Geography Glossary - A
absolute location
A point on the earth's surface expressed by a coordinate system such as latitude and longitude
accessibility
The ability to reach a place with respect to another place
acculturation
Modification in a culture by the adoptation of outside cultural traits
aeolian
Relating to wind action - erosion or transportation by wind; also eolian. Named after the Greek god of the winds - Aeolus
aerial photograph
A photograph of a portion of the earth's surface, often from airplane
age-sex pyramid
A bar graph which displays the age and sex distribution of a population. Population Pyramid
albedo
The proportion of radiation reflected from a surface
alluvial fan
A broad, circular fan-shaped deposit of sediments found in deserts where erosional stream channels meet the valley floor and spread out, depositing the stream load
alluvium
River deposits, such as silt, sand, and mud
angle of repose
The stable angle that a pile of rocks or a slope wishes to remain at. Road cuts are usually much steeper than the angle of repose so debris continues to fall from them until they attain the angle of repose
antipode
The point on the earth's surface exactly opposite of a given point
aphelion
The point when the earth is farthest from the sun during its annual orbit. Occurs about July 3 when the earth is 94,555,000 miles away from the sun
aquifer
An underground reservior of water which can be extracted for surface use
atmosphere
The body of air and gas which surrounds the earth
archipelago
A chain or set of islands grouped together
atoll
A circular coral reef that encloses a shallow lagoon
aurora australis
Also known as the the southern lights; spectacular colored lights that appear in the sky in the far Southern Hemisphere.
aurora borealis
Also known as the the northern lights; spectacular colored lights that appear in the sky in the far Northern Hemisphere.
avalanche
A generic term for any slide of snow, ice, and debris