Chapter 1 Flashcards
Thinking Geographically
What is a map?
A two-dimensional or flat scale model of Earth’s surface, or a portion of it
Maps can represent various features such as physical geography, political boundaries, and cultural elements.
Define ‘place’ in geographical terms.
A specific point of Earth distinguished by a particular character
Place can refer to both physical locations and cultural significance.
What is a region?
An area of Earth distinguished by a distinctive combination of cultural and physical features
Regions can be formal, functional, or vernacular.
What does ‘scale’ refer to in geography?
The relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole
Scale can be expressed in words, ratios, or graphical representations.
What is meant by ‘space’?
The physical gap or interval between two objects
Space is a critical concept in understanding geographic relationships.
Define ‘connections’ in a geographical context.
Relationships among people and objects across the barrier of space
Connections are essential for understanding cultural and economic interactions.
What is cartography?
The science of map-making
Cartography involves techniques for creating both physical and digital maps.
What is a projection in geography?
The scientific method of transferring locations on Earth’s surface to a flat map
Different projections can distort various properties of the Earth.
What does GIS stand for?
Geographic Information System
GIS is used for capturing, storing, querying, analyzing, and displaying geographic data.
What is remote sensing?
The acquisition of data about Earth’s surface from a satellite orbiting Earth or from other long-distance methods
It is crucial for environmental monitoring and resource management.
Define GPS.
Global Positioning System
GPS determines accurately the precise position of something on Earth.
What is meant by ‘location’?
The position that something occupies on Earth’s surface
Location can be described in absolute or relative terms.
What is a toponym?
The name given to a place on Earth
Toponyms can reflect geographical features, historical events, or cultural significance.
Define ‘site’.
The physical character of a place
Site includes aspects such as soil, vegetation, and water sources.
What is ‘situation’ in geography?
The location of a place relative to other places
Situation helps to understand a place’s significance within a larger context.
What is a meridian?
An arc drawn between the North and South poles
Meridians are used to measure longitude.
Define ‘parallel’.
A circle drawn around the globe parallel to the equator and at right angles to the meridians
Parallels are used to measure latitude.
What does ‘longitude’ refer to?
The numbering system used to indicate the location of meridians drawn on a globe and measuring distance east and west of the prime meridian
Longitude is measured in degrees.
What is the prime meridian?
The meridian that passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England, is 0 degrees longitude
The prime meridian serves as the starting point for measuring longitude.
Define ‘latitude’.
The numbering system to indicate the location of a parallel
Latitude is also measured in degrees, ranging from 0 to 90.
What does Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) represent?
The time in that time zone encompassing the prime meridian, or 0 degrees longitude
GMT is used as a reference for time zones worldwide.
What is the International Date Line?
An arc that for the most part follows 180 degrees longitude, although it deviates in several places to avoid dividing land areas
The International Date Line helps to manage time zones and the calendar.
Define ‘cultural landscape’.
A combination of cultural features, economic features, and physical features
Cultural landscapes reflect the interactions between humans and their environment.
What are regional studies?
Contemporary cultural landscape approach in geography
Regional studies analyze the unique characteristics of specific areas.
What is a formal region?
An area within which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics
Formal regions can be defined by cultural, physical, or economic traits.
Define ‘functional region’.
An area organized around a node or focal point
Functional regions are often defined by transportation or communication networks.
What is a vernacular region?
A place that people believe exists as a part of their cultural identity
Vernacular regions are often based on subjective perceptions.
What is a mental map?
An internal representation of a portion of Earth’s surface
Mental maps can vary significantly between individuals.
Define ‘culture’.
The body of customary beliefs, material traits, and social forms that together constitute the distinct tradition of a group of people
Culture encompasses language, religion, cuisine, and more.
What is cultural ecology?
The geographic study of human-environment relationships
Cultural ecology examines how cultures adapt to their environments.
What does environmental determinism propose?
An approach on how the physical environment caused social development
Environmental determinism suggests that environmental factors shape human behavior.
What is possibilism?
The theory that the physical environment may set limits on human actions, but people have the ability to adjust the physical environment and choose a course of action from many alternatives
Possibilism emphasizes human agency in environmental interactions.
Define ‘resources’.
Substances that are useful to people, economically and technologically feasible to access, and is socially acceptable to use
Resources can include natural resources like minerals, water, and forests.
Define globalization.
A force of process that involves the entire world and results in making something worldwide in scope
Globalization affects economies, cultures, and political systems.
What does ‘distribution’ refer to?
The arrangement of a feature in space
Distribution can be analyzed in terms of density and concentration.
What is ‘density’?
The frequency with which something occurs in space
Density can help in understanding population distribution and resource allocation.
Define ‘arithmetic density’.
The total number of objects in an area
Arithmetic density is often used in demographic studies.
What is physiological density?
The number of persons per unit of area suitable for agriculture
This metric helps to assess the pressure on agricultural land.
Define agricultural density.
The number of farmers per unit of farmland
Agricultural density provides insights into farming efficiency and land use.
What does ‘concentration’ refer to?
The extent of a feature’s spread over space
Concentration can be dispersed or clustered.
What is meant by ‘pattern’ in geography?
The geometric arrangement of objects in space
Patterns can indicate relationships between different geographic features.
Define ‘space-time compression’.
A term applied by geographers to describe the reduction in the time it takes for something to reach another place
Space-time compression is often influenced by technological advancements.
What is ‘distance decay’?
The diminishing in importance and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon with increasing distance from its origin
Distance decay can affect cultural diffusion and economic interactions.
Define ‘diffusion’.
The process by which a characteristic spreads across space from one place to another over time
Diffusion can occur through various mechanisms, including relocation and expansion.
What is a hearth in geography?
The place from which an innovation originates
Hearths are critical in studying cultural and technological advancements.
Define ‘relocation diffusion’.
The spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another
Relocation diffusion often accompanies migration.
What is expansion diffusion?
The spread of a feature from one place to another in a snowballing process
Expansion diffusion can happen through contagious or hierarchical methods.
Define ‘hierarchical diffusion’.
The spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places
Hierarchical diffusion often occurs in social networks and organizational structures.
What is contagious diffusion?
The rapid, widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population
Contagious diffusion is often seen in the spread of diseases or trends.
Define ‘stimulus diffusion’.
The spread of an underlying principle, even though a characteristic itself apparently fails to diffuse
Stimulus diffusion may lead to adaptations of ideas or products.
What does ‘uneven development’ refer to?
The increasing gap in economic conditions between regions in the core and periphery that results from globalization of the economy
Uneven development highlights disparities in wealth and access to resources.
What is a transnational corporation?
Conducts research, operates factories, and sells products in many countries
Transnational corporations play a significant role in the global economy.
All quality maps have…
a title, compass, key/legend, and scale
Large Scale Map
small portion of earth with a lot of detail
Small Scale Map
entire earth or large region shown with fewer details
Cartographer’s Challenges creating maps…
distance, size/area, shape, direction
