AP HUG Unit 1 Vocab

Absolute Location

exact location of a place on earth described using global coordinates

relative location

where a place is located in relation to another place

distortion

a change in the shape, size, or position of a place when it’s shown on a map

map projection

a way of representing the spherical earth on a flat surface

place

a specific point on earth distinguished by a particular characteristic

region

an area on earth distinguished by a distinctive combination of cultural and physical features

scale

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

space

the physical gap or interval between two objects

latitude

measures distance north or south of the equator (measured in degrees)

equator

an imaginary circle around the middle of the earth, halfway between the North Pole & South Pole

longitude

measures distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees

prime meridian

0 degrees longitude (west/east)

international date line

the line of longitude that marks where each new day begins, centered on the 180th meridian

coordinates

the latitude and longitude address of a place on a map

North Pole

90 degrees north

South Pole

90 degrees south

global

of, relating to, or involving the entire world

regional

of, relating to, or characteristic of a region

national

of or belonging to the people of a single country

local

relating to or occurring in a particular area, city, or town; located or living nearby

distance decay

describes the effects of distance on interaction

• greater the distance, the less interaction

friction of distance

the increase in time and cost that usually comes with increasing distance

space-time compression

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

density

mass/volume

concentration

the spread of something over a given area

pattern

the geometric arrangement of objects in space, repeating

formal/uniform region

an area where everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics

functional/nodal region

an area organized around a node or focal point

node

the beginning end end pints for transportation between geographical areas

vernacular/perceptual region

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

projection

a way of representing the curved surface of the earth on a flat map

ex: Mercator, Robinson, Goode Homolosine

equal-area

the relative sizes of different land and water bodies are accurately represented, but angles are not.

• a trait of map projection

• ex: molliewide

goode’s homoelosine

the orange peel map; is an equal area, composite map projection used for world maps

• shows true size and shape or earths landmasses

robinson

distorts shape, scale, and distance in an attempt to balance the errors of projection properties(to make a pleasing imagine of the entire earth)

thematic map

a map that emphasizes a single idea or a particular kind of information about an area

reference map

a map type that shows reference information for a particular place, making it useful for finding landmarks, & navigation

isoline

a thematic map with lines that connect points of equal value

choropleth

a special purpose map that uses color to show population density

dot density

used ford to show volume and density in an area of a particular theme

flow-line

shows the direction that the process flows

cartogram

a map that distorts the shapes and sizes of countries or other political regions to present economic or other kinds of data for comparison

aggregate

gathered into a whole: total

scale of analysis

a scale that determines what is being studied based on the size of the area being examined

sustainability

the ability to keep one distance or maintain

• ex: a sustainable ecosystem is one that can be maintained

natural materials

raw materials supplied by nature

• ex: wood, fruit, water

environmental determinism

the view that the natural environment has a controlling influence over various aspects of human life including cultural development

possibilism

the view that the physical environment may limit some human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to their environment

Global Positioning System

Satellite based system for determining the exact location of places or geographical features

Geographical Information System

a computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographical data

remote sensing

a method of collecting data or information through the use of instruments that are physically distant from the area or object of study

citizen science

scientific research conducted in whole or part by distributed individuals, many of whom may not be scientists, who contribute relevant data to research using their own computing devices