APHG vocab

Data aggregation

The process of gathering and summarizing data from multiple sources.

Spatial perspective

A way of looking at the world that emphasizes the importance of geographic space and location.

Spatial patterns

The arrangement of phenomena or objects on the earth’s surface.

Clustered

A distribution pattern in which phenomena are concentrated in one area.

Dispersed

A distribution pattern in which phenomena are spread out over a large area.

Time-distance decay

The diminishing importance of a phenomenon with increasing distance from its source.

Map scale

The relationship between distance on the map and distance in the real world.

Scale

The level of detail or scope of a geographic study.

Absolute distance/direction

The exact measurement of space between two points.

Relative distance/direction

The approximate measurement of the space between two places.

Elevation

The height above sea level.

Latitude

The distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees.

Longitude

The distance east or west of the prime meridian measured in degrees.

Absolute location

The precise location of a place using coordinates.

Reference maps

Maps that show the physical and cultural features of an area.

Thematic maps

Maps that focus on a particular theme or data set.

Map Projection

The method used to represent the curved surface of the earth on a flat map.

Census

A systematic count of a population.

Latitude lines (parallels)

Imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator.

Prime Meridian

The meridian at 0 degrees longitude, from which all other degrees of longitude are measured.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A satellite-based navigation system that allows users to determine their exact location.

Geographic Information Science

The field that studies a range of technologies used for spatial analysis.

Remote sensing

The acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact.

Quantitative data

Data that can be measured and expressed numerically.

Qualitative data

Data that describes qualities or characteristics.

Space

The physical gap or interval between two objects.

Place

A specific point on Earth distinguished by particular characteristics.

Cultural landscape

The visible imprint of human activity and culture on the landscape.

Toponym

The name given to a place or geographical feature.

Site

The physical character of a place.

Situation

The location of a place relative to other places.

Flow

The movement of people, goods, or information across space.

Globalization

The process by which businesses develop international influence.

Time-Space Compression

The process by which technological advancements reduce the time it takes to travel or communicate.

Interdependence

The mutual reliance between two or more groups.

Pattern

An arrangement or sequence that can be observed repeatedly.

Diffusion

The process by which an idea or product spreads from one culture to another.

Hearth

The origin or source area where an innovation originates.

Expansion diffusion

The spread of a feature or trend among people from one area to another in an additive process.

Cultural Ecology

The study of how human societies adapt to their environments.

Natural hazards

Events that occur in nature and pose a threat to human life or property.

Natural resources

Materials or substances that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.

Nonrenewable resources

Resources that cannot be replaced once used.

Renewable resources

Resources that can be replenished naturally over time.

Sustainability

The ability to maintain resources for future generations.

Environmental Determinism

The theory that the physical environment predisposes human social development.

Possibilism

The theory that the environment may limit human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to the environment.

Cartographic/Map scale

A measure of the relationship between a distance on a map and the actual distance on the ground.

Geographic scale

The level of detail or scope of geographic analysis.

Scale of Analysis/Data scale

The scale at which data is examined, affecting the outcome.

Region

An area defined by one or more natural or cultural characteristics.

Formal region (uniform region)

An area in which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics.

Functional region (nodal region)

An area organized around a node or focal point.

Vernacular region (perceptual region)

An area that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity.

Mental map

A person's point-of-view perception of their area of interaction.

Regional Identity

The distinct characteristics of a region that people associate with it.

Demography/Demographics

The statistical data of a population, especially those showing age, income, education, etc.

Population distribution

The spread of people across the world.

Mean center of population

The point at which a population is evenly balanced.

Population density

The number of people living per unit of area.

Arithmetic (crude) density

The total number of people divided by the total land area.

Physiological density

The number of people per unit of arable land.

Arable land

Land capable of being plowed and used to grow crops.

Agricultural density

The ratio of the number of farmers to the amount of arable land.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of people that an area can support sustainably.

Population composition

The demographic makeup of a population.

Cohort

A group of individuals who share a common characteristic.

Dependency ratio

A measure of the number of dependents, aged zero to 14 and over the age of 65.

Youth dependency ratio

The ratio of people who are 0-14 years old compared to those who are 15-64 years old.

Elderly dependency ratio

The ratio of people aged 65 and older compared to those aged 15-64.

Generations

Groups of individuals born around the same time.

Sex ratio

The ratio of males to females in a population.

Population pyramid

A graphical representation of the age and sex distribution of a population.

Demographic equation

An equation that mathematically expresses changes in population size.

Crude birth rate (CBR)

The number of live births per 1,000 people in a given year.

Total fertility rate (TFR)

The average number of children a woman will have during her lifetime.

Replacement level fertility

The number of children a couple must have to replace themselves.

Crude death rate (CDR) or mortality rate

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

Infant mortality rate (IMR)

The number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births.

Rate of natural increase (RNI)

The difference between the number of live births and the number of deaths occurring in a year.

Zero population growth (ZPG)

A condition where the number of people in a specified population neither grows nor declines.

Doubling time

The time it takes for a population to double in size.

Demographic transition model (DTM)

A model that describes the transition of a population from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates.

Epidemiology

The branch of medicine that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of diseases.

Epidemiologic transition model (ETM)

A model that describes the changes in disease patterns as a population transforms.

Degenerative disease

A disease characterized by the degeneration of function or structure of the affected tissue or organ.

Medical revolution

The wave of medical advances that greatly improved public health.

Pestilence

A fatal epidemic disease.

Famine

Extreme scarcity of food.

Pandemic

An epidemic that spreads across a large region, affecting a high proportion of the population.

Degenerative diseases

Diseases that gradually worsen over time.

Malthusian theory

The theory suggesting that population growth will outpace food production.

Neo-Malthusians

Individuals who advocate for population control in response to Malthus's ideas.

Boserup Theory

The theory that agricultural methods depend on population size.

Antinatalist policies

Policies that discourage births.

Pronatalist policies

Policies that encourage births.

Aging population

A population with a higher median age due to declining birth rates and/or increasing longevity.

Median age

The age at which half the population is older and half is younger.

Life expectancy

The average period that a person may expect to live.

Push factors

Conditions that drive people away from their home.