geography definition Archives

Water vapor imagery of the eastern Pacific Ocean from the GOES 11 satellite, showing a large atmospheric river aimed across California. Image from United States Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey. (Captured December 20, 2010).

Atmospheric Rivers

February 6, 2016February 6, 2016 by Elizabeth Borneman

Atmospheric Rivers are trails of moisture in the atmosphere composed of condensed water vapor.

Chorology

January 31, 2016January 31, 2016 by Caitlin Dempsey

Chorology is the study of places and regions, also referred to as regional geography.

Shaded-relief map showing the Panama Canal with the Pacific Ocean in the foreground and the Caribbean Sea in the distance. Source: NASA.

Isthmus

August 12, 2020January 30, 2016 by Caitlin Dempsey

An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land masses which is bounded by water on two sides.

Geographical definitions by the Bancroft Company, circa 1870.

Geography Terms Visualized

January 31, 2016September 2, 2015 by Caitlin Dempsey

This chart by the Bancroft Company from around 1870 defines a range of geographical terms.

Benchmarks

November 8, 2014November 8, 2012 by Caitlin Dempsey

Benchmarks are flat markers made of metal that are found embedded into stone, concrete, or asphalt. Benchmarks have locations whose elevation and horizontal positions have been … Read more