AP GEO UNIT 1

6 Themes of Geography

MR HELLP: Movement, Region, Human-Environment Interaction, Location, Landscape, Place

Movement

How people, goods, and ideas travel across the Earth

Region

An area that shares one or more characteristics uniformly

Human-Environment Interaction

How humans adapt to and modify the environment

Location

Absolute: exact coordinates (latitude/longitude) Relative: location in relation to other places

Landscape

Combination of natural and human-made features

Place

Location + landscape + feelings; example: homes + graves

Latitude

Horizontal lines, measure N/S of Equator; 180º total. Affects climate and seasons

Longitude

Vertical lines, measure E/W of Prime Meridian; 360º total. Affects time; lines converge at poles → distortion on maps

Tropic of Cancer & Tropic of Capricorn

23.4º N/S due to Earth's tilt; define tropics (hot zone)

Equinox

Day = night; Sun directly over Equator; occurs twice a year

Solstice

Longest/shortest day; Arctic/Antarctic have 24 hr sunlight/darkness

North Star (Polaris)

Fixed point in Northern Hemisphere; altitude indicates latitude

Earth Rotation

Spins counterclockwise; 15º longitude = 1 hour of time

GPS (Global Positioning System)

Uses 24 satellites to determine precise location

GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

Software to analyze geographic data for decision-making

Remote Sensing

Collecting Earth data via satellite imagery

Formal Region

Area with one or more shared traits; may have clear borders

Border Zone

Overlap of cultures at a region's edge

Functional Region

Organized around a node; coordinated socially, politically, economically

Node

Central point of function (e.g., city hall)

Perceptual/Vernacular Region

Based on feelings, attitudes, or perception of inhabitants

Map Title

Describes map content

Map Symbols & Legend

Symbols explained in legend; help interpret map

Map Scale

Shows relationship between map distance and real-world distance. Large-scale: local; small-scale: global

Absolute Distance

Measurable in standard units

Relative Distance

Social, cultural, or economic measure

Isoline

Connects points of equal value (elevation, temp, etc.)

Topographic Map

3D view of natural/physical features

Reference Map

Shows location of geographic features (roads, cities, countries)

Thematic Map

Shows patterns/data for specific topics

Choropleth Map

Colors represent data intensity in areas

Cartogram

Distorted map showing variable size for a theme

Proportional/Graduated Circle Map

Symbols represent numeric data

Dot Density Map

Each dot represents 1+ object; shows density

Map Projections

Flattening 3D Earth → distortion inevitable

Mercator Projection

Good for navigation; distorts size near poles

Peters Projection

True area; distorts shape

Goode Homolosine Projection

Interruptions reduce shape distortion; splits oceans

Polar Projection

View from N/S Pole; distorts farther from pole

Robinson Projection

Balanced visual; low distortion; visually appealing

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

Total value of goods/services produced in a country

GDP per capita

GDP ÷ population; measures economic output per person

UNHDI (UN Human Development Index)

Measures health, education, standard of living (GNI)

GNI (Gross National Income)

Total $ made by a country's people/businesses

Environmental Determinism

Environment shapes culture; people = passive

Possibilism

Environment influences choices; humans actively shape culture

3 Worlds Model (1952)

1st: Capitalist, 2nd: Communist, 3rd: Non-aligned

Brandt Line / North-South Divide (1980)

North = high GDP; South = low GDP

Distance Decay

Cultural influence diminishes with distance

Time-Space Compression

Technology reduces time needed to traverse distance

World Systems Theory (WST)

Global economy as interconnected system; 3-tier structure: Core, Semi-Periphery, Periphery

Core (WST)

High education, tech, salaries; economic/political dominance

Periphery (WST)

Low education, tech, salaries; exploited for resources

Semi-Periphery (WST)

Mix of core + periphery characteristics