Unit 1 exam review

human geography

The study of where and why human activities are located where they are

physical geography

the branch of geography dealing with natural features and processes

cultural landscape

the visible imprint of human activity and culture on the landscape

built environment

man-made or constructed parts of a landscape or area

cartographic scale

the way the map communicates the ratio of its size to the size of what it represents

mental map

A map which represents the perceptions and knowledge a person has of an area

reference maps

show locations of places and geographic features

absolute locations

physical map

A map that shows mountains, hills, plains, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.

thematic map

A map that shows a particular theme

a map that shows specialized information

map projection

a way of representing the spherical Earth on a flat surface

choropleth map

A map that uses differences in shading or coloring to indicate statistical ranges.

graduated symbol map

Contains symbols varying in size to show relative values

dot distribution map

each dot represents an identical unit and conveys data by amount present

cartogram

a type of map where the sizes of countries represent data being shown

isoline map

map line that connects points of equal or very similar values

Gall-Peters Projection

equal area projection that distorts the shape of land masses (looks stretched out)

Mercator map projection

accurately shows shape and direction, but distorts distance and size of land masses; used for navigation across and ocean

Robinson projection

The lines of latitude and longitude almost intersect at right angles except near edges.

Useful projection for display of oceans but land masses are distorted.

region

An area distinguished by a unique combination of trends or features.

Spatial Approach

The way of identifying, explaining, and predicting the human and physical patterns and the connections of various locations.

absolute location

Exact location of a place on the earth described by global coordinates

latitude

the distance in degrees north or south of the equator

equator

the imaginary center line of latitude that divides the northern and southern hemispheres.

longitude

Distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees

prime meridian

0 degrees longitude - passes through Greenwich, England

International Date Line

the line of longitude that marks where each new day begins, centered on the 180th meridian

landscape analysis

The process of describing and interpreting the landscape of an area.

place

A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular character.

Relative Location

the regional position or situation of a place relative to the position of other places

site

The physical character of a place

situation

the location of a place relative to other places

toponyms

name given to a portion of Earth's surface

sense of place

The relationship with places expressed in different dimensions of human life, how humans perceive a place.

distance

The length of a path between two points

time-space compression

term for the reduction in time it takes for something to diffuse to a distance place

friction of distance

the increase in time and cost that usually comes with increasing distance

distance-decay

contact diminishing with increasing distance and eventually disappear.

spatial association

the reason why two things are placed where they are

density

The frequency with which something exists within a given unit of area

distribution

The arrangement of something across Earth's surface.

human-environment interaction

The geographic theme that explores how people use, adapt to, and modify the environment

cultural ecology

the geographic study of human-environment relationships

environmental determinism

the idea that human behavior is controlled by the physical environment

environmental possibilism

the idea that some environments offer specific constraints/ opportunities

regionalization

The process of dividing an area into smaller segments called regions.

formal region (AKA uniform or homogenous)

a group of places that have similar attributes, for example, a political region

functional (or nodal) region

Consists of a central place and the surrounding places affected by it

perceptual (or vernacular) region

a region defined by popular feelings and images rather than by objective data.

subregion

A smaller division of a geographic region.

geographic scale

amount of territory that a map represents IE global scale is whole earth, local scale is small region

development

A process of improvement in the material conditions of people through diffusion of knowledge and technology.

More Developed Country (MDC)

A country that has progressed relatively far along a continuum of development.

Less Developed Country (LDC)

A country that is at a relatively early stage in the process of economic development

Core

Most developed countries

semi-periphery

places where core and periphery processes are both occurring; places that are exploited by the core but in turn exploit the periphery

periphery

The least developed countries

Brandt Line

division of the world between MDCs and LDCs (MDCs in north have relatively high HDIs while southern countries have lower indexes)

Stimulus Diffusion

a form of diffusion in which a cultural adaptation is created as a result of the introduction of a cultural trait from another place

Global

(adj.) of, relating to, or involving the entire world; comprehensive

Scale

Generally, the relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole, specifically the relationship between the size of an object on a map and the size of the actual feature on Earth's surface.

Region

An area distinguished by a unique combination of trends or features.

Assimilation

the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another (usually forced)

Census

the official count of a population

Acculturation

The adoption of cultural traits, such as language, by one group under the influence of another.

Environmental Determinism

the view that the natural environment has a controlling influence over various aspects of human life including cultural development

Natural Resources

Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain

Hierarchical Diffusion

the spread of a feature or trend from one key person or node of authority or power to other persons or places

Situation

The location of a place relative to another place

Site

The physical character of a place

Satellite Imagery

Images of the earth taken from orbiting satellites. Images can be taken in a variety of forms so as to detect specific information about the earth, vegetation and other types of land cover.

Contagious Diffusion

The rapid, widespread diffusion of a feature or trend throughout a population.

Relocation Diffusion

The spread of a feature or trend through bodily movement of people from one place to another.

geographic data

Data that helps you determine where your potential customers live and how far they will travel to do business with you

Scale of Analysis

how zoomed in or out you are when looking at geographic data

Sustainability

The ability to keep in existence or maintain. A sustainable ecosystem is one that can be maintained

Map Projection

a way of representing the spherical Earth on a flat surface

Time-Space Compression

through processes such as globalization time is accelerated and the significance of space is reduced