AP Human Geography - Unit 1

What are the 4 main impacts of an event?

ESPeN - Economical, Social, Political, Environmental

What are the 4 types of map distortion?

SADD - Shape, Area, Direction, and Distance

Why do maps have distortion?

Because representing 3D objects like Earth on a 2D plane makes inevitable changes or distortions. It is physically impossible to lay out the earth flat without changing it.

Why do certain maps have different distortion?

Because they each have a different function. For example if a map is used for navigation you would want the direction and distance of the map to not be altered, so those two would be normal and the shape and area would be distorted.

What are the map projections to know?

Mercator, Gall - Peters, Goode Homolosine, Fuller, Robinson, and Winkel Triple

Mercator map projection

is a cylindrical map projection that preserves angles, making it useful for navigation, but distorts size, particularly near the poles. It has it’s longitude and latitude lines in 9o degree angles. This is an uninterrupted map. Places farther away from the equator are more distorted. This map is very bad at the area of countries. It is widely used for navigation.

Gall - Peters map projection

This map is very similar to the Mercator in its right angles and looks. However, it is much more accurate in area and size. Countries are their true size in this map, but their shape is very distorted. The main distortion parts is near the equator. The farther you are from the equator the more accurate the shape of the countries becomes.

Goode Homolosine map projection

an interrupted map projection that tries to keep shape and area accurate but the direction and distance is very bad due to the missing parts of the globe. The shape of this is kind of like a squiggle.

Fuller map projection

also known as a Dymaxion map projection. This map is also an interrupted map and is very bad at direction and distance but keeps shape and area relatively accurate. The shape of this map has straight lines but is in all different shapes like triangles.

Robinson map projection

is in an oval like shape and is an uninterrupted map. It is designed to balance various distortions, providing a compromise between size, shape, distance, and direction. This projection minimizes distortion across the entire map, making it visually appealing for presentations. This is very similar to the Winkel Triple, but more stretched out.

Winkel Triple map projection

A circular map, that is still kind of an oval and its purpose was to eliminate distortion as much as possible. It has balanced area and shape. Like Robinson.

What is it called when you take a 3D surface and turn it into a 2D map?

a map projection

What are the 2 types of maps?

Reference and ThematicThematic

Reference map

A type of map that shows geographic features and locations, primarily used for navigation and identifying landmarks. It is a map you would use when trying to get somewhere.

What are the types of reference maps?

There are several types of reference maps, including political maps, physical maps, topographic maps, and road maps.

topographic maps

A type of map that shows elevation and landforms using contour lines, often used for hiking and outdoor activities.

Thematic map

A type of map that emphasizes a specific theme or subject matter, such as population density, climate patterns, or economic activity, rather than focusing on geographic features. It displays spatial distribution and data to a geographic area

Types of Thematic maps

Choropleth, Dot Density, Graduated Symbol, Isoline, Cartogram, Flow line

Choropleth

Displays data by using different colors (good at quantity and density) . But the weakness is that it uses generalizations to display data.

Dot Density

Shows data with points at the place it is occurring. This lets us see spatial distribution but it can be confusing when the data clusters together.

Graduated symbol

uses shapes, items, or symbols to show the location and amount of data. It is very visual and can be confusing due to overlapping information.

Isoline

uses lines to connect different areas that have similar or equal amounts of information (weather maps).

Cartogram

shows data dynamically with the greatest value represented by the largest area. Very visual and it shows differences between places. It can be very confusing because of the distortion of the shape and size of places.

Flowline

show movement of goods, people, animals, services, or ideas between places, using big or small arrows. They indicate the direction and volume of the flow.

Interrupted map

A map that has parts of it taken out to try to eliminate distortion

Uninterrupted map

a map that is still whole and does not have parts taken out of it.

What are the quantitative direction, distance, and location?

Absolute - because it is numerical and specific

What are the qualitative direction, distance, and location?

Relative - because it is in relation to something else and you are describing it

Absolute Direction

the direction that is defined by coordinates or specific angles, such as north, south, east, and west. The EXACT direction you are heading (compass can show degrees).

Absolute Distance

the measurement of the space between two points using a fixed unit, such as miles or kilometers, providing a specific numerical value. The EXACT distance between 2 places.

Absolute Location

the precise point where a place is located on the Earth's surface, typically expressed in latitude and longitude coordinates. The EXACT spot where something is located.

Relative Direction

the direction in relation to other locations or points, such as left, right, or near. It describes where something is based on its surroundings instead of fixed coordinates.

Relative Distance

the calculation of distance using concepts such as time or cost, rather than a fixed measurement. It considers the degree of separation between places in terms of accessibility or connectivity. an approximate measurement between 2 places (time or direction).

Relative Location

the position of a place or entity based on its location relative to other locations. A description of a location using surrounding geographic features.

Small scale map

A type of map that depicts a larger area with less detail, typically used to show broad geographic features and relationships between locations.

Large scale map

A type of map that depicts a smaller area with greater detail, often used for specific locations or detailed features such as streets and buildings.

Clustered

objects in an area, close together with little to no space between them

Dispersed

objects that are spread out across an area with significant space between them

What do you call longitude lines

Meridians. They run from north to south, but are measured east to west

What do you call latitude lines?

Parallels. They run from west to east, but are measured from north to south

What is the horizontal 0 point?

