Test 1 Flashcards
What is Space?
The areal extent of something; used in both absolute (objective) and relative (perceptual) forms
“Spacial” definition
refers to space on the earths surface; synonymous with geographic.
“Perception” definition
The process by which humans acquire information about physical and social environments; a way of interpreting one’s lived experience.
Mental (perceptual) map
an image of how a space is organised based on ones lived experience.
Geographic Scale
The territorial extent or level of analysis, such as local, regional and global
“Toponym” definition
The common name given to a location; a place name.
Site
The physical attributes or characteristics of a location.
“Situation” definition
The geographic context of a location, relative to other locations.
Relative location refers to…
the location of one place or site using other locations as a reference point
“Absolute Space” definition
the amount of space that can objectively be measured with definable boundaries, and remains stable over time
“Relative space” definition
subject to continuous change and to differences in interpretation
True or False: Toponyms are sometimes contested and can change over time
True
True or False: a sense of place is a place that evokes positive feelings
False. A sense of place can evoke positive of negative feelings.
True or False: Regionalization is Objective
False. Regionalization is Subjective
“Place” definition
a location that has acquired particular meaning or significance.
Sense of place
the feeling evoked by, or deep attachments to, specific locations (places) such as home, that result from the experiences individuals associate with the location.
Sacred place
a location with particular significance to an individual or a group, usually (but not necessarily) for religious reasons.
Placelessness
The nature of locations that lack uniqueness or individual character; used for homogenous and standardized landscapes
“Region” definition
A part of the earth’s surface that displays internal homogeneity and is relatively distinct from surrounding areas according to certain criteria; a contiguous spatial unit.
Regionalization
The process of classifying locations or areas of the earth’s surface into various regions.
Formal (uniform) region
An area (region) that possesses a certain degree of uniformity with respect to one or more physical or cultural traits.
Functional (nodal) region
An area (region) organized around a node or focal point, and unified by specific economic, political, or social activity.
Vernacular (perceptual) region
An area (region) identified on the basis of the perceptions held by people inside or outside the region, or both.
Landscape
The characteristics, or overall appearance, of a particular area or location, comprising of natural and human influences.
Cultural Landscape
The characteristics or overall appearance or a particular area or location, resulting from human modification of the natural environment.
Distribution
The spatial arrangement of geographic phenomena within an area; includes density, concentration and pattern
Density
A measure of the relationship between the number of geographic phenomena and a unit of area; typically expressed as a ratio
Concentration
The spread of geographic phenomena over a given area
Clustered ( agglomerated)
One of two common forms of concentration; occur when the distance between geographic phenomena is small; clustering occurs when geographic phenomena move closer together, sometimes around a nucleus
Dispersed (deglomerated)
One of two forms of concentration; occur when the distance between geographic phenomena is large; dispersion occurs when geographic phenomena move apart from one another
Pattern
The geometric, regular, or other spatial arrangement of geographic phenomena in a given area
Diffusion
The process of geographic phenomena over space and through time
Cultural diffusion
The process of cultural phenomena spreading over space and through time
Hearth
The area where a particular cultural trait originates
Relocation Diffusion
One of two forms of diffusion in which geographic phenomena are physically moved from one area to another, such as through immigration or trade
Expansion diffusion
One of two basic forms of diffusion in which geographic phenomena spread from one another through an additive process
Contagious diffusion
One of two forms of expansion diffusion in which geographic phenomena spread rapidly throughout an area
Hierarchical diffusion
One of two forms of expansion diffusion in which geographic phenomena spread first to key people and places and then gradually throughout the rest of a population or area
Spatial Interaction
The nature and extent of the relationship or linkages between locations; the extent of spatial interactions is related to the distances between locations and the physical and intangible connections between them
Distance decay
The effets of distance on spacial interaction; generally intensity of interaction decreases with increasing distance
Friction of distance
A measure of the restraining effect of distance on human interaction and movement; generally greater time and cost are incurred with increasing distance.
Connectivity
The direct and indirect linkages between two or more locations
True or False: Travel time is absolute
False: travel time is relative
Economic distance
The cost incurred to overcome physical distance
Psychological (perceptual) distance
Distance relates to one’s state of mind, which may be influenced by experience, knowledge, or emotions
What are the 3 main components that make up a geographer’s understanding of distribution ?
Density, concentration and pattern
What are the 2 major concepts to understand connections between people and places?
Diffusion and interaction
Reference map
A map portraying the absolute locations of places and geographic phenomena using a standard frame of reference, such as the global grid
Thematic map
An analytical tool to illustrate and emphasize the spatial variation of a particular theme or attribute
Dot map
A thematic map where dots or scale adjusted symbols represent geographic phenomena
Choropleth map
A thematic map using colour or shading to indicate intensity of geographic phenomena
Isopleth map
A thematic map using lines to connect locations of equal value with respect to geographic phenomenon
Cartogram
A thematic map where the size and shape of spatial areas are intentionally distorted and replaces by the relative magnitude of the geographic phenomena
True or False: maps are deceptive
True
What are the 3 ways to depict the map scale?
Ratio, graphical and textual
Remote sensing
A series of techniques used for collecting spatial data through instruments that are physically distant from the object of study
Less developed world
A large group of countries characterized by low standards of living and social well-being
More developed world
A group of countries, including Canada, the US, and others, that are characterized by a high standard of living and social well being
Demography
The study of human populations
Census
The periodic enumeration of all individuals and collection of demographic and other data in a given country at a particular point in time
Physiological density
Population per unit of cultivable land
3 main areas where population is concentrated
East Asia, South-Central America, and to a lesser extent Europe
Fertility
A populations natural capability of having children; also used to refer to the actual number of live births produced by a woman
Fecundity
A biological term for the potential capability of having children; refer to the potential rather than the actual number of live births
Replacement level fertility
The level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next; each couple has just enough children to replace themselves
Mortality
Deaths as a component of population change
Population momentum
The tendency for population growth to continue beyond the time that replacement level fertility has been reached because of the relatively high number of people in the child bearing years
Doubling time
The number of years required for the population of an area to double its present size, given the current rate of population growth
Carrying Capacity
The maximum population that can be supported by a given level of technology
Population Pyramid
A diagrammatic representation of the age and sex composition of a population
Sex ratio
The number of males per 100 females in a population
Population aging
A process in which the proportion of elderly people in a population increases and the proportion of younger people decreases, resulting in increased median age of population
Malthusian Theory
food production increases at an arithmetic rate and population increases at a geometric rate; therefore at some point population will exceed the food supply
Malthus’s Preventative checks
delayed marriage & moral restraint
Malthus’s Positive checks
War & famine
What is a modern day positive check
stress on the environmental systems
what do populations typically undergo as a demographic transition occurs?
an epidemiological transition
