Definition: a force that divides people and countries.
Different languages is a centrifugal force because people cant communicate.
centripetal forces
Definition: a force that unites people and countries.
Europeans don't have to change money when they cross most borders, because the euro is a common currency in a lot of European countries. This is a centripetal force.
common market
Definition:a group of countries that acts as a single market, without trade barriers between member countries.
It's easy to have a common market in Europe because most of the countries use the euro as currency.
supranational cooperation
Definition: a form of international cooperation in which countries give up some control of their affairs as they work together to achieve shared goals.
The EU (European Union) is a supranational cooperation.
CHAPTER 16
acid rain
Definition:rain that can damage the environment because it contains acid created from chemicals in factory smoke and car exhaust. Acid rain can damage plants, fish, animals, and even buildings
Acid rain is bad for the environment.
nuclear radiation
Definition: a form of energy that comes from nuclear reactions. Radiation has no smell or taste, but it can be very harmful to living things.
Materials polluted nuclear radiation are said to be radioactive.
river system
Definition: a river and all the streams that flow into it.
River systems are also called tributaries.
transboundary pollution
Definition: pollution that starts in one country and crosses boundaries into other countries.
Transboundary pollution is generally carried by wind or water.
CHAPTER 17
erosion
Definition: the gradual wearing away of Earth’s surface by the action of wind, water, ice, and gravity.
Erosion creates change very slowly.
glaciation
Definition:the creation and movement of glaciers.
Glaciation creates change very slowly.
physical processes
Definition: natural forces that change Earth's physical features, including forces that build up and wear down Earth's surface.
Erosion is a physical process.
tectonic movement
Definition:the movement of plates below Earth’s surface.
Tectonic movements can cause volcanic eruptions.
volcanic activity
Definition:the formation and eruption of volcanoes.
Volcanic activity can be caused tectonic movement.
CHAPTER 20
desertification
Definition: the process by which land becomes more and more dry until it turns into desert.
Desertification may be caused by climate change, human activities, or both.
drought
Definition: an unusually long period in which little or no rain falls.
Drought causes starvation in Africa.
marginal land
Definition: land that is not well suited for growing crops.
The Sahara is marginal land.
pastoral nomads
Definition:groups of herders who move with their animals from place to place in search of pasture and water.
Once pastoral nomads herds have grazed an area, the nomads move on.
CHAPTER 21
gender-based division of labor
Definition:the division of work into two categories based on sex, or gender.
In Africa there is a gender-based division of labor that means men and woman do different kinds of work.
informal economy
Definition:the part of the economy in which goods and services are exchanged outside of government control.
In the informal economy people sell goods on the street or in street markets.
micro-entrepreneur
Definition: a person who starts and owns a very small business.
Micro means tiny and an entrepreneur is a person who starts a business, micro-entrepreneur.
micro-enterprise
Definition: a very small business with few or no employees.
Micro-entrepreneurs start micro-enterprises.
CHAPTER 22
colonialism
Definition:a system in which one country rules another area as a colony. The ruling country controls trade with its colony for its own benefit.
The American colonies run by the British, is an example of colonialism.
cultural region
Definition: an area that is set apart from other places by the way of life of the people who live there.
The Amish of south-central Pennsylvania are an example of a cultural region
ethnic diversity
Definition: a variety of people from different ethnic groups.
America has a lot of ethnic diversity.
linguistic groups
Definition:a group of people who share a common language.
There are a lot of different linguistic groups in America.
CHAPTER 25
capital city
Definition:a city that is the governmental center of a country or region. Sometimes a capital city is also a primate city.
Sacramento is the capitol city of California.
primate city
Definition:the largest and most important city in a country. A primate city has at least twice the population of the next largest city.
Istanbul is the primate city of Turkey.
site
Definition:the specific place where something is located, including its physical setting.
Site is like exact location.
situation
Definition:the way a place is positioned in relation to its wider surroundings.
Situation is like relative location.
CHAPTER 26
environmental degradation
Definition:damage to or destruction of the natural environment. When such damage occurs, habitats are destroyed, biodiversity is lost, or natural resources are used up.
Tearing down a forest ot build a skyscraper is an example of environmental degradation.
groundwater
Definition:water lying deep under the ground that supplies wells and springs.
Over half the people in the world depend on groundwater for their drinking water.
salinization
Definition: the buildup of salt in soil or water.
Salinization can affect a body of water.
water stress
Definition:the condition that occurs when people don’t have enough clean fresh water to meet their everyday needs.
Water stress occurs when an area requires more water than it has.
CHAPTER 29
acclimatize
Definition:the process of adjusting to lower oxygen levels at high elevation.
Climbers acclimatize through exercise and rest as they gradually move higher.
carrying capacity
Definition:the number of people or animals the environment of an area can support.
A places carrying capacity depends on its environment.
exposure
Definition: the harmful effects of cold, wind, or other extreme weather conditions.
Exposure can cause injury or death.
world heritage site
Definition: a place of great natural or cultural value, that has been placed on UNESCO's world heritage list.
UNESCO helps countries preserve world heritage sites for future generations.
CHAPTER 31
arable land
Definition: land suitable for growing crops.
If land is full of rocks it's not arable land.
arithmetic population density
Definition:the population of a country divided by its total land area
Japan would have a large arithmetic population density.
physiologic population density
Definition:the population of a country divided by its arable land area.
Egypt would have a small physiologic population density.
population distribution
Definition:where people live in a country, whether crowded together in cities or spread out across.
The population distribution of Japan is pretty crowded.
CHAPTER 32
economic interdependence
Definition:a condition in which countries have strong economic ties and depend on each other for resources, technology, trade, and investment.
China and the U.S. have a strong economic interdependence.
free trade
Definition:the flow of goods and services across national borders, with little or no government control.
Free trade is exemplified by the European Union and the North American Free Trade Agreement.
globalization
Definition:the development of a global, or worldwide, society in which people, money, information, and goods flow fairly freely across national borders.
Globalization is sending our jobs oversea.
multinational corporations
Definition:a large company that has operations in more than one country.