Unit 1 AP Human Geography Key Terms

Only covers the Key Terms given to me on the sheet of paper for Unit one. IS MISSING SOME AS OF 02/14/2024 (self note: go back into AMSCO Book Unit 1 to add in more vocab)

spatial patterns

the general arrangements of things being studied and the repeated sequences of events, or processes, that create them.

quantitative data

data measured using numerical facts

geospatial data

tools and methods used to collect, analyze, and visualize spatial data related to the Earth's surface.

qualitative resources

non-numeric information that captures the qualities, characteristics, and experiences of a subject.

scales of analysis

the level or perspective at which a problem or issue is studied or addressed.

reference map

they are aptly named because they are designed for people to refer to for general information about places.

political map

Show and label human-created boundaries and designations, such as countries, states, cities, and capitals.

physical map

show and label natural features, such as mountains, rivers, and deserts.

thematic map

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

choropleth map

A type of map that uses various colors, shades of one color, or patterns to show the location and distribution of spatial data. They often show rates or other quantitative data in defined areas, such as the percentage of people who speak English.

dot distribution map

A type of map used to show the specific location and distribution of something across a map. Each dot represents a specified quantity. One may stand for one building or for millions of people that own dogs.

graduated symbol map (proportional symbol maps)

A type of thematic map that uses symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of something. Larger sizes indicate more of something, and smaller sizes indicate less. These types of maps make it easy to see where the largest and the smallest of a phenomena are by simply comparing the symbols to each other. Map key can be used to determine the exact amount.

isoline map

A type of map that uses lines that connect points of equal value to depict variations in the data across space. Where lines are close together, the map depicts rapid change, and where the lines are farther apart, the phenomenon is relatively the same.

topographic map

Points of equal elevation are connected on these maps, creating contours that depict surface features. Most popular among hikers.

cartogram

This map shows the sizes of countries (or states, countries, or other areal units) are shown according to some specific statistics. They are useful because they allow for data to be compared, much like a graph, and distance and distribution are also visible like on a traditional map.

scale

the ratio between the size of things in the real world and the size of those same things on the map

small-scale map

show a larger amount of area with less detail. example: global scale Earth at night is an example.

large-scale map

shows a smaller amount of area with a greater amount of detail, example: North America at night is an example.

location

Identifies where specific phenomena are located either on a grid system or relative to another location.

absolute location

the precise spot where something is according to a system.

relative location

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

direction

It is used in order to describe where things are in relation to each other such as using cardinal directions (North, east, south, and west) or intermediate directions (southeast or southwest).

distance

A measurement of how far or how near things are to one another.

absolute distance

Usually measured in terms of feet, miles, meters, or kilometers. example: from your home to your school it’s 2.2 miles.

relative distance

Indicates the degree of nearness based on time or money is often dependent on the mode of travel.

example: traveling from home to school takes 10 minutes

elevation

The distance of features above sea level, usually measured in feet or meters

patterns

The general arrangement of things

clustered (agglomerated) distribution

A phenomena arranged in a group or concentrated area

dispersed distributions

phenomena are spread out over a large area

field observations

The act of physically visiting a location, place, or region and recording, firsthand, information there.

remote sensing

Gathers information from satellites that orbit the earth or other craft above the atmosphere.

• Uses cameras or other sensors mounted on aircraft or satellites to collect digital images or video of the earth’s surface.

• Used to determine land cover and use, monitoring environmental changes, assessing spread of spatial phenomena, and monitoring the weather

Global Positioning System (GPS)

• Receivers on the earth’s surface use the locations of multiple satellites to determine and record a receivers exact location.

• It’s used to precisely locate borders, navigate ships/aircraft/cars, and mapping lines

Geographic Information System (GIS)

• A computer system that can store, analyze, and display information from multiple digital maps or geospatial data sets

• Analyzing of crime data and transportation/travel time, monitoring the effects of pollution, and planning urban area

spatial approach

Considers the arrangement of the phenomena being studied across the surface of the earth.

• also looks at elements such as the movements of people and things, changes in places overtime, and even human perceptions of space and place

space

The area between two or more phenomena or things

place

The specific human and physical characteristics of a location.

site

The characteristics at the immediate location

• example: the soil type, climate, labor force, and human structures

situation

The location of a place relative to its surrounding and its connectivity to other places.

sense of place

The way humans tend to perceive the characteristics of places in different ways based on their personal beliefs.

toponyms

Places names a located is designated

time-space compression

The shrinking “time-distance,” or relative distance, between locations

flow

The patterns and movements of ideas, people, products, and other phenomena

distance decay

The concept of the inverse relationship between distance and connection

human-environmental interaction

The dual relationship between humans and the natural world.

natural resources

Includes items that occur in the natural environment that people can use.

• examples: air, water, oil, fish, soil, and minerals

sustainability

Relates to trying to use resources now in way that allow their use in the future with minimizing negative impacts on the environment

land use

The study of how land is utilized, modified, and organized by people

environmental determinsism

The belief that landforms and climate are the most powerful for shaping human behavior and societal development while ignoring the influence of culture

possibilism

A view that acknowledges limits on the effects of the natural environment and focuses more on the role that human culture plays.

global scale

Shows the entire world

examples:

• global earth at night image

• world population density map

world regional scale

Shows multiple countries of the world

examples:

• North america

• South Asia

national scale

Shows one country

example:

• The United States

national regional scale

Shows a portion of a country or a region(s) within a country

local scale

Shows a province, state, city, county, or a neighborhood.

examples:

• Tennessee

• Moscow

region

Contains boundaries, unifying characteristics, cover space, and are created by people

formal region (uniform region; homogenous region)

Region united by one or more traits such as:

• political, such as Brazil in South America

• physical, such as the Sahara, a vast desert in northern Africa

• cultural, such as southwestern Nigeria, an area where most people speak Yoruba

• economic, such as the Gold Coast of Africa (Ghana), which exports gold

functional region (nodal region)

• These regions are organized around a focal point and are defined by an activity, usually political, social, or economic, that occurs across the region

• Are United by networks of communication, transportation, and other interactions

perceptual region

Region that is defined by the informal sense of place that people ascribe to them.

examples:

• The American East

• The Middle East

• Upstate New York