AP HUG VOCAB UNIT 1 Flashcards
Map
a representation of an area of land or sea showing physical features, cities, roads, etc.
cartographer
a person who makes maps
data aggregation
the compiling of information from databases with intent to prepare combined datasets for data processing
spatial patterns
the placement or arrangement of objects on Earth’s surface; also includes the space between those objects
spatial perspective
identify use of space
reference maps
a map that shows geographic locations on Earth’s surface, such as the locations of cities or oceans
thematic maps
a map that emphasizes the spatial patterns of geographic statistics or attributes, and sometimes the relationships between them
absolute distance
the distance that can be measured with a standard unit of length, such as a foot, yard, mile, or kilometer
relative distance
shows similarity despite absolute location
clustered
when things on a map are grouped together, like data
dispersed
when things like data on a map are spread out
map projections
a method for representing the surface of Earth or a celestial sphere on a plane (two-dimensional) surface; all map projections distort some aspect of Earth’s surface
distortion
he alteration of the original shape (or other characteristic) of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation
Mercator projection
a map projection that is useful for navigation because the lines connecting points on the map represent the true compass direction; however, landmasses become increasingly distorted the farther away they are from the equator
Peters Projection
a map projection that shows all landmasses with their true areas but distorts their shapes
Goode projection
a map projection that avoids shape distortion and the restrictions of a rectangular map by creating “interruptions” in the map’s continuity; in each section, map projection regions are shown “equally”, like an orange peel being laid out in a flat surface
Robinson Projection
a map projection that attempts to create the most visually appealing representation of Earth by keeping all types of distortion relatively low over most of the map
census
an official court or survey of a population, typically recording various details about individuals, such as age, sex, and race
fieldwork
learning and doing research involving first hand experience, which takes place outside the classroom setting
absolute location
a precise position on Earth’s surface
latitude (lines)
the (invisible) horizontal lines circling Earth parallel to the equator; latitude is the degree of distance north or south from the equator, which is at 0 degrees, as far as the poles, which are at 90 degrees
longitude (lines)
The (invisible) vertical lines on Earth’s surface that mark imaginary circles connecting the North Pole with the South Pole
equator
an imaginary line around the middle of a planet or other celestial body. It is halfway between the north pole and the south pole, at 0 degrees latitude.
prime meridian
the zero degree longitude line that runs through Greenwich, England; also known as the Greenwich Meridian
Global Positioning System (GPS)
a system of 24 satellites that orbit Earth twice daily and transmit radio signals Earthward; the basis for many map-based apps that provide directions on how to get from one place to another
Geographic Information System (GIS)
a software application for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface; allows the rapid manipulation of geospatial data for problem solving and research
remote sensing
the scanning of Earth by satellite or high flying aircraft in order to obtain information about it
aerial photography
remote sensing photography that produces fine grained, high resolution, highly detailed images
satellite imagery
images of Earth’s surface gathered from sensors mounted on orbiting satellites; these sensors record in both the visible and non-visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, allowing humans to view patterns and processes that are both visible and invisible to the naked eye
Relative location
the position of one place (or person) in relation to the position of another place (or person)
space
the areas we occupy as humans; it has no value until the people who occupy it make it their own
place
how we modify space based on who we are as a group of people
cultural landscape
the built forms that cultural groups create in inhabiting Earth– farm fields, cities, houses, and so on – and the meaning, values, representations, and experiences associated with those forms
globalization
where businesses develop international influence or operate on an international scale
time space compression
the decreasing distance between places, as measured by travel time or cost; often summarized by the phrase “the world is shrinking”
time distance decay
interdependence
the ties established between regions and countries that over time collectively create a global economic system that is not necessarliy based on equality
diffusion
the pattern by which a phenomenon such as the movement of people, or their ideas, technologies, or preferences, spreads from a particular location through space and time
cultural ecology
the study of the interactions between societies and their local environments
ecosystem
a territorially bounded system consisting of the interaction between humans and the environment
environmental perception
how humans perceive nature
natural hazards
natural resources
materials that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
non renewable resources
natural resources that are available on earth in finite quantities and will eventually be used up
renewable resources
natural resources that earth will naturally replenish over time
greenhouse gasses
compounds in the atmosphere from fossil fuels combustion such as CO2 that absorb and trap heat energy close to Earth’s surface
greenhouse effect
GLOBAL WARMING
environmental determinism
the belief that the physical environment is the dominant force shaping cultures and that humanity is a passive product of its physical surroundings
possibilism
environment offers ways for society to grow from problems
global scale
geographic scale that looks at geographic phenomena across the entire world
regional scale
national scale
geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geograohic phenomena within a specific country
local style
geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena within a state or province, a city or town, or a neighborhood
global perspective
seeing and understanding how any situation impacts or relates to people around the world
region
a geographic unit based on one or more common traits
formal region
a geographical area inhabited by people who have one or more traits in common
functional region
a geographic area that has been organized to function politically, socially , culturally, or economically as one unit
nodes
FOCAL POINTS
metropolitan areas
an area composed of heavily populated urban core and its less populated surrounding areas
perceptual/vernacular region
a geographic area that is perceived to exist by its inhabitants based on the widespread acceptance and use of a unique regional name
sense of place
the strong perception of place had by people
contested boundaries
boundaries that are disputed for cultural, religious or political reasons
regional analysis
the process of examining patterns and processes within and between regions at multiple geographic scales
