AP HG Vocab U1

absolute location

Exact location of a place on the earth described by global coordinates

relative location

The position of a place in relation to another place

Site

the physical character of a place

Situation

the location of a place relative (compared) to other places

Place

uniqueness of a location

Placelessness

when a location loses its uniqueness

reference map

Maps that show the absolute location of places and geographic features

thematic maps

Maps that tell stories, typically showing the degree of some attribute or the movement of a geographic phenomenon

Toponym

the name given to a place on Earth that makes it stand out from the others; usually was chosen for a particular reason

map projection

a way of representing the spherical Earth on a flat surface

GIS

A computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data.

GPS

A system that determines the precise position of something on Earth through a series of satellites, tracking stations, and receivers.

remote sensing

the scanning of the earth by satellite or high-flying aircraft in order to obtain information about it.

field observation

the study of geographic phenomena by visiting places and observing

landscape analysis

using field observation, spatial data, and aerial photography to gather data to define and describe landscapes

Census

the official count of a population that takes place every ten years

qualitative data

data that we can use our 5 senses to describe

quantitative data

Data that is represented by measurements or counting, usually numerical

formal / uniform region

an area where everyone shares one or more distinctive characteristics

functional / nodal region

a region organized and connected through its core, and activity decreases as you move away from the core/node

vernacular / perceptual region

A place that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity

distance decay

decline of activity or function the further it gets from its point of origin

time-space compression

the rapid innovation of communication and transportation technologies associated with globalization that transforms the way people think about space and time

Scale

the relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole

environmental determinism

the view that the natural environment has a controlling influence over various aspects of human life including cultural development

Possibilism

The physical environment may limit some human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to their environment.

Sustainability

meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs