APHUG - Key Issues Chapter 1

geography

the study of where things are found on Earth's surface and the reasons for the locations

space

refers to the physical gap or interval between two objects

place

A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular characteristic

cartography

the science of map-making

geographic information systems (GIS)

captures, stores, queries, and displays the geographic data

satellite navigation systems (GPS)

a system that determines the precise position of something on earth through a series of satellites, tracking stations, and receivers

remote sensing

The acquisition of data about Earth's surface from a satellite orbiting the Earth or other long-distance methods.

global scale

Many processes that affect humanity's occupation of Earth, such as climate change and depletion of energy supplies

regional scale

interactions occurring within a region

national scale

as viewed across the whole country

local scale

Procesess such as preservation of distinctive cultural and economic activities

reference map

designed for people to refer to for general information about places. They emphasize the location of spatial phenomena, such countries, cities, rivers, etc.

thematic map

specific purpose maps - they emphasize the spatial pattern of a specific geographic attribute or statistic about places and relationships between places.

clustering

objects that from a group

dispersal

objects that are spread out or scattered

absolute distance

measurement using a standard unit of length (miles, kilometers, etc.) or QUANTITATIVE terms

absolute direction

finding a location using compass directions (north, south, east, west)

relative distance

measurement using social, cultural, or economic connectivity between places, or QUALITATIVE terms, like time

relative direction

finding a location NOT using compass directions (left, right, forward/backward, up/down)

map projection

the scientific method of transferring locations on Earth's surface to a flat map

map distortions

shape, distance, relative size, and direction

cultural landscape

a combination of cultural features such as language and religion, economic features such as agriculture and industry, and physical features such as climate and vegetation.

landscape analysis

site

the physical character of a place

situation

the location of a place relative to other places

absolute location

exact and precise. Ex. address, latitude and longitude

relative location

Relation to another place. Ex. NEXT to my house, BETWEEN _____ and ____.

formal region

an area within which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics.

functional region

an area organized around a node or focal point.

perceptual/vernacular region

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

globalization

a force or process that involves the entire world and results in making something worldwide in scope

pattern

the geometric or regular arrangement of something in a study area.

relocation diffusion

the spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another

expansion diffusion

the spread of a feature from one place to another in an additive process

contagious diffusion

the rapid, widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population (EX. a disease or the wave in a stadium at a sports event)

hierarchical diffusion

the spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority to other persons or places

stimulus diffusion

the spread of an underlying principle, even though a characteristic itself apparently fails to diffuse

distance decay

trailing - off phenomenon of diminishing contact with the increase in distance

time-space compression

describes the reduction in the time it takes for something to reach another place

sustainability

the use of Earth's resources in ways that ensure their availability in the future

natural resources

Geographers classify __________ __________ as part of four interrelated systems. These four physical systems are classified as either biotic or abiotic.

land use

Various ways humans use the land such as agricultural, industrial, residential, or recreational

climate

The long-term average weather condition at a particular location

environmental determinism

belief that physical environment caused social development

possiblism

To explain relationships between human activities and the physical environment, modern geographers reject environmental determinism in favor of __________

development

the process of improving the conditions of people through diffusion of knowledge and technology

developed country

a very high developed country, has progressed further along the development continuum

developing country

has made some progress toward development, though less than the developed countries

gross domestic product (GDP)

the value of the output of goods and services produced in a country in a year

gross national product (GNP)

The total value of goods and services, including income received from abroad, produced by the residents of a country within a specific time period, usually one year.

gross national income per capita (GNI)

the value of the output of goods and services produced in a country in a year, including money that leaves and enters the country

economic sectors

fertility rate

the average number of children per woman

infant mortality rate

the percentage of children who die before their first birthday within a particular area or country

literacy rate

the percentage of a country's people who can read and write