Key Concepts in Geography and Mapping Techniques

Isoline

map that shows lines that join points of equal value

National scale

focuses on data and info related to a countries borders while considering factors that influence or characterize the country as a whole

Local scale

studying specific local areas

Cartogram

map showing specific data

Choropleth

type of thematic map that represents data using colors

Scale

the relationship of a features length on a map to it's actual distance on earth

Equator

imaginary line that runs around the earth halfway at 0 degrees between the north and south poles

Prime meridian

the line of 0 degree longitude the starting point for measuring distance both east and west around earth

Toponym

when objects exist in close proximity to one another

Remote sensing

the process of taking pictures of the earth's surface from satellites

GIS

A powerful tool for analyzing spatial data and understanding patterns and relationships across earth's surface

Space time compression

the idea that advancements in tech + transportation has effectively reduced the relative difference between places

International date line

imaginary line roughly following the 180 degree longitude line that marks the transition between one calendar day and the next

Longitude

the angular measurement between east and west

Regional scale

focuses/studies on a specific regions data

Latitude

angular distance between north and south

Dot density

type of thematic map that uses dots to represent a feature/ occurrence/population

Vernacular/ perceptual region

regions that are imaginary

Global scale

largest level of analysis considers the entire earth

Distance decay

the theory that states the further 2 places are from each other the weaker the relationship is

Census

an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals

Functional regional

an area defined by its shared functions

Formal region

an area characterized by one or more common traits

Region

an area of land that shares common characteristics

Environmental determinism

the idea that the physical environment directly shares human society culture and development

Sustainability

using earth's resources to meet today's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own

Absolute distance

the actual physical distance between 2 points or locations

Thematic map

a type of map that portrays the geographic pattern of a particular subject matter in a geographic area

Relative distance

a measure of the social, cultural and economic relatedness or connectivity between 2 points

Clustered spatial distribution

data points are grouped together in specific areas

Reference map

a map designed to show the location of geographic features and political boundaries providing a general overview of an areas landscape + boundaries

Dispersed spatial distribution

individual/objects / data is spread out

Elevation

the height of a place above or below sea level

Human environment interaction

how humans adapt to , modify and depend on their environment

Possibilism

the concept that natural environment places constraints on human activity but humans have the ability to choose how to respond and modify the environment