geography 1-3

two main subfields of geography

Physical Geography (natural landscapes) and Human Geography (human populations, culture, and interactions).

four main types of map distortions?

Relative size, distance, shape, and direction.

Reference Maps

Maps that show locations of places and geographic features (e.g., absolute locations).

Thematic Maps

Maps that tell a story about the distribution of attributes or patterns (e.g., population density).

Mercator’s projection

Direction is consistent, shape is mostly accurate, land area near poles is highly distorted.

relocation diffusion.

Spread of ideas through migration (e.g., Chinese food in the U.S.).

expansion diffusion

Spread outward from a core through contagious or hierarchical diffusion (e.g., fashion trends).

What is GIS?

Geographic Information Systems combine layers of data to analyze spatial relationships.

three main measures of population density

Arithmetic Density, Physiological Density, Agricultural Density.

Stage 1 of the Demographic Transition Model

High birth and death rates; stable population.

Total Fertility Rate

Average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime; replacement level is 2.1.

social factors that influence fertility rates

Access to education and healthcare, and cultural attitudes toward contraception.

population pyramid

The age and sex distribution of a population.

crude birth rate (CBR).

Births per 1,000 people annually.

rate of natural increase (RNI).

The difference between birth and death rates per 1,000 people.

migration.

Permanent relocation of individuals or groups.

internal vs. international migration.

Internal Migration: Movement within a country; International Migration: Movement across country borders.

push factors

Negative conditions driving people away (e.g., war, poverty).

pull factors

Positive attractions of a new location (e.g., job opportunities, safety).

Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration.

Most migrants move short distances, migration occurs in steps, long-distance migrants often move to economic hubs, rural residents migrate more than urban residents.

step migration

Migration that occurs in stages (e.g., rural to small town, small town to city).

brain drain

Skilled professionals leave their home countries for better opportunities abroad, leading to a loss of talent.

transnationalism.

The practice of maintaining active connections between home and host countries by migrants.

refugee.

Someone who flees their country due to persecution or fear of persecution.

asylum seeker

Someone seeking legal recognition and protection in a host country.

consequences of migration

Diffusion of languages and cultures, remittances sent back home, exposure to diseases, and increased xenophobia.

Robinson Projection

Minimizes distortion in size, shape, and direction but slightly distorts everything. Used for world maps.

Peters Projection

preserves relative size but distorts shape, making continents look stretched.

Stage 5 of DTM

Population decline due to low birth rates and aging populations. Countries like Japan and Germany are examples.