Chapter 1 Flashcards
Geography
The study of how natural and human phenomena are distributed across the Earth’s surface and how they interact.
Spatial Science
A way geographers approach their work, focusing on understanding how and why things vary across Earth’s surface.
Location
Refers to the specific position of something in space. It identifies where an object or place exists geographically.
Place
Describes the human and natural characteristics that make a location unique. It focuses on what gives a specific area its identity.
Spatial Pattern
The arrangement of natural or human phenomena across the Earth. It shows how things like populations or landscapes are spread out.
Spatial Interaction
How different elements within the Earth system influence each other to form geographic patterns. It studies movement and connections between places.
Human Geography
The study of spatial aspects of human activities, culture, and society. It includes how people interact with their environments and create places.
Physical Geography
Focuses on the natural aspects of geography, such as climate, landforms, and ecosystems. It examines Earth’s physical processes and landscapes.
Continuum of Geography
Describes how geography is a broad field that spans from physical to human geography, showing its interconnected nature. It can be visualized through diagrams that illustrate this range.
Hypothesis
An educated guess or proposed explanation made based on limited evidence. It serves as a starting point for further investigation.
Theory
A well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that is supported by repeated experiments and observations.
Maps
Essential tools for geographers, used to represent spatial distributions of phenomena. They visually display data like locations, densities, or relationships.
Spatial Data
Information that is collected to create maps, showing how objects or phenomena are distributed in space.
Qualitative Map Data
Information expressed in terms of qualities, such as the presence or absence of a feature, like vegetation types in a region.
Quantitative Map Data
Numerical data, such as elevation or temperature, used to show precise measurements on maps.
Choropleth Map
A map that uses different colors to show variations in quantities, like population density, within defined areas.
Dasymetric Map
A map that combines statistical data with geographic information to highlight patterns across similar areas.
Isarithmic Map
A map that uses lines (isolines) to connect points of equal value, such as elevation or air pressure, to show continuous data.
Topographic Map
A map that uses contour lines to depict elevation and landforms. It shows the three-dimensional features of the Earth’s surface.
Index Contour
The heavier contour lines on a topographic map that have elevations printed on them, marking significant height differences.
Intermediate Contour
The lighter contour lines between index contours on a topographic map, indicating less significant elevation changes.
Supplemental Contour
Additional contour lines used on topographic maps to show small elevation changes in flat areas.
Benchmark
A point of known elevation on a map, marked with symbols like “BM” or a triangle, used as a reference for elevation measurements.
Graduated Circle Map
A map that uses circles of varying sizes to represent the magnitude of a geographic phenomenon, such as population size.
Dot Map
A map that uses dots to show the presence or distribution of a phenomenon, like the location of cities.
Isoline
A line on a map that connects points of equal value, such as temperature or elevation, to represent continuous data.
Contour Line
Lines on a topographic map that connect points of equal elevation, showing the shape and height of the land.
Isobar
A line on a map that connects points of equal air pressure, used to display weather patterns.
Gradient
The rate of change in a value, such as elevation, over a specific distance on a map.
Reference Map
A type of map designed to assist with navigation and provide general geographic information about an area.
Thematic Map
A map created to illustrate specific geographic concepts, such as population density or climate patterns.
Map Projection
A method of flattening the Earth’s curved surface onto a two-dimensional map. It helps represent the globe in a usable format.
Map Scale
The relationship between a distance on the map and the actual distance on the Earth’s surface.
Large Scale Map
A map that shows a smaller area with greater detail. It is useful for detailed studies of small regions.
Small Scale Map
A map that shows a larger area with less detail, ideal for giving an overview of vast regions.
Air Photograph
Images captured from aircraft that provide a real-world view of the Earth’s surface, showing land use and topography.
Remote Sensing
The use of satellites to capture images and data about Earth’s surface features from space, providing a broader perspective.
Geographic Information System (GIS)
A computer system for collecting, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographic information in layers to reveal spatial relationships.
Models
Simplified representations of real-world systems or phenomena used to study their behavior and relationships.
Statistic
A numerical value calculated from a sample of data, used to analyze or summarize geographic phenomena.
Graph
A visual representation of the relationship between two or more variables, often used to show trends or comparisons.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
A satellite-based system used for determining precise locations on Earth. It involves satellites, ground stations, and receivers.
Latitude and Longitude
A grid system of lines encircling the globe, used to represent locations on Earth.
Models
Simplified representations of real-world systems or phenomena used to study their behavior and relationships.
Example: A climate model is used to simulate the behavior of the atmosphere.
Statistic
A numerical value calculated from a sample of data, used to analyze or summarize geographic phenomena.
Example: The mean temperature is a statistic used to summarize climate data.
Graph
A visual representation of the relationship between two or more variables, often used to show trends or comparisons.
Example: A bar graph is used to compare the population of different cities.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
A satellite-based system used for determining precise locations on Earth. It involves satellites, ground stations, and receivers.
Example: GPS is commonly used for navigation and mapping.
Latitude and Longitude
A grid system of lines encircling the globe, used to pinpoint specific locations on Earth’s surface.
Example: The coordinates 40° N, 75° W represent a location in the United States.
Prime Meridian
The line of 0° longitude, used as the reference for measuring east and west on Earth.
Example: Greenwich, England is the location of the Prime Meridian.
Great Circle
A circle formed by passing a plane through the center of a sphere, representing the shortest path between two points on Earth.
Example: The equator is a great circle that divides the Earth into northern and southern hemispheres.
Small Circle
A circle formed by slicing through a sphere without passing through its center, used to represent certain geographic zones.
Example: The Tropic of Cancer is a small circle that marks the northernmost point where the sun appears directly overhead.
Universal Transverse Mercator Grid (UTM)
A coordinate system used to map Earth’s surface with high accuracy, based on the UTM projection.
Example: UTM coordinates are commonly used in military operations and land surveying.
Geographical Zones
Regions of the Earth divided by latitude and climate characteristics, often used to define homogeneous areas.
Example: The tropical zone is a geographical zone characterized by warm temperatures and high humidity.
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
The global time standard based on the prime meridian. It uses a 24-hour clock system to mark the world’s time zones.
Example: GMT is used as the reference time for aviation schedules.
Universal Coordinated Time (UTC)
The modern name for GMT, still based on the prime meridian and used as the global standard for timekeeping.
Example: UTC is used in international telecommunications to standardize time references.
International Date Line
An imaginary line at roughly 180° longitude where one day changes to the next.
Example: Crossing the International Date Line from west to east results in gaining a day.
Daylight Saving Time
The practice of adjusting clocks forward in the spring and backward in the fall to make better use of daylight hours.
Example: Daylight Saving Time was implemented to save energy during World War I.
