Unit 1 Overview Flashcards
Reference Maps
Made for people to refer to them about general info for places.
KEYWORD: Reference
Ex: Google maps, world maps
Isoline Maps
Also called isometric maps, they use lines that connect to points of equal value to show variations in data across space.
KEYWORD: Isoline -> Line
Ex: Topograph
Thematic Maps
Shows the spatial aspects of information or phenomena.
KEYWORD: Thematic -> Theme
Ex: Wheather maps, mind maps
Dot Distribution Maps
Used to show specific location and distribution of something. Each dot is a specific quantity.
KEYWORD: Dot & Distrabution
Ex: Each dot on a city map is a pet owner.
Choropleth Maps
Recognizable areas shaded or patterned in proportion with the measurement of the variable.
KEYWORD: Chloro -> Color
Ex: Republican Vs. Democrat political map
Graduated Symbol Maps
Displays symbols that change in size according to the value of the variable.
KEYWORD : Symbol
Ex: Hiroshima and Nagasaki impact map.
Cartogram Map
The size of a country or state is proportional to the value of the variable.
Ex: Canada is smaller because of the smaller population (variable).
Spatial Patterns
The general arrangement of things being studied.
KEYWORD: Spatial -> Space
Ex: Describing networks and relationships.
Absolute Distance
Measured in units (miles, kilometers).
KEYWORD: Aboslute
Ex: the elevation of Mt. Everest is over 2900 feet.
Relative Distance
The degree of nearness is based on time or money. Dependent on travel mode.
KEYWORD: Relative
Ex: My house is a 10-minute walk from my school.
Relative Direction
In relation to the subject’s current orientation and location.
KEYWORD: Relative
Ex: Left of Portugal and right of France.
Absolute Direction
Set to a fixed frame of reference. Always the same direction regardless of location.
KEYWORD: Absolute
Ex: N, W, E. S, below, above, right, left
Clustering
Also called agglomerated, it is to be in a group/concentrated area
KEYWORD: Cluster
Ex: Clustering of cities along the TX and MX border.
Dispersal
Spread over a large area.
KEYWORD: Dsiperse
Ex: Location of franchise stores in a city.
Elevation
Distance of features above sea level.
KEYWORD: Elevate
Ex: The mountain is over 25,00 meters above sea level.
Maps (General info)
- All maps are distorted in some way (spatial relationships, shape, area, distance, direction, ect.)
- All maps are selective in info
Projection
Scientific way of transferring locations of Earth onto a flat surface.
Ex: Maps
Scale
The relationship of a feature’s size on a map to its actual size on Earth.
Ex: 1:1,000,000
Robinson Map
General use
KEYWORD: Robinson -> Baseball player -> Round ball
Ex: Oval shape, slight distortion all around,
Mercator Map
Navigation
Ex: Directions are accurate, lines or longitude and latitude meet at correct points, Distance between longitude and latitude seems equal, and land masses near the poles are accentuated.
Gall-Peter’s Map
Spatial distributions related to area.
KEYWORD: Peter
Ex: Sizes and masses are accurate, stretched, and shapes inaccurate, especially near the poles.
Conic Map
General use for mid-latitude areas
KEYWORD: Conic -> Cone
Ex: Arch/full circle, lines of longitude and latitude coverage, Lines of latitude are curved, size and shape are close to real life, Directions not constant, On other maps, longitude lines converge only at the poles.
Winkel Map
Used for World maps
Ex: Lattitude is slightly inaccurate, minimizes all distortion,
Data (General)
- May be collected from an organization/individual
- Used for various scales and government decisions
Remote Sensing
Acquisition of data about the Earth’s surface from a satellite or some other long-distance method.
KEYWORD: Remote
Ex: Satalite camera, sonar
Global Positioning Systems
Accurately determines the precise position of something on Earth.
KEYWORD: GPS
Ex: GPS for your car.
Geographic Information Systems
Computer systems that can capture store, analyze, display, and query geographic data
KEYWORD: “GIS”
Ex:
Census
Count of the population
KEYWORD: “The ‘C’ in ‘census’ stands for ‘count’”
Ex: The USA takes one every year and helps determine the number of house reps along with public projects.
Satalittel Imagery
Can show population stats (literacy rates, Birth rates, ect) or a physical feature (mountains, urban areas, etc). Can locate mineral deposits, determine the size of a freshwater source, or see where areas are damaged. Valuable to urban planners, government, etc.
KEYWORD: “Satellite Images”
Ex: Bird’s eye view of geographical physical features.
Relative Location
The position of something relative to another landmark.
KEYWORD: Relative
Ex: South of MHS
Absolute Location
The fixed position that never ever changes.
KEYWORD: Absolute
Ex: Coordinates
Space
General, objective locatrion.
Ex: When comparing Austin, Dalla, And Houston schools, these three cities are locations.
Flow
Interaction of movement of ppl, goods, and info.
KEYWORD: Flow -> water flow
Ex: Asains migrating to California
Distance Decay
Intensity decreases as distance increases.
KEYWORD: Decay
Ex: Accents
Time-Space Compression
An increasing sense of the world is becoming smaller.
KEYWORD: Compression -> smaller
Ex: Travel is very efficient at present.
Pattern
The geometric or regular arrangement of an area
Ex: Nucleated, linear, dispersed
Sustainability
To use resources so that you can also use them in the future.
KEYWORD: Sustain
Ex: Solar power, recycling
Natural Resources
Materials/substances we get from the land.
KEYWORD: Natural
Ex: Wood, oil
Land Use
The management/modification of the natural world into a built environment.
KEYWORD: Use
Ex: Forest -> Farmland
Environmental Determinism
The old theory states that the physical environment sets hard limits on human society. Used to justify racism.
KEYWORD: Determinism -> Determines limiyts
Ex: Europe is more advanced because of the temperate climate.
Possibilism
Developed as a response to Environmental Determinism, it means that while cultural geography is the theory that the environment sets certain limits/constraints culture is determined by society. This can overcome the limits and let civilization grow.
KEYWORD: Psssiblism -> Possiblities
Ex: Ancient China was advanced even though some parts of it were tropical.
Scales of Analysis
Level generalization
KEYWORD: Scale
Ex: Local, regional, global
Global Scale
The whole world
KEYWORD: Global -> World
Ex: Map of Earth at night.
Local Scale
Province, city, state, county, or neighborhood.
Ex: Austin, Quebec
National Regional Scale
A portion of a country/region within it.
KEYWORD: Regional -> Regions
Ex: Midwest, Deep South
National Scale
One country
KEYWORD: National -> Nation
Ex: South Korea, India
World Regional Scale
Multiple countries of the world
KEYWORD: World & Regional
Ex: Caribbean, Polynesia
Vernacular Reigon
Baed on a individual’s perception of reality (shaped by their culture and background).
Ex: Middle East
Functional Region
Organized by a node.
Ex: Pizza delivery zone.
Formal Region
Homogenous within which everyone shares one or more distinctive characteristics.
KEYWORD: Formal
Ex: Cities, towns, villages
Regions (General)
- Defined by one or more common characteristics/pattern
- Boundaries are often transitional and have overlapping
