Unit 1 Flashcards
Physical Geography
The study of natural processes and the distribution of features in an environment.
Human Geography
The study of the events and processes that have shaped how humans understand, use, and alter the earth.
Spatial Perspective
refers to where something occurs.
ecological perspective
relationship between living things and their environments
Location
is the position that a point or object occupies earth
Absolute Location
the exact location of an object
Relative location
description of where a place is in relation to other places or features
place
related to, but different from location, place is a location on Earth distinguished by its physical and human characteristics
mental map
internalized representations of portions of Earth’s surface
Site
Absolute location, as well as physical characteristics
Situation
a place’s connections and location in relation other paces.
Space
area between two or more places on Earth
Distribution
How things are arranged in a given space
Density
The number of things (people, animals, objects) in a specific area
pattern
How things are arranged in a particular space
flow
how a given space changes over time as things move from one place to another
environmental determinism
human behavior is largly controled by the physical environment
possiblism
humans can adapt to their environments
sustainability
Use of Earth’s resources to ensure they’ll be there in the future
Scale
Area of the world being studied
region
Area of Earth’s surface with certain characteristics that make it distinct from other areas.
Formal (Uniform) region
Area with one or more shared characteristics (can be landforms, cultures, regions etc.)
Functional (nodal) region
area organized by its functions around a focal point (center of interest or activity)
perceptual / vernacular region
region that reflects people’s feelings and attitudes about a place
Node
focal point of a functional region
Suburb
residential areas surrounding a city
globalization
the expansion of economic, cultural, and political processes on a worldwide
scale
theory
system of Ideas intended to explain
certain phenomena
World system theory
describes the spatial + functional relationships between countries in the world economy.
Core
wealthier countries with higher education levels and more advanced technology
semi - periphery
countries that have both core and periphery processes
periphery
countries that have less wealth, lower education, and less sophisticated technology
sustainable development
development that meets the needs. of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
quantitative
Information measured by numbers
qualitative
interpretations of data sources
census
An official count of the number of people in a defined area.
Geographic information sustems (GIS)
sophisticated mapping software systems
topography
the shape and features of land surfaces
remote sensing
the method of using geospatial technology to gather data remotely
Global positioning system (GPS)
network of 31 satellites (in the U.S. system ) that transmits location data to handheld receivers
cartographers
create maps
absolute distance
distance that can be measured with a standard unit of length
relative distance
distance measured in terms of other criteria
absolute direction
The cardinal directions
relative direction
directions based on people’s perceptions (right, left, up, down)
Abiotic systems
non - living part of ecosystem that shapes environment. (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere etc.)
Biotic systems
living things within the environment
Climate
the weather conditions in an area that prevail for a long period of time
weather
the state of the atmosphere at a place and time
Connection
refer to the ties of 2 seperate places whether it be through transportation, politics, or culture
Conservation
prevention of wasteful use of a resource
Preservation
The act of preserving (maintain something in original state.)
Contagious diffusion
the process of an idea being spread rapidly throughout the population
Spreads quickly and everywhere
cultural ecology
A culture’s adaptation to the environment
How we live our lives is in balance with nature
cultural landscape
a place with many layers of history that evolves through design and over time
Dot map
map where dots are used to show locations of certain events
Geospatial
relating to data that is associated with a particular location
hearth
region from which innovative ideas originate
hierarchical diffusion
The spread of an idea from people or nodes of authority. (for ex, hip hop)
Spreads through a structure
relocation diffusion
The spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another
No new individuals added with relocation
Spatial diffusion
begins at a clear point of origin and spreads from there. The spread of human culture
stimulus diffusion
The spread of an underlying principle.
Trait changes a little as it diffuses (takes on different aspects. For example: McDonalds)
Latitude
the numbering system used to indicates the location of a parallel
Parallel
a circle drawn around the globe parallel to the equator and at right angles to meridians (helps with the time zones)
Longitude
the numbering system used to indicate the location of a meridian (helps establish time zones)
Meridian
an arc between the north and the south poles and helps define time zones along with parallels
Prime meridian
the meridian that passes through Greenwich, England at 0 degree longitude (12 hours of light everyday)
International Date Line
Follows closely at 180 degrees longitude. When you past it heading East, the clock moves back 24 hours and vice versa
Toponym
Location name - usually reflective of culture and history
Reference maps
Map that shows where something is in space
Spatial distribution
The arrangement of a phenomena across Earth’s surface
Spatial Association
A general term that encompasses a number of ways in which events measurements or places are related in space
Thematic map
Map focused on a particular topic or theme
Topographic map
Describes the shape of the land
Transnational
Refers to things that take place across national borders
Global scale
Identifies broad patterns that encompass the entire world
Regional scale
Interactions within a region/ regional setting
National scale
A scale as viewed across the whole country
Local scale
Spatial scale that is a community
