All Vocab

Absolute location

Absolute location

describing where something is using the exact site on an objective coordinate system

Cartography

the science and art of drawing maps

Contagious diffusion

when a cultural trend is transmitted from person to person from an original source to numerous others, similar to a virus or viral video

Cultural Landscape

the title of our textbook and more importantly, the visible changes that humans make to the environment including buildings, crops, and signs

Density

the number of things divided by the measurement of area

Diffusion

a feature or idea that is spread from its originating place, outward - the 3 types are contagious, hierarchical, and stimulus diffusion

Distance decay

the idea that the interaction between two places declines as the distance between them increases

Environmental determinism

the belief that a physical environment is THE reason that some societies are strong while others are weaker

Environmental possibilism

the belief that a physical environment plays a role in the development of a society, but is NOT the ONLY factor at work

Formal region

a region that is based entirely on something that can be identified and documented or measured - all government areas are this because they share a government

Friction of distance

a metaphor that explains that effort must be used to overcome distance

Functional region

a region based around a node or focal point - terrestrial radio broadcasts are an example of this

Geospatial

relating to data that is specific to one location

GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

software that captures, manages, analyzes, and displays data that is collected geographically

Globalization

worldwide integration and development which results in the expansion of international cultural, economic, and political activities

GPS (Global Positioning System)

a system that measures distance from a series of satellites to determine location on the planet

Gravity Model of Spatial Interaction

the most important model in geography - (population1 x population2)/distance squared - the interconnectedness of 2 places depends on their distance and population

Hierarchical diffusion

the spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places

Projection

a method of taking a 3D object and putting in on a 2D plane

Reference map

maps that emphasizes the location of places (without data attached)

Region

a place larger than a point and smaller than a planet that is grouped together because of a measurable or perceived common feature

Relative location

describing the position of a place as compared to (or relative to!) another landmark

Relocation diffusion

the physical spread of a feature or trait by people migrating

Remote sensing

the science of making measurements of the earth using sensors on airplanes or satellites

Scale of analysis

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

Stimulus diffusion

when a feature or idea spreads, but is changed by those adopting the idea

Thematic maps

a map that displays not only locations but maps a topic or theme of information with the location

Time-space compression

the idea that the world feels smaller than it used to because of increased technology in transportation and communication

Toponym

a place name

Vernacular/perceptual region

an area that shares a common qualitative characteristic, it's only a region because people believe it's a region

built environment

part of the physical landscape that represents material culture; the landscape created by humans

Cartogram

A special kind of map that distorts the shapes and sizes of countries or other political regions to present economic or other kinds of data for comparison.

Choropleth Map

a map that uses differences in shading, coloring, or the placing of symbols within predefined areas to indicate the average values of a property or quantity in those areas.

Connectivity

The degree of economic, social, cultural, or political connection between two places

distortion

a change in the shape, size, or position of a place when it is shown on a map

Distribution

The arrangement of something across Earth's surface.

Dot Distribution Map

A map where dots are used to demonstrate the frequency or intensity of a particular phenomena

Graduated Symbol Map

A map with symbols that change in size according to the value of the attribute they represent.

Human Environment Interaction

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

Isoline Map

Map displaying lines that connect points of equal value; for example, a map showing elevation levels

Latitude

distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees

Longitude

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

Map Projection

a way of representing the spherical Earth on a flat surface

Physical Map

A type of map that shows geographic features such as mountains, hills, plains, rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Place

A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular character.

Political Map

A type of map showing units such as countries, states, provinces, and districts.

Regionalization

The organization of earth's surface into distinct areas that are viewed as different from other areas

Site

The physical characteristics of a place, such as its topography, vegetation, and water resources.

Situation

The location of a place relative to other places.

Expansion Diffusion

A trend, innovation, or idea is spread from its originating place, or hearth outward.

Global Scale of analysis

A way to study a phenomenon that is seen or encountered by the entire planet.

National Scale of analysis

Geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena within a specific country

Local Scale of analysis

Geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena within a state or province, a city or town, or neighborhood

Photographic Interpretation

the identification, description and measurement of objects in images, especially in aerial photographs, for geologic, cartographic or military purposes

Elevation

The height of land above sea level.

