Ap Human Geography Unit 1 Introduction To Geography Flashcards
absolute location
specific place, uses grids, longitude & latitude
relative location
directional words & using distance
Local Diversity
Something that is unique to a small area
Hearth
Start or center of something
formal/uniform region
an area w/in which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristic, & drawn w/ borders (ex. Canada, rice-growing areas)
functional/nodal region
an area organized around a focal point
vernacular/perceptual region
an area that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity ex. the south
site
the physical character of a place (ex. climate, water source, topography, soil, vegetation, longitude & latitude)
situation
the location of a place relative to other places (finding an unfamiliar place & understanding its importance)
density
the frequency of "something" in a given UNIT AREA (ex. ppl per unit)
diffusion
the process by which a characteristic spreads across space from one place to another over time
pattern
the geometric or regular arrangement of something
environmental determinism
the belief that the physical environment causes social development
possibilism
the environment presents challenges, that may set limits on human actions, but ABILITY TO ADJUST & choose a course of action
Physical Geography
the branch of geography dealing with natural features and processes
projection
the scientific method of transferring locations on Earth's surface to a flat map
Mercator Projection
Straight meridians and parallels that intersect at right angles. (Used for navigation & not accurate)
*Robinson
pro: display info across oceanscon: land area are much smaller
*Goode Homolosine
Tears, or interruptions, minimize specific distortions. They are placed to group related parts of the map together.
thematic maps
A map designed to convey information about a single topic or theme, such as population density or geology.
cartogram maps
(similar to thematic) travel time, population, or Gross National Product - is substituted for land area or distance
dot maps
a thematic map in which a dot represents some frequency of the mapped variable
isoline maps
a thematic map with lines that connect points of equal value
mental map
Image of picture of the way space is organized as determined by an individual's perception, impression, and knowledge of that space.
distance decay
trailing-off phenomenon of diminishing (losing) contact with the increase in distance
globalization
a force/process that INVOLVES the ENTIRE WORLD & results in making something WORLDWIDE in scope
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
A computer hardware and software system that handles geographically referenced data. -uses and produces maps and has the ability to perform many types of spatial analysis.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
determines precise location based on satellite signals
remote sensing
using long distance methods like satellite imagery to GATHER DATA about the Earth's surface
latitude
the numbering system to indicate the location of a parallel
longitude
the numbering system used to indicate the location of meridians drawn on a globe & measuring distance east & west of the prime meridian
prime meridian
the meridian that passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England (0 degrees longitude)
International Date Line
180 degrees (move clock back 24 hrs/ entire day, if you are heading eastward toward America
Cultural Ecology
the geographic study of human-environment relationships
cartography
the science of making maps
Toponym
the name given to a portion of Earth's surface
map
Any communication and reference tool
Greenwich Mean Time
the time at the prime meridian - the master reference time for all points on Earth.
concentration
the extent of a feature's spread over space
distribution
the arrangement of a feature in space
Location
position; situation of people and things
hearth
a place from which an innovation originates
relocation diffusion
spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another
expansion diffusion
the spread of a feature from one place to another in an additive process
hierarchical diffusion
the spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places
contagious diffusion
the rapid, widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population
stimulus diffusion
the spread of an underlying principle even through a characteristic itself apparently fails to diffuse
time-space compression
the reduction in the time it takes for something to reach another place
scale
how much of an area is being looked at
friction of distance
time and cost to keep connection increases as distance increases
sequent occupancy
how the built landscape of a place has changed over time
human geography
studies where and why human activities are located
sense of place
meaning and emotion associated with a location
placelessness
no strong emotional ties, not unique
reverse hierarchical diffusion
spreads starting with centers that lacks importance, power and or wealth
regionalization
divide and categorize spaced into smaller unites
spatial interaction
contact, movement, and and flow of things between locations
cultural landscape
a combination of cultural features such as language and religion, economic features such as agriculture and industry, and physical features such as climate and vegetation
built landscape
physical artifacts that humans have created and that form part of the landscape
place
Unique human and physical features of a location
Possibilism
Physical Environment plays a role but human culture also drives development
Qualitative
relating to, measuring, or measured by the quality of something rather than its quantity.
Quantitative
relating to, measuring, or measured by the quantity of something rather than its quality.
Time Zone
Divide the world roughly every 15 degrees of longitude
Equator
an imaginary line drawn around the earth equally distant from both poles, dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres and constituting the parallel of latitude 0°.
Reference Map
Designed for general information
Goode Homolosine Projection
a 20th century map of Earth with equal area of landmasses but interruptions of the oceans to more accurately represent a "flattened" sphere.
Physical Map
A map that shows mountains, hills, plains, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.
Polar Projection
map projection centered on earths north or south pole
Political Map
A map showing units such as countries, states, provinces, districts, etc.
Robinson Projection
A projection that maintains overall shapes and relative positions without extreme distortion. Most classrooms use this projection.