AP human geography: unit 1

human geography

study of spatial characteristics of humans (study of us)

sustainability

meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Infrastructure

the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, and power supplies) needed for the operation of a society.

culture

Shared practices, tech., attitudes, and behaviors that a society transmits from one generation to the next.

Globalization

the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

cartographer

Person who makes maps

Spatial perspective

A geographic perspective that seeks to identify and explain the uses of space

spatial patterns

The placement or arrangement of objects on Earth's surface; also includes the space between those objects

time-distance decay

the idea that near things are more related than distant things, and interaction between two places decreases the farther apart they are

Map scale

The relationship between the size of an object on a map and the size of the actual feature on Earth's surface. Ex; 1 inch on a map = 100,000 miles in real life

Isoline/Topographic map

lines on a map that show detailed elevation in mountains or ridges; 3D

Reference map

Map that shows geographic locations on Earth's surface, such as locations of cities or oceans or political boundaries/borders

thematic map

A type of map that displays one or more variables-such as population, or income level-within a specific area. Focuses on non-physical things

Cartogram map

A map in which the shape or size is distorted (bigger or smaller) in order to demonstrate a variable such as travel, population or economic production

Graduated map

A map with symbols that change in size according to the value of the attribute they represent.

Dot Distribution Map

A map where dots are used to demonstrate the frequency or intensity of a particular phenomena; dots can represent one object or a # of objects. Ex; population dot distribution of U.S. would show a lot more dots towards the East than the West

Choropleth Map

A thematic map that uses tones or colors to represent spatial data as average values per unit area.

Goode Homolosine Projection

a 20th century map of Earth with equal area of landmasses but interruptions of the oceans to more accurately represent a "flattened" sphere. Shaped like a W

Polars projection

Map with a view/perspective from either the North or South Pole

Mercator Projection

Map projection useful for navigation because the lines connecting points on the map represent true compass direction; landmasses become distorted further from the equator. (Greenland big)

Peters Projection

A map projection that shows all landmasses with their true areas but distorts their shapes; stretched out or squished near poles. (Greenland small)

Robinson Projection

A projection that maintains overall shapes and relative positions without extreme distortion. Shaped like an oval.

Census

A required count/survey of the population; age, sex, race, etc.

Absolute location

Exact location of a place on the earth described by global coordinates

GPS

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

GIS

A computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data in layers.

Relative location

The position of a place or person in relation to another place or person

Cultural landscape

the visible imprint of human activity and culture on the landscape. Ex; rome

time-space compression

Decreasing distance between places as measured by travel time or cost; summarized by the phrase "the world is shrinking". Improvements in transportation

Interdependence

Ties established between countries and regions in which over time collectively create a global economic system that is not necessarily based on equality

Expansion diffusion

The spread of a feature or trend among people from one area to another in a snowballing process.

Hierarchical diffusion

The spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places; big to small

Reverse hierarchical diffusion

from a small town to large cities; small to big

Contagious diffusion

Ideas spread from person to person like a virus

Stimulus diffusion

Spread of ideas and traits from one society to another but is modified in the process to fit that society's culture

Relocation diffusion

When immigrants move to a new place and bring their culture and traits with them, spreading it to the new country

Friction of distance

Humans hate distance

Cultural ecology

the geographic study of human-environment relationships and how the environment effects with the ways of human life and culture

Nonrenewable resources

Resources on Earth that will eventually run out/be used up. Limited

Renewable resources

Resources on Earth that can eventually replenish itself, not limited

Environmental Determinism

Belief that the physical environment shapes human culture and behavior

Possiblism

The theory that the physical environment may set limits on human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to the physical environment and choose a course of action from many alternatives.

Global scale

Scale of the world

Regional scale analysis

Geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena within a particular region

National scale analysis

Identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena within a specific country

Local scale analysis

Geographic scale that identifies and analyzes geographic phenomena within a state or province, a city or town, or neighborhood

Global perspective

ability to see and understand how any situation impacts or relates to people around the world

region

A geographical unit based on one or more common characteristics or functions; such as culture or religion

Formal region

An area within which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics. Also has well-established political borders recognized by other countries

functional region

Geographic area that has been organized to function politically, socially, culturally, or economically as one unit

metropolitan area

a major population center made up of a large city and the smaller suburbs and towns that surround it

perceptual regions

Geographic area that is perceived to exist by its inhabitants, based on the widespread acceptance and use of a unique regional name

Mental map

A representation of a portion of Earth's surface based on what an individual knows about a place, containing personal impressions of what is in a place and where places are located.

Sense of place

How a person feels about a certain place and why it's important to them

Regional identity

The awareness of belonging to a group of people within a region