Unit 1 vocab Flashcards
absolute direction*
A compass direction such as north or south
*Absolute distance
The distance that can be measured with a standard unit of length, such as a mile or kilometer
*Absolute location
The exact position of a place on the Earth’s surface described by coordinates such as latitude and longitude
Cartogram
A map in which some thematic mapping variable is substituted for land area or distance
*Census
An official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals
Choropleth map
A thematic map in which areas are shaded or patterned in proportion to the value of a statistical variable being represented
*Clustered
A term used to describe a distribution of data points that are close together
Connectivity
The directness of routes linking pairs of places
Cultural landscape
The visible imprint of human activity and culture on the landscape
Data*
Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis
*Dispersed
A term used to describe a distribution of data points that are spread out
*Distortion
The alteration of the original shape, size, or position of a feature on a map
*Distance Decay
The diminishing in importance and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon with increasing distance from its origin
Dot map
A map type that uses a dot symbol to show the presence of a feature or phenomenon
Ecology
The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings
Economic
Relating to the economy and how decisions are made about resources
*Elevation
The height above a given level, especially sea level
*Environmental determinism
The view that the natural environment has a controlling influence over various aspects of human life, including cultural development
*Formal region
An area in which everyone shares in one or more distinctive characteristics
*Functional region
An area organized around a node or focal point
*Geographic information system (GIS)
A computer system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data.
*Geospatial
Relating to or denoting data that is associated with a particular location
Globalization
The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale
*Global positioning system (GPS)
A satellite-based navigation system that allows users to determine their position anywhere on Earth
Graduated symbol map
A map with symbols that change in size according to the value of the attribute they represent.
Grid
A network of uniformly spaced horizontal and perpendicular lines used to locate points on a map or chart
Human-environment interaction
The relationship between humans and their environment, including how they adapt to the environment and how they modify it.
Human geography
The branch of geography dealing with how human activity affects or is influenced by the Earth’s surface.
Isoline map
A map displaying lines that connect points of equal value.
Landscapes
The overall appearance of an area that is shaped by both human and natural influences.
*Map projections
A systematic rendering on a flat surface of the geographic coordinates of the features found on Earth’s surface
Mercator projection
A cylindrical map projection presented by the Flemish geographer and cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569
Pattern
The geometric or regular arrangement of something in a study area.
*Perceptual region
A region that only exists as a conceptualization or an idea and not as a physically demarcated entity.
Peters Projection
An equal-area cylindrical map projection that presents the true sizes of countries.
Phenomena
A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question.
Physical map
A map that shows the natural features of the Earth’s surface, such as landforms and bodies of water.
*Place
A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular characteristic.
Polar projection
A map projection in which the plane is tangent to a pole or the equator
Political map
A map that shows the boundaries and locations of political units such as countries, states, counties, cities, and towns.
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
Reference maps*
Maps that show the location of geographic areas for which detailed mapping exists
Region*
An area distinguished by a unique combination of trends or features
Relative direction*
Directions such as left, right, forward, backward, up, and down based on people’s perception of places
Relative distance*
A measure of the social, cultural, and economic relatedness or connectivity between two places
Relative location*
The regional position or situation of a place relative to the position of other places
Remote sensing*
The scanning of the Earth by satellite or high-flying aircraft to obtain information about earth
Scale of analysis*
The level of geographical analysis, from global to local
Site
The physical character of a place
Situation
The location of a place relative to other places and human activities
Spatial*
Relating to space and the effective use of space
Thematic map*
A type of map that displays one or more variables—such as population, income, or climate—within a specific area
Time-space compression*
The increasing sense of connectivity that seems to be bringing people closer together even though their distances are the same
Time zones
A region of the globe that observes a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes
