APHG Unit 1 Vocab

25 essential vocab

Reference Maps

Maps that show the absolute location of places and geographic features determined by a frame of reference, typically latitude and longitude

thematic map

A type of map that displays one or more variables-such as population, or income level-within a specific area.

Formal Region (Uniform Region)

An area in which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics

Functional Region

An area organized around a node or focal point. (e.g. a University system, a capitol such as Washington D.C., or a pizza delivery area)

Vernacular region (or perceptual region)

An area that people believe to exist as part of their cultural identity. For example, the pacific northwest.

Clustering

Gathering; forming in a group

dispersal

distribution, or scattering, spread

map projection

a way of representing the spherical Earth on a flat surface

Map Distortion

all maps are distorted as a result of projecting a 3-dimensional surface onto a 2-dimensional surface in area, distance, shape, and/or direction

Distance Decay

the effects of distance on interaction, generally the greater the distance the less interaction

time-space compression

the rapid innovation of communication and transportation technologies associated with globalization that transforms the way people think about space and time (distance shrinks when communication and travel happen faster)

environmental determinism

the view that the natural environment has a controlling influence over various aspects of human life including cultural development

environmental possibilism

the belief that a physical environment plays a role in the development of a society, but is NOT the ONLY factor at work

site

physical characteristics of a place

situation

the location of a place relative to other places

field observations

the act of physically visiting a location, place, or region and recording, firsthand, information there

land use

the ways in which people use a particular area of Earth's surface; for example, for farming, development, or preservation

space

refers to the physical gap or interval between two objects

place

uniqueness of a location

Scale

the relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole

GIS

A computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data

Remote Sensing

The acquisition of data about Earth's surface from a satellite orbiting the planet or other long-distance methods.

pattern

the geometric arrangement of objects in space

Sustainability

The ability to keep in existence or maintain. A sustainable ecosystem is one that can be maintained

natural resources

Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain