AP Human Geography : Unit 1 Terminology

studied byStudied by 2 people
0.0(0)
learn
LearnA personalized and smart learning plan
exam
Practice TestTake a test on your terms and definitions
spaced repetition
Spaced RepetitionScientifically backed study method
heart puzzle
Matching GameHow quick can you match all your cards?
flashcards
FlashcardsStudy terms and definitions

1 / 39

40 Terms

1
Reference Map
Maps that show the absolute location of places including boundaries and place names; examples of reference maps: political maps, physical maps, road maps
New cards
2
Thematic Map
A broad category of maps that tell stories, typically showing the degree of some attribute (a theme) or the movement of a geographic phenomenon.
New cards
3
Isoline Map
A map that contains lines which show spatial bands in which some measured attribute is equal across the entire band; e.g. isotherm map or topographical map
New cards
4
Topographic Map
A type of isoline map which reveals in two dimensions the contours of a landscape through the use of lines of equal elevation; used by hikers; scale = 1:24,000
New cards
5
Elevation
Vertical distance above sea level
New cards
6
Choropleth Map
A map in which geographical areas or regions are colored, shaded or patterned in relation to a data variable. This provides a way to visualize values over a geographical area, which can show variation or patterns across the displayed location.
New cards
7
Dot Density/Distribution Map
A type of thematic map that uses dots on a map to show the presence of some variable; a high concentration of dots would be considered a clustered spatial pattern while distance between dots would be considered a dispersed spatial pattern.
New cards
8
Clustered Spatial Pattern
A high concentration/presence of a variable in one location
New cards
9
Dispersed Spatial Pattern
A low concentration of a variable in one location; spread out
New cards
10
Graduated Symbol Map
A map which scales the size of symbols - usually circles -proportionally to the quantity or value of some variable at that location
New cards
11
Flow Map
A type of thematic map used to show the movement (flow) of an entity between different areas, often utilizing varying widths of a band or an arrow to show varying volumes of flow.
New cards
12
Cartogram Map
A map in which some thematic mapping variable is substituted for land area, using size distortion to convey the comparative value of different states
New cards
13
Mental Map
A mental picture of the way space is organized as determined by an individual's perception, impression, and knowledge of that space.
New cards
14
Physical Geography
Geography which reveals naturally occurring processes in nature; not human activity; e.g. a rainfall map
New cards
15
Absolute Location
Where something is precisely located, typically expressed by latitude and longitude coordinates
New cards
16
Relative Location
A place in relation to other locations
New cards
17
Global Positioning System (G.P.S.)
A global navigation satellite system owned and operated by the US government which provides precise geolocation anywhere on earth to anyone with a GPS receiver; system utilizes around 32 satellites with 4 required for access by a receiver; other examples are GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), and BeiDou (China)
New cards
18
Remote Sensing
A method of collecting data through the use of instruments (e.g. satellites, aircraft, drones) that are physically distant from the area or object of study; can be either active (e.g. radar, lidar) or passive (e.g. the world at night images)
New cards
19
Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S)
Layers of information applied to a map as a way of managing and analyzing data in a spatial format; e.g. a municipal crime map; ArcGIS is most commonly used program
New cards
20
Formal Region (a.k.a. Uniform or Homogenous Region)
An area in which there is uniformity of some attribute; this describes most areas demarcated on a map; a country map is good example
New cards
21
Functional Region (a.k.a. Nodal Region)
An area centered around a node, focal point, or central hub related to trade, communications, or transportation
New cards
22
Perceptual (a.k.a.Vernacular Region)
An area whose existence or demarcation is based on perception and is often the subject of debate; a region whose demarcation is not officially recognized; e.g. the Middle East
New cards
23
Environmental Determinism
The view that the natural environment has a controlling influence over various aspects of human life, including cultural development; at one point grounded in racist assumptions coupled with the belief that temperate climates with seasons produce higher degrees of "civilization."
New cards
24
Possibilism
A counter theory to environmental determinism holding that human decision making and ingenuity is more influential than the environment in shaping societies, with regional environmental factors providing certain constraints. This theory often holds up as examples human beings overcoming environmental constraints.
New cards
25
Map Projection
A system used to transfer locations from a spherical earth to a 2-dimensional map, making distortion inevitable in either distance, area, direction, or shape (D.A.D.S.)
New cards
26
Mercator Projection
A cylindrical map projection (originally created by Gerardus Mercator in 1569) which has been used for navigation as it generally preserves direction and shape; it exaggerates land masses towards the poles
