Unit 1 Chapter 2 Vocabulary Definitions

Flashcards covering key vocabulary definitions from Unit 1 Chapter 2 based on the provided lecture notes.

Cartograms

Maps where the sizes of countries (or states, counties, or other areas) are shown according to some specific statistic.

Cartographic Scale

The way that a map communicates the ratio of its size to the size of what it represents (EX: 1 inch = 10 miles).

Choropleth maps

Thematic maps that use various colors, shades of one color, or patterns to show the location and distance of spatial data.

Conic projection

A map projection for general use in midlatitude countries where lines of longitude converge, and size and shape are both close to reality, though direction is not constant.

Dot-distribution maps

Maps used to show the specific location and distribution of something across the territory of the map represented by the use of dots.

Fieldwork

The act of collecting data observed and recorded on location.

Formal regions

Also known as uniform or homogenous regions, these are united by one or more traits (EX: physical, cultural, economic).

Functional regions

Regions organized around a focal point and defined by an activity that occurs across the region, often united by networks of communication and transportation centered on a node.

Geographic models

Representations of reality or theories about reality that help geographers see general spatial patterns, focus on specific factors, and understand variations, often used to explain, describe, and predict spatial activity.

Geographic Scale

Refers to the amount of territory that a map represents and is sometimes called relative size.

Graduated Symbol maps

Maps that use symbols of different sizes to indicate different amounts of something.

Isoline Maps

Maps using lines that connect points of equal value to depict variations in the data across space.

Locator Maps

Maps for illustrations and advertisements used in books showing specific locations mentioned in text.

Map projection

The process of showing a curved surface on a flat surface.

Mental Maps

Maps that people create in their minds based on their own experience and knowledge.

Mercator Map Projection

A map projection used for navigation that accurately shows direction.

Nonspatial Model

A model illustrating theories and concepts using words, graphs, or tables.

Patterns

General arrangements of things being studied.

Peters Projection

A map projection used for spatial distributions related to area, where sizes of landmasses are accurate but shapes are inaccurate, especially near the poles.

Perceptual regions

Also known as vernacular regions, defined by the informal sense of place that people ascribe to them (EX: 'the South,' 'the Middle East,' upstate New York).

Physical Maps

Maps showing and labeling natural features, such as mountains, rivers, and deserts.

Plat Maps

Maps showing and labeling property lines and details of ownership.

Political Maps

Maps that show and label human-created boundaries and designations, such as countries, states, cities, and capitals.

Processes

The repeated sequences of events that create patterns.

Reference Maps

Maps designed for people to refer to for general information about places.

Regionalization

The process geographers use to divide and categorize space into smaller areal units.

Road Maps

A type of map that shows and labels highways, streets, and alleys.

Robinson Map Projection

A map projection used for general purpose with no major distortion.

Scale

The ratio between the size of things in the real world and the size of those same things on the map.

Scale of the data

Differs from cartographic or geographic scale, referring to the extent of the data itself (Ex: global scale = entire global).

Spatial Model

A model that looks like a stylized map and illustrates theories about spatial distributions.

Subregions

Smaller areas into which geographers divide regions.

Thematic maps

Maps that show spatial aspects of information or of a phenomena.

Topographic maps

A type of isoline map popular with hikers, showing points of equal elevation on the map that depicts surface features.

Qualitative Data

Information not usually represented by numbers but collected as interviews, documents archives, descriptions, and visual observations.

Quantitative Data

Information that can be measured and recorded using numbers.