Geography Flashcards
absolute distance
Distance that can be measured with a standard unit of length
absolute location
Location using latitude and longitude
accessibility
The relative ease with which a destinatin may be reached
activity spaces
The area within which people move freely on their rounds of regular activity
agricultural density
The ratio of the number of farmers to the total amount of land suitable for agriculture
anthropogenic
Having to do with the study of people and their shaping of the Earth’s surface
arithmetic density
Or population density, people per amount of land
Azimuthal projection (Polar or Planar Projection)
A map projection in which the distance and direction of any point on a map from the center of it is known to be accurate; all other distances are incorrect
Cardinal and Intermediate Directions
Cardinal directions are N, E, S, W and Intermediate directions are the measurements between Cardinal directions (NE, SE, SW, NW)
Carl Sauer
The theorist who developed the idea of environmental possibilism, which states that humans are not only a product of their environment, but they also have the skills to modify the environment
Cartogram
A map in which size on the map equals value (such as the map where countries are redrawn based on population)
Cartography
The science of making maps
Centralized Pattern
A pattern in which a characteristic is clustered or concentrated at a concentrated place
Choropleth Thematic Map
A map in which colors and shading represent information within boundaries (think of maps showing democratic/republican party in US)
Concentration
The spread of something over a given area
Conformal (Orthomorphic) Projection
A map in which angles formed by lines are preserved, preserving the shape of any small area
Conic Map
A map in which meridians radiate out from an apex (they all point toward the same point) and circles of latitude are mapped to circular arcs centered on the apex
Connectivity
The degree of economic, social, cultural, or political connection between two places
Contagious Diffusion
The rapid spread through contact in a population, which is usually widespread, and can be a disease
Coordinate System
A standard grid composed of lines of latitude and longitude used to determine the absolute location of any object, place, or feature on the Earth’s surface
Cotton Belt
The region of the Southeast in reference to the old home of King Cotton
Cultural Diffusion
The movement of a cultural trait that originates in the hearth
Cultural Ecology
How environment affects people and vice versa (hot, cold, wet, dry, hilly)
Cultural Landscape
Landscapes that are symbolic to humans and are familiar/hold meaning
Culture
A collection of arts and human manifestations that are regarded collectively by a group of people
Cylindrical Map
A map in which meridians are mapped to equally spaced vertical lines and circles of latitudes are horizontal lines (Mercator)
Daylight Savings Time
Time changes used to create more daylight hours (back in November, forward in March)
density
How often an object or characteristic occurs in a given area
Diffusion
The movement of any characteristic through relocation or expansion
Distance Decay
Interaction between two places decline as the distance between them increases
Distortion
The alteration of an original shape or characteristic of something
Distribution
The arrangement and apportionment of animals, plants, characteristics, or cultures in different regions of Earth
Dot Density Map
A map that uses dots which communicate the frequency of data or population
Environmental Determinism
The theory that cultures are a result of the environment they’re set in, or the environment determines cultural traits
Epidemic and Pandemic Diseases
An Epidemic Disease occurs when the incidence rate of a disease substantially exceeds what is expected based on experience in a concentrated region, whereas a pandemic disease is an epidemic of an infectious disease that spreads through human populations across a larger region
Equal-Area Projection
A map that preserves area measure and distorts shape in order to do so (Molleweide)
Equator
0 degrees latitude
Equidistant Projection
A map that preserves distance from some standard point or line
Expansion Diffusion
The spread of a characteristic quickly through various means such as hierarchal, contagious, and stimulus
Flow-Line Map
A map in which lines represent movement or migration
Formal Region (Uniform Region)
Similar characteristics link all of the people in the area together through rules, climate, products, religion, etc.
Friction of Distance
The degree to which distance interferes with the interaction between two locations
Fuller Projection
A map that maintains shape and area but loses direction
Functional Region (Nodal Region)
A region defined around a node (central location) dominated by a characteristic, and the characteristic becomes weaker as you move further from the hearth