Thinking Geographically Review

Flashcards for vocabulary review.

Reference Map

Shows general information about places, such as physical features, political boundaries, and locations.

Thematic Map

Focuses on a specific topic or theme, using data to show patterns.

Clustered Pattern

Arrangement of features in a concentrated area.

Dispersed Pattern

Features that are spread out evenly across a space.

Linear Pattern

Arrangement of features in a straight line.

Map Distortion: Size

Landmasses appear larger than in real life.

Map Distortion: Area

Proportional size between regions can be inaccurate.

Map Distortion: Direction

Angles between places may be off, especially at the edges.

Mercator Projection

Shape of rectangle, used for marine navigation, excels at directional accuracy, distorts size of landmasses. Creates bias by making developed countries appear larger.

Goode Homolosine Projection

Interrupted map, maintains size and shape of landmasses, struggles with direction.

Fuller Projection

Maintains size and shape of landmasses, but is an interrupted map that is difficult to decipher

Robinson Projection

Minimizes distortion by spreading it across all aspects of the map, uninterrupted.

Winkel Tripel Projection

Excels at showing minimal distortion in land distance and direction, uninterrupted map

Qualitative Data

Descriptive data, no numbers, that connects details and points out patterns visually. Examples: interviews, field observations, languages, religions, ethnicity.

Quantitative Data

Numeric data that shows concrete proof of something and analyzes it, presenting everything as fact. Examples: population statistics, income levels, temperature readings.

GIS (Geographic Information System)

A computer system that collects, stores, analyzes, and displays spatial data. Used to layer data and find spatial relationships.

GPS (Global Positioning System)

A satellite-based system that determines precise absolute locations on Earth.

Absolute Location

Indicates a precise geographical location on the Earth’s surface (e.g., latitude and longitude).

Relative Location

Describes one location in reference to another, usually in distance or time.

Distance Decay

Diminishing interaction between two locations as the distance increases.

Time-Space Compression

Describes the decreased distance between two places measured by time or cost.

Environmental Determinism

A theory that the environment determines human behavior and societal development (largely criticized as biased and outdated).

Possibilism

Counters determinism, arguing that the environment presents possibilities, but humans can adjust and choose different paths.

Large Scale Map

Shows a small area in great detail (e.g., neighborhood or city map).

Small Scale Map

Shows a large area with less detail (e.g., world or continental maps).

Scale of Analysis

The scale of analysis can change the patterns and trends we see. Different scales can either hide or highlight spatial inequalities, closer, or outliers

Region

An area defined by one or more distinctive characteristics or patterns.

Formal/Uniform Region

Defined by facts and has the same characteristics throughout the space (e.g., climate, political boundary).

Functional/Nodal Region

Regions have a central place which impacts a surrounding area. Transportation is normally the connector.

Vernacular/Perceptual Region

Based off of opinions & differ from person to person.