Ap Human Geo Unit 1 practice

Mercator projection

Preserves direction; distorts size near poles (e.g., Greenland looks huge).

Robinson projection

Balances size and shape distortion; good for world maps.

map scale

The relationship between distance on a map and distance on Earth.

small-scale map

Shows large area, little detail (e.g., world map).

large-scale map

Shows small area, lots of detail (e.g., city map).

cartography

The science/art of making maps.

Choropleth map

Uses shading or color to show data.

reference maps

Show general geographic features.

thematic maps

Show specific data (population, climate, etc.).

place

A specific location with unique characteristics.

connection

Relationships among people/objects across space.

spatial analysis

Examining how things are arranged and interact across space.

local scale of analysis

Studying a small area (e.g., neighborhood crime patterns).

national scale of analysis

Studying a whole country (e.g., U.S. migration trends).

distortion in flat maps

Flattening Earth changes shape, size, distance, or direction.

distortion on large vs. small scale maps

Large scale = little distortion; small scale = lots of distortion.

globe

The best representation of Earth; shows Earth without distortion.

GIS

Geographic Information System; stores, analyzes, displays geographic data.

remote sensing

Collecting data from satellites/aircraft (e.g., deforestation).

GPS

Global Positioning System; gives precise location.

absolute location

Exact coordinates (latitude/longitude).

relative location

Compared to other places.

toponym

The name of a place.

site

Physical characteristics of place.

situation

Location relative to other places.

latitude

East-west lines that measure north-south; equator = 0°.

longitude

North-south lines that measure east-west; Prime Meridian = 0°.

GMT

Greenwich Mean Time; time at the Prime Meridian.

International Date Line

180° longitude; crossing it changes the calendar day.

region

An area defined by one or more shared characteristics.

formal region

Uniform trait throughout (e.g., Sahara Desert).

functional (nodal) region

Organized around a center (e.g., a newspaper delivery area).

Vernacular (perceptual) region

Based on people's beliefs/identity (e.g., 'the South').

Functional region

Chicago metro area.

Vernacular region

Silicon Valley.

Cultural landscape

Visible human imprint on land (buildings, farms, roads).

Culture

Shared traits, beliefs, practices of a group.

Globalization

Increasing interconnectedness of the world.

Environmental determinism

The belief that the physical environment shapes culture and human activity.

Possibilism

The idea that humans can adapt and modify the environment to fit their needs.

Example of possibilism

Irrigation in deserts to grow crops.

Space

The physical gap between objects.

Distribution

How things are arranged in space.

Density

Frequency of something in an area.

Concentration

Spread of something (clustered vs. dispersed).

Pattern

Geometric arrangement; e.g., NYC street grid.

Why of where

The reasoning behind spatial patterns.

Mental map

A person's perception of a place.

Distance decay

Interaction decreases with distance (shopping less at a far store).

Space-time compression

Tech reduces travel/connection time (Zoom calls across continents).

Hearth

Place of origin of a cultural trait (e.g., Mesopotamia for writing).

Resource

A useful material from the environment.

Renewable resources

Replenishes naturally (solar, wind).

Nonrenewable resources

Finite (coal, oil).

Sustainability

Using resources in ways that preserve them for the future.

Panama Canal

Human-modified waterway; connects Atlantic & Pacific; critical for trade.

Types of regions

Formal, Functional (Nodal), and Vernacular (Perceptual).

Scales of analysis

Levels at which geographic data can be examined (local, regional, national, global).