APHUG 1.5 2

These flashcards review key diffusion patterns and essential geographic mapping tools, helping reinforce definitions, purposes, and distinctions among each concept.

What characterizes an expansion diffusion pattern?

It originates in a central place and then spreads outward in all directions to other locations.

In hierarchical diffusion, how does the spread of ideas or innovations typically proceed?

It begins in a first-order (often large or influential) location, moves to second-order locations, and then spreads to increasingly local or subordinate places.

How does contagious diffusion differ from other diffusion types?

It starts at a point of origin and spreads outward to nearby locations, especially along adjoining transportation or communication lines.

What is stimulus diffusion in geography?

A process in which a general idea or underlying principle spreads and stimulates the creation of new products or ideas rather than transferring the exact original item.

Describe relocation diffusion.

A pattern that begins at a point of origin, crosses a significant physical barrier (e.g., ocean, mountain, desert), and re-establishes on the other side.

What are scientific maps the result of?

Spatial analysis—the mathematical examination of one or more quantitative geographic patterns.

What do topographic maps primarily display?

Contour lines of elevation along with natural and human-made features such as roads, rivers, buildings, and vegetation.

What is the main purpose of a thematic map?

To illustrate a particular subject or theme rather than focusing on physical landforms.

How does a choropleth map convey information?

By using color or shading variations to represent the geographic variability of a specific theme or statistic.

What do isoline maps show?

They calculate and connect equal data values between points across a variable surface (e.g., elevation, temperature).

When would a geographer use a dot density map?

To represent the volume and spatial distribution of a particular geographic phenomenon with dots.

What information does a flow-line map communicate?

The direction and volume of a specific geographic movement pattern using lines of varying thickness.

Describe the function of a cartogram.

It distorts or simplifies real-world geometries to represent data values (e.g., population, economic output) for different areas.

What is a mental map?

A cognitive image or internal representation of a landscape held in the human mind.

Define map scale in its absolute form.

The quantitative relationship between a distance on the map and the corresponding distance on the ground (e.g., 1:24,000).