APHG Unit 1 Vocabulary Review

latitude

distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees

longitude

Distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees

scale

the relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole

scale of analysis

A scale that determines the level at which we analyze geographic data

relative location

The position of a place in relation to another place

absolute distance

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

time-space compression

the rapid innovation of communication and transportation technologies associated with globalization that transforms the way people think about space and time

Distance Decay

the effects of distance on interaction, generally the greater the distance the less interaction

census data

Geospatial data collected through the quantification of a population

census tract

Small county subdivisions, usually containing between 2,500 and 8,000 persons, delineated by the U.S. Census Bureau as areas of relatively uniform population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions.

large scale map

Maps that cover smaller areas with greater detail

small scale map

A map that shows a larger area without much detail

Possibilism

The physical environment may limit some human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to their environment.

Environmental Determinism

the view that the natural environment has a controlling influence over various aspects of human life including cultural development

Dot Density Map

Thematic map that uses dots to represent the frequency of a variable in a given area

isoline map

Map displaying lines that connect points of equal value; for example, a map showing elevation levels

Graduated Symbol Map

uses symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of something

Choropleth Map

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

cartogram map

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

Mercator Projection Distortion

areas are distorted to appear larger near the poles

Globalization

Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope.

Functional Region

A region defined by the particular set of activities or interactions that occur within it

Nodal Region

another name for a functional region

Uniform Region

another name for a formal region

Formal Region

An area within which one or more common distinctive characteristics.

Vernacular Region

a region perceived and defined by its inhabitants, usually with a popularly given or accepted nickname; popular region

Perceptual Region

Another name for "Vernacular Region".