New cards
27
Equal Area Projection
A map projection which preserves relative area while distorting shape in the process; three examples are Robinson, Gall-Peters, and Mollweide (knowing these three examples is not important)
New cards
28
Scale 1st Definition
1. The relationship of a distance on a map to the corresponding distance on the ground; e.g. 1 inch = 1 mile or 1:63,360 or ------1------2-----3 Miles
New cards
29
Scale 2nd Definition
The largest political entity on a map; e.g. local scale, sub-national scale, national scale, regional scale, global scale
New cards
30
Scale of Analysis
The level at which comparisons can be made on a map; e.g. a map of the United States with each state showing different degrees of college graduation rates - the scale of analysis would be at the state level, not the national level
New cards
31
Census Tract
A geographical region representing the smallest territorial entity for which there is census data, usually equaling around 4,000 inhabitants, and in cities, is typically the size of a neighborhood
New cards
32
Latitude/Parallel
A coordinate that specifies the point on the surface of the earth ranging from -90° at the south pole to 90° at the north pole, with 0° at the Equator; think of horizontal lines which are parallel to each other
New cards
33
Longitude/Meridian
A geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the surface of the Earth measured from the prime meridian at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England; think vertical lines which run from north pole to south pole; longitude lines run from 0° at Greenwich, westward across the Western Hemisphere with negative degrees and eastward across the Eastern Hemisphere with positive degrees from 1 to 180 until the International Date Line which is opposite the prime meridian.
New cards
34
Prime Meridian
An arbitrary meridian (a line of longitude) in a geographic coordinate system at which longitude is defined to be 0°, running roughly through Greenwich, England.
New cards
35
International Date Line (IDL)
An internationally accepted demarcation on the surface of Earth, running between the South Pole and North Pole and serving as the boundary between one calendar day and the next. It passes through the Pacific Ocean, roughly following the 180° line of longitude and deviating to pass around some territories and island groups. Crossing the date line eastbound decreases the date by one day (24 hours), while crossing the date line westbound increases the date
New cards
36
Time Zone
An area which observes a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes; it is as an offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the successor to Greenwich Mean Time
New cards
37
Arctic Circle
The northerly of the two polar circles marking the southernmost latitude at which, on the December solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, the sun will not rise all day (polar night), and on the June solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, the sun will not set (midnight sun); generally at 66°33′.
New cards
38
Antarctic Circle
The southerly of the two polar circles, marking northernmost latitude at which the sun is above the horizon for 24 continuous hours at least once per year (and therefore visible at midnight) and the sun is below the horizon for 24 continuous hours at least once per year; generally at 66°33′.
New cards
39
Equator
A circle of latitude (about 24,901 mi in circumference) that divides earth into the northern and southern hemispheres located at 0 degrees latitude, halfway between the North and South poles; constant temperatures year-round
New cards
40
Tropics
The regions of Earth surrounding the Equator between the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at 23.43634° N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at 23.43634° S; the tropics receive sunlight that is more direct than the rest of Earth and are generally hotter and wetter as they aren't affected as much by the solar seasons.
New cards

Explore top notes

note Note
studied byStudied by 447 people
295 days ago
5.0(3)
note Note
studied byStudied by 22 people
894 days ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 11 people
903 days ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 3 people
31 days ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 3 people
816 days ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 110 people
242 days ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 1 person
211 days ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 19341 people
683 days ago
4.8(60)

Explore top flashcards

flashcards Flashcard (78)
studied byStudied by 5 people
342 days ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (166)
studied byStudied by 12 people
658 days ago
5.0(3)
flashcards Flashcard (30)
studied byStudied by 1 person
161 days ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (47)
studied byStudied by 7 people
68 days ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (33)
studied byStudied by 8 people
816 days ago
5.0(2)
flashcards Flashcard (65)
studied byStudied by 21 people
710 days ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (33)
studied byStudied by 191 people
637 days ago
4.7(7)
flashcards Flashcard (448)
studied byStudied by 31 people
11 minutes ago
5.0(1)
robot