AP Human Geo Vocab #1

Physical Geography

the study of spatial characteristics of various elements of the physical environment, such as landforms, water bodies, climate, ecosystems, and erosion.

Human Geography

the study of the spatial characteristics of humans and human activities, such as population, culture, politics, urban areas, and economics.

Models

Representations of reality or theories about reality, to help see spatial patterns, focus on the influence of special factors, and understand variations from place to place.

Spatial Models

look like stylized maps, and they illustrate theories about spatial distributions, developed for agricultural/urban use, distributions of cities. and store/factory location

Nonspatial Models

illustrate theories and concepts using words, graphs, or tables, depict changes over time rather than across space with more accuracy than spatial models

Networks

A set of interconnected entitles, sometimes called nodes.

time-distance decay

A model that helps explain some patterns evident on the Earth at night

Spatial Pattern

general arrangement of things being studied

topographic map

points of equal elevation are connected on these maps, creating contours that depict surface features

Political maps

show and label human-created boundaries and designations, such as countries, states, cities, and capitals

Physical maps

show and label natural features, such as mountains, rivers, and deserts

Road maps

show and label highways, streets, and alleys

Plat maps

show and label property lines and details of land ownership

Thematic Maps

show spatial aspects of information or of a phenomenon

Chloropleth Maps

use various colors, shades of one color, or patterns to show the location and distribution of spatial data

Dot Distribution Map

uses dots to show the specific location and distribution of something across a map. Each dot represents a specified quantity

graduated symbol map

uses symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of something

Isoline Maps

use lines that connect points of equal value to depict variations in the data across space

Cartogram

the sizes of countries are shown according to some specific statistic; they allow for data to be compared

Direction

used in order to describe where things are in relation to each other

Scales of analysis

the study of a phenomena globally, regionally, or locally

Small-Scale Maps

show a larger amount of area with less detail

Large-scale map

show a smaller amount of area with a greater amount of detail

Elevation

The distance of features above sea level

Accessibility

how quickly and easily people in one location can interact with people in another location

Cartographic scale

the way the map communicates the ratio of its size to the size it represents

Absolute location

the precise spot where something is according to a system

Latitude

Distance north or south of the equator

equator

an imaginary line that circles Earth exactly halfway between the North and South poles

Longitude

Distance east or west of the prime meridian

Prime Meridian

am imaginary line that runs from pole to pole through Greenwhich, England

International Date Line

roughly follows the prime meridian but makes deviations to accommodate international boundaries

relative location

a description of where something is in relation to other things

Connectivity

how well two locations are tied together by roads or other links

Geospatial data

any information that can be tied to a specific location on Earth

Qualitative sources

provide descriptive, non-numerical information about human populations, behaviors, and experiences

Relative distance

indicates the degree of nearness based on time or money and is often dependent on the mode of travel

absolute distance

exact, usually measured in miles, feet, meters, or kilometers

Scale

the relationship between the area of study on Earth and the size of the area being represented on a map or in a model

Distribution

the way a phenomenon is spread out over an area

Patterns

the general arrangement of things, in the distribution of phenomena across space that give clues about causes or effects of the distribution.

clustered distribution

phenomena are arranged in a group or concentrated area such as restaurants in the food court at the mall

Linear Distribution

Phenomena are arranged in a straight line, such as the distribution of towns along a railroad line

Dispersed Distribution

phenomena are spread out over a large area, such as the distribution of large malls in a city.

Circular distribution

phenomena are equally spaced from a central point, forming a circle

Geometric Distribution

Phenomena are in a regular arrangement, such as the squares or blocks formed by roads in the Midwest

random distribution

phenomena appear to have no order to their position, such as the distribution of pet owners in a city

Quantitative data

numerical information that can be measured and analyzed statistically

Reference maps

designed to show the location of things in space

Landscape analysis

the task of defining and describing landscapes

field observation

used to refer to the act of physically visiting a location, place or region, and reconrding (firsthand) information there.

Spatial data

All of the information that can be tied to a specific locations.

Remote sensing

gethers information from satellites that orbit the earth of any other craft above the atmosphere

Aerial Photography

professional images captured from planes within the atmosphere

Fieldwork

observing and recording information on location, or in the field

Geovisualization

2D or 3D interactive maps that allow people to zoom in or out to see data in ways that was previously impossible

community-based solutions

initiatives and actions implemented at the local level to address challenges and improve the well-being of a specific community

Global Positioning System (GPS)

GPS receivers on the earth's surface use the locations of multiple satellites to determine and record a receiver's exact location.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data from multiple digital maps/geospatial data sets