Unit 1 Thinking Geographically

absolute location

Exact location of an object

relative location

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

space

Area between two or more things

flows

Movement of people, goods or information

pattern

How things are arranged in a particular space

place

Human and physical characteristics that are unique to a location

distance decay

The further away you move from an origin or, the weaker the influence

time-space compression

The reduction in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place

determinism

human behavior is controlled by the physical environment

possibilism

humans have more ability to produce a result

scale

the size or geographic area represented on a map

scale of analysis

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

region

an area on Earth's surface with certain characteristics that make it distinctive from other areas

formal region

has one or more shared traits

functional region

an area organized by its function around a focal point, or the center of an interest or activity

pereptual/vernacular region

type of region that reflects people's feelings and attitudes about a place

quanititative

information measured by numbers

qualitative

interpretations of data sources such as field observations, media reports, travel narratives, etc.

census

an official count of the number of people in a defined area

Geographic Information System (GIS)

captures, stores, organizes and displays geographic data that can then be used to configure both simple and complex maps.

topography

shape and features of land surfaces

remote sensing

relies on satellites or aircraftbased sensors to collect data.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

An integrated network of at least 31 satellites in the U.S. system that orbit Earth and transmit location data to handheld receivers.

Map scale

mathematical relationship between the size of a map and the part of the real world it shows

reference maps

generalized sources of geographic data and focus on location.

thematic maps

have a theme or specific purpose and focus on the relationship among geographic data

Isoline Map

a map in which lines connect data points of the same value

graduated symbol map

a map in which differently sized symbols are used to indicate quantitative data.

cartogram

a map in which statistical data and geographic location are combined to communicate information at a glance.

dot map

a map in which dots are used to show locations of specific observations or events.

Choropleth Map

a thematic map that uses colors or shading to represent categories of data for predetermined geographic areas or census tracts.

Robinson

Advantages: A globe-like appearance, and not much distortion

Limitations: imprecise measurements, and extreme distortion along the poles

Galls-Peters

Advantages: Shows true direction, and Area is relatively precise

Limitations: distorts shape, and continents appear elongated

Azimuthal

Advantages: Preserves direction, When used from point of north star no country is in the center

Limitations: distorts shape and area, and shows only one half of earth

Mercator

Advantages: Shows true direction, and good for navigation

Limitations: Distorts area, and size is distorted more near the poles

Goodes

What map projection is this?