AP Human Geography - Unit 1 Vocabulary

Physical geography

the branch of geography that studies the Earth's natural features, landforms, and environmental systems

Human geography

the study of how human societies, cultures, economies, and behaviors develop and interact with their physical surroundings across space and place

Quantitative data

any information that can be counted, measured, and expressed using numerical values

Qualitative data

data representing information and concepts that are not represented by numbers. They are often gathered from interviews and focus groups, personal diaries and lab notebooks, maps, photographs, and other printed materials or observations

Small-scale map

a map that shows a large geographic area with a lower level of detail

Large-scale map

a map that shows a small geographic area such as a neighborhood, city park, or building with a high level of detail

GPS (Global Position System)

A satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information, enabling precise positioning and field data collection

GIS (Geographic Information System)

A computer system for capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying spatial data; often uses layering to examine relationships among data

Absolute location

A precise position on Earth, usually identified with latitude and longitude

Region

An area defined by shared features; a tool for organizing information rather than a permanently “natural” unit

Relative location

A place’s position in relation to other places (e.g., near/far, north of, connected to) and the relationships implied by that position

Site

The physical characteristics of a place (such as landforms, climate, vegetation, or built features)

Situation

A place’s interrelatedness with other places—its connections, accessibility, and relative position within wider networks

Toponym

the proper name of any geographical or physical location

Perceptual region

a region defined by a person’s perspective or perception of a certain location; boundaries often differ and are subjective

Functional region

a region organized around a central node (focal point) and the relationship is typically based around economics, travel or communication

Formal region

a region united by one or more specific traits (economic, social, political, environmental)

Possibilism

Acknowledges the limitations imposed by the natural environment, but focuses on the role of human culture to modify and respond to the environment to better fit human needs

Distance decay

The interaction between two places declines as the distance between the two places increases

Cultural landscape

a geographic area shaped by the interaction between human activity and the natural environment