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In EACH column (see, think and wonder), add a post. Describe what you observe, think (infer) and wonder about the PHYSICAL geography of the United States.

Use AT LEAST five geography terms (see link) in your writing between the three posts.

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_geography_terms

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This glossary of geography terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts used in geography and related fields, which describe and identify spatial dimension, geographic locations, topographical features, natural resources, and the collection, analysis, and visualization of geographic data. For related terms, see Glossary of geology and Glossary of environmental science.

A locational characteristic that permits a place to be reached by the efforts of those at other places.

accessibility resource

A naturally emergent landscape form that eases communication between areas.

agricultural geography

Clay, silt, gravel, or similar detrital material deposited by running water.

Characteristic of or resembling the European Alps, or any other high-elevation mountain range or mountainous environment (especially one deeply modified by erosion so as to contain characteristic such as , , etc.), in topography , climate, or ecological communities.

The region of the Earth that is south of the Antarctic Circle .

The conversion of open spaces, landscapes, and natural environments by human action.

A geological fold that has an arch-like convex shape and its oldest beds near its center, often visible at the Earth's surface in exposed rock strata.

The apparent position of an object in space as seen by an observer, which, because of physical and geometric effects, may differ from the object's true position.

An underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock, rock fractures, or unconsolidated materials such as gravel, sand, or silt.

A collection of in a sea.

The region of the Earth that is north of the Arctic Circle .

Fragments of or rock less than centimetre (0.13 in) in diameter that have been ejected into the atmosphere by a explosion.

The direction toward which a faces with respect to a or to the Sun's position in the sky, or the direction toward which a segment of faces as it meets the .

Atlantic Seaboard fall line

The physiographic border between the Piedmont and Atlantic coastal plain regions of eastern North America. The name derives from the river rapids and waterfalls that occur as the water flows from the hard rocks of the higher piedmont onto the softer rocks of the coastal plain.

The mixture of gases, aerosols, solid particles, and water vapor that envelops the Earth.

Another name for a shingle beach or other gravel-covered , , or , used primarily in the archipelagos of northern Scotland.

The angle formed between a reference vector (often magnetic north ) and a line from the observer to a point of interest projected perpendicularly to the on the same plane as the reference vector. Azimuth is usually measured in and can be determined with a .

A part of a in which there is little or no current.

A very large body of igneous rock , usually granite, which has been exposed by erosion of the overlying rock.

A concept recognizing the variety of life forms in an area of the Earth and the ecological interdependence of these life forms.

The study of the distribution of biological species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.

The realm of all living things.

The animal and plant life of a region considered as a total ecological entity.

A sandy depression formed when wind erodes into patches of bare sand on otherwise vegetation-stabilized at the margins of coastal and arid ecosystems.

A type of which accumulates deposits of dead plant material, especially mosses, known as peat. Bogs occur where the water at the ground surface is acidic and low in dissolved nutrients. They are one of four main types of wetland.

The geographical boundary of a political entity or legal jurisdiction, such as a , , or other subnational entity.

A bald, steep-sided, dome-shaped hill, mountain, or rock outcropping at least 30 metres (98 ft) in height and several hundred meters in width. Compare , , and .

A type of administrative subdivision in certain English-speaking parts of the world. Though traditionally used to refer to a fortress or a walled , modern usage of the term can variably refer to any town with its own local self-government, a formal or informal subdivision of a large metropolis (as in New York City and London), or an entire administrative (as in the U.S. state of Alaska).

A short, narrow with steep walls on three sides, allowing entry and exit only through the mouth of the canyon.

break-in-bulk point

A transfer point on a transport route where the mode of transport or type of carrier changes and where large-volume shipments are reduced in size. For example, goods may be unloaded from a ship and transferred to trucks at an ocean port.

The human-made spaces that provide the setting for human activity, in which people live, work, and recreate on a day-to-day basis.

A type of parcel-based land recording system containing a comprehensive record of interests in individual units of land within a or other polity, usually including a geometric description of each parcel's physical location, dimensions, and boundaries that is linked to legal information detailing the nature of the interests (e.g. rights, restrictions, and responsibilities), the ownership or control of those interests, and the economic value of the land and its improvements. The cadastre is a fundamental source of data used in resolving disputes between landowners.

A narrow, steep-sided surrounding an formed in regions along the Mediterranean coast, either by fluvial erosion or the collapse of the roof of a that has been subsequently partially submerged by a rise in sea level.

A large, cauldron-shaped depression that forms through the subsidence and collapse of a ground surface following the evacuation of an underlying magma chamber.

A navigable artificial water , usually built as a conduit for human activity.

A stratum of erosion-resistant sedimentary rock (usually limestone) found in arid areas. Caprock forms the top layer of most and .

The set of four primary directions used in cartography and navigation : north (N), south (S), east (E), and west (W). Together they form the primary divisions of the compass rose . They can be further subdivided into the intercardinal directions and secondary-intercardinal directions .

The total number of human beings that an area can support given the quality of the natural environment and the level of technology of the population.

The study and practice of making and . A person who draws or makes maps or charts is called a cartographer.

A map in which some thematic mapping variable, such as travel time, population, or gross national product, is substituted for traditional measures of land area or distance such that the geometry or space of the map is distorted in order to convey and emphasize the information of the alternate variable.

Any naturally hollow underground space large enough for a person to enter.

A type of solutional that is formed in soluble rock with the ability to grow speleothems.

