APHG Unit 1 CED Vocabulary - Thinking Geographically

Human Geography

study of people AND places: how we make places, how we organize space and society, how we interact with each other in places and across spaces, how we make sense of others and ourselves in our localities, regions, & the world

reference maps

maps used to show locations of landforms and/or places

physical map

reference map that shows identifiable natural landmarks such as mountains, rivers, oceans, elevation

political map

reference map that shows political boundaries

e.g. countries, cities, capitals, etc.

thematic maps

maps used to display specific types of information (theme) pertaining to an area

cartogram

thematic map that shows statistical data by transforming space

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 (proportional symbols map)

thematic map that indicates relative magnitude of some value for a geographic region in which the symbol varies in proportion to data

absolute distance

measurement of distance using a standard unit of length

relative distance

measurement of the social, cultural, and/or economic connectivity between places (how connected or disconnected)

absolute direction

finding a location using compass/cardinal direction

relative direction

finding a location without using compass direction

spatial pattern

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

clustering

objects that form a group

dispersal

objects that are scattered

elevation

height above sea level

spatial (geographic) 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 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 in area, distance, shape, and/or direction

geographic data

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

geospatial technologies

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

GIS (Geographic Information System)

- map created by a computer that can combine layers of spatial data

- data is displayed and analyzed to gain insights into geographical patterns/relationships

e.g. vulnerability of the Florida Aquifer, school boundaries, crime rates

satellite navigation systems

system of satellites that provide geo-spatial positioning (GPS)

remote sensing

collecting data with instruments that are distant from the area of study

online mapping and visualization

compilation and publication of web sites that provide graphical and text information in the form of maps/visuals

census data

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

satellite imagery

images 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)

relative location

describes the location of a place relative to other human and physical features

space (geography)

relational concept that acquires meaning and sense when related to other concepts

place

describes an area on the surface of the Earth with distinguishing human & physical characteristics

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

the natural world

distance decay

the idea that the likelihood of interaction/influence diminishes with increasing distance

time-space compression

term that refers to the increasing sense of connectivity that seems to be bringing people closer 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 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

globalization

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

network

a system of interconnected people or things

sustainability

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

natural resources

something found in nature and is necessary or useful to humans

land use

the function of land

environmental determinism

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

possibilism

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

spatial scale

analyzing data at a variety of scales-global, regional, national, local

scale of data (scale of analysis)

analyzing data at different scales reveals variations/different interpretations of data

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

formal region

region marked by a shared trait (cultural, physical, etc.)

functional region

region marked by a particular set of activities that occur

perceptual/vernacular region

region that exists as an idea or as part of someone's "mental map"

regional boundaries

transitional and often contested and overlapping

regional analysis

analyzing regions at a variety of scales-global, national, local