AP Human Geography Unit 1 Flashcards

Situation

The location of a place relative to other places and its surroundings.

Situation

Denver, Colorado is situated near the Rocky Mountains, influencing its climate and transportation routes.

Situation

Istanbul, Turkey is situated on the Bosporus Strait, making it a strategic link between Europe and Asia.

Cartography

The science and art of mapmaking, involving design, data visualization, and spatial analysis.

Cartography

Ancient Polynesians created stick charts to navigate the Pacific Ocean using wave patterns.

Cartography

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) modernizes cartography by layering spatial data like population density.

Distortion

Misrepresentation of shape, area, distance, or direction on a map due to projecting a 3D globe onto 2D surfaces.

Distortion

Mercator projection exaggerates Greenland’s size, making it appear larger than Africa.

Distortion

Polar regions appear stretched on Azimuthal projections, compressing equatorial areas.

Robinson Projection

A compromise projection minimizing distortion of shape, size, and area, used in world maps.

Robinson Projection

Used by National Geographic (1988–2014) for its balanced portrayal of landmasses.

Robinson Projection

Curved meridians reduce polar distortion but still skew Antarctica.

Mercator Projection

Preserves direction (used for navigation) but distorts size near poles.

Mercator Projection

Colonial-era sailors used it for straight-line rhumb lines, but it inflates Europe’s size.

Mercator Projection

Greenland appears comparable to Africa, despite being 1/14th its actual size.

Gall-Peters Projection

Equal-area projection correcting Mercator’s size distortion but stretching shapes.

Gall-Peters Projection

Used in schools to emphasize developing nations’ true size (e.g., Africa’s dominance).

Gall-Peters Projection

Criticized for distorting countries into elongated shapes (e.g., Chile).

Winkel Tripel Projection

National Geographic’s current standard, balancing area, shape, and distance errors.

Winkel Tripel Projection

Oval shape minimizes polar distortion better than Robinson.

Winkel Tripel Projection

Compromises on perfect accuracy for overall visual appeal.

Azimuthal Equidistant Projection

Azimuthal Equidistant Projection

Preserves distance/direction from one central point (e.g., poles).

Azimuthal Equidistant Projection

UN logo centers on the North Pole, showing true distances from it.

Azimuthal Equidistant Projection

Air-route maps use this to display flight paths from a hub city.

Formal Region

An area with uniform characteristics (e.g., government boundaries, climate).

Formal Region

The Sahara Desert, defined by its arid climate and consistent vegetation.

Formal Region

Canada, a political region with shared laws and borders.

Functional Region

A space organized around a central node (e.g., transportation, economic ties).

Functional Region

The NYC subway system, linking suburbs to Manhattan’s core.

Functional Region

Amazon’s delivery network, radiating from fulfillment centers.

Vernacular Region

A perceptual region based on cultural identity (no formal boundaries).

Vernacular Region

"The American South," associated with accents, cuisine, and history.

Vernacular Region

"Tuscany," perceived as Italy’s artistic/heartland despite no official borders.

Hearth

The origin point of a cultural trait (e.g., religion, agriculture).

Hearth

Mesopotamia (Fertile Crescent) as the hearth of early agriculture (wheat/barley).

Hearth

The Indus River Valley as the hearth of Hinduism.

Distance-Decay Function

The idea that interaction decreases as distance increases.

Distance-Decay Function

Fewer Mexican immigrants settle in Maine than Texas due to proximity.

Distance-Decay Function

Radio signals weaken farther from broadcast towers.

Space-Time Compression

Technology reduces perceived distance (e.g., flights, internet).

Space-Time Compression

Zoom calls enable real-time global meetings, collapsing time/distance.

Space-Time Compression

High-speed trains shrink travel time between Paris and Brussels.

Choropleth Map

Uses color shading to represent data (e.g., election results by state).

Choropleth Map

COVID-19 case rates visualized by red (high) to green (low) intensity.

Choropleth Map

U.S. poverty rates by county, with darker shades indicating higher poverty.

Dot Distribution Map

Each dot represents a quantity (e.g., population, disease cases).

Dot Distribution Map

U.S. Census dot map shows population clusters in coastal cities.

Dot Distribution Map

African elephant populations mapped as dots to track poaching hotspots.

Proportional Symbol Map

Symbols (e.g., circles) scale to data values (e.g., city populations).

Proportional Symbol Map

Larger circles represent higher earthquake magnitudes on a global map.

Proportional Symbol Map

Apple Store locations with bigger symbols for higher-revenue stores.

Isoline Map

Lines connect points of equal value (e.g., elevation, temperature).

Isoline Map

Topographic maps use contour lines to show elevation changes.

Isoline Map

Weather maps with isobars linking areas of equal atmospheric pressure.

Cartogram

Distorts land area to represent data (e.g., population, GDP).

Cartogram

World map resizes countries by population; India/China appear enlarged.

Cartogram

U.S. electoral college cartogram expands swing states’ visual weight.

Core Nations

Wealthy, industrialized countries dominating global trade (e.g., U.S., Germany).

Core Nations

Japan’s technological exports (Toyota, Sony) fuel its high GDP per capita.

Core Nations

Switzerland’s banking sector exemplifies core economic influence.

Peripheral Nations

Less developed, economically dependent countries (e.g., Haiti, Sudan).

Peripheral Nations

Bangladesh’s garment industry relies on core-nation outsourcing for low wages.

Peripheral Nations

DR Congo’s mineral wealth is extracted by foreign (core) corporations.

Relocation Diffusion

Spread of ideas through physical movement of people.

Relocation Diffusion

Christianity reaching the Americas via European colonists.

Relocation Diffusion

Silk Road traders spreading Buddhism from India to China.

Expansion Diffusion

Ideas spread while staying strong at the hearth.

Expansion Diffusion

Hierarchical: Fashion trends from Paris → NYC → smaller cities.

Expansion Diffusion

Contagious: Viral TikTok dances spreading globally via the internet.

Stimulus Diffusion

An idea is adapted to fit local culture (not fully adopted).

Stimulus Diffusion

McDonald’s serving McFalafel in Egypt instead of beef burgers.

Stimulus Diffusion

Japanese anime inspiring U.S. cartoons but with altered art styles. (e.g. Avater the Last Airbrnder)

Mercator Map Projection

Gall-Peters Map Projection

Goode-Homolsine Map Projection

Winkle Tripel Map Projection

Robinson Map Projection

Azimuthal Equidistant Map Projection