Physical Geography & Elevation
30 entries in the Physical Geography & Elevation compendium.
AltitudeVertical distance measurement with context-dependent definitions and critical aviation appElevationHeight of Earth's surface above a reference geoid.Height above mean sea levelVertical distance referenced to historic mean sea level.TopographyStudy of land surface forms and features.TerrainThe dimension and shape of a given land surface.Contour lineLines joining points of equal value on maps and graphs.HypsometryMeasurement of Earth's surface elevation and depth relative to sea level.Digital elevation model3D computer graphics representation of elevation data for terrain.Grade (slope)Grade measures steepness as angle, percentage, or ratio.BathymetryStudy of underwater depth of ocean, river, and lake floors.Shuttle Radar Topography MissionSpace shuttle mission that mapped Earth's topography in high resolution.Geodetic datumA reference frame for unambiguously representing Earth positions.Physical geodesyStudy of Earth's gravity and its potential field.GeoidThe geoid is the irregular equipotential surface of Earth's gravity.Kerguelen PlateauA large igneous plateau in the Indian Ocean.ZealandiaA mostly submerged continent in Oceania, nearly the size of Australia.AntarcticPolar region surrounding the South Pole, governed by international treaty.Antarctic CircleSouthernmost major latitude circle marking the Antarctic region.Polar regionsEarth's frigid zones around the North and South Poles.SubantarcticSubantarctic region: islands and waters north of the Antarctic Convergence.SubarcticSubarctic: a cold, sparsely populated region of taiga, permafrost, and mineral wealth.TropicsThe region between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.SubtropicsClimate zones between tropics and temperate regions, with hot summers and mild winters.Tropic of CancerNorthernmost latitude where the Sun appears directly overhead.Tropic of CapricornSouthernmost latitude where the Sun is directly overhead.EquatorImaginary line dividing Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.Circle of latitudeImaginary lines parallel to the Equator defining latitude.Geographical zoneLatitude-based climate zones dividing Earth's surface.North PoleNorthernmost point on Earth, located in the Arctic Ocean.South PoleSouthernmost point on Earth, defined by the axis of rotation.
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