Unit 1 / Introduction to Geography / Modules 0-2

absolute direction

Corresponds to the direction on a compass: north, south, east, west, and combinations such as northeast and southwest

absolute distance

The distance that can be measured with a standard unit of length, such as a foot, yard, mile, or kilometer

absolute location

A precise position on Earth's surface

cartogram

A map that distorts the geographic shape of an area in order to show the size of a specific variable; the larger the area on a cartogram, the larger the value of the underlying variable

cartographer

A person who makes maps

census

An official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details about individuals, such as age, sex, and race

choropleth map

A thematic map that shows data aggregated for a specific geographic area, often using different colors to represent different values

culture

The shared practices, technologies, attitudes, and behaviors that a society transmits from one generation to the next

data aggregation

The process of collecting and organizing large amounts of information

dot density / dot distribution map

A map that uses dots to represent objects or counts; the dot can represent one object (a one-to-one dot density map), or it can represent a number of objects (a one-to-many dot density map)

elevation

Distance above sea level

gender

A general term for the ways in which a society defines the differences between males and females

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A software application for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth's surface; allows the rapid manipulation of geospatial data for problem-solving and research

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A system of 24 satellites that orbit Earth twice daily and transmit radio signals Earthward; the basis for many map-based apps that provide directions on how to get from one place to another

globalization

The process by which businesses and other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale

Goode homolosine projection

A map projection that avoids shape distortion and the restrictions of a rectangular map by creating "interruptions" in the map's continuity; in each section, map projection regions are shown "equally," like an orange peel being laid out in a flat surface

human geography

The branch of geography that studies how human activity affects or is influenced by Earth's surface

infrastructure

The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (such as buildings, roads, and public utilities) needed for the operation of a society

isoline

On a map, a line that connects or links different places that share a common or equal value, such as elevation

latitude

The (invisible) horizontal lines circling Earth parallel to the equator; latitude is the degree of distance north or south from the equator, which is at 0 degrees, as far as the poles, which are at 90 degrees

longitude

The (invisible) vertical lines on Earth's surface that mark imaginary circles connecting the North Pole with the South Pole

map

A two-dimensional (flat) representation of a geographic area or place

map projection

A method for representing the surface of Earth or a celestial sphere on a plane (two-dimensional) surface; all map projections distort some aspect of Earth's surface

map scale

The distance on a map in relation to distance in actual space; for example, 1 inch on a map might indicate a distance of 100 miles

Mercator projection

A map projection that is useful for navigation because the lines connecting points on the map represent the true compass direction; however, landmasses become increasingly distorted the farther away they are from the equator

Peters projection

A map projection that shows all landmasses with their true areas but distorts their shapes

polar projection

A map projection that looks down at Earth from the perspective of one of the poles (North Pole or South Pole)

prime meridian

The zero-degree longitude line that runs through Greenwich, England; also known as the Greenwich Meridian

proportional / graduated circle map

A map that uses symbols (such as circles or dots) of different sizes to represent numerical values

reference map

A map that shows geographic locations on Earth's surface, such as the locations of cities or oceans

relative direction

A direction that can be described as position, such as in front of or behind, to the left or to the right

relative distance

A measurement of the level of social, cultural, or economic similarity between places despite their absolute distance from each other

remote sensing

The scanning of Earth by satellite or high-flying aircraft in order to obtain information about it

Robinson projection

A map projection that attempts to create the most visually appealing representation of Earth by keeping all types of distortion relatively low over most of the map

scale

The territorial extent of an idea or object

scale of analysis

the level at which a phenomena is measured / analyzed; examples include global, local, national, regional

spatial patterns

The placement or arrangement of objects on Earth's surface; also includes the space between those objects

spatial perspective

A geographic perspective that seeks to identify and explain the uses of space

sustainability

The group of practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs

thematic maps

A map that emphasizes the spatial patterns of geographic statistics or attributes, and sometimes the relationships between them

time-distance decay

Also known as the "first law of geography"; the idea that near things are more related than distant things, and interaction between two places decreases the farther apart they are

topographic map

A graphic representation of the three-dimensional configuration of Earth's surface