A small, sandy, low-elevation on the surface of an otherwise submerged coral reef; a type of coral island. Compare .

Either of the two imaginary points in the sky at which an indefinitely extended projection of the Earth's axis of rotation intersects the celestial sphere. As the Earth rotates upon its axis, the north and south celestial poles remain permanently fixed in the sky (directly overhead to observers at the and , respectively), and all other points appear to rotate around them.

central business district

census-designated place (CDP)

A concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes.

1. A separating two relatively close landmasses.

2. Any narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water.

3. The deepest part of a shallow body of water, often used as a passageway for large ships.

A class of terrestrial vegetation characterized by dense, impenetrable thickets of shrubs or dwarf trees.

A special-purpose designed for navigation , especially nautical and aeronautical navigation, or to present specific data or technical information.

A large human settlement , generally with extensive systems constructed for housing, transportation, sanitation, utilities, and communication.

The vegetation that would exist in an area if growth had proceeded undisturbed for an extended period. This would be the "final" collection of plant types that presumably would remain forever, or until the stable conditions were somehow disturbed.

An instrument used for navigation and orientation that indicates direction relative to the geographic cardinal directions by measuring the orientation of the Earth's magnetic field with respect to the North Magnetic Pole . Compasses often display markings for angles or , which allow them to show and , in addition to a compass rose .

The characteristic of a group of neighboring political or geographical divisions not being interrupted by politically unaffiliated land or water. Such divisions are said to be contiguous.

One of several very large, contiguous landmasses into which the Earth's land area is divided, generally by geographical or political convention rather than any strict criteria. Geologically, continents correspond largely to areas of continental crust on continental plates .

The type of climate found in the interior of the major continents in the middle, or temperate, latitudes. The climate is characterized by a great seasonal variation in temperatures, four distinct seasons, and a relatively small annual precipitation.

The quality of being located on a .

The portion of a country that contains its economic, political, intellectual, and cultural focus. It is often the center of creativity and change. See .

The process of mechanical of the Earth's surface by the impact or grinding action of particles being transported across it, either by moving water, waves, glaciers, wind, or gravity.

A dry eroded by Pleistocene floods that cut into the lava beds of the Columbia Plateau in the western United States.

3. A small, often approximately circular, wave-cut indentation or recess in a on a large body of water, especially one with a relatively narrow or secluded entrance.

Any large, roughly circular depression , pit, or hole in the Earth's surface. Craters can be classified into different types based on their ultimate causes; see , , and .

The totality of water in the solid phase on the Earth's surface, including ; sea, lake, and river ice; snow; and permafrost. The cryosphere is sometimes considered a subset of the hydrosphere .

The mixing of materials from various horizons of the soil down to the due to freezing and thawing.

A long, low ridge with a steep scarp slope and a gentle (dip slope).

The accumulated habits, attitudes, and beliefs of a group of people that define for them their general behavior and way of life; the total set of learned activities of a people.

culture hearth

Another name for a .

The spatial and social separation of populations that occurs without legal sanction.

The spatial and social separation of populations that occurs because of legal measures.

A place where water runoff from a relatively small, confined space emerges into a much larger, broader space, or where a body of water pours forth from a narrow opening, such as where a stream or river enters a lake or ocean.

A forest composed of trees which lose their leaves each year.

A unit of angular measure. A circle is divided into 360 degrees, represented by the º symbol. Degrees are used to divide the roughly spherical shape of the Earth for geographic and cartographic purposes.

Deviation of one-degree temperature for one day from an arbitrary standard, usually the long-term average temperature for a place.

A small, secluded hollow, usually within a grassy, park-like, partially wooded .

A landform at the of a where the splits up into several distributaries . It is formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river. Compare .

An arid, barren area of land where little precipitation occurs and living conditions are consequently unfavorable for most plant and animal life. Deserts are characterized by exposure of the unprotected ground surface to processes of denudation as well as large variations in temperature between night and day. They are often classified by the amount of precipitation they receive, by their average temperature, by the causes of their desertification, or by their geographical location.

digital elevation model (DEM)

A type of consisting of multiple that are not attached to the or any other fixed object such as a , and which are therefore free to "drift" under the influence of winds and ocean currents . Contrast .

Any area of land where precipitation collects and drains into a common outlet, such as a , , , or any other body of water . The drainage basin includes all of the surface water from precipitation runoff and snowmelt, as well as all of the groundwater beneath the Earth's surface. Each drainage basin is separated topographically from adjacent basins by a drainage divide .

A hill of loose sand built by the movements and erosional and depositional processes of wind or water, often occurring in and areas.

1. A collective term for the various fields of natural science related to the planet Earth.

2. The branch of science that studies the physical constitution and characteristics of the Earth and its atmosphere, using methods and tools from , geology, physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics to build a quantitative understanding of how the Earth works and changes over time.

The sudden and intense shaking of the ground due to activity.

A sub-discipline of geography which studies the location, distribution, and spatial organization of economic activities across the world.

economies of agglomeration

The economic advantages that accrue to an activity by locating close to other activities; benefits that follow from complementarity or shared public services.

A type of biogeographic province that is smaller than a and which contains characteristic, ecologically and geographically distinct, and relatively uniform assemblages of biological communities and species. Ecoregion boundaries often overlap within and mosaic habitats, and most ecoregions contain habitats that differ from those described for their assigned biome.

A concentration of businesses, commercial buildings, or retail and entertainment venues situated outside of a traditional or central business district in what was previously a residential or area.

