human geography

human geography

a branch of geography that studies how human activity affects or is influenced by Earths surface.

map

a two dimensional, or flat, representation of Earth’s surface or a portion of it

map scale

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

meridian of longitude

an arc drawn on a map between the North and South poles

prime meridian

the meridian, designated at 0* longitude, which passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England

international date line

the line of longitude that marks where each new day begins, centered on the 180th meridian

parallels of latitude

distance North or South of the Equator, measured in degrees

equator

an imaginary circle around the middle of the earth, halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole

reference map

a map that shows geographic locations on Earths surface, such as the locations of cities or oceans

thematic map

a map that emphasizes the spatial patterns of geographic statistics or attributes, and some sometimes the relationships between them

physical map

a reference map that shows land and water features

political map

a reference map that shows political boundaries e.g. countries, cities, capitals, etc.

projection

the system used to transfer locations from Earth’s surface to a flat map

distortion

a change in the shape, distance, relative size (area), or direction of a place when it is shown on a map

shape

a visual representation of an objects form or its external boundary, distortion of ____ will make an object appear squished or stretched

area

the number of square units required to cover a surface. this relates to the size of an object. distortion of ____ will make an object appear larger or smaller then it is in reality.

distance

the length of a path between two points. a distortion of ___ will make objects appear closer together or farther apart than they are in reality.

direction

a course along which someone or something moves. distortion of ____ will provide an inaccurate route to navigate from place to place.

winkel projection

[most common for worlds maps] balances size and shape while reducing distortion

mercator projection

a projection that maintains accurate direction, but distortions in area that makes landmasses at the poles appear oversized

goode homolosine projection

has correct proportions and locations, but direction and distance are not accurately represented

fuller projection

emphasizes accurate representation of the relative size of Earths landmasses, but in so doing it distorts distance and compass direction heavily.

gall peters projection

equal area projection that distorts the shape of land masses (looks stretched out)

robinson projection

curves gently, avoiding extremes, but thereby stretched the poles into long lines instead of leaving them as points

polar projection

map projection centered on earths north or south pole

isoline map

a thematic map with lines that connect points of equal value

dot distribution map

a thematic map of here dots are used to demonstrate the frequency or intensity of a particular phenomena

choropleth map

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

graduated symbol map

a thematic map that uses symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of something

flow map

a thematic map that shows the number and movement of objects from one location to another

cartogram

a thematic map in which the shape or size is distorted in order to demonstrate a variable as travel, population or economic production

mental map

a representation of a portion of Earths surface based on what an individual knows about a place, containing personal impressions of what is in a place and where places are located

topographic map

a graphic representation of the three dimensional configuration of earths surface

contour line

a line drawn on a topographic map to indicate ground elevation or depression.

elevation

the height of land above sea level

topography

a description of surface features of land

absolute distance

the distance that can be measured with a standard unit length, such as a mile or kilometer

relative distance

a measure of the social, cultural and economic relatedness or connectivity between two places - how connected or disconnected they are -despite their absolute distance from each other

distribution

the arrangement of something across Earth’s surface

clustered

a number of similar things grouped together

dispersed

scattered, spread, broken up

pattern

the geometric arrangement of objects in space (ex: linear, circular)

GIS

Geographic Information System, a computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data.

satellite navigation systems

system of satellites that provide Geo-spatial positioning e.g. GPS (global positioning system)

remote sensing

the acquisition of data about Earths surface from a satellite orbiting the planet or other long distance methods.

online mapping and visualization

using the internet as a tool allows for powerful map making possibilities Software allows for different types of maps such as 3D maps or models

quantitative data

data associated with mathematical models and statistical techniques used to analyze spatial location and association

qualitative data

data associated with a more humanistic approach to geography, often collected through interviews, empirical observations, or the interpretation of texts, artwork, old maps, and other archives

field observation

a form of geographic data that includes the act of physically visiting a location, place, or region and recording, firsthand, information there

travel narratives

a form of geographic data that includes records of the places, people, and occurrences of a particular region that a traveler (explorer/pilgrim) visits

media reports

a form of geographic data that includes various means of communication. for example, television, radio, and the newspaper

policy documents

a form of geographic data that includes handbooks, operating procedures, regulations, and codes of ethics

personal narratives

a form of geographic data that includes stories about personal experiences

landscape analysis

using field observation, spatial data, and aerial photography to gather data to define and describe and landscapes

photographic interpretation

acts of examining photographic images for the purpose of identifying objects and judging for their significance

census data

an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals, such as age, sex, and race (taken every 10 years in the USA)

satellite imagery

images of the earth taken from orbiting satellites. images can be taken in a variety of forms so as to detect specific information about the earth, vegetation and other types of land cover

location

the position that something occupies on earths surface

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 (aka situation)

region

an area of earth distinguished by one or more distinctive characteristics (ie cultural, physical features)

formal region (uniform region)

an area within which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics

vernacular (perceptual region)

a place that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity from people’s informal sense of place such as mental maps

functional region (nodal region)

an area organized around a node or focal point

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

distance decay

the diminishing in importance and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon with increasing distance from its origin

friction of distance

the increase in time and cost that usually comes with increasing distance

space time compression

the idea that distance between some places is actually shrinking as technology enables more rapid communication and increased interaction among those places

spatial association

the relationship between the distribution of one feature and the distribution of another feature

scale of analysis

the scale of analysis is the scale used to analyze the event/data

global scale of analysis

geographic scale that looks at geographic phenomena across the entire world

regional scale of analysis

geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena between particular regions

national scale of analysis

geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena between specific countries

regional (sub national) scale of analysis

geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena within regions of a single nation. sub national.!

local scale of analysis

geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena within a state or province, a city or town, or a neighborhood. sub national

national resource

a substance in the environment that is useful to people

renewable resource

any natural resource that is recycled or replaced constantly by nature

non renewable resource

a natural resource that cannot be replaced when used (ex fossil fuels)

sustainability

meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

land use

the ways in which people use a particular area of Earths surface; for example, for agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial, or preservation

environmental determinism

the belief that the physical environment determines potential for societal development

possibilism

the theory that the physical environment may set limits on human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to the physical environment and choose a course of action from many alternatives