human geography - unit 1

Map

A two-dimensional model of the Earth's surface, or a portion of it.

Cartography

The science of mapmaking.

Remote Sensing

The process of capturing images of Earth's surface from airborne platforms such as satellites or airplanes.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

The system that accurately determines the precise position of something on Earth via satellites and receivers.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A computer system that captures, stores, analyzes, and displays geographic data.

Layers

Types of information (countries, bodies of water, names of places, etc.) displayed in a map.

Mashups

The practice of combining layers on a map.

Qualitative Data

Data associated with a humanistic approach to geography.

Quantitative Data

Data associated with mathematical models and statistical techniques.

Latitude

The distance north or south of the Equator.

Equator

An imaginary line that circles the globe exactly halfway between the poles (0 degrees).

Longitude

The distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Prime Meridian

An imaginary line that runs from pole to pole through Greenwich, England (0 degrees).

Map Key/Legend

An inset on a map that explains what the colors or symbols used mean and what the scale of the map is.

Map Scale

The ratio between the size of things in the real world and the size of things on a map.

Toponym

The name given to a place on Earth.

Relative Location

The description of where something is in relation to other things.

Absolute Location

The precise place where something is found.

Relative Distance

The distance between two points, measured using metrics like time, effort, or cost.

Absolute Distance

The distance between two points, communicated using precise quantitative units of measurement.

Relative Direction

Direction based on a person's surroundings and perception.

Absolute Direction

Directions according to a compass.

Density

How often or how much something occurs within a space.

Distribution

Where something occurs within a space.

Distance Decay

The theory that the interaction (flow of goods, people) between two places decreases as the distance between them increases.

Time-Space Compression

The reduction in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place, as the result of improved communication and transportation technologies.

Reference Maps

Maps designed for people to refer to for general information about places.

Thematic Maps

Maps that show spatial aspects of information or a type of phenomenon.

Map Projection

The process of depicting a curved globe on a flat surface.

Political Maps

Maps that show human- created boundaries and designations, such as countries, states, cities, and capitals.

Physical Maps

Maps that show natural features, such as mountains, rivers, and deserts

Road Maps

Maps that show highways, streets, and alleys

Plat Maps

Maps that show property lines and details of land ownership

Locator Maps

Illustrations used in books and advertisements to show specific locations mentioned in the text

Choropleth Maps

Maps that use colors, shades, or patterns to show the location and distribution of spatial data.

Dot Distribution Maps

Maps used to show the specific location and distribution of something, with each dot representing a specific quantity.

Graduated Symbol Maps

Maps that use symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of something. Larger sizes indicate more of something and smaller sizes indicate less.

Isoline Maps

Maps that use lines that connect points of equal value to depict variations in data. Distance between the lines indicates a change.

Topographic maps

maps showing points of elevation.

Cartograms

Maps where the sizes of places are shown according to some specific statistic

Map Projection

The process of depicting a curved globe on a flat surface.

Mercator (Purpose)

Navigation

Mercator (Strengths)

Directions shown accurately; Shapes are relatively the way they appear on the globe (near the equator)

Mercator (Distortion)

Size of land masses is distorted

Peters (Purpose)

Illustrating spatial distribution

Peters (Strength)

Size of land masses are accurate

Peters (Distortion)

Shapes of land masses are inaccurate, especially near poles

Conic (Purpose)

Best suited for regional mapping

Conic (Strength)

Size and shape are both close to reality

Conic (Distortion)

Longitude lines converge at only one pole (directional issues)

Robinson (Purpose)

General use

Robinson (Strength)

No glaring distortion; Oval shape appears more like a globe

Robinson (Distortion)

Area, shape, size, direction all slightly distorted (more pronounced near poles)

Regionalization

The process geographers use to divide and categorize space into smaller units.

Region

An area defined by one or more common and distinctive traits, characteristics, or features that make it different from surrounding areas.

Formal Region

An area defined by official boundaries, that is created on the basis of one or more shared characteristics (language, religion, nationality, culture, political affiliation, geographic features, economic activities).

Functional Region

An area organized around a node or focal point and defined by an activity that occurs across the region.

Hinterland

Literally, "country behind," a term that applies to a surrounding area served by an urban center. That center is the focus of goods and services produced for its hinterland.

Perceptual Region

An area that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity.

Mental Maps

Maps that people create in their own minds based on their own experience and knowledge.

Cultural Ecology

A geographic approach that emphasizes human-environment relationships.

Natural Resources

Materials from nature that have value to humans and can be used to meet the needs of humanity.

Renewable Resources

Resources that can be used repeatedly because they will be replaced.

Nonrenewable Resources

Resources that do not regrow and cannot be replaced or renewed.

Sustainability

Use of the Earth's resources in ways that ensure their availability for future generations to use.

Environmental Determinism

A philosophy that states that human behaviors and culture are a direct result of the surrounding environment.

Possibilism

The theory that the environmental conditions of a place can limit its culture but that culture is primarily determined by social conditions.

The Corn Belt

A region of the Midwestern United States that, since the 1850s, has dominated corn production in the United States.

AKA Uniform Regions/Homogenous Regions

Formal Region

AKA nodal regions

Functional Region

AKA vernacular regions

Perceptual Region

Examples of Sustainable Practices

Clean energy, Water treatment, Eco-friendly construction, Waste reduction, Recycling, Electric vehicles, Protected green space, Reforestation

Key ideas of Environmental Determinism

The environment controls human activities, Humans are dependent on the natural environment, Humans are at the mercy of natural forces, Human attitudes are impacted by the environment

Key Ideas of Possibilism

Humans can determine their culture and activities, Nature provides people with possibilities that they choose from, Societies with a high level of technology are less influenced by their natural surroundings

Criticisms of Environmental Determinism

Humans are innovators with free will, Humans have adapted the natural environment to fit their needs (settlements, roads, agriculture, etc.), Used as a tool of colonialism, racism, and imperialism

Mental Maps

Maps that people create in their own minds based on their own experience and knowledge.

Natural Resources

Materials from nature that have value to humans and can be used to meet the needs of humanity.

Renewable Resources

Resources that can be used repeatedly because they will be replaced.

Nonrenewable Resources

Resources that do not regrow and cannot be replaced or renewed.

Sustainability

Use of the Earth's resources in ways that ensure their availability for future generations to use.

Overpopulation & Overconsumption

Human impact on the environment.

Pollution

Human impact on the environment.

Climate Change

Human impact on the environment.

Fertilizers and Pesticides

Human impact on the environment.

Ocean Acidification

Human impact on the environment.

Deforestation

Human impact on the environment.

Waste Creation

Human impact on the environment.

Genetic Modification

Human impact on the environment.

Hunting/Fishing

Human impact on the environment.

Desertification

Human impact on the environment.