The height of a point on the Earth's surface with respect to . Compare .

A beneath which the has been subjected to considerable subsurface weathering, known as "etching". Erosion of the regolith overlying an etchplain often exposes topographical irregularities such as inselbergs .

The process by which water is lost from an area through the combined effects of evaporation from the ground surface and transpiration from vegetation.

A portion of a state or territory that is geographically separated from the main part by surrounding foreign territory of one or more other states or political entities. Many exclaves are also .

exotic stream

An adjective describing a region or district that lies outside a and usually beyond its ; a place of this type is called an exurb. Compare .

A geomorphologic unconformity between an region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock.

A fracture in the Earth's crust accompanied by a displacement of one side of the fracture.

A form of government in which powers and functions are divided between a central government and a number of political subdivisions that have a significant degree of political autonomy.

A quantity or observation, such as temperature, soil moisture, or population density, that can be theoretically assigned to any point of space. Both scalar and vector fields are found in applications, although the former is more common.

A type of ice that is at an intermediate stage between snow and ice. More specifically, firn is partially compacted névé left over from past seasons which has subsequently recrystallized into a form that is harder and denser than névé.

A series of shallow steps down which water is allowed to flow, designed to permit salmon or other anadromous fish to circumvent artificial barriers such as as they swim upstream to spawn.

A long, narrow opening or line of breakage made by cracking or splitting, especially in rock or earth.

The characteristic of a place that follows from its interconnections with more than one other place. When interaction within a region comes together at a single place (i.e. when the movement focuses on that location), the place is said to possess focality.

Any extensive area dominated by communities of trees.

Any naturally occurring water characterized by low concentrations (typically less than 0.05% by volume) of dissolved salts and other solids relative to either or brackish water. Sources of fresh water on Earth include , , , , , , , and most groundwater .

functional diversity

geodetic control network

A subfield of geophysics and Earth science that studies the physical dynamics of the Earth by applying physics, chemistry, and mathematics to the understanding of how mantle convection and other internal processes lead to plate tectonics and geological phenomena such as mountain formation, volcanism, earthquakes, and , among others.

geographic coordinate system

A coordinate system used in geography that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters, or symbols. Geographic coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position such as and two or three other numbers represent a horizontal position such as and .

geographic information science (GIS)

The scientific study of data structures and computational techniques for capturing, representing, processing, and analyzing geographic information.

geographic information system (GIS)

Any system of computer software tools designed to allow users to record, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present large sets of spatial or geographic data.

Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

A digital public-domain database developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names which contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States and its territories. Each feature recorded in the database receives a unique feature record identifier called a GNIS identifier.

A unit of length defined as the distance equal to one minute of arc along the Earth's : approximately 1,855.3 metres (1.1528 mi; 1.8553 km). The precise length varies with the reference ellipsoid used to approximate the shape of the Earth . Regardless of the particular ellipsoid, the length of one of at the Equator is equal to exactly 60 geographical miles.

The scientific study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth.

The shape that the surface of the Earth's would take under the influence of Earth's gravity and rotational acceleration alone, in the absence of other influences such as winds and . It is often characterized as the precise mathematical figure of the Earth : a smooth but irregular gravitational equipotential surface at every point of which, by definition, the direction of the force of gravity is always perpendicular and spirit levels are always parallel. Its shape results from anomalies in the Earth's gravitational field caused by the uneven distribution of mass within and on the Earth's surface. A reference ellipsoid is an idealized approximation of the more complex and accurate geoid.

The science and technology which develops and uses information science infrastructures to address problems and analyze data within , cartography , geoscience , and related branches of science and engineering.

The scientific discipline that involves gathering, storing, processing, and delivering geographic or spatially referenced information.

The study of the arrangement and form of the Earth's crust and of the relationship between these physical features and the geologic structures beneath.

1. The process or state of being covered with a .

A persistent mass of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight, and which is composed largely of compacted snow that forms where the annual accumulation of snow exceeds its melting and sublimation over very long periods of time. Glaciers slowly deform and abrade the land beneath them, creating a huge variety of landforms including , , and . They form exclusively on land and are distinct from the much thinner ice that forms on bodies of water.

Any large, open, mostly treeless area within a .

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A -based radionavigation positioning system owned and operated by the United States Department of Defense and made available for use by both the military and the general public. It is one of several standards that provides geolocation and time information, transmitted via microwave signals, to enabled satellite navigation devices , known as GPS receivers, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to at least four GPS satellites. Modern state-of-the-art GPS receivers can accurately pinpoint locations to within 30 centimetres (0.98 ft).

The process of interaction and integration among people, companies, governments, and cultures across the world. A complex and multifaceted phenomenon, globalization is considered largely the result of economically motivated advances in transportation and communication technologies in the past several centuries which have dramatically increased interactions between otherwise isolated groups of people.

Any circle on the surface of a sphere created by the intersection of the sphere and a plane that passes through its center. A great circle divides the sphere into two equal hemispheres, and all of a sphere's great circles have the same center and circumference as each other, which by definition is the largest possible circumference of the sphere. The mathematical properties of great circles make them useful in , where they are often visualized upon the surface of the Earth (despite the fact that the Earth is not a perfect sphere ): for example, the of the idealized Earth is a great circle, and any with its antimeridian forms a great circle. Because the shortest path between any two points on the surface of a sphere follows the arc of a great circle, great-circle distances are often used as approximations of for the purposes of air and sea navigation.

