Chapter 1 vocabulary Flashcards
geography
the study of where things are found on Earth’s surface and the reasons for the locations
map
a two-dimensional, or flat, representation of Earth’s surface or a portion of it
cartography
the science of map making
model
a simplified abstraction of reality, structured to clarify casual relationships; used by geographers to explain patterns, make informed decisions, and/or predict future behaviors
map scale
the relationship between the size of an object on a map and the size of the actual feature on Earth’s surface
projection
a system used to transfer locations from Earth’s surface to a flat map
Robinson Projection
useful for displaying information across the ocean
Mercator Projection
used to show directions to any location
distortion
misrepresentation of the area, size, and/or shape of a place on earth (typically land masses) resulting in the attempt to represent the round world/globe on a flat map
meridian
an arc drawn on a map between the North and South poles
longitude
the numbering system used to indicate the location of meridians drawn on a globe and measuring distance east to west of the prime meridian
prime meridian
the meridian, designated as 0 degrees longitude, that passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England
parallel
a circle drawn around the globe parallel to the equator and at right angles to the meridians
latitude
the numbering system used to indicate the location of parallels drawn on a globe and measuring distance north and south of the equator
equator
imaginary circle (line) that lies exactly halfway between North/South at 0 degrees latitude
absolute location
use of a coordinate system to have precise plotting for a location on Earth’s surface; can include the idea of formalized addresses
relative location
description of a place’s location based upon its locational relationship to other human and/or physical features
time zones
an area with an established standard time
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
the time in the zone encompassing the prime meridian, or 0 degrees longitude
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
geographic information science
the development and analysis of data about Earth acquired through satellite and other electronic information technologies
remote sensing
the acquisition of data about Earth’s surface from a satellite orbiting the planet or from other long-distance methods
global positioning systems (GPS)
a system that determines the precise position of something on Earth through a series of satellites, tracking stations, and receivers
global information systems (GIS)
a computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data
mashup
a map that overlays data from one source on top of a map provided by a mapping service
place
a specific point on Earth, distinguished by a particular characteristic
location
the position of anything on Earth’s surface
toponym
the name given to a portion of Earth’s surface
site
the physical character of a place
situation
the location of a place relative to another place
region
an area distinguished by a unique combination of trends or features
cultural landscape
an approach to geography that emphasizes the relationships among social and physical phenomena in a particular study area
regional studies (aka cultural landscape approach)
the relationship between social and physical elements in a distinguished area
sequent occupance
idea proposed in 1929 by Derwent Whittlesey referring to sequential imprints of cultural occupants whose impacts are layered one on top of the other, each layer has some impact on the next
formal region (aka uniform or homogenous)
an area in which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics
functional region (aka nodal)
an area organized around a node or focal point
vernacular region (aka perceptual)
an area that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity
mental map
a representation of a portion of Earth’s surface based on what an individual knows about a place that contains personal impressions of what is in the place and where the place is located
culture
the body of customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits that together constitute a group’s distinct tradition
scale
generally, the relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and earth as a whole
globalization
actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope
transnational corporation
a company that conducts research, operates factories, and sells products in many countries, not just where its headquarters or shareholders are located
space
the physical gap or interval between two objects
distribution
the arrangement of something across Earth’s surface
density
the frequency with which something exists within a given unit or area
concentration
the spread of something over a given area
clustered (aka agglomerated)
the features are close together
dispersed (aka scattered)
the features are far apart from each other
pattern
the geometric or regular arrangement of something in a particular area
connection
the relationships among people and objects across the barrier of space
hearth
the region from which innovative ideas originate
diffusion
the process of spread of a feature or trend from one place to another over time
relocation diffusion
the spread of a feature or trend through bodily movement of people from one place to another
expansion diffusion
the spread of a feature or trend among people from one area to another in an additive process
hierarchical diffusion
the spread of a feature or trend from one key person or node of authority or power to other persons or places
contagious diffusion
the rapid, widespread diffusion of a feature or trend throughout a population
stimulus diffusion
the spread of an underlying principle even though a specific characteristic is rejected
distance decay
the diminished importance and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon with increasing distance from its origin
space-time compression
the reduction in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place as a result of improved communications and transportation systems
network
a chain of communication that connects places
core countries (aka developed)
wealthiest and most developed countries, sites where we can find higher levels of education, higher salaries, and more technology which collectively enhance pace of wealth accumulation
periphery countries (aka developing)
poorest and less/ least developed countries, sites where we can find lower levels of education, lower salaries, and less technology which collectively limited pace of wealth accumulation
uneven development
the increasing gap in economic conditions between core and peripheral regions as a result of the globalization of the economy
resource
a substance in the environment that is useful to people, is economically and technologically feasible to access, and is socially acceptable to use
renewable resource
something produced in nature more rapidly than it is consumed by humans
nonrenewable resource
something produced in nature more slowly than it is consumed by humans
sustainability
the use of Earth’s renewable and nonrenewable natural resources in ways that do not constrain resource use in the future
conservation
the sustainable management of a natural resource
preservation
the maintenance of resources in their present condition, which has little human impact as possible
climate
the long-term average weather condition at a particular location
ecosystem
a group of living organisms and the abiotic spheres with which they interact
ecology
the scientific study of ecosystems
cultural ecology
a geographic approach that emphasizes human-environment relationships
environmental determinism
a nineteen and early twentieth century approach to the study of geography which argued that the general law sought by human geographer could be found in the physical sciences.
possibilism
the theory that the physical environment may set limits on human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to the physical environment and choose an course of action from many alternatives
