World Geography Vocab

clustered distribution

arranged in a group or a concentrated area

cartographic scale

the way the map communicates the ratio of its size to the size of what it represents

absolute location

the precise spot where something is according to the system of longitude and latitude

political map

show and label human-made boundaries and designations

absolute distance

the nearness of things based on exact measurements in feet, miles, meters, or kilometers

choropleth map

uses various colors, shades of one color, or patterns to show the location and distribution of spatial data

dot distribution map

used to show the specific location and distribution of something across a map

isoline map

uses lines that connect points of equal value to depict variations in the data across space

topographic map

an isoline map that connects points of equal elevation

relative location

the description of where something is in relation to other things

relative distance

the degree of nearness of something based on time or money and the mode of transportation

cartogram

the sizes of countries are altered and depicted according to some specific data point or statistic

graduated symbol map

uses symbols in different sizes to indicate different amounts of something

physical map

show and label natural features

dispersed distribution

spread out over a large area

toponym

place name; provides insight into the physical geography, history, and culture of a location

possibilism

geographic theory that acknowledges limits on the effects of the natural environment and focuses on the role of human motivation and decision making

site

describe as the characteristics of an immediate location

sustainability

using resources in the present in ways that ensure minimal negative impacts on the environment and the availability of the resources in the future

time-space compression

the shrinking of relative distance between locations because of improved methods of transportation and communication; technology

functional(nodal) region

a region that is organized around a focal point and defined by an activity related to that focal point

scale of analysis

the scale used to analyze the data on the map

friction of distance

when things are further apart, they tend to be less connected

formal(uniform) region

a region united by one or more common trait

situation

described as the location of a place relative to its surrounding

geographic scale

the area of the world being studied on the map

cultural landscape

the distinct qualities of the built environment based on the characteristics of the people who created it

distance decay

the inverse relationship between distance and connection; proximity correlates to the strength of interaction

perceptual(vernacular) region

a region defiend by an informal sense of place that people have ascribed to it

environmental determinism

geographic theory that says geographic features and lcimate are the most powerful forces shaping human development

sense of place

the variation in perception of the characteristics of place based on individual beliefs and experiences

flow

the patterns and movement of people, ideas, products, and other phenomena

human environment interaction

the connections and exchanges between humans and the physical world