Geography Flashcards

Flashcards covering various topics in Geography.

Absolute Distance

An exact measure of the distance between two points using a standard operation like inches.

Relative Distance

Measure of social, cultural, or political differences or similarities between two locations.

Absolute Direction

Indicates North, South, East, and West.

Relative Direction

Describes relative location in relation to another location.

Clustered

Close together.

Dispersed

Spread/spaced apart.

Elevation

Height of geographic features.

Large Scale Map

Zoomed in to specific spot and features more detailed.

Small Scale Map

On a global scale and features aren't as detailed.

Reference Maps

Displays specific geographic locations and shows locations of roads/highways.

Topographical Map

Shows mountains and valleys.

Political Map

Depicts changes on boundaries of states.

Thematic Map

Takes geographic data and displays it.

Chloropleth Map

Visualize data with different colors.

Dot Distribution Map

Uses dots to visualize location of certain points.

Graduated Symbol Map

Uses symbols to visualize data.

Isoline Map

Uses lines to depict data.

Cartograms

Distorts sizes of geographic shapes to display difference in data.

Mercator Projection

Longitude and Latitude lines meet at right angles, but the further North/South you get from the equator, the less accurate it is.

Peters Projection

Depicts correct relative sizes of land masses.

Polar Projection

View is from the North pole but distortion is on the sides.

Robinson Projection

Mix of Mercator and Peters, overall roads of distortion to the map are equal.

Geospatial Technologies

Technology that uses hardware and software to examine/measure geographical features on Earth, like GPS.

GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

Software that manipulate geospatial data that can be used for research or problem solving.

Remote Sensing

Data collection through satellite imagery.

Field Observations

When someone writes observations on what they see.

Spatial Relations

Refers to the relationship between different locations.

Latitude

Lines that run horizontally around the Earth.

Longitude

Lines that run vertically around the Earth.

Absolute Location

Refers to precise coordinates using longitude and latitude lines.

Relative Location

Describes one place in relation to another place (in distance or time).

Space

Refers to physical characteristics of a location.

Flows

Describes patterns of spatial interactions between different locations like roads, connecting two places.

Distance Decay

The greater the distance, the less connection.

Time-Space Compression

Refers to a decreased time or cost between places.

Random Pattern

No real pattern.

Linear Pattern

Arranged in a straight line.

Dispersed Pattern

Scattered.

Human-Environmental Interaction (HEI)

The interaction between humans and the environment.

Renewable Resources

Resources that can be used infinitely.

Non-Renewable Resources

Resources that are limited.

Cultural Landscape

How the built environment reflects values and cultures.

Environmental Determinism

Argues the physical environment determines people's cultures.

Possibilism

Argues humans are the driving force in shaping culture.

Global Scale

Analyzing data at a global level.

Regional Scale

Analyzes data within different continents.

National Scale

Analyzes data at a country level.

Local Scale

Analyzes data at a state or city level.

Formal Region

A region linked by common traits.

Functional Region

A region linked by specific activity

Perceptual Region

A region where people share feelings of the same thing (no hard boundary).

Population Distribution

Pattern of human habitation on Earth's surface.

Population Density

Measure of the number of people per unit area.

Arithmetic Density

Total population divided by total land area.

Physiological Density

Total population divided by total arable land.

Agricultural Density

Total farmers divided by total arable land.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population an environment can support.

Population Composition

Measure of characteristics of a population like age, race, gender, etc.

Age Structure

Organization of a population based on age groups.

Dependency Ratio

Shows pressure on the working population.

Sex Ratio

Compares males/females in a population.

Fertility Rate

Measure of a population's ability to have children.

Crude Birth Rate

Number of births per 1000 people in a given year.

Total Fertility Rate

Average number of children a woman will have in her childbearing years (15-49).

Mortality Rate

Indicates population rate of deaths.

Life Expectancy

How long a person is expected to live.

Crude Death Rate

Number of deaths per 1000 people.

Infant Mortality Rate

Number of children who die under 1 year of age per 1000 live births.

Rate of Natural Increase

Crude Birth Rate minus Crude Death Rate.

Migration

Movement of people from one place to another.

Epidemiological Transition Model

Describes stages of disease and mortality rates in a society.

Malthusian Theory

Population would grow faster than the food supply can handle.

Anti-Natalist Policies

Policies to decrease the number of children born.

Pro-Natalist Policies

Policies to increase the number of children born.

Immigration Policies

Policies that either allow or restrict the flow of migrants.

Push Factor

Negative experiences that push people away from a place.

Pull Factor

Positive factors that attract people to a place.

Immigration

Refers to people coming into a country.

Emigration

Refers to people leaving a country.

Forced Migration

When people leave their homes against their will (slavery/deportation).

Voluntary Migration

Migration that occurs when people leave their homes because they want to.

Transnational

Migrants have strong ties to their culture/family even though they live somewhere different.

Transhumance

Migration that doesn't rely on push/pull factors but movement is the way of life.

Internal Migration

Migration within the borders of a country.

Chain Migration

One group may cause other migrants to follow.

Step Migration

Journey occurs in steps/not all at once.

Guest Workers

Temporary migration that's only to work for a specified amount of time.

Rural-to-Urban Migration

People that go from countryside to city.

Cultural Relativism

When you view a culture through its perspective.

Ethnocentrism

When you judge a culture based off your social norms.

Relocation Diffusion

Movement from one place to another.

Expansion Diffusion

Amount of people participating in a cultural trait is increasing.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Diffusion happens through adoption of structures.

Contagious Diffusion

Diffusion that happens everywhere where there is no barrier.

Acculturation

People retain original culture while getting some aspects of another one.

Assimilation

When people lose original traits when they join another one.

Syncretism

When two cultures come together to form a whole different culture.

Multiculturalism

When multiple cultures coexist in a society.

Universalizing Religions

Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism that want to diffuse around the world.

Ethnic Religions

Hinduism & Judaism seeking to protect identity and not diffuse much.