Spatial Approach

considers the arrangement of the phenomena being studied across the surface of the Earth.

Space

the area between two or more phenomena or things.

Location

identifies where something is using a grid system or in relation to something else.

Place

refers to the specific physical and human characteristics of a location.

Region

A group of places in the same area that share a characteristic.

Site

characteristics at the immediate location. For example, things like soil, climate, human infrastructure, physical features, etc.

Situation

refers to the relative location and connectivity of the location.

Sense of Place

the feeling an individual has towards a place based on their personal beliefs, opinions, and perception.

Toponyms

Place Names.

Time-Space Compression

shrinking of ‘time distance’ or relative distance due to increased methods of communication and transportation.

Spatial Interaction

contact, movement, and flow of things between locations

Flow

pattern and movement of ideas, people, products, or other phenomena.

Friction of Distance

indicates that when things are further apart, they tend to be less connected.

Distance Decay

concept that as distance increases, the intensity of the phenomena or interaction decreases.

Patterns

general arrangement of things

Distribution

the way phenomena is spread out over an area

Spatial Association

matching patterns of distribution

Human Environment Interaction

the connection and exchange between humans and the natural world.

Natural Resources

items which occur in the natural environment that people can use.

Renewable Natural Resources

resources that theoretically can not be depleted by human use.

Non-Renewable Natural Resources

resources that are limited and can be depleted by human use over time.

Sustainability

an idea in which humans use resources in ways that allows their future use all while minimizing negative impact on the environment.

Land Use

study of how land is utilized, modified and organized.

Built Environment

physical artifacts humans have built which shape the physical geography of the area

Cultural Landscape

Anything built by humans

Cultural Ecology

study of how humans adapt to the environment.

Environmental Determinism

Belief that climate and landforms are the most important factor shaping human behavior while ignoring the influence of culture.

Possibilism

Theory which acknowledges the limits of the affects climate and landforms have on human behavior and focuses more on the role that human culture plays.

Geographic Scale

refers to the area of the world being studied. Examples are the few words below.

Global Scale

Area shown: whole world.

World Regional Scale

Area shown: Multiple countries of the world.

National Scale

Area shown: One country of the world.

National Regional Scale

Area shown: A portion of one country

Local Scale

Area shown: A province, state, county, or neighborhood.

Aggregation

when geographers organize data into different Geographic Scales.

False Conclusion

inaccurate generalizations

Regions

defined amounts of area that have boundaries.

Formal Region

regions united by one or more traits such as physical boundaries, political boundaries, cultural and economic boundaries.

Functional Regions

united by networks of communication and transportation, like airports, pizza places, supermarkets, train stations, etc.

Perceptual regions

defined by the informal sense of place people ascribe to them.

Subregions

smaller areas inside of existing regions.