Unit 1 Human Geography

Human Geography

One of the two major divisions of Geography; the spatial analysis of human population, its cultures, activities, and landscapes.

Physical Geography

One of the two major divisions of systematic geography; the spatial analysis of the structure, processes, and location of Earth's natural phenomena such as climate, soil, plants, animals, and topography.

Reference Maps

Maps that show the absolute location of places and geographic features determined by a frame of reference, typically latitude and longitude

Thematic Maps/Special Purpose Maps

Show such specific topics as population density or distribution of world religions as well as physical, social, economic, political, agricultural, or economic features

Map Projections

Different ways of representing a round Earth on a flat map

Map Distortion

a change in the shape, size, or position of a place when it is shown on a map

GIS (geographic information system)

a computer system that can capture, store, query, analyze, and display geographic date

GPS (global positioning system)

A system that determines the precise position of something on Earth through a series of satellites, tracking stations, and receivers.

remote sensing

A method of collecting data or information through the use of instruments that are physically distant from the area or object of study.

Geospatial Data

data that describe both the locations and characteristics of spatial features on the Earth's surface

Geographical Data

Quantitative or qualitative information about people, places and environments.

absolute location

The exact position of an object or place, measured within the spatial coordinates of a grid system.

relative location

The position of a place in relation to another place

space

The physical gap or interval between two objects

place

A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular character.

Flows

the movement of objects, people and ideas between places

situation

the location of a place relative to other places

decay distance

the interaction between two locales declines as the distance between the increases

time-space compression

through processes such as globalization time is accelerated and the significance of space is reduced

environmental determinism

the view that the natural environment has a controlling influence over various aspects of human life including cultural development

Possibilism

viewpoint that people, not environments, are the dynamic forces of cultural development

Sustainability

The use of Earth's renewable and nonrenewable natural resources in ways that do not constrain resource use in the future.

renewable resource

Something produced in nature more rapidly than it is consumed by humans

formal region

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

Functional Region (Nodal Region)

An area organized around a node or focal point

Vernacular/Perceptual Region

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

Elevation

height above sea level

Cloropleth maps

A thematic map that uses tones or colors to represent spatial data as average values per unit area.

Isoline Maps (Thematic Maps)

Maps that use lines as contures to show topography

dot density maps

use dots to express the volume and density of a particular geographic feature

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 e.g. population

geospatial technology

refers to equipment used in visualization, measurement, and analysis of earth's features, typically involving such systems as GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing).

satellite navigation

Uses artificial earth satellites for determination of position

spatial information

data about where objects occur in the environment

census data

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

satellite imagery

Images generated at intervals from satellites orbiting the Earth. Can show visible, infrared, shortwave infrared or water vapor images.

natural resources

Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain

land use

Various ways humans use the land such as agricultural, industrial, residential, or recreational

Scales of Analysis

the study of a phenomena globally, regionally, or locally

global

(adj.) of, relating to, or involving the entire world; comprehensive

regional

of, relating to, or characteristic of a region.

national

analysis of a single state/country

local

relating to or occurring in a particular area, city, or town; located or living nearby