APHG Unit 1 Vocab

Human Geography

study of people and places-

How we make places, organize space and society, interact, and make sense of ourselves and others locally, regionally, nationally, and globally

reference maps

maps that show land forms or places

physical map

reference map that shows natural landmarks

political map

reference map that shows political boundaries

thematic maps

used to display specific types of information about an area

cartogram

thematic map that shows statistical data by distortion

choropleth map

thematic map that uses shading or coloring to show statistical data

dot density map

thematic map that uses dots to indicate a feature or occurrence

graduated symbols map

thematic map that shows relative magnitude of some value, with symbols being proportional to the data

absolute distance

measurement with a standard unit of length

relative distance

measure of the social, cultural, or economic connectivity between places

absolute direction

finding a location using a compass direction

relative direction

finding a location not using a compass direction

spatial pattern

the way things are laid out and organized on the surface of Earth

clustering

an object that forms a group

dispersal

objects that are scattered

elevation

height above sea level

spatial scale

hierarchy of spaces: global, regional, national, local

map distortion

all maps are distorted as a result of projecting a 3-dimensional surface onto a 2-dimensional surface \n in area, distance, shape, and/or direction

map projection

a way to transfer the 3-dimensional earth onto a 2-dimensional map to reduce distortion \n in area, distance, shape, and/or direction

geographic data

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information that identifies the geographic location of features and boundaries on earth (natural and \n constructed)

geospatial technologies

technology that provides geographic data that is used for personal (navigation), business \n (marketing), and governmental (environmental planning) purposes

GIS (Geographic Information System)

map created by a computer that can combine layers of spatial data \n - data is displayed and analyzed to gain insights into geographical patterns/relationships \n e.g. vulnerability of the Florida Aquifer, school boundaries, crime rates

satellite navigation system

system of satellites that provide geo-spatial positioning \n e.g. GPS

remote sensing

collecting data with instruments that are distant from the area of study \n types of Remote Sensors: satellites, planes, aircraft, spacecraft, ships, buoys \n uses of Remote Sensing: \n  Track storm systems \n  Search for natural resources \n  Military surveillance \n  Monitor volcanoes \n  Monitor deforestation/glacier melting

online mapping and visualization

compilation and publication of web sites that provide \n graphical and text information in the form of maps/visuals \n e.g. homicide statistics

spatial information can also come from written accounts (not just technology)

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field observations, media reports, travel \n narratives, policy documents, personal interviews, landscape analysis, and photographic evidence

census data

systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population

satellite imagery

mages of earth collected by satellites operated by governments and businesses around the world

absolute location

describes the precise location of a place using the Earth’s Graticule (latitude & longitude) \n e.g. Palm Beach Gardens = 26°49′43′′N 80°06′36′′W

relative location

describes the location of a place relative to other human and physical features \n e.g. Palm Beach Gardens = north of West Palm Beach, south of Jupiter

space (geography)

relational concept that acquires meaning and sense when related to other concepts \n e.g. geographers study phenomena across space

place

describes an area on the surface of the Earth with distinguishing human & physical characteristics \n (place is space with meaning) e.g. Agra, India

pattern

an arrangement of objects on earth, including the space in between those objects

human-environment interaction

describes the ways humans modify or adapt to \n the natural world e.g. bridges, dams, houses, roads

distance-decay

the idea that the likelihood of interaction diminishes with increasing distance

time-space compression

term that refers to the increasing sense of connectivity that seems to be bringing people closer \n together even though their distances are the same

time-space convergence

term that refers to the greatly accelerated movement of goods, information, and ideas during the \n 20th century made possible by technological innovations e.g. TV, internet, satellite communication

movement (geography)

describes the ways in which people, goods, and ideas move from place to place

flows (geography)

movement in a steady stream e.g. migration

globalization

the process of increased interconnectedness among countries most notably in the areas of economics, politics, \n and culture

network

a system of interconnected people or things e.g. transportation, communication, financial, governmental

sustainability

meeting an increased demand for resources (energy, food, fuel) in a way that protects the ability of future \n generations to meet their own needs

natural resources

something found in nature and is necessary or useful to humans \n e.g. forest, mineral deposit, water

land use

the function of land \n e.g. agricultural, commercial, residential, transportation, recreation

environmental determinism

theory that a society is formed and determined by the physical environment, especially the \n climate; the physical environment predisposes societies towards particular development; human society development is \n controlled by the environment

possibilism

theory that the environment sets certain constraints or limitations but people use their creativity to decide how \n to respond to the conditions of a particular natural environment

spatial scale (scale of analysis)

analyzing data at a variety of scales-global, regional, national, local \n e.g. location of French speakers: \n global: in the world \n regional: in North America \n national: in Canada \n local: in Quebec

spatial scale (patterns and processes)

analyzing data at different scales reveal variations/different interpretations of data \n e.g. fertility rate \n global: in the world (2.4) \n regional: in Sub-Saharan Africa (4.7) \n national: in Tunisia (2.1)

region

describes an area on Earth marked by similarity in some way (a way to organize space)

regionalism

refers to a group’s perceived identification with a particular region \n e.g. the South

formal region

region marked by a shared trait (cultural, physical, etc.) \n e.g. The Keys, The Caribbean

functional region

region marked by a particular set of activities that occur \n e.g. Southwest Airlines, newspaper

perceptual/vernacular region

region that exists as an idea \n e.g. the South, Kurdistan

regional boundaries

transitional and often contested and overlapping \n e.g. Kurdistan in Turkey and Northern Iraq

regional analysis

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analyzing regions at a variety of scales-global, national, local \n e.g. Muslim population \n global: in the world \n national: in Turkey \n local: in Kurdistan