Physical Geography Vocabulary

Earth as part of the solar system

• orbit, revolution
• atmosphere, hydrosphere

• precipitation, global warming

• orbit, groundwater

Earth’s structure

• lithosphere, continent, tectonic plates
• delta, Ring of Fire, rotation

• earthquake, tsunami, tectonic plates

• erosion, desalination, evaporation

Earth’s landforms

• plateau, plain, isthmus, delta, continental shelf
• rotation, axis, orbit

• beach, peninsula, mountain, peak

• litoshphere, biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere

It is NOT a rapid change on Earth

• earthquake

• erosion

• Ring of Fire

• tsunami

gradual changes on Earth

• weathering

• erosion

• glacier

• earthquake

Earth’s change of season

• revolution, equinox, solstice
• revolution, solstice, rotation, atmosphere

• rotation, axis

• revolution, rotation, tectonic plates

Earth’s physical systems

• lithosphere

• planishphere

• hydrosphere

• biosphere

• atmosphere

human effects on the environment

• desalination

• acid rain

• global warming

• rain shadow

Concepts that make night and day happen

• axis, rotation
• atmosphere, orbits

• revolution, solstice

• rotation, orbit

Concepts related to daily weather

• average daily temperature

• atmosphere

• evaporation

• precipitation

• weathering