Geographic Concepts and Map Types

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to geography and mapping, essential for understanding various aspects of geographic information.

Absolute Distance

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

Absolute Location

The precise place where something can be found, often described using latitude and longitude coordinates.

Cartogram

A map where the sizes of places are distorted in order to represent some specific statistic.

Cartography

The art and science of mapmaking - representing a geographic area on a flat surface.

Choropleth Map

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

Clustered

A descriptor for when there is a high level of density and a low level of distribution of data.

Conic Projection

A map projection used primarily for regional mapping, as size and shape are preserved but direction is very distorted.

Density

How often or how much something occurs within a space.

Dispersed

A descriptor for when there is a low level of density due to a high level of distribution.

Distance Decay

The theory that the interaction between two places decreases as the distance between them increases.

Distribution

Where something occurs within a space.

Dot Distribution Map

A map that shows the specific location and distribution of something using dots.

Environmental Determinism

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

Formal Region

An area defined by official boundaries, that is created on the basis of one or more shared characteristics.

Functional Region

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

Geographic Information System

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

Globalization

The spread of businesses, products, people and ideas around the world.

Global Positioning System

The system that determines the precise location of something on Earth using satellites and receivers.

Graduated Symbol Map

A map that uses symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of something.

Isoline Map

A map that uses lines that connect points of equal distance to depict variations in data.

Latitude

The distance north or south of the Equator that marks 0 degrees.

Locator Map

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

Longitude

The distance east or west of the Prime Meridian that marks 0 degrees.

Map Projection

The process of showing a curved surface on a flat surface.

Map Scale

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

Mercator Projection

A map projection used primarily for navigation that accurately depicts direction and the shape of land masses near the equator.

Peters Projection

A map projection that depicts the size of land masses accurately and is best used for illustrating spatial distribution.

Physical Map

A map that shows natural features, such as mountains, rivers, and deserts.

Plat Map

A map that shows property lines and details of land ownership.

Political Map

A map that shows human-created boundaries and designations like countries, states, cities, and capitals.

Possibilism

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

Qualitative Data

Humanistic data that is not represented as a statistic and is collected through means such as interviews, surveys, or observation.

Quantitative Data

Data associated with mathematical models and statistical techniques.

Reference Map

A map designed for people to refer to for general information about places.

Region

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

Relative Distance

Distance measured using metrics like time, effort, or cost.

Relative Location

The description of where something is in relation to something else.

Remote Sensing

The process of capturing images of Earth’s surface from the air, using things like satellites or planes.

Road Map

A map that shows highways, streets, and alleys.

Robinson Projection

A map projection most commonly used for education purposes that has no glaring distortion.

Scale of Analysis

The level at which data in a map is displayed.

Site

The physical character of a place, including features like climate, water sources, vegetation, and elevation.

Situation

Where something is located relative to its surrounding features.

Sustainability

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

Thematic Map

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

Time-Space Compression

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

Toponym

The name given to a place on Earth.

Vernacular Region

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