Module 1: What is Human Geography?

The study of patterns and processes of the earth’s natural or physical environments, including climate, topography, geology, soils, and ecosystems.

physical geography

The study of patterns and processes of the earth’s human or social environments, including population change, economies, cultures, politics, settlements, and human interactions with the natural environment.

human geography

The study of patterns and processes of the earth’s natural or physical environments, including climate, topography, geology, soils, and ecosystems.

geographical (spatial) perspective

The areal extent of something; used in both absolute (objective) and relative (perceptual) forms.

space

Refers to space on the earth’s surface; synonymous with geographic.

spatial

The process by which humans acquire information about physical and social environments; a way of interpreting one’s lived experience.

perception

An image or spatial representation (map) of the way space is organized, as influenced by an individual’s knowledge of or lived experience in that space.

mental (perception) map

The territorial extent or level of analysis, such as local, regional, and global.

geographic scale

A particular position in space; a specific part of the earth’s surface; used in absolute, relative, and nominal forms.

location

The common name given to a location; a place name.

toponym

The physical attributes or characteristics of a location, including its topography, climate, water resources, vegetation, and so on.

site

The geographic context of a location, relative to other locations, including its economic, political, and social characteristics.

situation

A location that has acquired particular meaning or significance.

place

The feelings evoked by, or deep attachments to, specific locations (places), such as home, that result from the experiences individuals associate with the location.

sense of place

A location with particular significance to an individual or a group, usually (but not necessarily) for religious reasons.

sacred place (or space)

A location with particular significance to an individual or a group, usually (but not necessarily) for religious reasons.

placelessness

A part of the earth’s surface that displays internal homogeneity and is relatively distinct from surrounding areas according to certain criteria; a contiguous spatial unit.

region

The process of classifying locations or areas of the earth’s surface into various regions.

regionalization

The process of classifying locations or areas of the earth’s surface into various regions.

formal (or uniform) region

The process of classifying locations or areas of the earth’s surface into various regions.

functional (or nodal) region

The process of classifying locations or areas of the earth’s surface into various regions.

vernacular (or perceptual) region

The process of classifying locations or areas of the earth’s surface into various regions.

landscape

The characteristics or overall appearance of a particular area or location, resulting from human modification of the natural environment.

cultural landscape

A measure of the amount of space between two or more locations; can be measured in both absolute terms (physical distance) and relative terms (time distance, economic distance, or psychological distance).

distance

The spatial arrangement of geographic phenomena (e.g., people) within an area; includes density, concentration, and pattern.

distribution

A measure of the relationship between the number of geographic phenomena (e.g., people) and a unit of area; typically expressed as a ratio.

density

The spread of geographic phenomena (e.g., people) over a given area.

concentration

Occurs when the distance between geographic phenomena (e.g., people) is small; clustering (agglomerating) occurs when geographic phenomena (e.g., businesses) move closer together, sometimes around a nucleus (nucleated).

clustered (agglomerated)

Occurs when the distance between geographic phenomena (e.g., people) is large; dispersion (deglomerating) occurs when geographic phenomena (e.g., businesses) move apart from one another.

dispersed (deglomerated)

The geometric, regular, or other (i.e., random) spatial arrangement of geographic phenomena (e.g., people) in a given area.

pattern

The process of geographic phenomena spreading over space and through time.

diffusion

The process of cultural phenomena (e.g., ideas, innovations, trends, languages) spreading over space and through time.

cultural diffusion

The area where a particular cultural trait originates.

hearth

One of two basic forms of diffusion, in which the geographic phenomena are physically moved from one area to another, such as through immigration or trade.

relocation diffusion

One of two basic forms of diffusion in which geographic phenomena spread from one area to another through an additive process.

expansion diffusion

One of two forms of expansion diffusion in which geographic phenomena spread rapidly and throughout an area.

contagious diffusion

Geographic phenomena spread first to key people or places and then gradually throughout the rest of a population or an area..

hierarchical diffusion

The nature and extent of the relationship or linkages between locations; the extent of spatial interaction is related to the distances between locations and the physical and intangible connections between them.

spatial interaction

The effects of distance on spatial interaction; generally, intensity of interaction declines with increasing distance.

distance decay

A measure of the restraining effect of distance on human interaction and movement; generally, greater time and cost are incurred with increasing distance.

friction of distance

A variable quality of a location, expressing the opportunity for interaction with other locations.

accessibility

The direct and indirect linkages (e.g., transportation routes and communications pathways) between two or more locations.

connectivity

Typically, a flat (two-dimensional) representation of the earth’s surface, or a portion of it, and its geographic features, including people, places, and geographic phenomena.

map

The science and art of making maps.

cartography

The angular distance of a point on the surface of the earth, measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds, north and south of the equator (which is assigned a value of 0 degrees); lines of constant latitude are called parallels.

latitude

The angular distance of a point on the surface of the earth, measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds, east and west of the prime meridian (assigned a value of 0 degrees), which runs through Greenwich, UK, among other places; lines of constant longitude are called meridians.

longitude

A region that observes a uniform standard time.

time zone

The relationship between the size of a geographic feature on a map and the corresponding actual size of the feature on the earth’s surface.

map scale

A process to transform the spherical earth’s surface onto a two-dimensional map; a process to transfer locations from the earth’s surface onto a flat map.

projection

A map portraying the absolute locations of places and geographic phenomena (e.g., buildings) using a standard frame of reference, such as the global grid (latitude and longitude).

reference map

An analytical tool to illustrate and emphasize the spatial variation of a particular theme or attribute.

thematic map

A thematic map where dots or scale-adjusted symbols represent geographic phenomena (e.g., population).

dot map

A thematic map using colour or shading to indicate intensity of geographic phenomena (e.g., population density) in a given area.

choropleth map

A thematic map using lines to connect locations of equal value with respect to a geographic phenomenon (e.g., daily temperature).

isopleth map

A thematic map where the size and shape of spatial areas are intentionally distorted and replaced by the relative magnitude of the geographic phenomena (e.g., a country’s wealth as measured by gross domestic product).

cartogram

A series of techniques used for collecting spatial data through instruments (e.g., sensors and cameras in satellites, airplanes, and drones) that are physically distant from the object of study.

remote sensing

A system using satellites to determine the precise location of a place or object on Earth.

global positional system (GPS)

A system of computer hardware and software that facilitates the collection, storage, analysis, and display of spatially referenced data through layered maps.

geographic information system (GIS)

A means of collecting data and insight into geographic issues; involves the collection of information outside a laboratory, library, or workplace setting; one of the key traditions of geographic inquiry.

fieldwork