AP human geography unit1

reference map

used for general info

thematic maps

show spatial aspects of info/phenomena

thematic map types

choropleth, dot map, proportional/graduated symbol, cartogram, isoline

cartographic scale

way the map communicates the ratio of its size to the size of what it represents

small-scale maps

larger area, little detail

large-scale maps

smaller area, more details

spatial patterns

location, direction, distance, elevation, distribution

absolute location

latitude, longitude coordinate

relative location

description of where sth is in relation to other things(connectivity, accessibility)

direction

describe where things are in relation to each other(NSEW)

absolute distance

measured in terms of ft, mi, m, km

relative distance

degree of nearness based on time/money, dependent on the mode of travel

elevation

distance of features above sea level, usually in ft, m.

distribution patterns

clustered/agglomerated, linear, dispersed, circular, geometric, random

distribution

the way phenomenon is spread out over an area

mercator projection

used for navigation: correct direction, land near pole appear larger

peters projection

correct spatial distributions related to area: accurate sizes, inaccurate shapes(especially near poles)

conic projection

general use in midlatitude countries: direction not constant

robinson projection

general use(classroom): all distorted slightly

prime meridian

zero degrees longitude

choropleth

colors show numbers/amounts

dot map

dots show how many things there are

graduated/proportional symbol

symbols get bigger for more of sth

isoline map

lines connect places with the same value

cartogram

map stretches/shrinks places based on data

field observation

traveling to somewhere to get firsthand info

spatial data

all info that can be tied to a specific location

remote sensing

satellites gather info and send to Earth; monitor environmental changes, assess spread of spatial phenomena

aerial geography

professional images captured from planes within the atmosphere

fieldwork

gather data on a location

geovisualizations

methods used to create visual representations of geospatial data

geovisualizations techs

GPS, remote sensing, GIS, smartphone&computer apps

global positioning system(GPS)

record receivers’ exact locations using multiple satellites; locating borders precisely, navigation, mapping lines/points

geographic information system (GIS)

computer system store, analyze, display info from multiple maps; LAYERS; urban planning, crime mapping, environmental monitoring

smartphone&computer applications

apps gather&store&use locational data; suggest locations(food, stores…) tracing disease

community-based solution

create buy-in from local residents, more likely to be locally accepted

spatial concepts

location, place, distance&time, patterns&distribution; the way in which different phenomena are organized in space

space

theoretical concept that geographers use to describe the geometric surface of the Earth

place

the way human s modify a particular space in ways that reflects who they are; site&situation

flow

patterns of connection between 2 places

distance decay(friction of distance)

further apart 2 things are, less connected they will be

outdated, due to globalization

site

characteristics at the immediate location

situation

location of a place relative to its surroundings and its connectivity to other places

toponyms

name of the place; e.g. Lake city

time-space compression

decreased distance between 2 places measured by the time/cost it requires to travel between them

spatial interaction

contact, movement, flow of things between locations

spatial association

matching patterns of distribution; indicate that phenomena may be related/associated with one another

natural resources

items that occur in the nature that people can use

types of natural resources

renewable&non-renewable

renewable natural resources

wind, solar, biomass, water

non-renewable natural resources

fossil fuels, minerals, underground fresh water

sustainability

trying to use resources now in ways that allow their use in future while minimizing negative impacts on the environment

land use

how land is utilized, modified, organized by people

built environment

physical artifacts people have created and that form part of the landscape

cultural landscape

highlighting how communities adapt their surroundings to meet their needs

cultural ecology

study of how human adapt to the environment

environmental determinism

landforms and climates are the most powerful forces shaping human behavior and societal development while ignoring the influence of culture

environmental possibilism

acknowledges limits on the effects of the natural environment and focuses more on the role that human culture plays

geographic scale/relative scale

global, worldly regional, national, national regional, local

global

entire world

worldly regional

multiple countries of the world

national

one country

national regional

a portion of a country/regions within a country

local

a province, state, city, or neighborhood

aggregation

data organized into different scales; more easily mapped/organized

types of regions

formal/uniform/homogenous, functional/nodal, perceptual/vernacular

formal/uniform/homogenous regions

linked by common traits, tend to have clear boundaries which separate them from other regions

functional/nodal regions

shared functions, tend to have reasonably clear borders, but not always(some central location or node around which that shared activity is carried out)

perceptual/vernacular regions

defined by people’s shared beliefs and feelings about themselves, borders are relatively vague