AP human geo key concept

Reference maps

Map used for general information - navigation - location

What are 3 examples of reference maps?

Political - states/countries/capital

Physical - natural feature

Roads - highways and streets

Thematic maps

Maps used to communicate information about a place - spatial aspects

What are some examples of thematic maps?

Choropleth

dot-density

graduated/proportional symbol

cartogram

isoline & topographic

Choropleth maps

Maps that uses various colors, shades of one color, or pattern to show the location and distribution spatial data

Dot-density map

A map where each dot represents a specified quantity of spatial characteristics

Graduated/proportional system map

A map that uses symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of variables

Cartogram map

A map that shows the size of countries that are shown according to a specific variable. Area is distorted to show a variable

Isoline and topographic map

Isoline - Uses lines that connect points of equal value to delict variation for data across (Used for weather and elevation)

Topographic - Elevation shown through lines and their distance apart

What are absolute and relative location and what are some example use of it?

Absolute location:

• Exact, precise

• Address

• Latitude and longitude

Relative location:

• Relationship to another place

• Next to my house

What are absolute and relative distance and what are some example use of it?

Absolute distance:

• Exact, precise

• Miles - kilometers - feet

• Map scale

Relative location:

• Measures level of social, cultural, or economic similarity between places despite their absolute distance from each other

• Spatial interaction - Connection, contact, movements and flow of things between places

What are absolute and relative direction and what are some example use of it?

Absolute direction:

• Exact, precise

• Cardinal direction - NWSE

Relative direction:

• Relationship to some current location and orientation

• Turn left at target, then turn right at the 2nd stop sign

What do map projections distort in?

Shape, area, distance and direction

What are the advantage of the Mercator projection (1569)?

Direction, shape, preserves right angle of latitude and longitude and navigation

What are the disadvantages of the Mercator projection (1569)?

Area distorted near the poles (North or south) and increase size of latitude area

What are the advantage of the Peters equal area projection?

Area of landmass are accurate and repositions many countries to their rightful size

What are the disadvantages of the Peters equal area projection?

Shapes are inaccurate near the poles and vertically stretched over the equator

What are the advantages of the Robinson projection?

No major distortion and compromises

What are the disadvantages of the Robinson projection?

All aspects are slightly distorted

How are geographical data collected?

Fieldwork/field observation, the US census and geospatial technologies

Fieldwork / field observation

The act of an individual physically visiting a location and recording information there

Examples of geospatial technologies.

GIS, GPS and remote sensing

GIS

A computer system that store, analyze and display information from many digital maps and data set.

GPS

Satellites orbit the earth and communicates locational information to gps receivers

Remote sensing

The use of camera or other sensors mounted on aircraft / satellites which orbits the earth above atmosphere to collect digital image of earth’s surface

How do we describe what a location is like?

Place’s sense of factor, cultural landscape / built environment or placelessness

Toponym

Location’s name

Site / physical landscape

Environmental features of a location

Distance decay

The interaction between 2 places declines as the distance between the 2 places increases

Time space compression

The increasing sense of accessibility and connectivity which seems to bring humans in distant places close together due to globalization and increased tech and transportation

Cultural ecology

The study of how human interact to the environment

Environmental determinism

The environment determines how you live

Possibilism

Is it possible to adapt to human needs

What is the scale of analysis in order largest to smallest?

Global, regional, state / national, sub state, county, local, census tract

Regions

An area with 1 or more unifying characteristics human or physical patterns of activity

Formal region

Geographical area inhabited by people who are united by 1 or more specific traits

Functional region

Region organized around a central node and the relationship is typically based around economic, travel and communication

Perceptual / vernacular region

Region based on a person’s perspective or perception of a certain location

People do not settle in places with what feature?

Too hot, cold, wet, hilly or dry

People are most likely to settle in places with what feature?

Low elevation, fertile soil, temperature climate or near a body of water

Ecumene

The habitable area of the world

Arithmetic density

Total population / land area

Physiological density

Total population / arable land

Agricultural density

Farmers / arable land

Carrying capacity

The maximum population size an environment can sustain

Population pyramid purpose

Assess to population growth and decline and to predict markets for goods and services

Dependency ratio

The number of people in a dependent age group divided by the number of people in the working age group multiplied by 100

Sex ratio

The proportion of males to females in a population

What would cause fewer woman or fewer man in a society?

War, insufficient, migration or gendercide / sex selective abortion

What factors determine a population’s growth and decline?

Fertility, mortality or migration

Crude birth rate

Number of live birth occurring in 1 year per 1000 people

Total fertility rate

Average number of children who would be born per women during her childbearing year

Crude death rate

Number of death occurring in 1 year per 1000 people

Infant mortality rate

Number of children who die before 1 year of age from