Chapter 1.3 Flashcards
Cartography
the art and science of making maps
Reference maps
show locations of places and geographic features
-accurately show absolute locations of places, using a coordinate system that allows for the precise plotting of where on Earth something is
Thematic maps
tell stories, typically showing the degree of some attribute or the movement of a geographic phenomenon
GPS
-Satellite based Global Positioning System allows us to locate features on Earth with extraordinary accuracy by determining the absolute location of places or geographic features
Geocaching
popular hobby based on the use of GPS where people leave treasures (caches) somewhere, mark the coordinate on their GPS, and post clues on the Internet
Absolute location
position or place of a certain item on the surface of the Earth as expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds of latitude and longitude
EX. Chicago is 41 degrees, 53 minutes north latitude and 87 degrees, 38 minutes west longitude
Relative location
describes the location of a place in relation to other human and physical features
EX. Chicago is on Lake Michigan, south of Milwaukee
Mental maps
Image or picture of the way space is organized as determined by an individual’s perceptions, impression, and knowledge of that place
Activity space
the places we travel to routinely in our rounds of daily activity
-Mental maps of activity spaces are more accurate and detailed than our mental maps of places where we have never been
EX. If your friend asks you to meet her at a movie theater you go to frequently, your mental map will engage automatically
How men vs. women make mental maps
- Women: tend to use landmarks
- Men: tend to use paths
Terra Incognita
Unknown lands that are off-limits that are included in mental maps
Generalized maps
maps that simplify the world and help us see general trends, but we cannot see all cases of a given phenomenon
Remote sensing
A method of collecting data or information through the use of instruments (ex.satellites) that are physically distant from the area or object of study
EX. After 2010 Haiti earthquake, remotely sensed data show us the major areas of impact
GIS
- Geographic Information Systems
- Computer hardware and software that permit storage and analysis of layers of spatial data
How do geographers use GIS?
- Geographers use GIS to compare a variety of spatial data by creating digitalized representations of the environment, combining layers of spatial data, and creating maps in which patterns and processes are superimposed
- Also used to analyze data, which can give us new insights into geographic pattern and relationships
Korine Kolivras
- Used GIS to analyze the probability of dengue fever outbreaks in Hawaii
- Dengue is carried by the Aedes mosquito. Kolivras analyzed the breeding conditions, needed for the Aedes mosquito, including precipitation, topography, and several other variables, to predict what places in Hawaii are most likely to experience an outbreak of dengue fever
