Geography Foundations and Map Analysis

Comprehensive vocabulary terms covering the basics of geography, map projections, themes of geography, and cultural systems based on lecture notes.

Globe

A tool that shows information about the earth's surface with perfect accuracy.

Prime Meridian

A line that passes through Green with England and is designated $0^\circ$.

Lines of Longitude

Lines that run north to south and measure east to west.

Lines of Latitude

Lines that run east to west and measure north to south.

The Equator

The center line of latitude.

Maps

Representations that are generally flat and show much greater detail than globes.

Mental Maps

A person's perception of the world or a part of it based on available knowledge.

Gores

Twelve paper strips that cover a typical globe.

Cylindrical Projection

A map style where most world maps use a variation of this projection.

Mercator Projection

A projection where all lines look straight.

GIS

Geographic information system techoubyy used by engineers who physically survey the land to collect data.

Remote Sensing

The gathering of information through photographs, laser sensors, and height measuring radar.

Geography

A word derived from two roots meaning "earths" and "written description".

Relative Location

A description of where a place is compared to other places.

Absolute Location

The specific point where something is on the earth's surface.

Place

A theme of geography including physical characteristics like mountains and soil, and human characteristics like roads and industry.

Azimuthal Projection

Also called a planar projection, it uses a flat plane instead of a cylinder and is most accurate in the center.

Conic Projection

A projection where a cone touches an entire line of latitude; it is most accurate where the cone touches the line.

Point Symbols

One of the three types of symbols used in map analysis.

Line Symbols

One of the three types of symbols used in map analysis.

Area Symbols

One of the three types of symbols used in map analysis.

Human-environment interaction

A theme of geography regarding how people adapt to and modify their environment.

Movement

A theme of geography regarding the travel of people, goods, ideas, and diseases.

Region

An area defined by formal boundaries or functions.

Goode's Projection

An interrupted projection that has several popular variations.

Robinson's Projection

A map projection whose greatest advantage is that it minimizes all four types of distortions.

Culture

The system of customs, traditions, and habits.

Cultural Diversity

The concept that different people groups vary in languages and customs.

Multiculturalism

The teaching that all cultures are equally valid.

Family

The foundational social group in any society.

Legend

A map feature, usually located in a corner, that shows the meaning of symbols.

Compass Rose

A map feature that shows the orientation of the map.

Scale

A calibrated line that indicates distance on a map.

Relief Maps

Physical maps that show specific changes in elevation.

Contour Lines

Lines or separate colors on a relief map that indicate all points having the same altitude.