The water present beneath the Earth's surface in soil pore spaces and in fractures and voids within geological strata. Contrast .

A small group of trees growing close together and generally surrounded by little or no undergrowth.

The part of the year during which local weather conditions (i.e. temperature and precipitation) permit the normal growth of plants in a given location. What defines a "growing season" is often informal and colloquial, and may vary widely by location and from year to year; in many places, the local growing season is defined as the period of time between the average date of the last frost (in temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere , this typically occurs in the spring) to the average date of the first frost (in the autumn).

A landform resembling a large ditch or a small created by the action of swift running water eroding deeply and sharply into soil, typically on a hillside.

An isolated underwater with a flat top that is at least 200 metres (660 ft) below the water's surface.

The in which the bow or nose of a moving vessel or aircraft is pointed. This is not necessarily the same direction in which the vessel is actually traveling, known as its ; any difference between heading and course is due to the motion of the medium (the air or water) through which the vessel is moving, or other aerodynamic effects such as skidding or slipping. See also .

The source area of any innovation. The source area from which an idea, crop, artifact, or good is diffused to other areas.

1. The central part of a .

2. A part of a region considered essential to the viability and survival of the whole.

A shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining, infertile, acidic soils and characterized by open, low-growing, woody vegetation.

A line of closely spaced shrubs or trees, planted and trained so as to form a barrier, to mark the boundary between two neighboring areas, or to serve as a windbreak for crops in adjacent fields.

2. Any area of land (mountainous or otherwise) that is higher in relative to another area. In this sense, the term is often used as a conditional descriptor to distinguish related habitats or ecosystems, especially freshwater riparian areas , on the basis of elevation above sea level.

Any major public or private road or other thoroughfare on land, especially one that is paved and capable of supporting high-capacity, rapid transit between populated places.

An area that is tributary to a place and linked to that place through lines of exchange or interaction.

A branch of human geography that studies the ways in which geographic phenomena have changed over time, especially (though not necessarily limited to) geographic change as it relates to human activity.

The apparent line that separates the ground from the sky, dividing all visible directions into two categories: those that intersect the Earth's surface and those that do not. When not obscured by buildings, trees, or mountains, the true horizon can be useful in navigation and determining positional orientation.

The branch of geography that studies humans and their communities, cultures, economies, and interactions with the environment by examining their relations with and across space and place. Along with physical geography , it is one of the two major sub-fields of geography.

Partially decomposed organic soil material.

The study of the surface waters of the Earth.

The geographic representation on a of features related to , , and other measures of height above a reference surface.

Rock formed when molten (melted) materials harden.

impoundment

2. The created by such a dam.

Inertia Costs of Location

integrated drainage

The branch of geography that describes and explains the spatial aspects of interactions between human individuals or societies and their natural environment.

intercardinal directions

intermediate directions

intervening opportunity

The existence of a closer, less expensive opportunity for obtaining a good or service, or for a migration destination. Such opportunities lessen the attractiveness of more distant places.

Intracoastal Waterway (ICW)

A system of navigable inland channels, maintained through dredging and sheltered for the most part by a series of linear offshore islands, that follows the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States more than 4,800 kilometres (3,000 mi) from Boston, Massachusetts, around the southern tip of Florida, to Brownsville, Texas.

Any piece of sub-continental land that is entirely surrounded by water.

A narrow piece of land connecting two larger land areas across an expanse of water by which they are otherwise separated.

1. The right and power to apply the law in a particular place or within a defined field of responsibility.

2. The geographical area to which such authority applies.

Clear-cutting and/or setting fire to an area of land so it can be used for farm cultivation.

An area covered with dense vegetation dominated by large trees, often tropical.

Any piece of land connecting larger land areas that are otherwise separated by water, especially one over which living organisms, such as terrestrial animals and plants, are able to cross and thereby colonize previously inaccessible lands. Land bridges may be created by falling sea levels, tectonic activity , or post-glacial rebound. Compare .

The physical material present on the surface of the Earth, including categories such as vegetation (grasslands, shrubs, forests, etc.), bare ground, water, asphalt and artificial surfaces, and many others.

Any natural or artificial feature that is recognizable enough to be used for navigation ; a feature that stands out enough from its environment to be visible across long distances.

1. A broad or distinct area of land consisting of a collection of which define a general geomorphologic form or setting, e.g. a mountain range , , , , etc. Landforms within a landscape are spatially associated but may vary in formation processes and age.

A measure of distance north or south of the . One degree of latitude equals approximately 110 kilometers (68 mi). Lines of latitude, also called circles of latitude or parallels, are the imaginary lines that cross the surface of the Earth in an east-west direction (parallel to the Equator) and measure how far north or south of the Equator a place is located.

A process of soil nutrient removal through the erosive movement and chemical action of water.

Toward the side; sheltered from the wind; the direction downwind from a point of reference. Contrast .

An acronym for Less Economically Developed Country.

A group of theories which seek to explain the siting of economic activities in particular .

A soil made up of small particles that were transported by the wind to their present location.

A measure of distance east or west of the Prime Meridian , a line drawn between the and South Poles and passing through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England. Lines of longitude, also called , are the imaginary lines that cross the surface of the Earth in a north-south direction (parallel to the Prime Meridian) and measure how far east or west of the Prime Meridian a place is located.

Any area of land that is lower in relative to another area. The term is often used as a conditional descriptor to distinguish related habitats or ecosystems, especially freshwater riparian areas , on the basis of elevation above sea level. Lowland areas are usually relatively flat and characterized by slow-flowing waterways and alluvial plains . Contrast .

