Unit 1: Human Geography Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Unit 1: Human Geography, including distance models, map projections, diffusion types, and regional geography.

Absolute distance

A distance measured in standard units like miles or kilometers.

Absolute location

The exact position of a place using specific coordinates, like latitude and longitude.

Accessibility

How easy or difficult it is to get to a place from somewhere else.

Aggregation

Gathering data or objects together into a single group or total.

Anthropogenic

Changes to nature caused by human activity.

Azimuthal projection

A map made by projecting the Earth onto a flat surface; types include Azimuthal Equidistant, Gnomonic, Orthographic, and Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area.

Breaking point

The boundary line where people stop traveling to one city for shopping and start traveling to a competing city.

Cartograms

A map that distorts the actual geographic size of places to show statistical data, making areas with larger values look bigger.

Cartography

The art and science of mapmaking, which in modern times uses satellite imagery, GPS, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Choropleth map

A map that uses different colors or shades to show average data values in specific areas.

Cognitive map

A mental map or personal picture of a place that a person holds in their mind.

Contagious diffusion

The rapid spread of an idea, disease, or trend through direct, person-to-person contact, with modern examples including Covid19, LABUBUs, and BBLs.

Coordinate system

A grid of intersecting imaginary lines (latitude and longitude) used to find an exact location on Earth.

Latitude

Lines that run horizontally to measure distance north or south of the Equator.

Longitude

Lines that run vertically to measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Cultural ecology

The study of how human societies interact with and adapt to their natural environment, such as Terraced Rice Farming in Southeast Asia.

Cultural landscape

A natural landscape that has been visibly changed by human culture and activity, such as the Palace of Versailles or the Empire State Building.

Distance Decay Effect

The idea that interaction between two places decreases as the distance between them grows.

Earth system science

The study of how the Earth's physical systems, like water, air, and land, interact globally.

Environmental geography

The study of how humans affect the environment and how the environment affects humans.

Expansion diffusion

The outward spread of an idea or trend from a central point to surrounding areas.

Formal region

An area where everyone shares one or more distinct characteristics, like language, climate, or political boundaries.

Friction of distance

The concept that distance requires time and effort to overcome, which slows down interaction.

Dot maps

A map that uses dots to show the exact location of specific events or features, like population or crimes.

Fuller projection

A map that keeps the size and shape of landmasses accurate but completely scrambles standard directions.

Functional region

An area organized around a central hub or focal point, such as a radio station's broadcast range.