Chapter 1 Flashcards
Cartography
The science of map making
Equator
0 degrees latitude
GIS
Geographic Information System: A computer system that captures, stores, queries, analyzes, and displays geographic data. Can be used to produce maps that are more accurate and attractive than those drawn by hands
GPS
Global Positioning System: The system that accurately determines the precise position of something on Earth
International Date Line
Follows 180degrees longitude. If you head east, the time goes back 24 hours. If you head west, the clock goes up 24 hours
Latitude
The numbering system that indicates the location of the parallels.
Longitude
A numbering system that stretches to the poles. Helps identify the location of meridians.
Map Scale
The level of detail and the amount of area covered on a map
Mercator Projection
A map that has very little distortion in shape, a consistent direction, and a rectangular map. The only disadvantage is the distorted scaling on the poles
Prime Meridian
The meridian that passes through Greenwich England which is at 0 degrees longitude
Projection
The scientific method of transferring locations on Earth’s surface to a flat map
Remote Sensing
The acquisition of data about earths surface from a satellite orbiting earth or from other long-distance methods
Robinson Projection
useful for displaying information across oceans. Its disadvantage is is that the land areas are much smaller due to the increased size of the ocean. (Oval Shaped map)
Time Zones
The time of each area on a map, there are 24 timezones, some include: PCT, UT, EST,
Region
An area of Earth defined by one or more distinctive characteristics
Culture
The body of customary belief, material traits, and social forms that together constitute the distinct tradition of traditions of a group of people
Cultural Landscape
A combination of cultural features such as language and religion, economic features and industry, and physical characteristics such as climate and vegetation.
Formal Region
An area within which everyone shares a common one or more distinctive characteristics
Functional Region
Nodal region: an area organized around a node or focal point.
Location
The position that something occupies on earths surface
Place
A specific point on Earth distinguish by a particular characteristic
Site
The physical characteristic of a place
Situation
The location of a place relative to other places
Spatial Association
locations and values of samples or observations vary across space
Toponym
A name given to a place on earth
Vernacular Region
perceptual region: an area that people believe exists as a part of their cultural identity. Also known as a mental map.
Connection
refers to relationships among people and objects across the barrier of space
Concentration
the extent of a features spread over space is its concentration
Contagious Diffusion
the rapid, widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population
Density
The number of things in a certain area
Diffusion
the process by which a characteristic spreads across space from on place to another over time
Distance Decay
contact diminishes with increasing
Distribution
the arrangement of a feature in space
Expansion Diffusion
The spread of a feature from one place to another in an additive process
Globalization
A force or process that involves the entire world and results in making something worldwide in scope
Hearth
a place from which an innovation originates
Hierarchial Diffusion
The spread of an idea through persons or nodes of authority or power to one persons or places.
Pattern
third property of distribution: The geometrical arrangement of objects in space.
Relocation Diffusion
The spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another
Uneven Development
The increasing gap in economic conditions between regions in the core and periphery that results from the globalization of the economy
Scale
the relationship between the portion of the earth being studied and the earth as a whole
Space
refers to the physical gap or interval between two objects
Stimulus Diffusion
The spread of an underlying principle even though a characteristic itself apparently fails to diffuse.
Map
A two dimensional or flat-scale model of earths surface, or a portion of it
Meridian
An arch drawn between the North and South poles
Parallel
A circle drawn around the glove parallel to the equator and at right angles to the meridians.
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Also known as Universal Time (UT) which is also the time at the prime meridian, is the master reference of time for all points on earth
Geographic Information Science (GIScience)
Involves the development and analysis of data about earth acquired through satellite and other electronic information technologies
