AP Geo Vocab - A1

Absolute Location

A precise position on Earths surface

Accessibility

The degree of ease with which it is possible to reach a certain location from other locations. It can vary from place to place and can be measured

Cartogram

A map that distorts the geographic shape of an area in order to show the size of a specific variable; the larger the area on a cartogram, the larger the value of the underlying variable

Cartography

The science of making maps

Chloropleth Maps

A thematic map that shows data aggregated for a specific geographic area, often using different colors to represent different values

Circular Distribution

Phenomena are equally spaced from a central point, forming a circle, such as distribution of the homes of people who shop at a particular store

Density

The frequency of something in a given space

Diffusion

The pattern by which a phenomenon such as the movement of people, or their ideas, technologies, or preferences, spreads from a particular location through space or time

Dispersed

The spacing of people within geographic population boundaries

Distance Decay (friction of distance)

The diminished importance and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon with increasing distance from its origin

Distortion

The misrepresentation of shape, area, distance, or direction of or between geographic features when compared to their true measurements on the curved surface of the earth

Dot Density Map

A map that uses dots to represent objects or counts; the dot can represent one object ( a one-to-one dot density map), or it can represent a number of objects (a one-to-many dot density map)

Geographical Information Systems (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

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A system of 24 satellites that orbit Earth twice daily and transmit radio signals Earthward; the basis for many map-based apps that provide directions on how to get from one place to another

Globalization

The process by which business and other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

The time in the zone encompassing the prime meridian, or 0” longitude

Homogeneous

of the same or similar kind or nature

Homolosine

is an equal-area pseudocylindrical projection for world maps

Human Geography

The branch of geography that studies how human activity affects or is influenced by Earths surface

International Date Line

An arc that for the most part follows 180 degree longitude, although it deviates in several places to avoid dividing land area. When the International Date Line is crossed heading west (towards Asia), the calendar moves ahead one day

Isoline Maps

A map that uses lines to connect points of equal value for a specific variable. The lines represent a continuous field of data, such as elevation, temperature, or pressure.

Large-scale maps

Shows a smaller area of land in greater detail

Latitude

The (invisible) horizontal lines circling Earth parallel to the equator; latitude is the degree of distance north or south of the equator, which is at 0 degrees, as far the poles, which are at 90 degrees

Linear Distribution

A settlement pattern in which buildings are arranged in a line, often along a road or river; limited to areas where legal systems dictated that property lines must be rectanglar

Longitude

The (invisible) vertical lines on Earth’s surface that mark imaginary circles connecting the North Pole with the South Pole

Mercator Projection

A map projection that is useful for navigation because the lines connecting points on the map represent the true compass direction; however, landmasses become increasingly distorted the farther away they are from the equator

Non-Renewable natural resources

Natural resources that are available on Earth, quantities and will eventually be used up

Patterns

The arrangement or distribution of geographical features or phenomena across space

Physical Maps

primarily shows landforms like deserts, mountains, and plains

Political Maps

A map that shows the spatial organization of the countries and territories on the entire globe at a given point in time. Borders and stuff