Types of Maps to Know for AP Human Geography (AP)

Topographic

Topographic maps are maps used to show the natural and man-made features in an area including the elevation in detail.

Thematic

They are used to show data such as population, ethnicity, temperature, or economic patterns. This information can be shown using color, dots, and shapes.

Chrolopleth

Chloroplast maps are a type of thematic map that uses color to show information. For example the color green could be used to show population densities, while shades of the color green could be used to show places with high or low population densities.

Isoline

Isoline Maps use lines or “countor lines” to show information. This can commonly be seen with graphs displaying weather. Squiggly lines can be used to show places with similar weather patterns.

Dot Density

Dot density maps are maps that show information with dots. For example if there was a map showing where there is  high population density, that area would have more dots. Meanwhile the places with low population density would have few scattered around dots. Each dot would be representing a certain number of people.

Flow Line

Flow Line maps show the movement of things from one place to another using arrows. Thicker arrows would represent more movers while thinner arrows would represent less movers. These arrows can also show where and to these things are going based on the shape.

Cartogram

Cartograms distort the shape of maps to depict the information they are trying to show. For example if a map of the world is trying to show where there is higher population density, the places with the most population density would be blown up while the places with the lowest population density would be shriveled up.

Mental Map

Mental maps is the map that everybody has and it's different for all of us. Mental Maps are the ideas we have places in our minds. For example in my mental map if I think of Antarctica I would picture a windy snowstorm. Mental maps are how we perceive an area to be whether we have been there or not.