My family and I were taking a road trip across America and we needed the absolute location of Yosemite Valley.
distortion
Distortion happens when the shape or size of a place is changed when shown on a map.
The distortion on the map my friend has makes Canada look much bigger than it actually is.
map projection
Map projection shows the spherical Earth on a 2D surface.
We were given a map projection of the world in geography class.
relative location
How a location is related to other locations.
I was giving my friend directions on how to my favorite beach. i could not remember the exact location so i gave her the relative location.
Chapter 2
climate
Weather patterns over a long period of time.
The climate in California is very mild.
economic activity
The buying, selling, and producing of products and/or goods and services.
Economic activity in the United States is very high.
landform
A landform is any natural feature on earths surface that include mountain ranges, valleys, and dunes.
The landforms in Asia are very different than the landforms in the U.S.A.
physical feature
A physical feature is any natural feature on earths surface include landforms and any bodies of water such as lakes and rivers.
Yosemite National Park has many distinct physical features.
population density
Population density is the number of people that live in an area of space.
The population density in New York City is very high.
region
A region is an area set apart from others by certain characteristics that are unique to its self.
America can be divided into five different regions. the west, the midwest, south west, the south east, and the north east.
thematic map
A thematic map can show different things such as the population of a place or the vegetation.
A thematic map that is used often is one that shows the cellphone coverage offered by a particular mobile carriers.
vegetation
Vegetation is the trees and plants that grow in a certain area.
The vegetation in Vietnam is all very tropical.
Chapter 6
conservationists
People who work to protect places in nature and natural resources we have here on earth.
John Muir is a conservationist he preserved many beautiful places on earth. he is known as "The father of the national parks"
flora
The plant life in one region.
The flora of Yosemite national park has a lot of big trees, and wildflowers.
fauna
The animal life in one region.
The fauna of Yosemite national consists of many animals such as deer, mountain lions, and bears.
topographic map
A map the uses simple lines and symbols that may shows mountains, valleys, lakes, roads etc...
We used a topographic map when we went hiking so we would know what the elevation of the place we were going would be like.
Chapter 8
emigrate
To emigrate is to move from a country.
My great grand parents emigrated from Mexico.
immigrate
To immigrate is to movie to a county.
My great grandparents immigrated to the United States of America.
migration stream
Migration stream is the flow of people from one country to another.
The migration stream from Mexico to the USA is very large.
pull factor
Pull factor is the reason that makes people want to move to a different country.
Money, Jobs, and schools are pull factors that might make people want to move to a new place.
push factor
Push factors are the reasons that make people want to leave the country they live in.
No jobs, no schools, and no money are push factors that make people want to leave the country they live in.
refugee
A refugee is someone who leaves their country because they may not be safe there, the government, a war, or any reason that would strongly make someone want to leave.
During the Vietnam war refugees from Vietnam escaped their home country because it was no longer safe for them there.
Chapter 3
ecumene
Ecumene is a region that is good for permanent human settlement.
California is an ecumene.
plural society
A plural society is one where different people from different cultures live together but keep their beliefs and traditions.
Canada has a plural society.
rural
A rural area is a place that is not inhabited by many people.
Yosemite is in a rural area.
urban
A urban area is a place inhabited by many people.
New York is an urban area.
Chapter 10
adaptation
Adaptation is changing a way of live to fit life ways.
When moving to a new country you must adapt to your new environment.
indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are people who lived in a country and were concord by another group of people.
The Maya are Indigenous peoples.
subsistence farming
subsistence farming is only farming enough for your family and not enough to sell.
Many people in Vietnam do subsistence farming in the land that they own.
traditional culture
Traditional culture is customs and traditions passed on by family members and ancestors.
If you take a trip to Vietnam you will see that many traditional cultures are still very much alive today.
Chapter 11
El Niño
Off the coast of South America a very few years a warm ocean current flows. This current changes weather patterns around the world and can sometimes cause extreme weather.
The El Niño climate this year was very rainy.
extreme weather
Extreme weather are conditions such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
The coast of Mexico was hit by extreme weather.
meteorology
Meteorology is the study of weather and climate patterns.
My great uncle was a meteorologist.
natural disaster
A natural disaster is when great destruction and sometimes loss of life happen because of something caused by nature.
When a natural disaster hits there is usually nothing you can do.
tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a big storm with high winds, rain, and calm center.
The state of Florida gets cyclones commonly.
Chapter 13
altitudinal zonation
Altitudinal zonation are lines that show a mountain divided by elevation.
The map we used for hiking had a altitudinal zonation chart so we could see the changes of elevation and vegetation.
snow line
A snow line is the lowest place on a mountain that has snow all year round.
The snow line on the mountain, no matter that time of year always had a few feet of snow.
terracing
Terracing is the creation of flat areas made on the slope of mountains. This makes farming these mountains much easier.
Many mountains in Vietnam are terraced so that the people can use that area for farming.
tree line
A tree line is the highest place on a mountain that trees will grow.
The tree line stretched up the mountain about half way after the bare rock of the mountain showed though.
vertical trade
Vertical trade is the trade between high and low elevations.
If you are to get food and goods to the villages high up in a mountain you are using vertical trade.
Chapter 14
centrifugal force
Centrifugal force is a the force that divides people, countries, and cultures.
Countries are divided by centrifugal force.
centripetal force
Centripetal force is the force the unites people, countries, and culture.
Countries are united by centripetal force.
common market
A common market is a group of countries that works together as a single market.
The EU is a common market.
supranational cooperation
supranational cooperation is a group of countries that work together as a group.
The EU is a supranational cooperation.
Chapter 16
acid rain
Rain that contains acid from pollution that can harm the environment.
Acid rain has killed many forests all over the world.
Nuclear radiation is a type of energy that has no taste or smell but can be harmful to the environment.
Nuclear radiation has harmed many living things.
river system
A river system is made up of a river and all the streams that flow into it.
A river system weaves its way down a mountain into the ocean.
transboundary pollution
Transboundary pollution is pollution that is carried from one country to another most commonly by wind or water.
Some countries are dealing problems that they did not cause such as transboundary pollution.