[Spring Special] FULL AP Human Geography Vocabulary Review

Distortion

Caused by trying to represent a three-dimensional object (the earth) on a two-dimensional surface (flat map).

Cartography

The science or practice of drawing maps.

Meridian (Longitude)

A circle of constant longitude passing through a given place on the earth's surface and the terrestrial poles.

Parallel (Latitude)

A circle of constant latitude passing through a given place on the earth's surface.

Map Scale

The relationship of a feature's length on a map to its actual distance on Earth.

Mercator Projection

Preserves accurate compass direction and distorts the area of land masses relative to each other.

Robinson Projection

Minimizes errors in area, shape, distance, or direction.

Peters Projection

An equal-area projection purposefully centered on Africa.

Polar Projection

All points on the map are at proportionally correct distances and directions from the center point.

Choropleth Map

Maps with areas shaded or patterned according to statistical variables.

Cartogram Map

The size of locations is based on the amount of information depicted.

Region

Any area differentiated from surrounding areas by at least one characteristic.

Isoline Map

Lines that connect similar information.

Dot Distribution Map

Each dot represents a set number of what is being represented.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

A family of software programs that allows mapping and analyzing spatial data.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

An integrated network of satellites broadcasting location information.

Remote Sensing

Capturing images of Earth's surface from airborne platforms like satellites.

Census Data

An official count of a population, detailing sex, age, and occupation.

Absolute Location

An exact place on Earth, often given in terms of latitude and longitude.

Relative Location

A description of how a place is related to other places.

Space

The physical gap or distance between two objects.

Place

A specific point on earth characterized by human and physical traits.

Distance Decay

The effect that distance has on cultural or spatial interactions.

Time-space Compression

The reduction in time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place.

Flow

The movement of people or phenomenon.

Sustainability

Using Earth's resources to ensure availability in the future.

Possibilism

The theory that the physical environment may set limits on human actions, but people can adjust accordingly.

Environmental Determinism

The philosophy that human behaviors are shaped by the surrounding environment.

Density

Frequency with which something occurs in a given space.

Concentration

The extent of something's spread over a given space.

Distribution

The arrangement of a feature in a given space.

Formal (Uniform) Region

Areas with certain characteristics found throughout.

Functional (Nodal) Region

A central place impacted by its surrounding areas.

Perceptual (Vernacular) Region

An area defined by people's feelings and attitudes.

Newly Industrialized Country

A country in early stages of stabilizing its economy.

Transitional Boundary

Fuzzy boundaries from regions coming together.

Less Developed Country

A country in early stages of economic development.

Site

The exact location of a city or state on a map.

Situation

A location of a city or state in relation to surroundings.

More Developed Country

A country with an advanced economy and infrastructure.

Pattern

The regular arrangement of something in an area.

Physiological Density

The number of people per unit of arable land.

Arithmetic Density

Total number of people divided by total land area.

Ecumene

The portion of Earth's surface occupied by permanent human settlement.

Agricultural Density

The ratio of farmers to total land suitable for agriculture.

Overpopulation

When people in an area exceed the environment's capacity to support life.

Arable Land

Land suitable for agriculture.

Carrying Capacity

The number of people an area can sustainably support.

Crude Death Rate

The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year.

Life expectancy

The average years an individual can expect to live.

Infant Mortality Rate

Deaths among infants under one year per 1,000 live births.

Total Fertility Rate

Average number of children a woman will have.

Literacy Rate

Percentage of a country's population that can read and write.

Dependency Rate

Comparison of people under 15 and over 64 to those in the labor force.

Population Pyramid

A bar graph showing population distribution by age and sex.

Sex Ratio

The number of males per 100 females in a population.

Natural Increase Rate

The percentage growth of a population in a year.

Doubling Time

Years needed to double a population at a constant growth rate.

Population Explosion

Trend of rapid population increase.

Zero Population Growth

Goal of stabilizing global population.

Demographic Transition Model

A tool for categorizing populations based on growth rates.

Medical Revolution

Improvements in medical practices reducing causes of death.

Industrial Revolution

Improvements in technology transforming manufacturing processes.

Neo-Malthusian

Belief that rapid population growth outpaces agricultural production.

Pronatalist

A policy encouraging increased birth rates.

Antinatalist

A policy encouraging decreased birth rates.

Quota

A maximum limit on immigration to a country.

Dependency Ratio (2.9)

Percentage of non-working age people supported by working adults.

Life Expectancy (2.9)

Average years an individual can expect to live.

Net Migration

Difference between incoming and outgoing migration.

Forced Migration

Permanent movement compelled by cultural factors.

Voluntary Migration

Permanent movement undertaken by choice.

Intraregional Migration

Permanent movement within one region of a country.

Brain Drain

Emigration of talented individuals from a country.

Intervening Obstacles

Features that hinder migration.

Internal Migration

Permanent movement within a country.

Immigration

Migration to a new location.

Emigration

Migration away from an area.

Refugee

People forced to leave their lands due to hardship.

Transnational Migration

Movement between two or more countries forming a new identity.

Transhumance

Seasonal movement of livestock for grazing.

Chain Migration

Migration to a specific location due to relatives or nationality.

Remittance

Money sent back home from abroad.

Step Migration

Long-distance migration in stages.

Guest Worker

A laborer who migrates for better job opportunities.

Asylum Seeker

Migrants hoping for refugee status recognition.

Internally Displaced Person

Migrant forced to move for political reasons without crossing borders.

Unauthorized Immigrant (2.12)

Individuals entering a country without proper documents.

Behaviors

Actions taken by individuals based on values and beliefs.

Cultural Traits

A single attribute of a culture.

Taboos

Restrictions on behavior imposed by social customs.

Beliefs

Statements held to be true based on values.

Cultural Landscape

Human-modified natural landscape.

Cultural Relativism

Evaluating a culture by its own standards.

Ethnocentrism

Judging another culture by one's own standards.

Sequent Occupance

Cultural imprints left by successive societies.

Ethnic Enclave

A distinct area where an ethnic group clusters.

Linguistic

A collection of sounds with shared meanings.

Folk Culture

Culture traditionally practiced by small, homogeneous groups.

Pop Culture

Culture found in large, diverse societies with shared traits.