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What is Geography?

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Questions

1.

What is a common misconception about Geography?

2.

Observations about cultures, transportation, and migrations of people are made with regard to what particular system?

3.

What are some of the specialized fields in Geography?

Vocabulary

Term Part of Speech Definition Encyclopedic Entry
geography noun

study of places and the relationships between people and their environments.

geographic information system (GIS) noun

any system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on the Earth's surface.

geographic perspective noun

a way to understand a topic or area using spatial features and relationships.

human geography noun

the study of the way human communities and systems interact with their environment.

physical geography noun

study of the natural features and processes of the Earth.

capital noun

city where a region's government is located.

climate noun

all weather conditions for a given location over a period of time.

transportation noun

movement of people or goods from one place to another.

migration noun

movement, usually seasonal, of a group of people or animals from one place to another.

pattern noun

arrangement of people, places, or things across a specific space.

location noun

position of a particular point on the surface of the Earth.

biogeographer noun

person who studies the spatial patterns of living organisms.

distribution noun

the way something is spread out over an area.

political geographer noun

person who studies the spatial relationships present in government policies.

species noun

group of similar organisms that can reproduce with each other.

habitat noun

environment where an organism lives throughout the year or for shorter periods of time.

adaptation noun

a modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence. An adaptation is passed from generation to generation.

ecologist noun

scientist who studies the relationships between organisms and their environments.

geomorphology noun

study of geographic features on the landscape and the forces that create them.

relationship noun

how human and/or physical features of the Earth are connected to each other.

state noun

political unit in the United States.


 
Credits
Writer

Mary Crooks, National Geographic Education Programs

Illustrator

Mary Crooks, National Geographic Education Programs


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Key Concepts

geo-literacy   geographic perspective   geography   gis   human geography   physical geography  

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