A deep, closed (usually drained by a single ) surrounded by steep walls of resistant rock and superficially resembling a . The term is used primarily in the deserts of Israel and Egypt.

mammilated

Smooth and rounded in appearance, used of various landforms of different sizes from individual rocks to entire landscapes.

A zone in the Earth's interior between the crust and the core that is 2,900 kilometers (1,800 mi) thick. The lithosphere is composed of the topmost 65-70 kilometres (40-43 mi) of the mantle and the crust.

A systematic transformation of the and longitudes of locations from the surface of a three-dimensional shape, such as a sphere or an ellipsoid, into locations on a two-dimensional plane. of locations on the Earth require map projections to represent features in a convenient format that is easy to view and interpret, though all map projections necessarily distort the true properties of the Earth's surface to some degree.

A wetland dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species and often found at the edges of lakes and streams, where it forms a transition between the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

One of a series of regular sinuous curves, bends, loops, turns, or windings in the main channel of a , , or other watercourse . Meanders are produced by the repetitive upstream erosion and downstream deposition of sediments along the banks of a watercourse as the water flows back and forth across the axis of a or floodplain .

An acronym for More Economically Developed Country.

Mediterranean climate

A chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan areas which have merged into a very large and heavily populated urban complex . See and metropolitan coalescence .

An isolated, relatively flat-topped natural elevation, usually more extensive than a butte and less extensive than a plateau.

Rock that has been physically altered by heat and/or pressure.

A system of land survey that defines land parcels according to visible natural landscape features and distance. The resultant field pattern is usually very irregular in shape.

A region consisting of one or more densely populated cores (often a metropolis ) and its less populous surrounding territories, including satellite , , and intervening areas, all of which are socioeconomically tied to the core as typically measured by commuting patterns. A metropolitan area usually comprises multiple neighborhoods , jurisdictions , and municipalities , with its inhabitants sharing industry, housing, and many other forms of infrastructure.

metropolitan coalescence

metropolitan state

Any heaped pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris, typically with a rounded top and of topographically higher than its immediate surroundings.

A type of coastal consisting of exposed layers of bay mud formed by the deposition of silts, clays, and marine animal detritus by or rivers. Mudflats usually form within the intertidal zone of relatively sheltered areas such as and .

The ability to use more than one language when speaking or writing. This term often refers to the presence of more than two populations of significant size within a single political unit, each group speaking a different language as their primary language.

municipal corporation

Another name for a , used primarily in Alaska and western Canada.

A stable community of people formed on the basis of a common geographic territory, language, economy, ethnicity, or psychological make-up as manifested in a common .

national mapping agency

A governmental agency which manages, produces, and publishes topographic maps , geographic data, and sometimes information that is specific to an individual or political territory, such as the United Kingdom's Ordnance Survey.

1. The determination of position and direction, generally by comparing the navigator's position to known locations or patterns.

2. The process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a vehicle or craft from one place to another.

nodal region

A region characterized by a set of places connected to another place by lines of communication or movement.

The point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface. It is the northernmost point on Earth, directly opposite the South Geographic Pole , and defines the direction of at a of 90 degrees North; its can be assigned any degree value. Unlike the South Pole, the North Pole is not located on a continental landmass but in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. See also .

North Geomagnetic Pole

The point in the Northern Hemisphere where the axis of a theoretical simplified dipole passing through the center of the Earth would intersect the Earth's surface. It is to the South Geomagnetic Pole . Because of the fluid nature of the Earth's molten core, the true axis of the Earth's magnetic field is not a perfect dipole, and so the Geomagnetic Poles and the actual Magnetic Poles lie some distance apart.

The point in the Northern Hemisphere at which the Earth's magnetic field points vertically downward. It is close to but distinct from the Geographic North Pole and the Geomagnetic North Pole , and its precise location varies considerably over time due to frequent magnetic changes in the Earth's core. Its counterpart in the Southern Hemisphere is the South Magnetic Pole , though the two poles are not directly opposite each other.

1. A wall of wooden stakes used as a defensive barrier.

A piece of land surrounded by water along the majority of its border while still being connected to a from which it extends.

A permanently frozen layer of soil; permanently frozen ground at high and high .

1. The science and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects and environments through the process of recording, measuring, and interpreting photographic images (usually aerial or orbital ones) and patterns of electromagnetic radiant imagery and other phenomena.

2. The science of extracting three-dimensional measurements from two-dimensional data, such as images.

The branch of geography that studies processes and patterns in the natural environment, such as the atmosphere , hydrosphere , , and , as opposed to the cultural or built environment . Along with human geography , it is one of the two major sub-fields of geography.

1. Any geographic region lying or formed at the base of .

2. In the Southeastern United States, a broad region extending from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic coastal plain.

A type of formed by the sinking or collapse of the surface lying above a void or empty chamber. Pit craters are similar to and are often associated with volcanic activity, but lack the ejecta deposits and flows of volcanic craters .

Any broad, flat expanse of land that generally does not show significant variation in topography or .

A geologic theory that the bending (folding) and breaking (faulting) of the solid surface of the Earth results from the slow movement of large sections of that surface called plates.

A large area of relatively flat terrain that is significantly higher in elevation than the surrounding landscape, often with one or more sides with steep slopes.

platted land

pole of inaccessibility

A collection of organisms of the same group or species which live in a particular geographical area. In the context of geography, it often refers to a collection of humans and is represented at the most basic level as the number of people in a given geographically or politically defined space, such as a , , , , or the entire world.

