Unit 1.1 Vocab Review

Flashcards covering key terms from the geography lecture video notes, with questions and concise definitions.

Physical geography

The branch of geography studying natural features, processes, and their spatial patterns on Earth.

Human geography

The branch of geography focusing on human activities, cultures, economies, and their relationships with the environment.

Four-Level Analysis

A framework for analyzing geographic phenomena across four levels of scale (local, regional, national, global).

Analyze

To examine data or information in detail to identify patterns, relationships, or meanings.

Theory

A well-substantiated explanation of a phenomenon that can be tested and used to make predictions.

Concepts

Abstract ideas or general notions used to organize and interpret observations.

Processes

Sequences of actions or steps that cause change in geographic phenomena.

Physical maps

Maps depicting natural features like landforms, bodies of water, and elevation.

Road maps

Maps showing roads and routes for navigation.

Plat maps

Cadastral maps showing property boundaries and land ownership.

Thematic maps

Maps that emphasize a specific theme or topic (e.g., population, rainfall).

Choropleth maps

Thematic maps where areas are colored/shaded according to a statistic.

Dot distribution maps

Maps that use dots to represent occurrences of a phenomenon, with each dot representing a value.

Graduated symbol maps

Maps using symbols of varying size to represent data values at different locations.

The International Date Line

The imaginary line at 180 degrees longitude where calendar dates change.

Relative location

The position of a place relative to other places.

Connectivity

The ease of connection between places through networks, routes, and flows.

Accessibility

The ease of reaching or being reached by places.

Direction

The path or orientation from a reference point.

Patterns

Recurring arrangements or distributions of phenomena in space.

Absolute distance

The physical distance between two places measured in standard units.

Models

Simplified representations used to explain, predict, or simulate geographic phenomena.

Spatial models

Models that incorporate space and spatial relationships.

Nonspatial models

Models that do not explicitly include space or location.

Time-distance decay

The idea that interaction between places declines with time and distance.

Spatial patterns

The arrangement of phenomena in space, such as clustering or dispersion.

Networks

Linked systems of routes and connections that enable flows between places.

Quantitative data

Data expressed numerically and in measurable quantities.

Geospatial data

Data with a spatial component tied to geographic locations.

Qualitative sources

Non-numeric information such as descriptions, interviews, or observations.

Scales of analysis

Levels at which analysis is conducted (local to global).

Reference maps

Maps used for orientation that show general geographic features.

Political maps

Maps that show boundaries and political subdivisions.

Isoline maps

Maps that connect points of equal value with lines (contour lines, isotherms).

Topographic maps

Maps showing elevation and terrain using contour lines and relief.

Cartogram

A map that distorts geometry to emphasize a variable’s value (e.g., population).

Scale

The ratio between map distance and real-world distance.

Cartographic scale

The representation of real-world distance on a map; often stated as a ratio or bar.

Small-scale maps

Maps portraying large areas with less detail; small scale ratio.

Large-scale maps

Maps portraying small areas with greater detail; large scale ratio.

Absolute location

The precise location expressed by coordinates (latitude and longitude).

Latitude

The distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees.

Equator

The 0-degree latitude line circling the middle of the Earth.

Longitude

The distance east or west of the prime meridian measured in degrees.

The Prime Meridian

The 0-degree longitude line that passes through Greenwich, England.

Relative distance

Distance as perceived or measured by travel time, cost, or connectivity.

Elevation

Height above sea level or another reference point.

Distribution

The spatial arrangement of a phenomenon across space.

A clustered (agglomerated) distribution

A pattern where occurrences are grouped into clusters.

Linear distribution

A distribution aligned along a line, such as along a river or road.

Dispersed distribution

A distribution spread out more or evenly across space.

Circular distribution

A distribution forming circular patterns around a center.

Geometric distribution

A distribution with a regular, often grid-like, arrangement.

Random distribution

A distribution with no discernible pattern; occurrences occur randomly.