Unit 1, Chapter 1 vocab Flashcards
Human Geography
The study of how human activity affects the earth
Reference Maps
Maps that display geographical data
Thematic maps
Maps that display more specific data themes
Chloropleth Maps
Maps with shaded areas to represent a statistic
Cartogram Maps
Maps showing statistics with the use of shades, curves, or dots
Dot Maps
Maps showing distribution of population using dots
Graduated (Proportional) Symbol Map
A map that uses symbols to indicate different things
Isoline Map
Maps with lines that join points of equal value
Flow Line Map
A type of thematic map that shows movement using lines
Absolute Location
The position on Earth’s surface using the coordinate system
Longitude
Angular distance for East to West
Latitude
Angular distance of a place North or South of the Equator
International Date Line
The arc that follows 180º longitude, but deviates to avoid dividing land (when crossed, East = back 24 hours)
Prime Meridian
A line at 0º longitude
Relative Location
A location of a place with respect to other places
Map Projection Distortion
The misrepresentation of features hen compared to their true measurement
Goode’s Interrupted Projection
Pseudo-cylindrical, equal area, composite map projection with multiple gaps
Mercator Projection
2D map that maintains accurate compass points for navigation
Robinson Projection
3D surface of the Earth is transferred onto a 2D map (distorts shape and size)
Azimuthal Projection
Shows true compass direction from a single point
Gall - Peters Projection
Cylindrical projection that displays accurate axis (distorts shape and hard to navigate)
Geographic Information System (GIS)
A computer system of capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth
Global Positioning System (GPS)
A network of satellites and receiving devices used to determine location on Earth.
Remote Sensing
The process of taking photos of surface for understanding of the geography.
Census
A survey of population that records various details of individuals
Distance Decay
The effect of distance on culture or spatial interactions
Time Space Compression
The reduction in time it takes to diffuse something to a distant space
Friction of Space
Distance needs some sort of money, effort, or energy to overcome it
Sustainability
Using Earth’s resources in a way that ensures their availability in the future
Environmental Determinism
Human behaviors are a direct result of their surrounding environment (certain regions have different cultures because of their isolation)
Possibilism
Physical environment set limits on humans, but they have the ability to adjust
Scale
The relationship between a portion of the Earth being studied and the rest of the Earth.
Scale of Analysis
Used to analyze relationships between places to reveal spatial patterns
Scale of Inquiry
The level of geographic area being investigated
Regional Boundaries
One or more unifying characteristics/patterns of activity.
Formal (Uniform) Region
An area in which everyone shares distinctive characteristics
Formal (Uniform) Region
An area in which everyone shares distinctive characteristics
Functional (Nodal) Region
An area organized around a central focal point
Perceputal (Vernacular) Region
An area that people believe exists because of their cultural identity. (Defined by people’s opinions)
Built Landscape
An area represented by features and patterns of human occupation and use of resources
Cultural Landscape
The fashionings of natural landscapes by a cultural group.
Carl Sauer
Important role in the early development of land-use mapping the in US
Time Zones
An area with an established standard time
Toponym
Place name
Sequence Occupancy
The notion that successive societies leave their imprints on a place
More Developed Country (MDC)
A country that has progressed relatively far along
Less Developed Country (LDC)
A country in the early stages of economic development
Emerging Economy
An economy that’s transitioning into a developed economy
Globalization
The expansion of economic, political, and cultural processes around the world
Interdependence
When one party needs a good/service and the other is willing to pay
Wallersteins’ World Theory (Dependency Theory)
Divides countries into 3 groups based on political power, social standings, and economic development.
Core Periphery
A model that describes how economic, political, and cultural power is distributed between regions
Semi-Periphery
Countries that have a standard living lower than core, but higher than periphery (Middle)
Periphery
Less developed part of regions
5 Themes of Geography
Location, place, human enviornment interaction, movement, and region.
Eratosthemes
Ancient Greek mathematician and geographer who determined Earth’s circumference
Expansions Diffusion
The spreading of a feature from one place to another, getting bigger in the process
Hierarchical Diffusion
When innovation or concepts spreads from a person of power
Stimulus Diffusion
When a culture changes while it spreads from its original region
Contagious Diffusion
The rapid spreading of a characteristic throughout a population
Relocation Diffusion
The Spread of ideas and cultures from the physical movement of people
Hearth
The region in which innovative ideas originate from
Site
The exact location of a city
Situation
The location of a place based on its relation to other things
Spatial Information
Data with direct or indirect reference to a specific area
Qualitative Data
Descriptive info, usually in the form of visual aids
Quantitive Data
Pieces of information that can be displayed using numbers
Density
The number of people who live in a given land area
Pattern
The geometric/ regular arrangements of something in an area
