AP Human Geography Ultimate Guide (copy)

Space

The geometric surface of the Earth.

Activity Space

The area wherein activity occurs on a daily basis.

Place

An area of bounded space of some human importance.

Toponym

A place-name assigned to a location when human importance is recognized.

Regions

Types of places that include urban centers, resource locations, and transportation nodes.

Sequent Occupancy

The succession of groups and cultural influences throughout a place’s history.

Scale

The relationship of an object or place to the Earth as a whole.

Map Scale

Describes the ratio of distance on a map to distance in the real world.

Relative Scale

Refers to the level of aggregation when grouping things for examination.

Formal Regions

Areas of bounded space that possess some homogeneous characteristic.

Functional Regions

Regions focused around a central place or node that serves a practical purpose.

Vernacular Regions

Regions based upon the perception or collective mental map of the residents.

Absolute Location

Defined using coordinates like latitude and longitude.

Relative Location

Refers to a place’s location compared to known geographic features.

Site

The physical characteristics of a place.

Situation

The place’s interrelatedness with other places.

Distance Decay

Means that interaction decreases as the distance increases.

Tobler's Law

States that all places are interrelated, but closer places are more interrelated.

Friction of Distance

The inhibition of interaction between two points due to distance.

Space-Time Compression

Decreased time and relative distance between places due to technology.

Human-Environmental Interaction

The effect that humans have on their environment and vice versa.

Central Place Theory

Developed by Walter Christaller to analyze city location and urban economic exchange.

Agglomeration

Purposeful clustering around a central point for economic growth.

Cluster

When things are grouped together on the Earth’s surface.

Random Pattern

No discernible pattern in the distribution of spatial phenomena.

Linear Pattern

A distribution following a straight line.

Sinous Pattern

A distribution that appears wavy.

Arithmetic Density

The number of things per square unit of distance.

Physiologic Density

The number of people per square unit of arable land.

Agricultural Density

The number of farmers per unit of arable land.

Hearth

The point of origin or place of innovation.

Expansion Diffusion

Originates in a central place and expands outward.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Originates in a first-order location and then moves to subordinate locations.

Contagious Diffusion

Moves outward from a point of origin to nearby locations.

Stimulus Diffusion

Diffusion of an underlying principle that stimulates new ideas.

Relocation Diffusion

Occurs when a phenomenon spreads across a significant barrier.

Scientific Maps

The results of spatial analysis depicting geographic patterns.

Topographic Maps

Show elevation contours and landscape features.

Thematic Maps

Express particular subjects without showing other features.

Choropleth Maps

Show geographic variability using color variations.

Isoline Maps

Calculate data values between points across a variable surface.

Dot Density Maps

Use dots to express volume and density of geographic features.

Flow-Line Maps

Show the direction and volume of geographic movements.

Cartograms

Use simplified geometries to represent real-world places.

Mental Map

Cognitive image of the landscape in the human mind.

Linear Map Scale

Expresses distance on the map surface.

Large-Scale Map

A map with a comparatively large real-number ratio.

Small-Scale Map

A map with a comparatively small real-number ratio.

Equal-Area Projections

Maintain relative spatial science and areas on maps.

Conformal Projections

Maintain the shape of polygons but distort area.

Robinson Projection

Balances area and form for a visually practical map.

Model

An abstract generalization of real-world geographies.

Gravity Model

Mathematical model for spatial analysis of transportation flows.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Computer systems for spatial analysis and mapping.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Network of satellites for accurate location tracking.

Aerial Photography

Images of the Earth from aircraft.

Remote Sensing

Use of satellites to record data from the Earth's surface.

Birth Rate

The crude birth rate calculated annually.

Death Rate

The crude death rate calculated annually.

Rate of Natural Increase (RNI)

Annual percentage of population growth in a country.

Negative RNI

A population shrinkage situation.

Doubling Time

Time required for a population to double in size.

Net Migration Rate (NMR)

The difference between the number of immigrants and emigrants.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Estimated average number of children born to each female.

Dependency Ratio

Compares dependents (young/old) to the working population.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

Theory of population changes over time.

Epidemiological Transition Model (ETM)

Accounts for development due to population growth rates and medical advances.

S-Curve of Population

Represents rapid population growth followed by stabilization.

Population Pyramids

Graphical representation of a population's age and gender distribution.

Arithmetic Density

Number of people per square unit of land.

Physiologic Density

Number of people per square unit of arable land.

Subsistence Agriculture

Agriculture that provides all of a household’s nutritional needs.

Extensive Subsistence Agriculture

Occurs in regions with low population density.

Cash Crop

Crops raised for sale rather than for subsistence.

Commodity Chain

Links between producers and consumers from raw materials to finished products.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming that can be continued indefinitely without harming the environment.

Organic Agriculture

Farming without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.

Fair Trade

Ensures producers receive fair prices for their goods.

Aquaculture

Fish farming for profit.

General Specialized Agriculture

Growing crops that are high-value or in consumer demand.

Plantation Agriculture

Agriculture producing cash crops for export.

Dairy Farming

Production of milk and dairy products.

Gentrification

Economic reinvestment that displaces lower-income residents.

Suburbanization

Population movement from urban to suburban areas.

Industrialization

The development of industries that transform economies from agricultural to industrial.

Urbanization

The growth of cities with an increasing proportion of a population living in urban areas.

Deindustrialization

The decline of industrial activity in a region or economy.

Globalization

The process of increased interconnectedness among countries.

Ecotourism

Tourism aimed at conserving the environment and observing wildlife.