Geography Lecture Notes: Making Maps and Interpreting Maps

40 vocabulary flashcards covering key map terms, projections, scales, and geographic tools from the lecture notes.

Scale

the level of detail and the amount of area covered on a map

Large-scale map

A map that shows a small area in great detail (e.g., a neighborhood).

Small-scale map

A map that shows the entire globe or large areas with less detail.

Projection

The method or science of transferring locations from Earth's surface to a flat map.

Distortion

Any alteration of reality on a map; includes changes in shape, size, distance, and direction.

Shape distortion

The misrepresentation of the form of geographic features on a map.

Area distortion

The misrepresentation of the size of geographic areas.

Distance distortion

The inaccuracy of the space between two points on a map.

Direction distortion

The misrepresentation of compass directions on a map.

Winkel Tripel projection

A compromise projection designed to minimize distortions in area, shape, and distance.

Goode-Homolosine projection

An equal-area projection that minimizes distortion of area and shape but interrupts the oceans, causing landmasses to appear separated.

Mercator projection

A conformal projection that preserves shapes and directions, but distorts area, especially near the poles.

Gall-Peters projection

An equal-area projection that preserves relative sizes but distorts shapes, particularly near the equator and poles.

Peters projection

An equal-area projection that preserves size but distorts shapes.

Relative size

The perceived size of landmasses on a map relative to each other.

Map

A two-dimensional representation of Earth's surface or a portion of it.

Cartography

The science or practice of mapmaking.

Reference map

A map used to locate places and determine routes (e.g., where things are or how to get somewhere).

Thematic map

A map that depicts the distribution of a particular attribute or phenomena and explores underlying reasons.

Place

A specific point on Earth distinguished by a characteristic.

Region

An area of Earth defined by one or more distinctive characteristics.

Global scale

A map that shows broad geographic patterns worldwide with less detail.

Local scale

A map that shows a small area with greater detail.

Space

The physical gap or interval between two objects; a key concept in geography for distribution.

Connection

Relationships among people and objects across space and the means by which connections occur.

Geographic grid

A system of imaginary arcs drawn on the surface to locate places (based on latitude and longitude).

Latitude

A system of lines parallel to the equator used to measure distance north or south of the equator.

Longitude

A system of lines measuring distance east or west from the Prime Meridian.

Equator

The 0° latitude line circling the globe, equidistant from the North and South Poles.

Prime Meridian

The 0° longitude line passing through Greenwich, England.

North Pole

The point at 90° N latitude.

Isoline

A line on a map that connects points of equal value (e.g., elevation or temperature).

Choropleth

A thematic map that uses shading or patterns to show data by geographic area.

Dot distribution map

A thematic map that uses dots to represent the frequency or quantity of a variable.

Graduated symbol map

A map that uses symbols of different sizes to indicate data magnitude.

Cartogram

A map that distorts geography to represent the size of a data variable rather than actual land area.

GIS

Geographic Information System; a system for storing, analyzing, and displaying geographic data in layers.

GPS

Global Positioning System; a satellite-based system that determines precise location, velocity, and time.

Remote sensing

The acquisition of data about Earth's surface from a distance, typically via satellites or aircraft.

Mash-up

A map that overlays data from one source on top of a map from another source.