Geography and Human-Environment Interactions

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to geography and human-environment interactions.

Geography

An integrative discipline that studies the physical and human dimensions of the world.

Physical Geography

The study of natural processes and distribution of features in an environment, such as landforms, plants, and climate.

Human Geography

The study of how humans understand, use, and alter the earth.

Spatial Perspective

Focuses on where something occurs and the implications of its location.

Ecological Perspective

Studies the interdependent relationships among living things, ecosystems, and human societies.

Absolute Location

The exact position of a point on Earth, usually expressed in coordinates.

Relative Location

The position of a place in relation to other places.

Sense of Place

The emotional attachment people have to a specific location based on their experiences.

Mental Maps

Internalized representations of portions of Earth's surface based on personal experiences.

Site

The physical characteristics of a location, including its absolute location and features.

Situation

A place's location in relation to other places and its surroundings.

Density

The number of people or things in a specific area.

Pattern

The arrangement or distribution of things within a particular space.

Distance Decay

The principle that explains how the interaction between two places diminishes as the distance between them increases.

Friction of Distance

The concept that distance requires effort and cost to overcome, influencing the interaction between places.

Time-Space Compression

The reduction of the time it takes to travel and communicate between places due to modern technology.

Sustainability

The use of Earth's resources in a way that ensures their availability for future generations.

Formal Region

An area defined by one or more shared characteristics.

Functional Region

An area organized around a focal point or central interest.

Perceptual Region

A region defined by people's subjective perceptions and feelings about a place.

Globalization

The expansion of economic, cultural, and political processes on a worldwide scale.

World System Theory

A theory explaining the spatial and functional relationships between countries and the global economy.

Core Countries

Wealthier, more developed countries with higher education and advanced technologies.

Periphery Countries

Less wealthy countries with lower levels of education and technology.

Semi-Periphery Countries

Countries that are in the process of industrialization, acting as a link between core and periphery countries.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.