Unit 1 Flashcards
Elevation
Elevation is distance above sea level
GIS
A geographic information system (GIS) is designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, and present numerous types of spatial and/or geographical data.
International date line
is a boundary from which each calendar day starts. The date line runs from the North Pole to the South Pole through the Pacific Ocean.
Place
describes the physical and human characteristics of any location on Earth.
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 a course of action from many alternatives.
Prime meridian
The prime meridian is the line of 0° longitude, the starting point for measuring distance both east and west around Earth (up and down)
Reference maps
eference maps are maps that show where something is in space. Their purpose is to display geographical data (landforms, coastlines, waterways, etc.) and political data (political boundaries, settlements, transportation networks, etc.) for their own sake
Region
Any area differentiated from surrounding areas by at least one characteristic
Remote sensing
Studying an object or location without making physical contact with it. For example, satellites have mapped the ocean floor by studying gravity waves
Scale
the relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole
Spatial data
information that has a geographic aspect to it. In other words, the records in this type of information set have coordinates, an address, city, postal code, or zip code included with them. The most obvious example is a road map.
Thematic maps
shows the spatial distribution of one or more specific data themes for selected geographic areas.
Time space compression
The reduction in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place, as a result of improved communications and transportation system
Vernacular/perceptual
An area that people believe exist as part of their cultural identity
