unit 1 ap human geo

Political map

reference map that shows political boundaries
ex: countries, cities, capitals

Thematic maps

maps used to display specific types of information (theme) pertaining to an area.

cartogram

thematic map that shows statistical data by transforming space ex: population

choropleth map

thematic map that uses shading or coloring to show statistical data
ex: population

dot density map

thematic map that uses dots to indicate a feature or occurrence
ex: population

graduated symbols map (proportional symbols map)

thematic map that indicates relative magnitude of some value for a geographic region in which the symbol varies in proportion to data
ex: population

Mercator Projection

-used for navigation
-correct in direction
-size is wrong
-top and bottom are distorted

Polar Projection

-North/South poles
-center is good but then it become distorted
-not used for navigation

absolute distance

measurement using a standard unit of length
ex: mile, kilometer

relative distance

measurement of the social, cultural, and/or economic connectivity between places (how connected or disconnected)
ex: USA and Iran vs USA and China

Goode's homosiline interrupted projection

-size and shape are excellent
-distance and direction are bad

Robisons projection

-shapes are correct
-size is close
-cannot navigate
-most used for students
-everything is distorted in small amounts

absolute direction

finding a location using compass direction
ex: north, south, east, west

relative direction

finding a location not using compass direction
ex: left, right, forward, backward, up, down

spatial pattern

the way things are laid out and organized on the surface of the earth

Geospatial Technologies

technology that provides geographic data that is used for personal (navigation), business (marketing), and governmental (environmental planning) purposes

Largest and smallest states

Largest
-Russia
-Canada
-U.S
Smallest
-Vatican City
-Monaco
-San Marino

domain

the area in which a particular culture is dominate but less intense

GIS (geographic information system)

- map created by a computer that can combine layers of spatial data
- data is displayed and analyzed to gain insights into geographical patterns/relationships
e.g. vulnerability of the Florida Aquifer, school boundaries, crime rates

remote sensing

collecting data with instruments that are distant from the area of study
ex: satellites, planes, aircraft, ships

Why are maps essential

for highlighting and analyzing patterns

small-scale

show a larger amount of area with less detail

absolute location

describes the precise location of a place using the earths graticule (latitude and longitude)

Large-scale

Show smaller amounts of area with greater amount of details

Why are all maps distorted?

All maps are distorted because teh Earth is a sphere and maps are flat.

relative location

describes the location of a place relative to other human and physical features

Location vs place

location identifies where a specific phenomena occurs
and place is the specific human and physical characteristics of a location

Region

an area that has something in common

globalization

the process of increased interconnections among countries most notably in the areas of economics, politics, and culture

environmental determinism

theory that a society is formed and determined by the physical environment, especially the climate; the physical environment predisposes societies towards particular development; human society development is controlled by the environment

time space convergence

term that refers to the greatly accelerated movement of goods, information, and ideas during the 20th century made possible by technological innovations

Site vs situation

Site refers to the physical and cultural features of a place, independent of other places around it.
Situation describes a place's relationship to other places around it.

perceptual/vernacular region

region that exists as an idea
ex: the south, Kurdistan

Cultural ecology

Geographic approach that emphasizes human-environment relationships.

Formal/Uniform

united by one or more traits
(Brazil in South America unites)

regional boundaries

transitional and often contested and overlapping
ex: Kurdistan in Turkey and Northern Iraq

Functional/Nodal

Organized around a focal point and defined by an activity
(Pizza delivery area)

Perceptual (vernacular)

defined by the informal sense of place that people describe to them.
(Upstate New York)

Gall peters

Shape of countries especially near the equator are distorted

distance decay

a geographical term which describes the effect of distance on cultural or spatial interactions

time space compression

the increasing sense of connectivity that seems to be bringing people closer together even thought their distances are the same

Possibilism

The physical environment may limit some human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to their environment.

scale of analysis

how zoomed in or out you are when looking at geographic data

formal region

a region that is based on quantitative data-data (that can be documented or measured) - all states and countries are this because they share a government

functional region

a region based around a node or focal point- transportation or communication