AP Human Geography - Unit 1 and Unit 2 Review

Flashcards covering unit 1 and unit 2 concepts discussing maps, data collection, and population density for AP Human Geography.

What is a key limitation when looking at any map?

Distortion in direction, shape, area, or distance due to projecting a 3D globe onto a 2D surface.

What is a key advantage of the Mercator map projection?

Accurate direction, making it useful for naval expeditions.

What is a key disadvantage of the Mercator map projection?

Significant distortion in the size and location of landmasses, especially noticeable with Greenland and Africa.

What does the Good Homolosine projection excel at showing?

The true size and shape of land masses.

What is a limitation of the Good Homolosine projection?

Distortion in distances near the edges and unsuitability for showing direction due to its interrupted nature.

What is the main characteristic of interrupted maps?

They remove parts of the globe to reduce distortion.

What is the strategy of the Robinson projection regarding distortion?

It minimizes distortion by spreading it out across the entire map.

What is a notable strength of the Gall-Peters projection?

More accurately shows the true size of Earth's landmasses.

What is a significant weakness of the Gall-Peters projection?

Significant distortion in the shape of landmasses and direction.

What is the primary function of reference maps?

To provide information, showing boundaries, place names (toponyms), and geographic features.

What is the main purpose of topographic maps?

To display terrain and elevation changes using contour lines.

How are terrain steepness indicated on a topographic map?

Closer contour lines indicate steeper terrain, while more spaced-out lines indicate gentler slopes.

Define absolute direction.

The exact direction based on a compass, such as traveling directly south (180 degrees).

Define relative direction.

Direction that depends on surrounding locations, such as saying a yellow circle is north of a blue circle.

Define absolute distance.

The precise distance between two points, typically measured in miles or kilometers.

Define relative distance.

An approximate measure of the distance between two places, such as a 23-hour drive.

What is the primary purpose of thematic maps?

To display spatial patterns using quantitative data to represent specific data driven topics.

How do choropleth maps display data?

By using different colors or shades of colors to represent different quantities of the data set.

How do dot density maps represent data?

By placing points on a map to show where data occurs, illustrating the spatial distribution.

What does spatial analysis refer to, when referring to information?

Information that may be clustered (close together) or dispersed (spread out) over a geographic area.

How do graduated symbol maps display data?

Use shapes, items, or symbols to show the location and amount of data, which can be visually impactful but sometimes confusing.

How do isoline maps display data?

By connecting areas with similar or equal data values using lines; common in weather maps showing temperature.

How do cartogram maps display data?

By showing data dynamically, with the greatest values represented by the largest areas.

What are flow line maps used for?

Showing the movement of goods, people, animals, services, or ideas between different places.

What is remote sensing?

Collecting information about the Earth from orbiting satellites.

What does GIS stand for and what is its purpose?

Geographic Information System; a computer system that collects, analyzes, and displays geographic data, creating layered maps for spatial analysis.

What does GPS stand for and what is its function?

Global Positioning System; uses satellites to provide absolute location data, helping people navigate or find places.

What are geospatial technologies?

Remote sensing, GIS, and GPS, which enable businesses, governments, and individuals to locate places and visualize geographic data.

What are field observations?

In-person visits to a place to record firsthand observations, providing accurate data but can be costly.

What are personal interviews used for in geographic data collection?

Gathering unique perspectives and insights about a place by asking questions.

How can media reports be used in geography?

To understand local experiences and events in an area through newspapers, online articles, and news stations.

How are government documents useful for geographic studies?

Provide insight into cultural values, priorities, and governance systems of a place through laws and regulations.

How do travel narratives contribute to geographic understanding?

They offer personal perspectives and observations about places from individuals visiting or living there.

How are landscape and photo analysis used in geography?

To understand changes in an area and the impact of humans on the environment, by studying images and recordings.

Define qualitative data.

Information often in word form that is subjective and open to interpretation, collected through observations and interviews.

Define quantitative data.

Information in number form that is objective and concrete, often collected through censuses and demographic data.

Why is it important to remember to change our scale while we gain different insight into geographic data?

Using differing scales will show a more detailed observation of locations and patterns.

How do local governments utilize geographic data?

To make decisions about zoning and to plan for future growth, considering population changes and resident needs.

How is geographic data used at a regional scale?

Regional governments use data to allocate state funding for infrastructure, social services, and to pass laws reflecting regional needs.

How do federal governments use geographic data?

To decide on federal laws and programs, often based on successful regional initiatives.

What is the United Nations' use of geospatial data on a global scale?

To address and counter war, famine, epidemics, and conflicts, working to improve global conditions.

What is a key business application of local-scale geospatial data?

In this local-scale example, businesses use data to open stores in neighborhoods where their target customers are located.

How does GPS help individuals on a local scale?

GPS is a geospatial technology used to help people get from place A to place B.

Define absolute location.

An exact location on Earth's surface, using longitude and latitude.

Define relative location.

The location of a place in relation to its surrounding area, described using nearby buildings or geographic features.

What are physical characteristics of a place?

Natural aspects like rivers, mountains, vegetation, and climate.

What are human characteristics of a place?

Cultural and demographic aspects such as languages, religions, population size, and cultural practices.

What is 'sense of place'?

An emotional response that helps form a person's perception of a location, strengthened by unique features and memories.

What is placelessness?

A lack of unique features or strong feelings associated with a location, causing it to lack an identity.

What aspects are considered in the spatial distribution of a place?

Density, concentration, and patterns that may be present.

Define concentration in spatial terms.

How objects are spread out (clustered or dispersed).

Define density in spatial terms.

The number of objects or people in an area.

Define pattern in spatial terms.

The arrangement of things in an area, such as a grid or linear formation.

What is time-space compression?

The phenomenon of the world feeling smaller due to increased connectivity through technology and communication.

What is distance decay?

The concept that interaction between places or people decreases as the distance between them increases.

What is environmental determinism?

The belief that the environment dictates the success of a society, influencing its development.

What is environmental possibilism?

The idea that the environment sets limits, but people can adjust it to create their own success.

Define land use.

The repurposing of land for specific purposes.

What are natural resources?

Resources produced in nature, including renewable (crops, trees) and nonrenewable (oil, natural gas) types.

Define sustainable policies.

Policies that ensure the use of natural resources meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.

What are the main scales of measurement?

Scales of measurement include global, national, regional and local.

At a subnational scale, what type of locations are measured?

Maps of a city, county, and regions are measured at subnational scales.

How is the information presented at a global scale of analysis?

Information is presented without the use of national boundaries, showing global patterns.

How is data organized in a national scale of analysis?

Data and information are organized by country.

What is the function of regional scale of analysis

Federal reserve districts will be organized by the information.

Define small scale maps:

Small scale maps are zoomed out and generalizations are used with the collected data.

Define large scale maps:

Large scale maps are zoomed in and use less generalizations.

What is a region?

A geographic area defined by unique characteristics or patterns of activity.

What are uniform regions?

Geographic areas that have common attributes and are traditionally defined by economic, political, social, or environmental characteristics

What are nodal regions?

Geographic areas that are organized around a node or center point.

What are vernacular regions?

These are geographic areas that are linked together due to people's opinions, attitudes, feelings, or beliefs on the region.

What is arithmetic density?

The total population divided by the amount of land.

What is physiological density?

The total population divided by the total amount of arable land.

What is agricultural density?

The amount of farmers divided by the total amount of arable land.