APHUG Chapter 1.1 Key Terms

Physical Geography

The study of natural processes + features (landforms + climate)

Human Geography

Study of events that affect how humans use, understand, and alter Earth

Spatial Perspective

Refers to where some event or process occurs on Earth

absolute location

Exact longitude and latitude

relative location

a description of where a place is in relation to other places or features

place

A location on Earth distinguished by human/cultural characteristics

Site

A location on Earth distinguished by physical characteristics

Situation

A place's connection to other places (transportation, facilities, economics, political ties, etc.)

Space

Area between things/places on Earth

Distribution

Arrangement of people and things in a place

Density

Number of people and things in a place

Pattern

how things are arranged in a particular place (winding roads vs. grid-like city structures)

Flow

Change in people, goods, information, culture, ideas, and etc. in a place over time

Environmental determinism

THEORY: A region's environment determines its growth in society

Possibilism

THEORY: Humans have the ability to affect the outcome of their society despite environmental circumstances

Distance Decay

Geographical principle that says physical closeness is correlated with more interaction (and vice versa)

Time-Space Compression

The processes causing relative distance to shrink (phone calls, online shopping/banking, etc.)

Sustainability

Using the Earth's resources in ways to ensure they're still available in the future

Ecological Perspective

The relationships between living things and their environments