Thinking Geographically

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on geographic thinking and data.

Reference maps

Maps designed for people to refer to for general information about places, including political and physical maps.

Thematic maps

Maps used as communication tools to show how human activities are distributed.

Choropleth map

A thematic map that uses different shading, coloring, or symbols to represent data values.

Dot Density map

A map that uses dots to represent the density of a particular feature in a given area.

Isoline map

A map that uses lines to connect points of equal value, commonly used to show elevation.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth's surface.

GPS (Geographic Positioning System)

A system that uses satellite data to pinpoint a location on Earth.

Remote sensing

The process of taking pictures of the Earth's surface from satellites or airplanes to analyze geography.

Absolute location

The precise spot where something is located, often identified by coordinates.

Relative location

The location of something in relation to other things.

Distance decay

A geographical term describing the effect of distance on cultural or spatial interactions.

Time-space compression

The increasing sense of connectivity that brings people closer together despite physical distance.

Census data

An official count of individuals in a population, conducted every 10 years in the USA.

Spatial patterns

The arrangement of different features in a space, such as clustering or dispersal.

Map distortion

Changes in shape, size, distance, and direction in map projections.

Cartogram

A thematic map where the geometry of regions is distorted to convey the information of an alternate variable.