Unit 1 AP Human Geography Vocab

Absolute Distance

The exact distance between 2 points

Relative Distance

Using time and direction

Projection

How a map is put on a piece of paper

Reference map

Displays general information/ navigation

Spatial Distrbution

How information is spread out

Spatial Interaction

Connections, movement, and the flow of things between places

Thematic Map

What is it like there? It has a theme

Census

Official count or survey, the most reliable way data is gathered

GIS (Geographic Information System)

Computer system that stores, analyzes, and displays information/data

GPS

Absolute Location (Your exact location)

Remote Sensing

Cameras or sensors mounted on aircraft and satellites which collect digital images

Qualitative Data

Data representing information not in numbers

Quantitative data

Data expressed as numbers

Absolute Location

Perisce spot where something is located

Distance Decay

The farther away, the less connection

Relative location

Description of where something is in relation to something else

Time space compression

The idea that the world is getting smaller because of increased technology, increasing connectivity

Environmental Determinism

Belief that climate and landforms shape human behavior and development

Possibilism

Focuses on the human ability to adapt to their natural environment

Sustainability

Ability to meet present needs without affecting future generations

Map scale

Relationship of a features size on a map compared to actual size on earth; Ratio/Fraction- 1:24000

Scale of Analysis

Local, regional, national, and global

Formal Region

ESPN, area where everyone shares one or more common traits Ex: States, Voting

What does ESPN stand for?

Economic, Social, Political, ENvironmental

Functional Region

Nodal Region, organize around a center-point, activity that takes place in that region Ex: airport, Pizza delivery

Region

Areas that share both human and physical characteristics

Vernacular Region

Area that is based on people’s perception

Contagious diffusion

A trait that spreads rapidly, Ex: News, Sickness, Ideas

Diffusion

The spread of information and ideas

Hierarchical Diffusion

Spread of culture from the top down, trends that start with celebrity’s and reach regular people

Relocation Diffusion

Migrant diffusion, people move and carry their traits with them, Ex: language, religion, food

Stimulus Diffusion

When culture and ideas spread and evolve as they spread Ex: McDonald’s

Globalization

Increased connection between different regions across the globe

Placelessness

A location without a sense of place

Type of reference maps

Political, physical, road map

Thematic maps

Choropleth, Dot-Density, Graduated/symbol, cartogram, Isoline

Cartogram Map

Sizes of countries shown to a specific variable

Isoline Map/Topographic

Shows weather and elevation

Mercator Map

Good sense of direction, Distorted at the poles

Peter’s equal area map

Area of landmasses accurate, shapes inaccurate

Robinson Map

No major distortions, all aspects are slightly distorted