Unit 1 AP Human Geography: The Power of Geovisualization

Human Geography

The study of variation in patterns and processes in space + human interaction with their environment

Physical Geography

The study of the structure, process, & location of Earth's natural phenomena (climate, soil, plants, animals, topography)

Spatial Analysis

Examining locations, attributes, & relationships in spatial data to answer a question or gain info

Spacial Data

Info tied to a location in space

Quantitative Data

Statistical, mathematical data backed up by formally collected info

Qualitative Data

More humanistic data (interviews, observations, or interpretations of texts, artwork, maps, & archives)

Reference Maps

Maps showing absolute location & geographic features determined by a frame of reference (latitude and longitude)

Road Map

Map with highways, airports, cities, tracks, & major points

Plat Map

Map with individual lots’ boundaries

Political Map

Map with man-made boundaries, countries, & cities

Physical Map

Map with physical features (mountains, hills, plains, rivers, lakes, oceans)

Locator Map

Map in books, newspapers, & ads to show locations mentioned

Thematic Maps

Maps showing distribution, flow, or connection of characteristics

Choropleth Map

Uses shades of a color to show spatial data as average values per unit area with only 1 data set measured

Categorical Map

Uses colors to show multiple categories

Isoline Map

Map with lines connecting points with equal values

Dot Distribution Map

Dots used to show frequency of a phenomena

Cartogram Map

Map with the shape/size distorted to show a variable

Graduated Symbol Map

Map with symbols changing size by value

Clustered Phenomena

Concentrated or nucleated

Linear Phenomena

Arranged in a straight line

Dispersed Phenomena

Spread out over a large area

Circular Phenomena

Equally spaced from a central point (circle)

Geometric Phenomena

A regular arrangement

Random Phenomena

No order or pattern of distribution

Four-Level Analysis

4 steps to study phenomena. Comprehension, identification, explanation, & prediction

Scale Analysis

Determines what is being studied by size of area. Zoom in = large scale, zoom out = small scale.

Relative Location

The location of a place relative to other places

Absolute Location

Exact location of a place on the Earth (global coordinates)

Remote Sensing

The acquisition of data about Earth's surface from a satellite orbiting the planet or other long-distance methods, ie: geothermal data, seismic activity projections.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A system that finds the position of something on Earth (satellites, tracking stations, & receivers)

Geographic Information System (GIS)

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

Place

A specific point on Earth distinguished by characteristics

Location

Where specific phenomena are located

Site

Physical characteristics of a location

Situation

Location (site) influencing human interactions and connections to other places

Sense of place

Personal, emotional attachment to a place

Toponyms

Name of a place

Time-Space Compression

Technological innovation reduces perceived distance of people (communication, transportation)

Spatial Interaction

Flow of people, goods, & info between locations

Friction of Distance/Distance of Decay

Farther apart = less connected + less interaction

Spacial Association

When multiple phenomena are related to each other

Renewable Natural Resources

Theoretically unlimited and will not be depleted

Non-renewable Resources

A resource that cannot be reused or replaced easily

Sustainability

The use of Earth's natural resources to not constrain future use

Land Use

How people use a specific location on Earth’s surface

Built Environment

Landscape created by humans & material culture

Cultural Ecology

The study of how humans adapt to their environment

Environmental Determinism

Natural environments influences human life (cultural development)

Possibilism

People can adjust to limitations caused by the physical environment

Geographic Scale (Relative Scale)

Refers to the amount of territory that the map represents.

Global, World Regional, National, National Regional, Local, State, County etc. Also referred to as aggregation.

Region

An area of Earth distinguished by cultural & physical features

Formal/Uniform/Homogeneous Region

Defined region united by characteristics

Functional/Nodal Region

Region that is united by a central place (transportation, activity)

Perceptual/Vernacular Region

Region defined by feelings & beliefs, not boundaries

Transitional Region

Exhibits characteristics of many regions, but no sharp boundary exists

Overlapping Region

A place is part of over 1 region

Contested Regional Boundaries

Man-made boundaries are disputed politically (Kashmir, Crimea, Taiwan)

Syncretism

The blending of opposing people, ideas, or practices

Mercator Map Projection

Accurate shape + direction, but distorts distance + size

Goode-Homolosine Map Projection

Little distortion of land because of interruptions, but useless for navigation (distorted lines + interruptions in the ocean)

Robinson Map Projection

Less distortion but less accurate direction (curved lines)