Flows

Geographic movement of people (migration), ideas (culture), goods, and/or materials from one place to another through human-environment interaction.

Agricultural Density

Number of farmers divided by arable land.

Anti-Natalist Policies

Government policies to reduce the rate of natural increase.

Arithmetic Density

Population of a region divided by total land area.

Arable Land

Land suitable for farming/agriculture.

Baby Boom

A temporary marked increase in the birth rate, especially the one following World War II.

Baby Bust

Temporary marked decrease in the birth rate.

Carrying Capacity

Largest number of individuals of a population that an environment can support.

Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

The total number of live births in a year for every 1,000 people in the society.

Crude Death Rate (CDR)

Total number of deaths per 1,000 people in a society

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

The process of change in a society's population from a condition of high crude birth and death rates and low rate of natural increase to a condition of low crude birth and death rates, low rate of natural increase, and a higher total population.

Demography

The scientific study of population characteristics.

Dependent Ratio

The number of people under age 15 and over age 64 compared to the number of people active in the labor force.

Doubling Time/Rate

The number of years needed to double a population, assuming a constant rate of natural increase.

Ecumene

The areas of earth occupied by human settlement.

Epidemiological Transition Model (ETM)

A model highlighting the distinctive causes of death in each stage of the demographic transition.

Female Infanticide

The intentional killing of baby girls due to the preference for male babies and from the low value associated with the birth of females.

Industrial Revolution

A period of rapid growth in the use of machines in manufacturing and production that began in the mid-1700s.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

The total number of deaths in a year among infants under one year of age for every 1,000 live births in a society.

Life Expectancy

The average number of years an individual can be expected to live, given current social, economic, and medical conditions.

Malthus, Thomas

An English economist who was one of the first to argue that the world's population increase was far outrunning the development of food production.

Medical Revolution

Time during the late 20th countries, when medical technology from Europe and North America diffused to developing countries.

Neo-Malthusian

People who believed in Malthusian Theory and in the idea that population was not only outstripping food but other resources.

Overpopulation

When the number of people in an area exceeds the capacity of the environment to support life at a decent standard of living.

Physiological Density

Population of a region divided by arable land.

Population Pyramid

A model used in population geography to show the age and sex distribution of a particular population.

Pro-Natalist Policies

The policy or practice of encouraging the bearing of children, especially government support of a higher birthrate.

Natural Increase Rate (NIR) / Rate of Natural Increase (RNI)

Percent a population grows in a year.

Sex Ratio

Number of males per 100 females

Stage 1 DTM

Low Growth: A pre-industrial agrarian society with a High CBR, High CDR, and a Zero NIR.

Stage 2 DTM

High Growth: Industrializing society with a CBR that remains high but stable, a CDR that declines dramatically, and a NIR in rapid increase.

Stage 3 DTM

Decreasing Growth: Industrializing society with a CBR that declined significantly, a CDR that continues to decline, and a NIR that begins to moderate.

Stage 4 DTM

Low Growth: A Modern Industrialized Country with a low CBR, low CDR, and virtually no NIR.

Stage 5 DTM

Negative Growth: Modern Industrialized Country with a very low CBR, an increasing CDR, and a negative NIR.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

An average number of children a woman will have during her 'birthing' years.

Zero Population Growth (ZPG)

A decline of the total fertility rate to the point where the natural increase rate equals zero.

Asylum Seeker

Someone who has migrated to another country in the hope of being recognized as a refugee.

Brain Drain

The large-scale emigration of talented citizens of a country who leave to seek better opportunities for their talents.

Chain Migration

The migration of people to a certain location because family members of the same nationality previously migrated there.

Circular Migration

Short-term, repetitive, or cyclical movements that recur on a regular basis.

Critical Distance

The distance beyond which cost, effort, and/or means play a determining role in the willingness of the people to travel.

Emigration

The movement of individuals out of an area, can cause a population to decrease in size.

Ethnicity

Affiliation or identity within a group of people bound by common ancestry and culture.

Forced Migration

Permanent movement, usually compelled by cultural factors, that is done due to an outside force.

Immigration

The migration to a new location.