Geographic Terms
Before we lift-off, we have to review some key terms that will be necessary to understand aspects of these societies.
A geographic term is a word that explains a location, feature, or characteristic of the Earth
First, let's learn about latitude and longitude. A long time ago, people realized they needed a system to describe exact locations of places on Earth. They devised a grid system that spans the whole surface of the world. The grid is made of lines going North and South (or up and down), East and West (Or right and left) all around the globe. To find an exact location on the grid, you use the values of latitude and longitude together. These values are measured in degrees.
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Latitude is made of lines going horizontally (or left and right) across the entire width of the Earth. It measures how far North or South you are. The values range from 90 degrees North to -90 degrees South.
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Longitude is made of lines going vertically (or top to bottom) across the entire length of the Earth. It measures how far East or West you are. The values range from 180 degrees East to -180 degrees West.
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The picture below is a compass. Compasses are used to tell which directions North, South, East, and West are in.
Click the compass to play a game to test how well you know about latitude and longitude! After playing the game, do you know what the latitude and longitude of New Orleans is?
Click the compass to play a game to test how well you know about latitude and longitude! After playing the game, do you know what the latitude and longitude of New Orleans is?
Geographic terms are also used to explain physical features on the surface of the Earth. These physical features are called landforms. Landforms are mountains, valleys, caves, bodies of water like rivers and lakes, and more. Different areas of the world have different types of landforms. Landforms are sometimes used to define the boarders of different countries.
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Different areas of the Earth also have different climates. An area's climate is it's typical weather pattern. For instance, the climate in Alaska is very cold and snowy, whereas the climate in Africa is very hot and dry. Different climates affect what kind of plants can be grown there. For example, in the mid-western states of America where the climate is very mild, corn can grow very well, but in the harsh and freezing climate of Russia, corn cannot grow. In some areas, the climate is the same the whole year, but in other places the climate changes depending on the season. In Boston, we experience all four seasons, but in Hawaii its summer all year long!
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