Unit 1 Spatial Geography

Vocabulary flashcards related to key concepts in Spatial Geography.

Reference Maps

Maps that show boundaries and place names, often displaying physical and manmade features.

Thematic Maps

Maps that tell a story by showing the density and distribution of quantitative data.

Choropleth Maps

Maps that use colors or shading to represent quantifiable data, indicating areas of density.

Dot Maps

Maps that place a dot representing a value in its approximate location to show spatial distribution.

Graduated Symbol Maps

Maps that use symbols proportional in size to represent the actual value of data.

Isoline Maps

Maps that connect areas of equal values with lines, often used for weather mapping.

Cartograms

Maps that distort the appearance of places to represent their value, such as population size.

Absolute Location

The specific location of a place defined by coordinates like latitude and longitude.

Relative Location

The location of a place in relation to other places.

Cultural Landscape

The man-made features and characteristics of a place that reflect its culture.

Distance Decay

The phenomenon where interaction decreases as the distance between places increases.

Time Space Compression

The phenomenon of reduced time for something to travel from one place to another due to technology.

Sustainability

Actions that provide immediate benefits while preserving resources for future use.

Environmental Determinism

The theory that the environment solely determines and justifies human ways of life.

Possibilism

The theory that humans have the ability to make choices and use technology to overcome environmental limits.

Formal Region

Regions defined by unifying characteristics, such as language or political systems.

Functional Region

Regions organized around a focal point or node connected by transportation or communication.

Vernacular Region

Regions defined by people's perceptions and how they see themselves within them.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

A computer system that collects, stores, analyzes, and displays geographic data.

Remote Sensing

Information gathered from satellites that provides data about the Earth's surface.