Unit 1 Thinking Geographically Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary list based on Ron Bailey's Unit 1 definitions for Geography.

Absolute distance

Describing how far a distance is in quantitative units of distance (miles, kilometers, etc.).

Projection

A method of taking a 3D object and putting in on a 2D plane.

Reference Map

Maps that emphasizes the location of places (without data attached).

Relative distance

Describing the distance between locations using qualitative terms or non-traditional measurements of distance (one hour north of).

Spatial distribution

Arrangement of a phenomenon across the Earth's surface.

Spatial Interaction

The flow of goods, people, or information among places, in response to localized supply and demand.

Thematic maps

A map that displays not only locations but maps a topic or theme of information with the location.

Case study

Detailed observations that provide insight into a group of people in a specific area.

Census

An official count of individuals in a population (in the USA, it happens every 10 years).

GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

Software that captures, manages, analyzes, and displays data that is collected geographically.

GPS (Global Positioning System)

A system that measures distance from a series of satellites to determine location on the planet.

Qualitative data

Subjective information that is opinion based, is usually descriptive, and often expressed as text.

Quantitative data

Objective data that is fact based, usually measurable and usually expressed in numbers.

Remote sensing

The science of making measurements of the earth using sensors on airplanes or satellites.

Geospatial

Relating to data that is specific to one location.

Absolute location

Describing where something is using the exact site on an objective coordinate system.

Distance decay

The idea that the interaction between two places declines as the distance between them increases.

Friction of distance

A metaphor that explains that effort must be used to overcome distance.

Relative location

Describing the position of a place as compared to (or relative to!) another landmark.

Time-space compression

The idea that the world feels smaller than it used to because of increased technology in transportation and communication.

Environmental determinism

The belief that a physical environment is THE reason that some societies are strong while others are weaker.

Environmental possibilism

The belief that a physical environment plays a role in the development of a society, but is NOT the ONLY factor at work.

Natural resource

A physical material constituting part of Earth that people need and value.

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.

Scale

The relationship between the distance on the ground and the corresponding distance on a specific map - also a concept describing how "zoomed in" you are while studying a geographic trait.

Scale of Analysis

How zoomed in or out you are when looking at geographic data.

Formal region

A region that is based quantitative data data (that can be documented or measured) - all government areas are this because they share a government.

Functional region

A region based around a node or focal point - terrestrial radio broadcasts are an example of this.

Region

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

Vernacular region (or perceptual region)

An area that shares a common qualitative characteristic, it's only a region because people believe it's a region.

Density

The number of things divided by the measurement of area.

Culture

The social heritage of a group or their way of life - major components are language, religion, ethnicity, food, and gender roles.

Cultural Landscape

The visible changes that humans make to the environment including buildings, crops, and signs.

Contagious diffusion

When a cultural trend is transmitted from person to person from an original source to numerous others, similar to a virus or viral video.

Diffusion

A feature or idea that is spread from its originating place, outward - the 3 types are contagious, hierarchical, and stimulus diffusion.

Expansion diffusion

A trend is spread from its originating place, outward.

Hierarchical diffusion

The spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places.

Relocation diffusion

The physical spread of a feature or trait by people migrating.

Stimulus diffusion

When a feature or idea spreads, but is changed by those adopting the idea.

Globalization

Worldwide integration and development which results in the expansion of international cultural, economic, and political activities.

Hearth

A source of culture (where a culture began).

Toponym

A place name.

Uneven development

Unequal distribution of people, resources, and wealth within a region.

Gravity Model of Spatial Interaction

$\frac{\text{population}_1 \times \text{population}_2}{\text{distance}^2}$ - the interconnectedness of 2 places depends on their distance and population.

Infrastructure

The basic facilities and installations that help a government or community run, including roads, schools, phone lines, sewage treatment plants and power generation.

Temporal

Relating to time.

Capitalism

An economic system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled mainly by private owners for profit, rather than by the state - limited government control of the economy.

Cartography

The science of drawing maps.

cold war

A state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats short of open warfare.

Cold War

The state of political hostility that existed between the Soviet Union and the US and their allies from 1945 to 1990.

Communism

An economic system in which all (or nearly all) trade and industry are collectively owned by the state and not by individual citizens - near total control of the economy by the government.

Concentration

How closely packed together objects are.

Network

A chain of communication, transportation, or ideas that connects places.

Socialism

An economic system in which trade and industry are partially collectively owned by the state and partially privately owned by individual citizens - partial control of the economy by the government.

Spatial

A word for describing how things are organized in space.