Chapter 1 Flashcards
what is the difference between geography and history?
history answers the “when and why” question whereas geography answers the “where and why “ question.
what is contemporary human geography?
the scientific study of where people and activities are found across earth’s surface and the reason why they are there.
What are the 2 basic concepts to explain why every place is unique? describe them.
- Place: specific point on earth distinguished by specific characteristics.
- Region: an area of earth defined by one or more distinctive characteristics.
what are 3 concepts to explain how different points are related?
- scale: relationship between the portion of earth being studied and earth as a whole.
- Space: physical gap/interval between objects.
- connection: relationship between people and objects across space.
geographers are concerned with _____
global scale
geographers and concerned with the various ______
means that connections occur
what is the geographic information science (gis)
analysis of data about earth acquired through satellite and other electronic information technologies.
what 4 points does the geographic information science provide?
1- helps determine if relationships between objects are related of coincidence
2- captures, stores, queries, and displays geographic data.
3- produces maps that are more accurate/attractive
4- helps measure changes of characteristics over time.
what is photogrammetry?
the science of taking measurements of surface from photographs
what is remote sensing?
acquisition of data about earths surface from a satellite orbiting earth or tore methods.
what is the global positioning unit (gps)?
system that determines the precise position of something with satellites, tracking stations, and receivers.
what is geotagging?
the identification and storage of a piece of info by its precise latitude and longitude.
what is participatory GIS?
community-based mapping, representing local knowledge and information.
in geography, what is a mashup?
map that overlays data from one source on top of a map provided by a mapping service.
what is a map scale and what ways was it presenting?
relationship between size of an object on a map and the size of the actual feature on earth’s surface. presented in ratio, description, or barline.
what is projection?
system used to transfer locations from earths surface to a flat map.
what are the four major different methods for projection? what do they do?
- mercator projection: very little shape and direction distortion, relative size is distorted and causes the high latitudes to look better.
- Gall-peters: distorts shape, not relative size
- Goode homosline: separates E and W hemispheres in 2, known as interruption
- Robinson: allocates lots of space for oceans, land becomes smaller.
what are the 4 types of distortion that can happen on a map?
shape, distance, relative size, direction.
for latitude and longitude, which in natural and which is a human creation?
latitude: natural
longitude: human creation
what is the geographic grid?
imaginary arcs drawn in a grid pattern on earths surface
what is the difference between meridian and parallel?
meridian: arc between N and S poles. related to longitude
parallel: circle around globe to the equator. related to latitude.
what is the prime meridian?
the meridian at 0 degrees longitude that passes through the royal observatory in greenwich England.
how many time zones are there and by how many degrees are they divided by?
24 time zones, divided by 15 degrees.
what is the international date line?
at 180 degrees longitude that, when you cross heading east to the usa, clock moves back 24 hours.
what is location?
position of anything of earth.
what are 3 ways to identify location?
- place name: toponym refers to the name given to that portion on earth’s surface
- site: physical characteristics that make a place unique.
- situation: the location of a place relative to other places or things
what are the 3 different types of regions?
- Formal region (uniform): area in which most people share in one or more distinctive characteristics. can be proven to exist.
- functional region (Nodal): area organized around a focal point (water system, cell phone coverage etc) have a use and is based around something.
- vernacular region (perceptual): area people believe exist as a part of their cultural identity. opinions about a region.
describe globalization.
actions or processes that involve entire world and result in making something worldwide inscope
transnational corporations…
operates, sells, and researches in countries other than where their headquarters and contributes to globalization.
what is spatial association?
relationship between distribution of one feature and the distribution of another.
what is distribution and its 3 main properties?
the arrangements of something across earths surface.
- density: the frequency something exists
- concentration: spread of something over given area
- pattern: geometric or regular arrangement of something in an area
what is unevendevelopment?
increasing gap in economic conditions between core and peripheral regions as a result of globalization of the economy.
what is diffusion?
process of spread of a feature of trend from one place to another over time.
what is expansion diffusion and what does it result from?
spread of a feature or trend among people from one area to another in an additive process.
- hierarchal diffusion: spread from one key person of power to another
- contagious: rapid, widespread diffusion of a feature or trend throughout a population(viral).
- stimulus: spread of an underlying principle
what is relocation diffusion?
spread through bodily movement of people form one place to another.
what results from the connections between cultural groups?
- assimilation: one groups features resembles the others
- acculturation: changes in culture that result from the meeting of 2 groups, each remain distinct.
- syncretism: combining elements of 2 groups into new cultural feature.
what is a network?
chain of communication that connects people.
what is distance decay?
when a phenomenon loses importance as it goes from place of origin.
what is sustainability and its 3 pillars?
using resources that does not constraint future use.
- environment: sustainable use/management of earth natural resources to meet human need
- social: consumer choices regarding sustainability
- economic: greater supply of resource, the cheaper it will be
what is cultural ecology?
the study of human-environment relationships.
what is environmental determinism?
approach that argued physical environment caused social development.
what is the theory of possibillism?
environment limits human action, but people can adjust physical environment and choose different actions.
what is a polder?
land created by draining water from it.
what is the difference between absolute and relative location?
- Absolute: precise system of locating phenomenon in space using latitude and longitude.
- Relative: position of a place or activity in relation to other paces/activities and is not precise or unique
what is the difference between absolute and relative direction?
- Absolute: non-culture bound, based on cardinal or compass points
- Relative: culturally dependent and vary by location
what is the difference between absolute and relative distance?
- Absolute: spatial separation between two places (like distance in km)
- relative: measurements of separation that are based on the person explaining it. (like saying “10 minutes away”)
what are thematic maps?
maps that tell a story about the degree of an attribute, the pattern of distribution, or movement. (like identifying rainfall or languages in a location)
what are some strategies to portray thematic data?
- proportional symbol: different shape sizes on a map
- dot maps: dots represent density with ratios
- isopleth: use lines to connect points of equal value and ignores boundaries
- choropleth: numerical data by intensity of colour and uses boundaries.
what is a cartogram?
maps with areas scaled to show some other value than shear size
how many time zones are in Canada?
6
what are activity spaces?
most detailed part of your mental map
what is a sense of place?
infusing place with meaning and emotion
what is perception of place?
belief or understanding of what a place is like
what is the difference between a natural and cultural landscape?
- natural: physical setting for human activity, helps to shape how people live
- cultural: visible expression of human activity or influence on environment
what impacts did COVID had on globalization that were in the article by Shrestha?
mobility, major industries, health care capacity, food and agriculture
