Vocab List 1.2

map

a two-dimensional, or flat, representation of Earths surface or a portion of it

map scale

the relationship between the size of an object on a map and the size of the actual feature on Earth’s surface

mashup

a map that overlays data from one source on top of a map provided by a mapping service

meme

contagious diffusion through the internet or social media

mental map

a representation of a portion of Earth’s surface based on what an individual knows about a place that contains personal impressions of what is in the place and where it is located

meridian

an arc drawn on a map between the north and south poles

network

a chain of communication that connects places

nonrenewable resource

a resource that is produced in nature more slowly than it is consumed by humans

parallel

a circle drawn around the globe parallel to the equator and at right angles to the meridians

participatory GIS (PGIS)

community-based mapping, representing local knowledge and information

pattern

the geometric or regular arrangement of something in a particular area

photogrammetry

the science of taking measurements of the Earth’s surface from photographs

place

a specific point on Earth, distinguished by a particular characteristic

polder

land that the Dutch have created by draining water from an area

possiblism

the theory that the physical environment may set limits on human actions, but people have the ability to adjust the physical environment and choose a course of action from many alternatives

poststructuralist geography

geographic approach that examines how the powerful in a society dominate, or seek to control, less powerful groups, how the dominated groups occupy space, and confrontations that result from the domination

preservation

the maintenance of resources in their present condition, with as little human impact as possible

prime meridian

the meridian, designated as 0 degrees longitude, that passes through the royal observatory at Greenwich, England

projection

a system used to transfer locations from Earth’s surface to a flat map

region

an area distinguished by one or more distinctive characteristics

relocation diffusion

the spread of a feature or trend through bodily movement of people from one place to another

remote sensing

the acquisition of data about Earth’s surface from a satellite orbiting the planet or from long distance methods

renewable resources

a resource that is produced in nature more rapidly than it is consumed by humans

resource

a substance in the environment that is useful to people, is economically and technologically feasible to access, and is socially acceptable to use

scale

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

site

the physical character of a place

situation (relative location)

the location of a place relative to another place

space

the physical gap or interval between two objects

space-time compression

the reduction in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place as a result of improved communications and transportation systems

spacial association

the relationship between the distribution of one feature and the distribution of another feature

stimulus diffusion

the spread of an underlying principle

sustainability

the use of Earth’s renewable and nonrenewable natural resources in ways that do not contain resource use in the future

syncretism

the combining of elements of two groups into a new cultural feature

toponym

the name given to a portion of Earth’s surface

transnational corporation

a company that conducts research, operates factories, and sells products in many countries, not just where its headquarters of shareholders are locates

uneven development

the increasing gap in economic condition between core and peripheral regions as a result of the globalization of the economy

vernacular (perceptual) region

an area that people believe exists as apart of their cultural identity

volunteered geographic information (VGI)

creation and dissemination of geographic data contributed voluntarily and for free by individuals