unit 1 flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for geography review.

Compass Rose

Indicates cardinal (N, S, E, W) and intermediate directions (NE, SE, SW, NW) on a map.

Legend/Key (Maps)

Explains the symbols used on a map.

Scale (Maps)

The ratio of map units to real-world units, expressed as a fraction (1/20), ratio (1:20), sentence (1 inch = 20 miles), or graphic.

Reference Maps

Emphasize the location of spatial phenomena, such as countries, cities, rivers, and are often street maps.

Thematic Maps

Emphasize the spatial pattern of geographic attributes or statistics about places and relationships between places using a theme in relation to a geographic area.

Choropleth Map

Uses colors or shading to show the value of data, typically with darker shades indicating greater values.

Dot Map

Uses uniform dots to show density and distribution, with more dots indicating a greater value.

Arithmetic Density

Number of persons per unit of land (mile, kilometer, etc.). Also known as Population or Crude Density.

Physiological Density

Number of persons per unit of arable (farmable) land.

Agricultural Density

Number of farmers per unit of arable land.

Graduated/Proportional Symbol Map

Uses different sized symbols, often circles, to show value, with larger symbols indicating greater values.

Isoline Map

Uses lines to link areas that share equal value where the line indicates a change in data.

Cartogram

Distorts land area based on one particular variable, with larger land areas representing greater values.

Map Projections

Methods of flattening the round Earth onto a plane, causing distortion of shape, area, distance, and/or direction.

Mercator Projection

Good with direction but distorts size, especially near the high latitudes.

Azimuthal (Polar) Projection

Good with direction, but distorts size from the center out.

Equal-Area (Orange Peel) Projection

Good with size and shape but distorts direction and distance.

Robinson Projection

Compromise between size and shape, offering a more accurate overall representation.

Remote Sensing

Gathering data through sensors/photos (satellites) used for land use change, study of uninhabitable places and impact of disasters.

GIS (Geographic Information System)

Combines hardware and software to create super-accurate maps with different layers and handle spatial data to study relationships between different data sets.

Satellite Navigation Systems (GPS)

Provides precise location and navigation, used in automated vehicles and surveillance.

Census Data

Collected every 10 years, used to reallocate House of Representative numbers and distribute government funding.

Fieldwork

Collecting qualitative data through travel narratives, interviews, and photographic interpretation to understand human processes.

Aggregation of Data

The sum of data ('Scale of analysis').

Place

A specific point on Earth, distinguished by a particular characteristic with a unique location or position.

Absolute location

Latitude/longitude that never changes (in your lifetime).

Relative location

Location determined by what is closest around you and is constantly changing.

Site

The physical characteristics of a place.

Situation

The location of a place in relation to other places.

Cultural Landscape

Combination of human activity and mother nature’s work, also known as built environment OR cultural ecology. Defines a PLACE.

Distance Decay

The effect of distance on cultural or spatial interactions, where further distances result in less interaction.

Space-Time Compression

The increasing sense of connectivity due to advancements in technology.

Sustainability

How we make sure that we can continue to use and stretch our resources in a way to make them last so the way we live today will not hinder future generations ability to survive and thrive?

Environmental Determinism

The idea the environment in which we live determines the types of lives we lead.

Possibilism

While the environment can have an influence over the lives of the people who live there, people have the capacity to adapt and break through the limitations set by their environment.

Map Scale

Portion of the earth you can see (Global, Regional, National, Sub-national, Local scale).

Scale of Analysis

What part(s) of the earth are we examining or comparing?

Region

An area with one or more traits, characteristics, features that are common and make it different from surrounding areas.

Formal Region

Also known as a uniform region, characterized by a common human or physical property like language, climate, or political identity.

Functional Regions

Organized around a node or focal point with the surrounding areas linked to that node.

Perceptual Region

Also known as a Vernacular Region, reflects human feelings and attitudes about areas (stereotypes).