AP human Unit 1 flash cards

Absolute Location

The exact geographical coordinates of a place, determined by a system of latitude and longitude.

Absolute distance

The measurement of space between two locations using units such as miles or kilometers, without regard to direction or geographic features.

Accessibility

The degree to which a place can be reached from other locations, influenced by factors such as transport networks and distance.

Aerial photography

The use of high-altitude images or photographs taken from aircraft or satellites to capture detailed views of the Earth's surface, often used for mapping and environmental studies.

Built enviorment

The human-made surroundings in which people live, work, and recreate, including buildings, parks, and infrastructure.

Carrying capacity

The maximum number of individuals or species that an environment can sustainably support without degradation. This concept considers resource availability and ecosystem health.

connectivity

The degree to which different locations are linked or related, affecting social, economic, and environmental interactions. Connectivity can involve physical, digital, or social networks that influence accessibility and relationships.

Cultural Ecology

The study of human adaptations to social and physical environments, exploring how culture influences interactions with the ecosystem.

Cultural landscape

The visible imprint of human activity on the environment, including features like buildings, roads, and agricultural practices that reflect cultural identities and values.

Distance

The space between two places.

Distance-decay

The effects of distance on interaction generally the greater the distance the less interaction.

Diffusion

The process by which cultural elements, such as ideas, practices, or technologies, spread from one society or area to another, often leading to changes in those cultures.

Environmental Determinism

The theory that the physical environment, particularly the climate and terrain, shapes human behaviors, cultural development, and societal progress.

Equator

An imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, located at 0 degrees latitude.

Friction of distance

When things are further apart, they tend to have less connections.

Geographic information systems (gis)

A computer-based tool used to collect, analyze, and visualize geographic data for mapping and spatial analysis.

Ghost towns

Abandoned towns or settlements that were once inhabited, often due to economic decline or resource depletion.

Global positioning system (gps)

A satellite-based navigation system that allows users to determine their exact location on Earth using coordinates.

Human-enviorment interaction

The ways in which humans adapt to and modify their environment, affecting both natural systems and human activities.

Human geography

The study of how humans interact with and influence the environment, including cultural, economic, and social practices across different regions.

International data line

An imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole, located at 180 degrees longitude, where the date changes by one day when crossed.

Landscape analysis

A part of the earth’s surface that can be viewed at one time from one place.

Latitude

Measures the distance north or south of the equator.

Longitude

Measures distance east or west of the prime meridian.

Physical geography

The scientific study of the natural features of the Earth's surface, especially in its current aspects, including land formation, climate, currents, and distribution of flora and fauna.

Place

A specific location, such as the place on shelf, a physical environment, ect.

Possibilisim

The idea that the natural environment places limits on the set of choices available to people.

Prime Meridian

The line drawn north to south at 0 degrees longitude.

Proximity

Closeness or farness in relation to something.

Remote sensing

The possess of detecting and monitoring.

Relative location

A description of how a place is related to other places.

Relative distance

A measure of the social, cultural, and Economic relatedness or connectivity between two places.

Sense of place

Emotional bonds and attachments to people and locations

Sequent occupance

The notion that successive societies leave their cultural imprints on a place, each contributing to the cumulative cultural landscape.

Site

The actual location of a settlement on the earth.

Situation

The location and surroundings of a place.

Spacial association

Connectedness or relationship between and among variables over space.

Spacial data

A term used to describe any data related to or containing information about a specific location on the earth’s surface.

Time space compression

The way the world is seemingly getting smaller or compressing.

Toponym

A place name