Unit 1: 1.1- Why is Geography a science?

Place

Specific point on Earth, distinguished by a particular characteristic.

Region

Area on Earth defined by one or more distinctive characteristics.

(Similar characteristics) 

Scale

Relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole.

(Reduced size compared to its real size in real life)

Space

The physical gap or interval between two objects. 

Connection

Relationships among people and objects across the barrier of space.

(Different locations can be linked and related)

Map

A two-dimensional, or flat, representation of Earth’s surface or a portion of it.

Reference tool (GPS)

Helps find the shortest route between two places and to avoid getting lost. 

Communication tool

Depicting the distribution of human activities of physical features.

(Language)

Cartography

Science of mapmaking.

GIScience (Geographic information science)

Analysis of data about Earth acquired through satellites and other electronic information technologies. 

GIS (Geographic information system)

A computer system that captures, stores, queries, and displays geographic data.

Photogrammetry

The science of taking measurements of Earth’s surface from photographs.

Remote sensing

The acquisition of data about Earth’s surface from a satellite orbiting the Earth.

GPS (Global positioning system)

A system that determines the precise position of something on Earth through a series of satellites, tracking stations, and receivers.

Geotagging

Identification and storage of a piece of information by its latitude and longitude coordinates.

VGI (Volunteered geographic information)

Creation and dissemination of geographic data contributed voluntarily for free by individuals.

PGIS (Participatory GIS)

Community-based mapping, representing local knowledge and information.

Mashup

A map that overlays data from one source on top of a map provided by a mapping service.

Mental map

A representation of a portion of Earth’s surface based on what an individual knows about a place that contains personal impressions of what is in the place and where the place is located.

Map scale 

The relationship between the size of an object on a map and the size of the actual feature on Earth’s surface.

Ratio

Ratio or fraction that shows numerical relationship between distances on a map and Earth’s surface.

(Left is the unit of distance, and the right is the same unit of distance on Earth’s surface)

Written 

Relationship between map and Earth in distances in words. 

(Describes) 

Graphic

A bar line marked to show distance on Earth’s surface.

Projection

Transferring locations on Earth’s surface to a flat.

Shape 

A shape of an area that can be distorted so it appears different than in reality. 

Distance

Distance between two points can become increased or decreased.

Relative size

Relative size of different areas may be altered.

(One may appear larger than another on a map, but in reality it’s different)

Direction 

Direction from one place to another can be distorted. 

The geographic grid

System of imaginary arcs drawn in a gird pattern on Earth’s surface.

(Important role in telling time)

Meridian

Arc connecting the North and South poles.

Longitude 

The numbering system used to indicate the location of meridians drawn on a globe and measuring distance east and west of the prime meridian (0°).

Parallel

Circle drawn around the globe parallel to the equator and at right angles to the meridians.

(To indicate the location of a parallel, use latitude)

Latitude

The numbering system used to indicate the location of parallels drawn on a globe and measuring distance north and south of the equator (0°).

Prime meridian

The meridian, designated as 0° longitude, that passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England.

Isoline map

A map that connects places of a particular value by lines.

Dot distribution map

A map that depicts data that consists of discrete observations. Each dot represents a predetermined number of observations, which could be one or many.

Choropleth map

A map in which areas are shaded or patterned in proportion to the measurement of the variable.

Graduated symbol map

A map that displays symbols that change in size according to the value of the variable.

Cartogram 

A map in which the projection and scale are distorted in order to convey the information of a variable.