Unit 1 Flashcards
Relative to a fixed from of reference and always point in the same direction, regardless of their location
North/south and East/West are examples of this
Absolute Direction
The spatial separation between two points on the earth’s surface measured by some accepted standard unit such as miles of kilometers
Absolute Distance
A description of the exact site on an objective coordinate system, such as a grid
When referring to a map or the Earth’s surface, it is the latitude or longitude of a specific place
AKA - mathematical location
Absolute Location
The science or practice of drawing maps
Cartography
Extent of a feature’s spread over space
Clustered/agglomerated - close together
Dispersed/scattered - relatively far apart
Concentration
Relationships among people and objects across the barriers of space
Connection
The degree of direct linkage between one particular location and other locations in a transport network
Connectivity
Study of human adaptations to social and physical environments
Cultural Ecology
A long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea
Dike
Diminishing importance and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon as distance from origin increases
Distance Decay
Arrangement of a feature in space
Distribution
Distance above sea level
Elevation
Belief that the environment, most notably its physical factors such as landforms and climate, determines the patterns of human culture and societal development
Environmental Determinism
Increase in time and cost that usually comes with increasing distance
Friction of Distance
A way to understand a topic or area using spatial features and relationships
Geographic Perspective
Information about physical objects that can be represented by numerical values in geographical coordinates system; often gathered through census or satellite data collection
Geospatial Data
A computer system that can capture, store, analyze and display geographic data
Allows for complex maps with many layers (borders, water, roads, place names), resulting in mash-up maps that are useful for real estate and other applications
GIS
Geographic Information System
The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale
Globalization
System that utilizes a satellite navigation system to provide location information anywhere on Earth with precise numerical coordinates
Commonly used to determine an individual’s exact location on Earth
GPS
Global Positioning System
The mean time of the meridian of Greenwich used historically as the prime basis of standard time throughout the world
Greenwich Mean Time
Interactions between the human social system and the ecosystem
Human-environment interaction
Study of where human activities are located and why
Human Geography
An imaginary line running north and south through the Pacific Ocean, largely along the 180th meridian
There is a 24-hr time difference between a point just west and one just east of the line, so that when it is Sunday just west of the line, it is Saturday just east of it
International Date Line
2-dimensional or flat-scale model of Earth’s surface or a portion of it
Map
Inaccuracies created when the round Earth is represented on a flat surface
These include shape, distance, relative size, direction
Map Distortions
Representation of round Earth on a flat surface
Map Projection
Type of map projection introduced in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator;
often described as a cylindrical projection, meridians are equally spaced parallel vertical lines, and the parallels of latitude are parallel horizontal straight lines that are spaced farther and farther apart as their distance from the Equator increases;
widely used for navigation charts, because any straight line on a Mercator projection map is a line of constant true bearing that enables a navigator to plot a straight-line course;
less practical for world maps because it drastically distorts relative size
Mercator Projection
Drawn to show Arctic and Antarctic areas; based on a plane perpendicular to the Earth’s axis in contact with the North or South Pole; limited to 10 or 15 degrees from the poles; provides true scale in polar regions, which are often the most heavily distorted in other types of map projections
Polar Projection
Compromise projection with the primary purpose of creating a visually appealing map of the entire world; does not eliminate any type of distortion, but it keeps the levels of all types of distortion relatively low over most of the map
Robinson Projection
A map in which some thematic mapping variable – such as travel time or Gross National Product – is substituted for land area or distance; the geometry or space of the map is distorted in order to convey the information of this alternate variable
Cartogram Map
Shows statistical data aggregated over predefined regions, such as counties or states, by coloring or shading these regions
Choropleth Map
Map type that uses a dot symbol to show the presence of a feature or a phenomenon; rely on visual scatter to show spatial pattern.
