate: the percentage of the population over the age of 15 who can read
lithosphere: the uppermost portion of solid Earth which includes soil, land, and geologic formations
migration: the act or process of moving from one region or country to another
mixed economy: an economic system that reflects characteristics of communist, free enterprise, and socialist economic systems
multinational: a company that has divisions in more than two countries
nation: a group of people who share a language, culture, and/or political identity
nationalism: commitment to the success of one’s nation
nation-state: territory occupied by people of a nation (usually called a country)
natural boundary: a boundary that consists of a natural geographic element or barrier such as a sea, river, or mountain range
natural features: landforms and soils, bodies and sources of water, vegetation
natural resources: items provided by nature from which people produce goods and provide services
Some examples of natural resources include water, soil, trees, oil, minerals, and metals such as gold and iron ore. Even abundant fish can be a natural resource.
non-renewable resource: a resource that cannot be replaced once it is used (e.g. fossil fuels, minerals)
ocean current: the steady flow of surface ocean water in a certain direction
orthoimagery: high resolution aerial images that combine the visual attributes of an aerial photograph with the spatial accuracy and reliability of a planimetric map; a map in photographic form
outsourcing: the process of sending business goods or services to an outside supplier
partition: a division
pastoral farming: farming that produces livestock
patriotism: devotion to one’s nation
perceptual region: a region that reflects human feelings and attitudes about the area
phenomenon: something very impressive because of an unusual quality
physical characteristics: characteristics of the physical make-up of an area
physical geography: the study of the physical features of the earth's surface
These features include landforms, climates and plant and animal life.
physical processes: natural forces that create and wear down the earth’s surface
plate collision: movement of tectonic plates causing one plate to either dive under or ride up over the other plate
point of view: the different interests, opinions, and attitudes reflected in the analysis of information
political boundary: a boundary that defines the borders of a governmental authority, such as a country, state, city, or town
Boundaries can be man-made or a combination of man-made boundaries and natural boundaries.
population: the total number of inhabitants or people in a country or region
population density: the population of an area divided by the number of square miles or square kilometers of land area
population distribution: the arrangement or spread of people in a given area
population pyramid: a graphic way to show the age/gender composition of a population and its age/gender structure
precipitation: falling water droplets in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail
preservation: safekeeping from destruction; protection
primary economic activity: economic activity that deals with raw materials and how they are extracted from the earth
public policy: a course of action or inaction taken by a government with regard to a particular issue
pull factors: factors that draw migrants from their original location
Pull factors include social, economic, and environmental attractions.
push factors: social, economic, and environmental forces that drive people from their original location and cause them to seek a new one
quaternary economic activity: economic activity that is made up of “white-collar” professionals who manage the distribution of goods and services
relative location: the location of a place in relation to another point
renewable resource: a resource that can be regenerated (e.g., fish, timber, soil)
repatriation: the process of returning a person back to his or her place of origin or citizenship
resources: any physical material that is used for goods and services which people need and value
revolution: the Earth’s complete orbit around the sun
A revolution happens once every 365 days and defines one year on Earth.
rotation: the Earth’s complete spin on its axis
A rotation happens once every 24 hours and defines one day on Earth.
rural: referring to the countryside or in the countryside
scramble: to compete with others to claim territory
Second Amendment: a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed
secondary economic activity: economic activity that deals with the process of transforming raw materials into products
settlement: the act or process of establishing a permanent home in a new region
settlement pattern: refers to the distribution and arrangement of human habitations
As people settle, they either cluster at crossroads or harbors, or they disperse along roadways or rivers.
socialist economic system: an economic system based on public or cooperative ownership of the means of production
society: a group that shares a geographic region, a common language, and a sense of identity and culture
solstice: the name used to describe the longest day of the year and the longest night of the year
sovereignty: supreme and independent power of government possessed by a state or community
spatial diffusion: the process by which an idea or innovation is transmitted from one individual or group to another across space
spatial distribution: the arrangement of a geographic phenomenon across the Earth’s surface
standard of living: a function of the level of development in a country, measured by factors such as the amount of personal income, levels of education, food consumption, life expectancy, availability of healthcare, ways natural resources are used, level of technology, and others
statistics: the science that deals with the collection, classification, analysis, and interpretation of numerical facts or data
strategic location: a geographic location of great importance used to achieve a planned effect
subsistence farming: growing crops just to support a family and not have a surplus for profit
supercomputer: a computer at the forefront of the current speed and capacity of government
tariffs: taxes or duties imposed by a government on imported goods
technological innovation: a new way of doing things which is based in a technology
temperature: a measure of the warmth or coldness of an area
territorial control: control of a specific area (territory) for a specific reason
tertiary economic activity: economic activity that deals with the distribution of products; the specialized labor force
tectonic forces: forces that originate beneath the surface that alter the surface configuration of the earth as a result of plate movement
tilt: the angle on the Earth’s axis in space (23.5 degrees)
topography: the study of the surface of the Earth and how it relates to man-made features such as cities and roads
trade: the exchange of one item for another, usually using currency to buy goods or bartering for services or goods
trade agreement: an agreement between two or more nations that specifies how the nations will work together to ensure fair and beneficial trade
traditional economy: an economic system where the allocation of resources is based on tradition or inheritance
Transcontinental Railroad: a railroad across North America which connected the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
transportation: the business of moving people, goods, etc. using various modes (examples: airplanes, space shuttle, trains)
urban: referring to the city or of the city
urbanization: the growth of the population of cities
Uurbanization also refers to the movement of people from rural areas into urban areas.
urban problems: difficulties that cities have because they are highly populated
vernacular region: a distinctive area where the residents of the area share a common identity
volcanic activity: an event when magma, gases, and water from the lower part of the crust or mantle collect in underground chambers and eventually erupt
watershed: surface water that includes a land area, its features, and the drainage into a body of water
weathering: the breaking down of Earth's rocks, soils and minerals through direct contact with the planet's atmosphere
wetlands: surface water located where land (soil) meets the water source