KBAT 1 Definitions Flashcards
Absolute Location
The location of a place based on a fixed point on earth
Cartography
Science of mapmaking
Contagious Diffusion
Rapid, wide-spread diffusion of a feature/trend though out a population
Cultural Ecology
A geographical approach that emphasizes human environment relationship
Culture
Body of customary beliefs, social forms, material traits that constitute tradition
Deforestation
Clearing of trees, turning forest into cleared land
Density
Frequency with which something exists within a given unit of area
Diffusion
Spread of feature/trend from one place to another over time
Distance-Decay
Diminishing in importance of and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon with growing distance from origin
Distribution
Arrangement of something across earth’s surface
Enclave
Portion of territory within or surrounded by larger territory whose inhabitants are culturally/ethnically distinct
Environmental Determinism
Geography is the study of how physical environment caused human activities
Equator
Divides the Earth into two spheres from latitude 0 degrees
Eratosthenes
Greek geographer who devised a map of the world
Expansion Diffusion
Spread of feature/trend among people from one area to another in additive process
Favelas
A Brazilian shack, a slum
Friction of Distance
Distance usually requires effort (energy)and or money to overcome
Functional Region
An area organized around a node/focal point
GIS
A computer system stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data
GPS
System determines precise position of something on Earth through a series of satellites, tracking stations, and receivers
Hierarchical Diffusion
Spread of feature/trend from one key person/node of authority or power to other persons/places
Hearth
Region from which innovative ideas originate
International Date Line
Arc that follows 180 degrees longitude
Latitude
Measures distance north and south of equator
Longitude
Measures distance east and west of prime meridian
Mega cities
Large city, population over 10,000,000
Example: Tokyo, New York City
Mercator Projection
Map, parallel lines of latitude have same length as equator
Model
Standard/example for comparison
Possibilism
Environment sets limits on humans, but humans adapt or overcome
Prime Meridian
Passes through 0 degrees longitude and Greenwich, England
Projection
Transfer locations from Earth> map
Examples: Robinson, Mercator
Ptolemy
Ancient geographer
Region
Area distinguished by a unique combination of trends/features
Relative Location
Spread of feature/trend through movement of people from one place to another
Remote Sensing
Data about Earth from satellites or other long-distance methods
Robinson Projections
Shows entire world at once
Scale
Relationship between portion of Earth and Earth as a whole
Sequent Occupancy
Successful societies leave cultured imprints on a place
Site
Absolute location of a place described by local relief, landforms, and other cultural or physical characteristics
Situation
Relative location of a place in relation to physical and cultural characteristics of the surrounding area and the connections and interdependencies within that system
Space Time Compression
Any phenomenon that alters the qualities of and relationship between space and time
Spatial Analysis
Seeks to explain patterns of human behavior and its spatial expression in terms of mathematics and geometry
Squatter settlements
Settlement of improvised housing
Stimulus Diffusion
When a trait of one culture prompts invention or innovation in another
Time zones
Any of the roughly longitudinal divisions of the earths surface in which a standard time is kept
Tobler’s First Law
Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things
Toponym
A place name, especially one derived from a topographical feature
Uneven Development
Persistent differences in levels and rates of economic development between different sectors of the economy
Vernacular region
Area defined by local, subjective perceptions reflecting their feelings and images about key place characteristics
Human Geography
Geography and how it’s affected by humans
Spatial perspective
Focuses on the location of humans as it relates to interaction
Types of Diffusion?
Stimulus, contagious, hierarchical, and relocation
Stimulus Diffusion
Spread of underlying principle even though a characteristic itself apparently fails to diffuse
Contagious Diffusion
Rapid widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population
Hierarchical Diffusion
Spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places
Relocation Diffusion
Spread of idea through physical movement of people from one place to another
Formal Region
Pre-established regions like cities states countries…
Functional Region
Made up of central place and surrounding areas affected by it
Vernacular region
Region defined by locals and subjective perceptions
Example: The South
