Human Geo AP Exam

What is geography?

the study of where things are found on Earth's surface and the reasons for the locations

What does physical geography focus on?

the study of Earth's natural features and processes

Give examples of topics in physical geography.

Geomorphology, climatology, oceanography, etc.

What does human geography focus on?

the study of human activities, cultures, societies, and their interactions with the environment across different spatial and temporal scales

Give examples of topics in human geography.

Cultural geography, population geography, political geography, urban geography, etc.

What is a map?

a two dimensional, or flat-scale model, of Earth's surface

What are reference maps designed to show?

the spatial arrangement of features such as boundaries, roads, bodies of water, and landmarks without emphasizing any particular theme

What do thematic maps focus on illustrating?

specific data or themes, such as population density, climate patterns, or economic activity, across a geographic area

What is cartography?

the science and art of creating maps

Name two notable cartographers from the 4th century B.C.

Pythagoras & Aristotle

What notion are Pythagoras and Aristotle credited with?

the notion of a spherical Earth

What is Eratosthenes credited with?

Calculated the circumference of the Earth

What is Claudius Ptolemy credited with introducing?

the concepts of latitude and longitude

Who created the Tabula Rogeriana?

Muhammad al-Idrisi

Who created a cylindrical map projection which became the standard for nautical navigation?

Gerardus Mercator

What does the title of a map explain?

what information is being displayed

What does the orientation on a map assist in understanding?

directions

Why is the date important on a map?

provides a frame of reference - boundaries change!

What does the author of a map help to establish?

authenticity & accuracy

What does the legend on a map explain?

the symbols used on the map

What does the scale on a map indicate?

the distance a unit of measurement represents

What does the index of a map collect?

major sites and their respective locations

What is the grid on a map?

a series of lines that math the index

What does the source of a map help to establish?

credibility

What is map scale?

the relationship between the size of an object on a map and the size of the actual feature on the Earth's surface

Name three ways map scale is presented.

Ratio or Fraction Scale, Written Scale, Graphic Scale

Give an example of a ratio or fraction scale.

1:24,000 or 1/24,000

What do simple ratios show in map scale?

the relationship between the distance on the map and the real world

Give an example of a written scale.

one inch equals one mile

What do words describe in a written scale?

the relationship between a map and the real world it represents

What is a graphic scale?

Bars that look like rulers with labels to indicate distances

What is projection in mapping?

a method used to represent the curved surface of the Earth onto a flat, two-dimensional surface

Name four types of distortion in map projections.

Shape, Distance, Relative size, Direction

What does the Mercator Projection preserve?

angles and directions

What is the Mercator Projection very useful for?

maritime navigation

What does the Mercator Projection distort?

size and area of landmasses near the poles

Where is the Mercator Projection widely used?

web mapping

What kind of projection is the Robinson Projection?

Compromise projection

What does the Robinson Projection minimize?

distortion in many areas, but distorts them all

How does the Robinson Projection distort polar regions compared to cylindrical projections?

less

For what types of maps is the Robinson Projection popular?

thematic and educational maps

What kind of projection is the Gall-Peters projection?

Equal area projection

What does the Gall-Peters projection preserve?

relative sizes of landmasses

What does the Gall-Peters projection distort?

shape

How does the Gall-Peters projection affect equatorial regions?

Vertically elongates

What concept is the Gall-Peters projection associated with?

'Geographic fairness'

What does the Gall-Peters projection highlight?

the true sizes of developing regions

What is the geographic grid?

a system of imaginary arcs drawn in a grid pattern on Earth's surface

What are meridians?

arcs drawn between the North and South Poles

How are meridians numbered?

according to a system of longitude

What is the range of values for longitude?

from 0° (Prime Meridian) to 180°

What are parallels?

arcs drawn parallel to the Equator and a right angles to meridians

How are parallels numbered?

according to a system of latitude

What is the range of values for latitude?

from 0° (equator) to 90° N or S

How can points on Earth's surface be communicated using the geographic grid?

by reference points of latitudinal and longitudinal intersection

Give an example of a location in terms of latitude and longitude.

Denver, Colorado - 40° N Latitude and 105° W Longitude

How can further accuracy be achieved in geographic coordinates?

by dividing each degree into 60 minutes and 60 seconds

From what numeral system does the division of degrees into minutes and seconds derive?

the sexagesimal numeral system - base 60

Where is the International Date Line approximately located?

at 180° longitude

What is Geographic Information Science (GISc)?

the study of spatial data and technologies used to analyze, visualize, and interpret geographic patterns and relationships

What does remote sensing refer to?

the acquisition of information about the Earth's surface and atmosphere using sensors on satellites or aircraft

What is the Global Positioning System (GPS)?

satellite based navigation system

What is a Geographic Information System?

a computer system that stores, queries, analyzes, and displays geographic data

How is information stored in a GIS?

in layers

What can the comparison of layers in a GIS illustrate?

relationships between data sets

Give an example of a GIS.

Googlemaps

What is an isoline map?

lines of equal value are used to represent data like elevation, barometric pressure, or temperature

How are given variables depicted on a choropleth map?

with shading patterns of color

How are sizes of symbols varied on a graduated symbol map?

in proportion to the intensity of the mapped variable

What do dots represent on a dot map?

some frequency of the given variable

What does a cartogram convey through the relative sizes of political units?

a particular value

What does location refer to?

the specific position of something on the Earth's surface

What is absolute location?

The precise point where something is located

How is absolute location often given?

in terms of latitude & longitude, or a specific address

What is relative location?

Where something is located in relation to other places or features

Give an example of relative location.

"north of the river" or "next to the gas station"

What do land use and infrastructure reflect?

economic and social priorities

What do religious and cultural sites represent?

cultural beliefs and practices

What do settlement patterns reflect?

cultural preferences and historical influences

What is a region?

an area that is distinguished by one or more unifying characteristics or patterns of activity

What do regions assist geographers in doing?

categorize and analyze spatial characteristics and relationships

Name four factors by which a region may be defined.

Physical landscapes, Culture, Economics, Politics

What are formal regions also known as?

Uniform Region & Homogenous Region

What is a defining characteristic of formal regions?

Areas in which everyone shares one or more distinctive characteristics

Give examples of unifying characteristics in formal regions.

language, economic activity, climate, political membership

What are functional regions also known as?

Nodal Regions

What are functional regions focused around?

a node or focal point

How do the defining characteristics of a functional region change with distance from the central focus point?

diminishes in importance outward

What are vernacular regions also known as?

Perceptual Regions

What are vernacular regions based on?

Areas that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity

Give an example of a vernacular region.

The American South

What is distribution?

the arrangement of features in a given area

What is space?

the physical gap or interval between objects

What is density?

the frequency in which something occurs in a given area

How is density measured?

Number per land area

What is concentration?

the extent of a feature's spread over an area

What are the two types of concentration?

Clustered v. dispersed

What does pattern refer to?

the arrangement of features within an area

What can pattern reveal?

the underlying processes that influence placement

What is diffusion?

the process by which ideas, cultural traits, technologies, or innovations spread from one place to another over time