AP Human Geography Vocab Unit 1

scale

the relationship between the portion of Earth being studied and Earth as a whole

GIS

A computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data.

Expansion Diffusion

spread of a feature

from one place to another in an additive

process ex. Hierarchical diffusion Contagious diffusion Stimulus diffusion

large scale map

Maps that cover smaller areas with greater detail

Region

an area of Earth defined by one or more

distinctive characteristics Patterns of activity.

Geospatial Technology

Geographic information systems (GIS), Satelite navigation systems (GPS), remote sensing, and online mapping/ visualizations

Human Environment Interaction

the connection and exchange between humans and the natural world

small scale map

A map that shows a larger area without much detail

ex of nature and society

Spatial information can come from…

Written accounts, field observations, media reports, travel narratives, policy documents, personal interviews, landscape analysis, and photographic interpretation

Formal Region

An area within which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics Common language, an economic activity (a crop), or environmental property (climate).

ex. India

Reference Maps

Maps that show the absolute location of places and used for navigation.

GPS

A system that determines the precise position of something on Earth through a series of satellites, tracking stations, and receivers.

absolute location

The exact position of an object or place, measured within the spatial coordinates of a grid system ex. Address GPS coordinates (latitude + longitude)

relative location

where a place is located in relation to another place ex. The Center is between the pond

and the CLMS Starbucks is next to Patinella's

Chicken

remote sensing

The acquisition of data about Earth's surface from a satellite orbiting the planet or other long-distance methods.

Functional Region

Organized around a node or focal point, Characteristic chosen dominates at center Diminishes in importance outward, Tied together by transportation, communication, economic, or functional associations.

ex. Wifi hot spot

Thematic

Map

a map that shows a particular theme, or topic. Tools of Communication

Types of Spatial Information

Geographical data, census data, and satellite imaging

Scale of a map

the proportion that relates the dimensions of the map to the dimensions of the area it represents; also, variable-sized units of geographical analysis from the local scale to the regional scale to the global scale

global scale

the scale of the world, in a global setting.

Uses for spacial information

Personal, buisness, organizational, governmental, and decision making

Vernacular Region

An area that people believe exists as part of their cultural identity Informal sense of place, Not from scientific models, Mental maps.

ex. The South

Map

A two-dimensional, or flat, representation of Earth's surface or a portion of it.

satellite navigation

a form of position finding using radio transmissions from satellites with sophisticated on board automatic equipment.

Connection

relationships among people and objects across the barrier of space

Diffusion

the process by which a characteristic spreads across space from one place to

another

Online Mapping

the compilation and publication of Web sites that provide exhaustive graphical and text information in the form of maps and databases.

Cultural Landscape

a geographic area that includes cultural resources and natural resources associated with the interactions between nature and human behavior.

Cartography

science or art of making maps

Examples of what a GIS can do

Shows maps over the percentage of millenials living at home, and it can show which counties in the US are the most populated

regional scale

Interactions occurring within a region, in a regional setting.

National scale

as viewed across the whole country

Cultural Landscape Approach

Initiated in France by Paul Vidal de la Blanche (1845-1918) and Jean Bruhnes (1869-1930) Adopted later by American geographers Carl Sauer (1889-1975) and Robert Platt (1880-1950).

Purposes of Maps

1. Reference tool

2. Communication tool

Media reports

articles published by news papers or magazines

Hearth

a place from which an innovation originates

GPS

Global positioning system that is used to find absolute location

What is Projection?

The method of transferring locations on Earth's surface to a map.

hierarchal diffusion

the spread of an idea from

persons or nodes of authority

or power to other persons or

places

Travel Narrative

Writings that describe either the author's journey to a distant and alien place, or writings which discuss the customs, habits and wildlife of a distant place. Ex: "Oroonoko" and "Gullilver's Travels"

GIS

A computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data.

state scale

as viewed across a state within the United States

Spatial Perspective

Way of identifying, explaining, and predicting the human and physical patterns in space and the interconnectedness of various spaces.

local scale

A spatial scale that is essentially equivalent to a community.

Spatial data

Identifies the geographic location of features and boundaries on Earth, such as natural or constructed features, oceans, and more

Geographic Scale

The scale at which a geographer analyzes a particular phenomenon, for example: global, national, census tract, neighborhood, etc. Generally, the finer the scale of analysis, the richer the level of detail in the findings.

Why are Maps Distorted?

It's Impossible to transfer a projection of a spherical shape on a flat surface without distortion.

policy documents

handbooks, operating procedures, cumbersome, codes of ethics

Contagious Diffusion

The rapid, widespread

diffusion of a characteristic

throughout the population

Types of Thematic Maps

point distribution maps, choropleth maps, isoline maps.

Stimulus diffusion

The spread of an underlying

principle even though a

characteristic itself apparently

fails to diffuse

personal interviews

direct, face-to-face conversation between an interviewer and the respondent

Regional Geography

The study of geographic regions.

Variations in Data

Caused by using different scales to collect info

Census data

Geospatial data collected through the quantification of a population

different interpretations of data

Caused by using different scale to make conclusions

Why is spacial data important?

It shows our surrounding and it helps us with probelems we come across, like directions, or construction.

Idiographic

the features that are unique to a particular place or region, such as its history or ethnic composition.

Absolute Distance

Exact measurement of the physical space between two places.

Landscape Analysis

the task of defining and describing landscapes

Relocation Diffusion

The spread of an idea

through physical

movement of people

from one place to

another

Globalization

Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope.

Nomothetic

concepts that are universally applicable.

Absolute Location

The exact position of a place on the earth's surface.

Photographic Interpretation

The act of examining photographic images for the purpose of identifying objects and judging their significance

Place

A specific point on Earth distinguished by a particular characteristic

Location

the position that something occupies on Earth's surface

negative side of globalization

wipes out entire economic systems and the accompanying culture

Relative Distance

Approximate measurement of the physical space between two places.

positive side of globalization

Globalization and free trade spur economic growth and create lower prices

Relative Location

The position of a place in relation to another place

Three ways to identify location

place name, site, situation

Types of Globalization

economic, cultural, and political

Meridian

a line of longitude

Flows

a steady, continuous

stream of something. ex.immigrants from one