Human Geography Terms Unit 1

Data aggregation

A word used to describe the collection of data for maps

Spatial perspective

A way of thinking about how and why physical features or processes are positioned in geographic space

Time-Distance Decay

The effect of distance on cultural or spatial interactions

Absolute direction

relative to a fixed frame of reference and always point in the same direction, regardless of their location

Map scale

The ratio of a distance on the map to the corresponding distance on the ground

Absolute distance

Describing the distance from one point to another using units of measurements

Relative distance

A measure of the social, cultural and economic relatedness or connectivity between two places

Relative direction

Specific directions that can be found by looking at the sun or looking at a full picture of earth

Isoline map

lines drawn on a map connecting data points of the same value

Topographic map

A map mainly used to show the physical appearance of a specific area. Possibly shows mountains, elevation, rivers, and lakes

Reference map

a type of map that portrays the geographic pattern of a particular subject matter in a geographic area

Thematic map

a type of map that portrays the geographic pattern of a particular subject matter in a geographic area (dot distribution)

Chloropleth map

A map that uses color and hues to compare different parts of a region.

cartogram

A map that distorts in a way that makes areas with a stronger characteristic larger than areas with less of that characteristic (bloating)

Map projection

Different ways to show what everything on Earth looks like. Some map projections are obstructed and inaccurate

robinson map projection

mercator projection

a map projection of the earth onto a cylinder; areas appear greater the farther they are from the equator

Census

an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals

Fieldwork

practical work conducted by a researcher in the natural environment, rather than in a laboratory or office

Satellite imagery

images of Earth collected by imaging satellites operated by governments and businesses around the world

Cultural Landscape

Human imprint on the physical geography, what humans have changed in an area

Time-space compression

A reduction in the time it takes for something to reach another place

Diffusion

the spread of people, things, ideas, cultural practices, disease, technology, weather, and other factors from place to place

Expansion Diffusion

Spread of a feature from one place to another in a snow-balling process

Hierarchical Diffusion

Spread of an ideas from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places

Contagious Diffusion

Rapid and widespread diffusion of a characteristic throughout the population

Stimulus Diffusion

When a characteristic spreads throughout a population while changing and adapting to become more desirable (mcdonalds

Relocation Diffusion

Spread of an idea through physical movement of people from one place to another

Friction of Distance

The pattern that characteristics become less common when they are further from the origin (starbucks coffee locations)

Cultural ecology

The belief that humans adapted and formed relationships due to the changing environment around them (beach residents sterotyped as "chill")

Natural resources

Enities or items that are sourced from the environments on Earth. They are completely made by nature

Environmental determinism

The pattern that shows that human cultures and movements are determined by the type of environment around them

Possibilism

human events and behavior is influenced by other humans and not the environment (opposite of environmental determinism)

Global Scale

A type of reference that shows information from all of the continents and the entire planet as a whole

Regional Scale

A reference that shows information from a specific region. Usually two or more countries are visible.

National Scale

A reference that shows a single entire country

Local Scale

A reference that shows a specific area inside of a country

Region

Areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics, human impact characteristics, and the interaction of humanity and the environment

Formal Region

A region determined by factual information, that area all shares that characteristic

Border Zone

When two regions with different cultures connect at an intersection and create a new culture out of it

Functional Region

A region that centers around a characteristic, the further away you are from that characteristic, the less common/known it will be

Perceptual/Vernacular Region

A subjective area that can change from person to person. Usually associated with a characteristic (mental map)

Metropolitan Area

A core area containing a large population nucleus, together with adjacent communities that have a high degree of economic and social integration with that core (Philadelphia with surrounding towns of West Chester, Pottstown, Royersford, etc)