AP Human Geography - Unit 1 (Thinking Geographically)

absolute location

the precise point where a place is located on Earth

geographic information system (GIS)

a computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data

latitude

Distance north or south of the equator

longitude

Distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees

prime meridian

Imaginary line drawn from the North Pole through Greenwich, England, to the South Pole

place

specific human and physical characteristics of a location

site

The characteristics of a place (immediate location), Ex: soil type, climate, labor force, human structures

situation

the location of a place relative to other places and its surroundings

toponym

place name

distance decay

decline of activity or function with increasing distance from its point of origin

density

number of something in a specifically defined area Ex: population density is the number of people per square mile

projection

The system used to transfer locations from Earth's surface to a flat map.

diffusion

The process of spread of a feature or trend from one place to another over time

formal region

An area in which everyone shares in one or more distinctive characteristics

GPS

a system that determines accurately the precise position of something on Earth through satellites, tracking stations, and receivers