AP HUG - Unit 1 - Thinking Geographically Flashcards
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What is Cartography?
The science and art of making maps.
Cartography involves the representation of geographic information in a visual format.
What does Distance Decay refer to?
The principle that the interaction between two locations decreases as the distance between them increases.
This concept is often used in geography to explain patterns of human behavior.
Define Geographic Information System (GIS)
A system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data.
GIS is widely used in urban planning, environmental management, and resource allocation.
What is Latitude?
The measurement of distance north or south of the Equator, expressed in degrees.
Latitude lines run parallel to the Equator.
Define Concentration in geography.
The extent of a feature’s spread over space.
Concentration can be described as clustered or dispersed.
What does Distribution refer to?
The arrangement of a feature in space.
Distribution can be analyzed in terms of density, concentration, and pattern.
What is a Map?
A two-dimensional representation of a portion of the Earth’s surface.
Maps can represent various types of information, such as political boundaries, physical features, and thematic data.
Define Environmental Determinism.
The belief that the physical environment shapes human behavior and culture.
This theory suggests that geography influences societal development.
What is a Formal Region?
An area defined by official boundaries and uniform characteristics.
Examples include countries, states, and cities.
What is Density in geography?
The number of occurrences of a feature within a given area.
Density can be measured in various ways, such as population density.
Define Functional Region.
An area organized around a central node or focal point.
Examples include metropolitan areas and service areas.
What is Globalization?
The process of increased interconnectedness and interdependence among countries, primarily in economic terms.
Globalization affects trade, culture, and communication.
What is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)?
The mean solar time at the Prime Meridian, used as a reference for time zones.
GMT is often used in aviation and computing for time coordination.
Define Longitude.
The measurement of distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, expressed in degrees.
Longitude lines run from the North Pole to the South Pole.
What is a Map projection?
A method for representing the curved surface of the Earth on a flat surface.
Different projections can distort various attributes like area, shape, distance, and direction.
What does Scale refer to in cartography?
The relationship between distance on the map and distance on the ground.
Scale can be expressed as a ratio, fraction, or verbal description.
What is a Mercator Projection?
A cylindrical map projection that distorts size but preserves shape, particularly near the equator.
It is commonly used for marine navigation.
Define Choropleth.
A thematic map that uses color or shading to represent data values in predefined areas.
Choropleth maps are often used to show population density or election results.
What is a Graduated symbol?
A symbol that changes in size according to the value it represents.
Graduated symbols are useful for visualizing quantitative data.
What does Relative location mean?
The position of a place in relation to other locations.
Relative location can help in understanding spatial relationships and accessibility.
Define Site in geography.
The physical characteristics of a place, including its location, landscape, and resources.
Site influences the development and function of a location.
What is Situation?
The location of a place relative to its surroundings and other places.
Situation affects accessibility and economic relationships.
Define Stimulus diffusion.
The spread of an underlying principle, even though a specific characteristic is rejected.
This occurs when innovations spread but are adapted to fit local cultures.
What is Culture?
The shared practices, values, and beliefs of a group of people.
Culture encompasses language, religion, cuisine, social habits, and more.
What is the Prime meridian?
The meridian at 0 degrees longitude, serving as the starting point for measuring longitude.
The Prime Meridian runs through Greenwich, England.
What is a Cartogram?
A map in which the sizes of areas are scaled according to a specific variable, rather than land area.
Cartograms can effectively visualize statistical data.
Define Longitude.
The measurement of distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
Longitude is expressed in degrees, with the Prime Meridian as the reference.