A branch of human geography that studies the ways in which spatial variations in the composition, distribution, migration, and growth of populations are related to the nature of places. This often involves factors such as where populations are found and how the size and composition of these populations is regulated by the demographic processes of fertility, mortality, and migration.

An economy that gains its basic character from economic activities developed primarily after manufacturing grew to predominance. Most notable would be quaternary economic patterns.

1. Any smooth, bowl-shaped or cylindrical hollow, generally deeper than it is wide, that is carved into the rocky of a watercourse such as a or . Fluvial potholes are created by the grinding action of stones or coarse sediment kept in perpetual motion in the same spot by the turbulence of the current. The term is also used to refer to plunge pools beneath waterfalls , which are created by similar processes. See also .

3. In the Great Plains of North America, a shallow depression , generally less than 10 acres (4.0 ha) in area, occurring between or on relief on a and often filled by an intermittent or .

4. Another name for a .

5. Another name for a .

A type of temperate grassland ecosystem dominated by a characteristic composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than by trees. The term is used primarily in North America, but similar ecosystems can be found across the world.

The oldest rocks, generally more than 600 million years old.

A connected to the by an extremely narrow neck of land such that the land at its distal end is very close to being an . See also .

The direction from which winds most frequently blow at a specific geographic location.

That portion of a region's economy devoted to the extraction of basic materials (e.g., mining, lumbering, agriculture).

The imaginary line running from north to south through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England which is assigned a of 0 degrees and is therefore used as the reference point for all other lines of longitude.

Any clearly defined geographic space in which human occupation or the exploitation of resources is limited or forbidden through legal or other effective means because of the area's recognized natural, ecological, cultural, or historical value.

Any land area held and managed in the public domain by a federal or local government.

A type of Indian village constructed by some tribes in the southwestern United States. A large community dwelling, divided into many rooms, up to five stories high, and usually made of adobe. This is also a Spanish word for town or village.

A standard division of the Earth's surface area used in produced by the United States Geological Survey. Quadrangles are four-sided polygons of varying size, depending on the map series; for example, 7.5-minute quadrangles divide the mapped surface into quadrilaterals measuring 7.5 minutes (0.125 ) of by 7.5 minutes of , with each 7.5-minute map showing the topographical detail within one particular quadrilateral of this size. Because the boundaries of quadrangles are based on lines of latitude and longitude, the northern and southern limits of a quadrangle map are not straight lines, and the eastern and western limits are usually not parallel; the actual surface area covered by each map varies with the latitudes depicted.

A place from which stone, rock, sand, gravel, slate, or aggregate is excavated from the ground. Also sometimes called an open-pit mine.

Any naturally occurring water, especially the water from a or , characterized by high concentrations (between 3 and 5% by volume) of dissolved salts, primarily sodium and chloride ions, relative to fresh water . Salt water in the Earth's oceans has an average salinity of about 3.5%; it is both denser and freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water.

1. Any large body of surrounded in whole or in part by land.

The average level of the surface of one or more of Earth's from which heights such as and are commonly measured. Often called mean sea level (MSL), it is a type of standardized vertical datum that is used in numerous applications, including , cartography , and navigation . Mean sea level is commonly defined as the midpoint between the mean low and mean high at a particular location.

A (often a ) rising from the floor whose does not reach the water's surface and which is therefore entirely submerged and not an or .

A seasonally occupied dwelling that is not the primary residence of the owner. Such residences are usually found in areas with substantial opportunities for recreation or tourist activity.

secondary-intercardinal directions

sector principle

Rock formed by the hardening of material deposited in some process; most commonly sandstone, shale, and limestone.

Any place where people live and form communities.

A rock formation created by the passage of a over underlying , which often results in asymmetrical erosional forms created by abrasion on the upstream side of the rock and plucking on the downstream side.

A broad area of very old rocks above sea level that is usually characterized by thin, poor soils and low population densities.

A volcano that resembles an inverted warrior's shield. It has long gentle slopes produced by multiple eruptions of fluid lava flows.

A formed when the roof of a collapses, usually found in areas of limestone rock.

The features of a place related to its location relative to other places (e.g., accessibility, hinterland quality).

1. The noticeable track of bare rock or furrowed earth left by the mass movement of soil, mud, snow, or rock under shear stress down a steep slope, as in a landslide or avalanche.

2. The mass of material moved or deposited by such an event, and which has become fixed or settled upon the landscape.

A mixture of particulate matter and chemical pollutants in the lower atmosphere, usually over urban areas.

Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA)

A statistical unit of one or more counties that focus on one or more central cities larger than a specified size, or with a total population larger than a specified size. This is a reflection of urbanization.

The lowest elevation at which snow remains from year to year and does not melt during the summer.

A distinct layer of soil encountered in vertical section.

The degree to which a substance can be dissolved in another substance; in a geographical context, the characteristic of soil minerals that leads them to be carried away in solution by water (see ).

2. A narrow sea or ocean between two landmasses.

The point in the Southern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface. It is the southernmost point on Earth, directly opposite the North Geographic Pole , and is located on continental land in Antarctica at a of 90 degrees South; its can be assigned any degree value. See also .

