RIJU BHATTACHARJEE
ecology A biological science concerned with studying the complex relationships among living
organisms and their physical environments
cultural ecology The study of the interaction between societies and their local environments.
Ecosystem A territorially bounded system consisting of the interaction between humans and the
environment
Environmental The mental images that comprise humans’ perception of nature; environmental
perception perception might be accurate or inaccurate.
Natural hazard A physical danger present in the environment, such as a flood, hurricane, volcanic
eruption, and earthquake
tsunami A huge ocean wave produced by the displacement of a large volume of water often
caused by an earthquake
Natural resources Materials or substances that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
Nonrenewable Natural resources that are available on earth in finite quantities and will eventually be
resources used up.
Renewable resources Natural resources that Earth will naturally replenish over time.
Greenhouse gasses Compounds in the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion, such as carbon dioxide that
absorb and trap heat energy close to the Earth’s surface.
Greenhouse effect The global warming trend caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide
Environmental The belief that physical environment is the dominant force shaping cultures and that
determinism humanity is a passive product of its surroundings
possibilism The belief that any physical environment offers a number of possible ways for a society
to develop and that humans can find ways to overcome environmental challenges.
Global scale Geographic Scale that looks at a geographic phenomena across the entire world.
Regional scale Geographic Scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena within a
analysis particular region.
National scale Geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena within a specific
analysis country.
Local scale analysis Geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena within a state or
province, a city or town, or neighborhood.
Glocal perspective. Geographic perspective that acknowledges the two-way relationship between local
communities and global patterns, emphasizing that the forces of globalization need to
take into account local-scale cultural, economic, and environmental conditions.
Region A geographical unit based on one or more common characteristics or functions
Formal region A geographic area inhabited by people who have one or more traits in common
Border zone A region where cultural markers overlap and blend into a recognizable border culture
Functional region A geographic area that has been organized to function politically, socially, culturally, or
economically as one unit.
Nodes Central points where the functions of a functional region are coordinated and directed
Metropolitan area An area composed of a heavily populated urban core and its less populated
surrounding areas
perceptual/vernacular A geographic area that is perceived to exist by its inhabitants, based on the widespread
region acceptance and use of a unique regional name
Mental map A personal representation of a portion of Earth’s surface
Sense of place How a person feels about a particular place and why its important to them
Activity space Where a person goes and what they do on a daily basis
Regional identity The awareness of belonging to a group of people within a region
Contested boundaries Boundaries that are disputed for religious, political, or cultural reasons
Regional analysis The process of examining patterns and processes within and between regions at
multiple geographic scales (local, national, regional, and global)