Equator

What is the vertical 0 point?

Prime meridian

What are the 5 themes of geography?

Movement, Region, Human Environment Interaction, Location, and Place

Movement

refers to the way people, goods, and ideas travel from one place to another, influencing and connecting different locations and being exchanged.

Region

an area defined by shared characteristics, such as cultural, physical, or economic features.

Human Environment Interaction

the ways in which humans adapt to and modify their environment, as well as the impact of the environment on human activities. (example. summer = shorts winter=jacket).

Location

where something is (absolute and relative)

Place

a location with some characteristics that make sit different that make it different than its surroundings.

What are the 2 subtopics of places?

Human Characteristics and Physical Characteristics

Human Characteristics

features such as culture, demographics, and economic activities that define how people interact with a location. Human made things

Physical Characteristics

features such as landforms, climate, vegetation, and natural resources that define the environment of a location. Geographic things (nature)

What are the 4 categories of studying space?

Container, Topologically, Socially, and Individually

Container

where stuff is, is it in or out?

Topologically

organization

Individually

how we each perceive it

Spatial

Where something is, how it is spread out

What is a place?

A specific location with unique physical and human characteristics that distinguishes it from other places.

toponyms

Names given to different places

Toponomy

The study of place names and their origins, meanings, and cultural significance.

Time distance decay

people are more likely to interact with near things rather than distant things. This concept illustrates how the influence of a phenomenon decreases as distance increases.

Time space compression

The phenomenon where advances in transportation and communication technology decrease the perceived distance between places, making it easier and faster for people to connect. This counters time distance decay by enhancing interactions across greater distances.

Flow

A term used to describe the flow of people, goods, and information over space and time. Movement of things through the world

Spatial Association

the relationships between different objects in an area. This looks at how objects are arranged, connected, and possibly isolated in a place.

Spatial Distribution

The way people, activities, or features are spread out across a given area. It examines patterns and densities of various phenomena in human geography.

Density

amount of objects in an area

Concentration

the spread of objects in an area

Pattern

the arrangement of objects in an area

What are the 2 types of patterns?

Clustered and Dispersed

Sense of place

place has meaning to you

Site factors

Physical and human characteristics of a location that influence its suitability for various activities.

Situation factors

locations surrounding a place (connections between 1 place and another). Roads, highways, etc.

Scale of Analysis

Observation of data at the global, national, regional, and/or local scale.

scale

relationship of distance on map in relationship to the world

Nation

people group with similar beliefs

State

a geographic area organized into one political unit

Region

a place larger than a point and smaller than a planet that is grouped together because of a measurable or perceived common feature

What are the 3 types of regions?

Formal, Functional, and Vernacular (perceptional)

Formal regions

A formal region has defined borders and boundaries and is based on quantitative data. There is a rule that keeps it together and makes the region. (example. Wisconsin)

Functional Regions

based off of a focal point or node. Provides a service. Doesn’t always have boundaries. (example. Radio station, metro)

Vernacular (perceptional) regions

Subjective regions defined by people's perceptions and feelings. They lack formal boundaries and can vary between individuals. an area that shares a common qualitative characteristic, it's only a region because people believe it's a region (example: midwest)

What are the 2 main types of diffusion?

Expansion and Relocation

What is expansion diffusion?

A process where an idea or innovation spreads throughout a population, enhancing its influence while remaining strong in the original area.

What is Relocation diffusion?

A type of diffusion where people move from one place to another, bringing their cultural traits and ideas with them, often resulting in the spread of new characteristics to the areas they inhabit.

What are the 4 types of expansion diffusion?

Contagious, Hierarchical, Reverse Hierarchical, and Stimulus

Contagious diffusion

is the rapid, widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population, often spreading through social networks. It starts at the hearth and spreads everywhere around it, having no preference for class, race, etc. Like disease.

Hierarchical Diffusion

is the spread of a feature or trend from one key person or node of authority or power to other persons or places, often skipping lower-status individuals or rural areas.

Reverse Hierarchical Diffusion

is the spread of a feature or trend from lower-status individuals or small communities to larger groups or more influential locations, often seen in social movements and grassroots campaigns.

Stimulus Diffusion

When a specific trait of an idea/practice is rejected but the underlying idea is accepted. This can lead to many different versions of something depending on culture and religion.

Hearth

The place where an idea, innovation, or cultural trait originates and spreads from.

Sustainability

the goal of the human race reaching equilibrium with the environment; meeting the needs of the present without while also leaving resources for future generations

Natural Resources

 a physical material constituting part of Earth that people need and value

Environmental Determinism

How the physical environment caused (determined) social development

Environmental Possibilism

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

Globalization

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

Data aggregation

the process of collecting and consolidating data from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive overview or analysis.

polar projection

A type of map projection that represents the Earth's surface as if viewed from a point above one of the poles, showing true direction and area but distorting shape and distance.

census

A systematic collection of data about a population, typically conducted every ten years to gather demographic information such as age, gender, and income.

Global Positioning system (GPS)

A satellite-based navigation system that allows users to determine their exact location anywhere on Earth using coordinates.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A software application for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface; allows the rapid manipulation, of geospatial data for problem solving and research.

remote sensing

the scanning of earth by satellite or high flying aircraft in order to obtain information about it.