Unit one

Reference Maps

Maps that provide general information for navigation and location, including political, physical, and road maps.

Political Map

A type of reference map that shows states, countries, and capitals.

Physical Map

A reference map that emphasizes natural features of the landscape.

Road Map

A type of reference map that displays highways, streets, and other transportation routes.

Thematic Maps

Maps designed to communicate specific information about a place, focusing on spatial aspects.

Choropleth Map

A thematic map that uses colors, shades, or patterns to indicate the distribution of spatial data.

Dot Density Map

A thematic map where each dot represents a specified quantity of a spatial characteristic.

Graduated/Proportional Symbol Map

A thematic map that uses varying sizes of symbols to indicate different amounts of a variable.

Cartogram

A thematic map where the sizes of countries are distorted according to a specific variable.

Isoline Map

A thematic map that uses lines to connect points of equal value, often used for weather or elevation.

Absolute Location

The exact, precise location of a place, typically given in terms of coordinates.

Relative Location

The location of a place in relation to another place.

Absolute Distance

The exact measure of distance between two locations, typically expressed in miles or kilometers.

Relative Distance

The measure of distance based on time, effort, or cost rather than exact measurements.

Absolute Direction

The exact direction defined by cardinal points (north, south, east, west).

Relative Direction

Direction based on an object's current location or orientation, such as left/right/top/bottom.

Clustering

The phenomenon of objects being close together within a defined area.

Dispersal/Distribution

The way in which something is spread out over an area.

Spatial Associations

An indication that two or more phenomena may be related or correlated with each other.

Map Projection

The process of representing the curvature of the Earth on a flat surface, which can distort spatial relationships.

S.A.D.D. in Map Projections

An acronym denoting the types of distortions in map projections: Shape, Area, Distance, Direction.

Mercator Projection

A map projection useful for navigation that preserves direction but distorts area, especially near the poles.

Peters Equal Area Projection

A map projection that accurately represents the area of landmasses but distorts their shapes.

Robinson Projection

A compromise map projection that minimizes major distortions but has slight distortions in all aspects.