AP Human Geo- Chapter 1 Vocabulary

spatial approach

focuses on the location, distance, orientation, flow, pattern, and interconnection; arrangement of the phenomena being studied across the surface of the earth

distribution

the way a phenomenon is spread out or arranged over an area to describe patterns

patterns

general arrangement of things being studied

distance decay

the inverse relationship between distance and connection

space

area between two or more phenomena or things

location

identifies where phenomena are located to define the amount of space and relative or absolute distance between locations

place

specific physical characteristics of a location

region

group of places in the same area that share a characteristic

site

characteristics at the immediate location

situation

location of a place relative to it’s surroundings and it’s connectivity to other places

sense of place

perception of a place based on emotional ties or uniqueness

toponyms

names of places which describe the physical geography, history, or culture

time-space compression

shrinking “time-distance” between locations due to improved transportation and communication

Spatial interaction

Contact, movement, and flow of things between locations

flow

patterns and movement of ideas, people, products, and other phenomena

friction of distance

When things are farther apart, they tend to be less connected

distance decay

causes the decay or weakening of the flow of ideas from one location to the next

Spatial Association

two or more phenomena are related to each other without being the cause of the other