South Geomagnetic Pole

The point in the Southern Hemisphere where the axis of a theoretical simplified dipole passing through the center of the Earth would intersect the Earth's surface. It is to the North Geomagnetic Pole . Because of the fluid nature of the Earth's molten core, the true axis of the Earth's magnetic field is not a perfect dipole, and so the Geomagnetic Poles and the actual Magnetic Poles lie some distance apart.

The point in the Southern Hemisphere at which the Earth's magnetic field points vertically downward. It is close to but distinct from the Geographic South Pole and the Geomagnetic South Pole , and its precise location varies considerably over time due to frequent magnetic changes in the Earth's core. Its counterpart in the Northern Hemisphere is the North Magnetic Pole , though the two poles are not directly opposite each other.

space economy

The locational pattern of economic activities and their interconnecting linkages.

spatial complementarity

The occurrence of location pairing such that items demanded by one place can be supplied by another.

spatial interaction

Movement between locationally separate places.

spatial reference system (SRS)

A type of or extending from a into an or and which develops by the deposition of sediment as a result of longshore drift . Spits form where the direction of the sharply changes direction, such as at a , and often develop a "hooked" or recurve shape at their distal ends.

Any location where water naturally emerges from an underground to the Earth's surface.

A large river , typically wider and shallower than a . The term is used primarily in Scotland, Australia, and Canada.

The place where two lithospheric plates come together, one riding over the other. Most volcanoes on land occur parallel to and inland from the boundary between the two plates.

An adjective describing a mixed-use or residential area existing either as part of an area or as a separate community within commuting distance of a ; a place of this type is called a suburb. Suburbs are often defined by commuter infrastructures and have lower population densities than inner-city neighborhoods .

Any shallow or trough with gently sloping sides, either natural or artificial. Man-made swales are often designed to manage surface runoff and increase rainwater infiltration.

temperature inversion

An increase in temperature with height above the Earth's surface, a reversal of the normal pattern.

1. A concept of the Law of the Sea defined as a belt of waters extending at most 12 nautical miles (22 km) from the designated baseline (usually defined as the mean low-water line) for a coastal and regarded as the sovereign of the state.

2. Any area of water over which a state has legal jurisdiction, including internal waters, the exclusive economic zone, and potentially others.

That portion of a region's economy devoted to service activities (e.g., retail and wholesale operations, transportation, insurance).

The periodic rise and fall of caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the Earth's rotation.

A time measure of how far apart places are (how long does it take to travel from place A to place B?). This may be contrasted with other distance metrics such as geographic distance (how far is it?) and cost-distance (how much will it cost to get there?).

An interdisciplinary perspective, ontological framework, and visual language in which space and time are used as basic dimensions of analysis of dynamic processes and events, including social and ecological interactions, environmental changes, and biographies of individuals.

A region of the globe that observes a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes.

topographic isolation

topographic prominence

The study of placenames (known as toponyms), their origins, meanings, use, and typology.

A prominent, free-standing rock that rises abruptly from the smooth slopes of a gently rounded or . In the United Kingdom, the term is also used to refer to the hill itself.

The rectangular system of land subdivision of much of the agriculturally settled United States west of the Appalachian Mountains, established by the Land Ordinance of 1785.

transferability

The extent to which a good or service can be moved from one location to another; the relative capacity for spatial interaction.

The seasonal movement of people and animals in search of pasture. Commonly, winters are spent in snow-free lowlands and summers in the cooler uplands.

Economically, a situation in which an increase in the size of the labor force will result in an increase in per-worker productivity.

uniform region

A territory with one or more features present throughout which are absent or unimportant elsewhere.

Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)

Any area of land that is higher in relative to another area, especially one that is populated by low or situated atop a . The term is often used as a conditional descriptor to distinguish related habitats or ecosystems, especially freshwater riparian areas , on the basis of elevation above sea level. Upland areas are usually characterized by relatively fast-flowing waterways and hilly or rocky terrain. Contrast .

An adjective describing a settlement with a high population density and a developed infrastructure of built environment ; places of this type are variously categorized as , , or conurbations , or simply called urban areas. Contrast , , and .

2. A depression that is longer than it is wide.

vertical exaggeration

A used in certain , such as raised-relief maps, that deliberately distorts the apparent of the map's topography in order to emphasize vertical features, which might otherwise appear too small to identify relative to the corresponding horizontal scale.

volcanic avalanche

A large, chaotic mass of soil, rock, and volcanic debris moving swiftly down the slopes of a volcano. Volcanic avalanches can also occur without an eruption due to an earthquake, heavy rainfall, or unstable soil, rock, and volcanic debris.

A type of created by activity, typically shaped like a bowl and containing one or more volcanic vents . Compare .

1. Another name for a , used primarily in Arabic-speaking parts of the world.

2. A dry, ephemeral which contains water only when heavy rainfall occurs.

A collection of data represented as a map showing different aspects related to water supplies.

The contamination of water by chemical or biological constituents which make it unfit for use.

The level below the land surface at which the subsurface material is fully saturated with water. The depth of the water table reflects the minimum level to which wells must be drilled for water extraction.

A flat erosion surface along the of a lake, , or that is formed by the undercutting and eventual collapse of a as a result of repetitive wave action.

The breaking of rocks into smaller rocks, gradually becoming soil.

World Geodetic System (WGS)

A of most or all of the surface of the Earth.

The public regulation of land and building use to control the character of a place.

The imaginary point on the celestial sphere that is directly above a particular location (i.e. in the vertical direction exactly opposite to the apparent direction of the gravitational force at that location). Contrast .

