APHUG - Unit 1

absolute location

absolute location

Exact location of a place on the earth described by global coordinates

latitude

the distance in degrees north or south of the equator

equator

the imaginary center line of latitude that divides the northern and southern hemispheres.

longitude

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

Relative Location

describes where something else by using another, familiar feature as a reference point

scale

• more detail → larger scale → smaller ratio

• less detail → smaller scale → bigger ratio

cartographic scale

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

geographic scale

amount of territory that a map represents IE global scale is whole earth, local scale is small region

relative scale/scale of analysis

the amount of detail included in the map and the size of the units at which we are looking

scale of data

scale of map doesn't HAVE to change, but the level of detail in the data would

reference maps

show locations of places and geographic features

political map

A map showing units such as countries, states, provinces, districts, etc.

physical map

A map that shows mountains, hills, plains, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.

road map

Shows mainly roads, but also major highways, airports, and local points of interest

plat map

detailed map illustrating the geographic boundaries of individual lots

locator map

section of a map that shows a larger area than the main map

thematic map

A map that shows a particular theme

choropleth map

A map that uses differences in shading or coloring to indicate statistical ranges.

dot distribution map

each dot represents an identical unit and conveys data by amount present

graduated symbol map

Contain symbols varying in size to show relative quantitative values

isoline map

ines drawn on a map connecting data points of the same value

topographic map

A map that shows the surface features of an area.

cartogram

a type of map used to present statistical info - stretch

map projection

a way of representing the spherical Earth on a flat surface

Mercator map projection

• Purpose : Navigation

• directions are accurate, lines of latitude and longitute meet @ right angles

• distorts the distance between lines of latitude and longitude

Gall-Peters Projection

• purpose :s pecial distribution related to area

• sizes of land masses are accurate

• shapes are distorted, esp near poles

• looks stretched out

conic projection

• general use in mid-latitude countries

• lines of latitude converge

• curved lines of latitude and longitude

• size & shape are fairly accurate

• distorts direction, on a world map lines of longitude only converge on one pole

Robinson projection

• general use purposes

• no major distortions, oval shape appears more like a globe

• area,shape,size,and direction are all slightly distorted.

mental map

A map which represents the perceptions and knowledge a person has of an area

geospacial technologies :

• Aerial photography interpretation

• Satellite navigation systems

• Remote sensing satellites

• Geographic information systems (GIS)

• Global positioning systems (GPS)

census survey

compiles information from household to produce statistics that describe populations and their characteristics, such as age, education, housing and income

concept of sustainability

using resources in a way that satisfies the current gens needs but doesn’t screw it up for the next gen

Environmental determinism

• human behaviors are a direct result of the surrounding environment

• ex. island nations have unique cultural traits solely because of their isolation from continental societies

Possibilism

• physical environment can human actions, but people can adjust to the physical environment and choose a course of action from many alternatives

• ex. industrial revolution, agricultural advancement, technological revolution

Cultural relativism

• Understanding a culture on its own terms instead of judging it by your own standards

contagious diffusion

• the distance-controlled spreading of an idea through a local population by contact from person to person

political ecology

• geographical influences on political systems and power relationships

spatial analysis

• examines places and features on Earth's surface to explain human behavior patterns in geographic space

scale of analysis

• the scale used to analyse the event

• local, regional, national, and global

relative direction

• Directions such as left, right, forward, backward, up, and down based on people's perception of places

• ex. Canada is on top of US

perceptual region

based on human feelings and attitudes about certain areas instead of actual stats

functional region

• rea centered on a node, focal point, or central hub surrounded by interconnecting linkages

• ex. a territory that is organized around a city

formal regions

An area defined by one predominant or universal characteristic throughout its entire area

conformal regions

A map which portrays shape accurately

equal area region

• distorts the shape of objects in favor of accurately representing area

• divides the globe by continent and ocean to spread distortion equally across landmasses and bodies of water

peripheral region

• countries that are not reaping the benefits of global wealth and globalization

• ex. africa

linguistic region

geographic distribution of languages