Unit 1.1 Introduction to Maps Flashcards
Remote Sensing
The process of capturing images of Earth’s surface from airborne platforms such as satellites or airplanes
Global Positioning System (GPS)
The system that accurately determines the precise position of something on Earth via satellites and recievers
Geographic Information System (GIS)
A computer system that captures, stores, analyzses and displays georgaphic data
Layers
Types of information (countries, bodies of water, names of places etc.) displayed in a map
Mashups
The practice of combining layers on a map
Qualitative Data
Data associated with a humanistic approach to geography
Quantitative Data
Data associated with mathematical models and statistical techniques
Latitude
The distance north or south of the equator
Equator
An imaginary line that circles the globe exactly halfway
Longitude
The distance east or west of the Prime Meridian
Prime Meridian
An imaginary line that runs from pole to pole through Greenwich, England
Map Key/Legend
An inset on a map that explains what the colors or symbols used means and what the scale of the maps is
Map Scale
The ratio between the size of things in the real world and the size of things on a map
Toponym
The name given to a place on Earth
Relative Location
The description of where something is in relation to other things
Absolute Location
The precise place where something is found
Relative Distance
The distance between two points, measured using metrics like time effort or cost
Absolute Distance
The distance between two points, communicated using precise quantative units of measurements
Relative Direction
The direction based on people’s surrounding and perception
Absolute Direction
Directions according to a compas (NSEW)
Density
How often or how much something occurs within a place
Distribution
Where something occurs within a place
Clustered
When there is a high level of density and a low level of distribution
Dispersed
When there is a low level of density due to a high level of distribution
Distance Decay
The theory that the interaction (flow of goods, people) between two places decreases as the distance between them increases
Time-Space Compression
The reducation in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place, as the result of improved communication and transportational technologies
Physical Geography
The study of the spatial characteristics of various elements of the physical environment (landforms, bodies of water, climate, ecosystems etc.)
Human Geography
The study of the spatial characteristics of humans and human activities (population, culture, politics, urban areas, economics etc.)
Four-Level Analysis
A type of analysis consisting of 4 steps: comprehension, identification, explanation and prediction
Analyze
To break down into parts and study each part carefully
Theory
A system of ideas and concepts that attempt to explain and prove why or how interactions have occured in the part or will occur in the future
Concepts
The key vocabulary, ideas and building blocks that geographers use to describe our world
Processes
Involve a series of steps or actions that explain why or how geographic patterns occur
Models
Representations of reality or theories about reality, to help geographers see general spatial patterns, focus on the influence of specific factors and understand variations from place to place.
Spatial Models
Like stylized maps they illustrate theories about spatial distributions, developed for agricultural and urban land use, distributions of cities and store or factory location
Nonspatial Models
Illustrates theories and concepts using words, graphs or tables and often depict changes over time rather than across space with more accurcy than spatial models
Time-Distance Decay
The idea that the closer the places are connected to each others, the more relationships and connections they’ll have between each other
Spatial Patterns
Refers to the general arrangement of things being studied, describing the spatial patterns, networks and relationships with precise language is critical to understanding critical relationships
Networks
A set of interconnected entities, sometimes called nodes.
Quantitative Sources
Not usually represented by numbers, this data is collected as interviews, photographs, remote satellite images, descriptions or cartoons
Scales Of Analysis
Looking at topics at the local, regional, country, or global scale
Reference Maps
They are designed for people to refer to for general information about places
Political Maps
They show and label human-created boundaries and designations such as countries, states, cities and capitals
Physical Maps
They show and label natural features, such as mountains, rivers, and deserts
Road Maps
They show and label highways, streets and alleys
Plat Maps
They show and label property lines and details of land ownership
Thematic Maps
Show spatial aspects of information or of a phenomenon
Choropleth Maps
Use colors, shades of one color, or patterns to show the location and distribustion of spatial data
Dot Distribution Maps
Used to show the specific location and distribution of something across a map, each dot representing a specified quantity
Graduated Symbol Maps
Use symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of something, larger sizes indicate more of something vice versa
Isoline Maps
Also called isometric maps, use lines that connect points of equal value to depict variations in the data across space
Topographic Maps
Popular among hikers, points of equal elevation are connected on these maps creating contours that depic serface features
Cartogram
The size of countries (or areal units) are shown according to some specific statistic
Cartographic Scale
Refers to the way the map communicates the ratio of its size to the size of what it represents
Small-Scale Maps
Show a larger amount of area with less detail (small zoom)
Large-Scale Maps
Show a smaller amount of area with more detail (large zoom)
International Date Line
Opposite to the prime meridian is this line which roughly follows 180 degrees longitude
Connectivity
Is how well two locations are tied together by roads or other links
Accessibility
How quickly and easily people in one location can interact with people in another location
Direction
Used in order to describe where things are in relation to each other
Elevation
Is the distance of features above sea level, usually meaused in feet or meters
Distribution
The way a phenomenon is spread out over an area
Clustered Or Agglomerated
Phenomena are arranged in a group or concentrated area
Linear
Phenomena are arrnaged in a straight line
Dispersed
Phenomena are spread out over a large area
Circular
Phenomena are equally spaced from a central point
Geometric
Phenomena are in a regular arrnagement
Random
Phenomena apear to have no order to their position