Much of this material was copied from U.S. government works which are in the public domain because they are not eligible for copyright protection.

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This glossary of geography terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts used in geography and related fields, which describe and identify spatial dimension, geographic locations, topographical features, natural resources, and the collection, analysis, and visualization of geographic data. For related terms, see Glossary of geology and Glossary of environmental science.

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United States of America Google Earth View

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I noticed that there are mountains that are jagged and all over the place on the left. I also noticed that it looks more brown on the left side of the united states than the right, the right has more plains and greenery

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The right has more agriculture. The left looks more like a desert.

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I see a lot of mountains on one side and more greenery on the others side.

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i see alot of green land,Alot dirt and water and desert and sand

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i see alot of green land,Alot dirt and water and desert and sand

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I see that there is a lot of mountains that are all over the place .u can all so see that there is more brow in one side then then the other .

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I can see that California is green and a lot of the middle looks dry. The rest of the United States looks more green

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I can see that California is green and a lot of the middle looks dry. The rest of the United States looks more green

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I see some deserts and a lot of mountains most of the mountains on the left are brown but the mountains on the right are green.

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I noticed that in Death Valley it is a desert and it has many mountains and few rivers/oasis's.

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I noticed that in Death Valley it is a desert and it has many mountains and few rivers/oasis's.

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One looks more adventurous. And the other one look like more dessert vibe.

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One looks more adventurous. And the other one look like more dessert vibe.

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I think that everything took long to make like that

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I think that everything took long to make like that

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I noticed that on the west side of the USA, it's much more brown and yellow. It looks like a desert. On the east side though, it looks much greener and alive. It looks like there are a lot of forests and plains there.

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i see that there,s no people around and that it looks jungley and very green and pretty

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i see that there,s no people around and that it looks jungley and very green and pretty

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i see that there is more mountain and desert parts by Nevada and its more grassy on the east cost

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i wonder how everything started and how long it took

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i wonder how everything started and how long it took

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I see mountains and dirt on one side and the other side has green grass

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I see mountains and a desert

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I think it too a long time for vales and mountains to form.

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I can see that they have a advantage and disadvantage for there terrain and they have a desert so a little bit more of an advantage and disadvantage

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I see a a side that looks more like a desert and another side that´s more green

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I noticed that the left side of the United States looks like a desert and canyons than the right side .

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I think that less people live in the mountains and valleys than people who live in the plains and areas that have less climate problems.

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There's many places with grass, and many places that are brown so they look dry, I also see places with a lot of snow.

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I thnk its sunny where the mountains are at

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i wonder if there was animals around before they destroyed everything

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i wonder if there was animals around before they destroyed everything

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What I see is peninsula being surrounded by water and forest.

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What I see is peninsula being surrounded by water and forest.

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I think that the mountains lost most of the green plants because of fires

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I think that the dry part of the United States has more mountains than the other parts.

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I think that the dry part of the United States has more mountains than the other parts.

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I think the reason why the west side is yellow and the east is green is because its much hotter and dryer on the west coast, while its generally much cooler and nice on the east.

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i see more the the USA has a lot of desert

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I think that in deserts there is few rivers because when its too hot the water would evaporate.

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I think that in deserts there is few rivers because when its too hot the water would evaporate.

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I wonder if there were animals there

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i think that it took very long for the mountains to grow

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it looks like the mountains to a long time to form

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it looks like the mountains to a long time to form

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I wonder if there's a reason why the west coast is so hot and dry

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I wonder why things are hotter in certain areas than others and why there are things like sand in some areas and things like grass and plants in others.

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I wonder if it took a long time to create a vale.

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I wonder how the mountains were formed.

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i wonder how long it took for all the grass to grow

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I wonder where most of the gulfs,lakes, and rivers are.

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I think that many people are accustomed to the weather they are in.

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i see grass on the right side and on the left side its like a desert 

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i see grass on the right side and on the left side its like a desert 

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I think that it might of took so long for all the mountains to form

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mountains. jungles. desert. lawn. land

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I wonder if most of the rivers used to be ice or glaciers in the ice age.

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I wonder if most of the rivers used to be ice or glaciers in the ice age.

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I wonder how many miles the dry part of the United States is. 

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I wonder how many miles the dry part of the United States is. 

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I think most of the places in California are  just dry land.

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I think most of the places in California are  just dry land.

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I think less people live in the dryer parts.

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I think the east is dryer with hotter climate, meanwhile the west is more humid along with heat.

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desert vegetables mountains water jungles

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i think lest people living on the desert

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I think that there is more valleys and plains in the right side of the United States. In the left and the north of the United States I think the more deserts and mesas.

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I wonder how long it took for the mountains to form and how did they form.

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I wonder how long all this land has been here for.

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i think that people who live in the deserts will have to pay a little less and suffer throught the heat

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i wonder haw many people live in the USA

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I see green and desert

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i wonder how much people live in the desert

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I wonder why there is more deserts and canyons on the left side of the United States than the right side that has more valleys and plains.

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I wonder if there is an equal amount of people in each area or if most people prefer to live in one certain area rather the the other.

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I think it's hot in the mountains

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I see a lot of places and what they eat

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I think its sunny where the mountains

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i wonder how green it would be without all the pollution on the air.

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i wonder how green it would be without all the pollution on the air.

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I wonder why it does not rain very often in ventura or Oxnard

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I Wonder what people do in driftnet places.

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I wonder why we see the sea is blue outside the earth and space is black