Dot Map
Map with continuous lines joining points of the same value (e.g., elevation or precipitation)
Isolinear Map
Displays the boundaries, names and unique identifiers of standard geographic areas, as well as major cultural and physical features, such as roads, railroads, coastlines, rivers and lakes
Reference Map
Type of map in which the variation in quantity of a factor such as rainfall, population, or crops in a geographic area is indicated
Statistical Map
A type of map or chart especially designed to show a particular theme connected with a specific geographic area; can portray physical, social, political, cultural, economic, sociological, agricultural, or any other aspects of a city, state, region, nation or continent
Thematic Map
A personal visualization of spatial information, or a map of information in the human mind
Mental Map
Imaginary north–south line on the Earth’s surface that connects both geographic poles; it is used to indicate longitude or distance east or west of the Prime Meridian
Meridian
Theoretical frameworks that let us predict things like spatial relationships, interaction with or across space, and other issues of geography
Model
Chains of communication that connect places
Network
Imaginary line extending around the Earth parallel to the equator; it is used to indicate latitude or distance north or south of the Equator
Parallel
Geometric arrangement of objects in space
- Linear distribution – arranged in a line
- Square or rectangular pattern – city street grid pattern
- Centralized/Nucleated – locations clustered and concentrated in a particular place
- Random/Dispersed – unstructured, irregular distribution
Pattern
Study of where and why natural forces occur as they do
Physical Geography
Specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular characteristic
Place
The loss of uniqueness of places in the cultural landscape so that one place looks like the next
Placelessness
A piece of low-lying land reclaimed from the sea or a river and protected by dikes, especially in the Netherlands
Polder
Belief that the environment sets limitations for cultural development, but it does not wholly define culture, which is instead defined by the opportunities and decisions that humans make in response to dealing with such limitations
Possibilism
Data representing information and concepts that are not represented by numbers; often gathered from interviews and focus groups, personal diaries and lab notebooks, maps, photographs, and other printed materials or observations
Qualitative Data
Data represented numerically, including anything that can be counted, measured, or given a numerical value
Quantitative Data
An area of Earth distinguished by a distinctive combination of cultural and physical features
Region
An area in which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics
Formal Region
Or
Uniform Region
Or
Homogenous Region
Area organized around a node or focal point; the characteristic chosen to define this type of region dominates at a central focus or node and diminishes in importance outward; this region is tied to the central point by transportation or communication systems
Functional Region
Or
Nodal Region
A distinctive area where the inhabitants collectively consider themselves interconnected by a shared history, mutual interests, and a common identity; such regions are “intellectual inventions” and a form of shorthand to identify things, people, and places
Perceptual Region
Or
Vernacular Region
Area organized around a node or focal point; the characteristic chosen to define this type of region dominates at a central focus or node and diminishes in importance outward; this region is tied to the central point by transportation or communication systems
Functional Region
Or
Nodal Region
An approach to geography that emphasizes the relationships among social and physical phenomena in a particular study area
Regional Studies Approach
Direction such as left, right, forward, backward, up and own based on people’s perception of places
Relative Direction
Measure of distance that includes the costs of overcoming the friction of absolute distance separating two places; often describes the amount of social, cultural, or economic, connectivity between two places
Relative Distance
Acquisition of data about Earth’s surface from a satellite or other long-distance methods
Remote Sensing
The relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole
Scale
Shows numerical ratio between distances on the map and Earth’s surface (1:24,000 = 1 unit in map represents 24,000 of same unit on the ground)
Ratio Scale
Or
Fraction Scale
Describes relation between map and Earth distance in words
Written Scale
A bar line marked to show distance on Earth’s surface
Graphic Scale
The spatial extent of a variable; different versions/levels of this can drastically change your perception of an area
Scale of Analysis (e.g. global, regional, national, local)
A characteristic that some geographic places have and some do not, while to others it is a feeling or perception held by people; often used in relation to those characteristics that make a place special or unique, as well as to those that foster a sense of authentic human attachment and belonging
Sense of Place
The actual location of a settlement on the earth; composed of the physical characteristics of the landscape specific to the area; factors include things like landforms, climate, vegetation types, availability of water, soil quality, minerals, and even wildlife
Site
Location of a place on Earth relative to other places (good for unfamiliar places through reference to familiar ones);
Relative Location
Or
Situation
Physical gap or interval between two objects
Space
The degree to which things are similarly arranged in space; analysis of the distribution patterns of two phenomena is done by map overlay
Spatial Association
The flow of information, products, and human beings from one location to another
Spatial Interaction
Allows for the needs of man to be met without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their needs
Sustainability
A geographic region within which the same standard time is used
Time zone
Reduction in time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place
Time-Space Compression
The name of a place
Toponym
Conducts research, operates factories and sells products in many countries; not just where its headquarters and principal shareholders are located
Transnational Corporation
