AP HuG Unit 1 Vocab

absolute distance

the precise physical distance between two points, measured using standard units (feet, miles, kilometers)

absolute location

the precise point on Earth’s surface where a place is found, typically described using latitude and longitude coordinates or a specific address

aerial photography

the use of photographs taken from the air to study and analyze human activities, settlements, and the environment

aggregation

the process of combining smaller geographic units into larger ones to summarize or analyze data

azimuthal/planar projection

a map projection that displays the Earth as if viewed from a specific point onto a flat plane, usually at the poles

cartogram (thematic)

a type of thematic map that distorts the size and shape of geographical units in order to convey a specific variable

cartographic/map scale

the ratio between the size or distance of features on a map to their actual measurements in the real world

choropleth map (thematic)

a type of thematic map that uses different shades, colors, or patterns to depict a variable

circular distribution

a spatial pattern where phenomena are arranged in a circular shape around a central point

clustered distribution

a spatial pattern where objects or features are grouped together in close proximity (forming “clusters”)

conic projection

a map projection that represents the Earth’s surface as if it were projected onto a cone, typically placed tangent along a line of latitude (standard parallel)

connectivity

the relationships among people and objects across the barrier of space and time

dispersed distribution

a spatial pattern where people, objects, or phenomena are spread out/scattered across a wide area with significant space between them

distance decay

the decreasing interaction between two places as the distance between them increases

distribution

the arrangement of something across space

dot distribution map (thematic)

a thematic map that uses the amount of dots to represent the frequency of a variable in an area

elevation

the height of a location above sea level

environmental determinism

the theory that the physical environment is the most powerful factor in shaping human culture behavior, and societal development (rooted in racism)

environmental possibilism

the theory that although the physical environment has its limitations, humans have the ability to overcome and modify these restraints to better fit their needs

equator

an imaginary line circling the Earth at 0 degrees latitude, dividing it into Northern and Southern hemispheres

field data

information collected directly from the real world through observation and interaction with the environment

field observation

the process of presently gathering information about people, culture, and the environment in their natural setting

flow/spatial interaction

the movement of people and objects between locations and across space

formal/uniform/homogenous region

an area where everyone shares one or more distinctive characteristics (physical, cultural, etc)

functional/nodal region

an area organized around a central node or focal point, with connections and interactions extending outwards to surrounding areas

ecotone

the environmental transition zone between two biomes

friction of distance

the idea that the cost of overcoming distance (time, money, effort) increases as two locations become farther away; when distance becomes a factor that inhibits interaction

gall-peters projection (equal-area)

a map projection that accurately represents the size of landmasses but distorts shape, especially near the poles

equal-area projection

a type of map projection that accurately maintains the relative sizes of geographical regions, but distorts shape

conformal projection

a type of map projection that accurately maintains the shape of geographical regions, but distorts relative area and size

geo-visualization

the use of interactive maps and other visual tools to analyze and understand spatial data

geographic information system (GIS)

a computer based system used to capture, store, analyze, manage, and display geographically referenced information

data layers (GIS)

distinct thematic layers present in GIS to further visualize and analyze relationships, patterns, and other spatial associations (land use, topography, infrastructure, demographics)

geographic scale

the scale at which you are VIEWING the data; the full spatial extent of what is presented

geospatial data

any information that can be linked to a specific location on Earth, using coordinates or other systems

global positioning system (GPS)

a satellite based navigation system used to determine the precise location of something on Earth

goode-homosoline projection

a map projection that aims to accurately show the size of landmasses while minimizing distortion by breaking it into sections

graduated symbol map (thematic)

a type of thematic map that uses symbols of different sizes to represent the magnitude of a variable

human-environment interaction

the ways humans shape and are shaped by the environment; their natural relationship

international date line

an imaginary line serving as a boundary between one calendar day and the next, located roughly 180 degrees longitude

isoline map (thematic)

a type of thematic map that uses contour lines to connect points of equal value across an area

land use

the way humans utilize the Earth’s surface for various purposes and how different activities are arranged

landscape

the visible and physical features of an area, including both natural and human-made elements

landscape analysis

the study of the landscape to understand how humans interact with and modify the environment around them

large scale map

a map that depicts a small area with a high/LARGE level of detail (usually anything under 1:250,000)

flow-line map (thematic)

a type of thematic map that uses lines of varying thickness to show the movement of people or items across space, usually referring to migration

mental map

an individual’s cognitive image of the landscape around them; people have very accurate mental maps of where they live or what transportation they use

tobler’s law (1970)

The principle that all places are interrelated, but closer places are more related than those farther away; Waldo Tobler was an American-Swiss geographer and cartographer

gravity model

a mathematical model that describes the level of interaction between two places, or the strength of their relationship; it is calculated by multiplying the populations of two locations and then dividing it by the distance between them squared

latitude

the lines running horizontally around the Earth, measuring distance north or south of the equator

linear distribution

the arrangement of phenomena along a straight line

longitude

the lines running vertically across the Earth, measuring distance east or west of the prime meridian

mercator projection

a type of conformal projection that preserves accurate directions and shapes but distorts size, particularly at high latitudes; used for navigation

natural resource process

how humans utilize resources found in the environment, including their extraction, processing, and consumption

non-renewable resource

a natural resource that exists in a finite amount or cannot be replenished at the rate of human consumption

perceptual/vernacular region

an area defined by people’s shared subjective feelings and opinions about its boundaries, rather than by formality or objective data

physical map (reference)

a type of reference map that shows the natural and non-human features of a region

place

a location on Earth that is disguised by its unique characteristics, both natural and human

political map (reference)

a type of reference map that displays human-created boundaries and other administrative or jurisdictional divisions (states, countries)

plat map (reference)

a type of reference map that shows the divisions of land ownership

prime meridian

an imaginary line running from pole to pole at 0 degrees longitude, dividing the Earth into Eastern and Western hemispheres

random distribution

the arrangement of features in an unpredictable order with no discernable pattern

reference map

a map that is used for navigation and general-purpose

region

an area of Earth distinguished by one or more shared and unique characteristics

relative distance

the measure of social, cultural, economic or political connections between places and the time/cost it takes to overcome their physical distance

relative location

the position of a place in relation to other places

remote sensing

the process of acquiring data about Earth’s surface using satellites or other long-distance methods that do not require physical contact; includes visual light wavelengths, infrared data, and radar information

renewable resource

a natural resource that can replenish itself over time or be used repeatedly without being depleted (sustainable)

road map (reference)

a navigational map that depicts roads, highways, and other transportation links

robinson projection

a map projections that balances and compromises distortions of size, shape, and direction

sense of place

the subjective meaning and emotion that people attach to a place due to personal experiences and connections (plays a part in perceptual regions)

site

the physical characteristics of a location

situation

the location of a place in relation to its surrounding environment, other places, and human systems

small scale map

a map that represents a large geographical area with a low/SMALL amount of detail

space

the geographic surface of the Earth, including the distance between objects and the extent of an area/region

spatial association

the degree to which two or more different variables or phenomena are similarly distributed in space, possibly correlated

spatial data

any information that is tied to a specific location on Earth

sub-region

a smaller, more specific area that shares some of the same characteristics with its larger geographical region but is still unique

sustainability

the practice of using Earth’s resources responsibly to meet current human needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs

time-space compression

the phenomenon where technological advancements reduce the time it takes to travel or communicate between two places, increasing interaction and making distances seem shorter (plays a part in globalization)

topographic map (thematic)

a specific type of isoline map that uses contour lines to represent elevations changes (closer lines = steeper changes in elevation)

toponym

the name given to a place, usually reflecting its culture, history, and'/or physicalit