Topographic Map Vocabulary Study online at quizlet.com/_4cw8 1.

atmosphere: the mixture of gases that surrounds Earth

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biosphere: all living things

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degree: 1/360 of the way around a full circle

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elevation: the height above sea level of a point on Earth's surface

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equator: the imaginary line that circles Earth halfway between the North and South poles

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globe: a sphere that represents Earth's entire surface

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hemisphere: one half of the sphere that makes up Earth's surface

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hydrosphere: Earth's oceans, lakes, rivers, and ice

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key: a list of all the symbols used on a map with an explanation of their meaning

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landform region: a large area of land where the topography is similar

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latitude: the distance in degrees north or south of the equator

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lithosphere: the solid, rocky outer layer of Earth

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longitude: the distance in degrees east or west of the prime meridian

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plain: flat or gently rolling land with low relief

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plateau: a landform that has high elevation and a fairly level surface

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prime meridian: the imaginary line that makes a half circle from the North Pole to the South Pole and passes through Greenwich, England

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relief: the difference in elevation between the highest and the lowest parts of an area

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scale: the relationship between the distance on a map to distance on Earth's surface

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symbols: pictures that stand for features on Earth's surface

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topography: the shape of the land