Module 1: Introduction to Maps Vocabulary

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards based on Module 1: Introduction to Maps.

Map

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

Cartographer

A person who makes maps.

Data aggregation

The process of collecting and organizing large amounts of information.

Spatial perspective

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

Spatial patterns

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

Clustered

Describing objects that are clumped together on Earth's surface.

Dispersed

Describing objects that are spread out in some organized fashion on Earth's surface.

Random

Describing a pattern where objects are either clustered or dispersed, thus lacking any organization.

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.

Map symbols

Graphic elements that help organize the information in a map, such as (but not limited to) dots, stars, arrows, squares, and dotted lines.

Legend

A key to the meaning of the symbols and colors on a map.

Compass rose

A drawing, usually found on the edge of a map, showing the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west and the map's orientation

Absolute direction

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

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

Scale

The territorial extent of an idea or object

Absolute distance

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

Relative distance

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

Relative direction

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

Elevation

Distance above sea level

Isoline map

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

Topographical map

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

Reference map

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

Thematic map

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

Choropleth map

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

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

Proportional/graduate circle map

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

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)

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

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

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

Polar projection

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

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