Unit 1 Flashcards
Absolute Distance
The distance that can be measured with a standard unit length, such as a mile or kilometer
Absolute Location
Exact location of a place on the earth described by global coordinates
Cartogram
A map in which statistical information is shown in diagrammatic form
Census
Population count
Choropleth map
A thematic map that uses colors on political maps
Clustering
If objects in an area are close together, referring to concentration
Concentration
A distribution property that is the extent of a features spread over space, relating to clustering and dispersal
Density
A distribution property where the frequency with which something occurs in
Distance Decay
The effects of distance on interaction, generally the greater the distance the less interaction
Dot Distribution Map
A map where dots are used to demonstrate the frequency or intensity of a particular phenomena
Environmental Determinism
A nineteenth- and early twentieth-century approach to the study of geography that argued that the general laws sought by human geographers could be found in the physical sciences. Geography was therefore the study of how the physical environment caused human activities
Formal regions
Also called uniform regions, an area that has striking similarities in terms of one or a few physical or cultural features
Functional region
A region defined by the particular set of activities or interactions that occur within it
GIS (Geographic information system)
A computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data
Geographic scale
The scale at which a geographer analyzes a particular phenomenon, for example: global, National, census tract, neighborhood, etc. Generally, the finger the scale of analysis, the richer the level of detail in the findings
Geospatial
Relating to or denoting data that is associated with a particular location
Globalization
Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope
Graduated symbol
A map with symbols that change in size according to the value of the attribute they represent
Isoline map
A thematic map with colors and not political boundaries
Landscape analysis
The process of describing and interpreting the landscape ecology of an area
Map projection
A way of representing the spherical earth on a surface or map
Mental map
An internal representation of a portion of Earth’s surface based on what an individual knows about a place, containing personal impressions of what is in a place and where places are located
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
Qualitative data
Describes, characteristics, approximates, descriptions, based off opinion
Quantitative data
Data associated with mathematical models and statistical techniques used to analyze spatial location and association
Reference maps
Maps that show the absolute location of places and geographic features determined by a frame of reference, typically latitude and longitude
Relative distance
Approximate measurement of the physical space between two places
Relative location
The position of a place in relation to another place
Remote sensing
The acquisition of data about Earth’s surface from a satellite orbiting the planet or other long-distance methods
Satellite navigation system
Portable device that uses GPS to plot the user’s position
Spatial
Relating to or occupying space
Sustainability
The use of Earth’s renewable and non renewable natural resources in ways that do not constrain resource use in the future
Thematic map
A type of map that displays one or more variables such as population, or income level-within a specific area
Space-time compression
The reduction in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place, as a result of improved communications and transportation systems
