Geography: Maps, Spatial Concepts, and Scales - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on maps, spatial concepts, and regional analysis.

Physical Geography

The branch of geography dealing with natural features, processes, and patterns on Earth (landforms, climate, vegetation, etc.).

Human Geography

The study of human activities, cultures, economies, and how they relate to the environment.

Reference Map

A general-purpose map showing locations, boundaries, and landmarks for orientation.

Thematic Map

A map designed to illustrate a specific variable or theme across an area.

Choropleth Map

A thematic map that uses colors or shading of predefined areas to represent data values.

Dot Distribution Map

A map using dots to show the presence or frequency of a phenomenon, with each dot representing a quantity.

Graduated Symbol Map

A map where symbols vary in size to represent different data magnitudes.

Isoline Map

A map with continuous lines joining equal values (isotherms, isobars) to show gradients.

Topographic Map

A map depicting elevation and terrain using contour lines and relief shading.

Cartogram

A map that distorts geographic space to reflect a data variable (e.g., population).

Cartographic Scale

The relationship between distance on a map and actual distance on the ground.

Small-Scale Maps

Maps that cover large areas with relatively little detail (e.g., 1:1,000,000).

Absolute Location

The precise position of a place on Earth's surface, given by coordinates (latitude and longitude).

Relative Location

The position of a place relative to other places or features.

Field Observations

Data collected in the field through direct measurement and observation.

Remote Sensing

Collecting information about the Earth's surface from a distance using sensors (satellites, aircraft).

GPS (Global Positioning System)

A satellite-based system providing precise location and time information worldwide.

GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

A computer-based system for capturing, storing, analyzing, and presenting geographic data.

Space

The physical extent through which objects exist; one of the core spatial concepts.

Location

The particular position of something on the Earth's surface.

Place

A location with meaning or character ascribed by people.

Site

The internal characteristics of a place, such as climate, water resources, topography.

Situation

The external relationships of a place to other places and its surroundings.

Sense of Place

The emotional or cultural attachment people have to a place.

Toponyms

The names given to places and geographic features.

Time-Space Compression

The shrinking of time and distance between places due to technology and transportation improvements.

Friction of Distance

The concept that distance imposes a cost or effort that affects interaction.

Distance Decay

Decrease in interaction between places as distance increases.

Pattern

The arrangement or spatial organization of phenomena.

Human-Environment Interaction

The ways humans modify, adapt to, and depend on the environment.

Sustainability

The use of resources in a way that preserves them for future generations.

Land Use

The management and modification of land for human activities.

Built Environment

The human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity.

Cultural Landscape

The landscape shaped by human culture, practices, and identity.

Environmental Determinism

The belief that the physical environment determines human culture and development.

Possibilism

The idea that humans can overcome environmental constraints and choose among alternatives.

Global Scale

A worldwide perspective on processes and patterns.

World Scale

Another term for global scale; same concept.

National Scale

A level of analysis at the country level.

Regional Scale

A level of analysis within a defined region; subnational.

Local Scale

The smallest geographic unit; neighborhood or town.

Region

An area defined by common features, often larger than a town but smaller than a country.

Formal Region

A region defined by measurable, uniform characteristics (e.g., climate, language).

Functional Region

A region organized around a core area with a set of linkages or interactions.

Vernacular Region

A region perceived and identified by people based on cultural identity or perception.