Unit 1 Thinking Geographically Vocabulary

A map that shows geographic locations on Earth's surface, such as the locations of cities or oceans.

A graphical representation of physical locations of landmarks or markers.

A map that shows the spatial organization of the countries and territories on the entire globe at a given point in time.

A map that emphasizes the spatial patterns of geographic statistics or attributes, and sometimes the relationships between them.

A map that distorts the geographic shape of an area in order to show the size of a specific variable; the larger the area this map, the larger the value of the underlying variable.

A thematic map that shows data aggregated for a specific geographic area, often using different colors to represent different values.

A map that uses dots to represent objects or counts; the dot can represent one object (a one-to-one dot density map) or it can represent a number of objects (a one-to-many dot density map).

A type of thematic map that uses map symbols that vary in size to represent a quantitative variable.

A map that uses symbols (such as circles or dots) of different sizes to represent numerical values.

A personal representation of a portion of Earth's surface.

A map projection in which the surface features of a globe are depicted as if projected onto a cylinder typically positioned with the globe centered horizontally inside the cylinder.

A map projection in which the surface features of a globe are depicted as if projected onto a cone typically positioned so as to rest on the globe along a parallel (a line of equal latitude).

A map projection that transforms points from a spheroid or sphere onto a tangent or secant plane.

A map projection used for world maps largely in the late 16th and early 17th century. It is neither conformal nor equal-area but instead offers a compromise presentation.

On a map, a line that connects or links different places that share a common or equal value, such as elevation.

The distance that can be measured with a standard unit of length, such as a foot, yard, mile, or kilometer.

A measurement of the level of social, cultural, or economic similarity between places despite their absolute distance from each other.

Corresponds to the direction on a compass: north south, east, and west and combinations such as northeast and southwest.

A direction that can be described as position, such as in front of or behind, to the left or to the right.

The placement or arrangement of objects on Earth's surface; also includes the space between those objects.

The method of grouping a set of spatial objects into groups called "clusters".

The arrangement of a phenomenon across the Earth's surface and a graphical display of such an arrangement is an important tool in geographical and environmental statistics.

Distance above sea level.

Discipline concerned with the collection, distribution, storage, analysis, processing, presentation of geographic data or geographic information.

Data and information having an implicit or explicit association with a location relative to Earth.

A software application for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth's surface; allows the rapid manipulation of geospatial data for problem-solving and research.

A system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning.

The scanning of Earth by satellite or high-flying aircraft in order to obtain information about it.

Patterns and processes at different scales that reveal variations in, and different interpretations of, data.

A precise position on Earth's surface.

The position of one place (or person) in relation to the position of another place (or person).

The areas we occupy as humans; it has no value until the people who occupy make it their own.

How we modify space based on who we are as a group of people.

The geometric or regular arrangement of something in an area.

The effect that humans have on their environment and the effect that the environment has on humans.

The interaction between two locales declines as the distance between them increases.

The decreasing distance between places, as measured by travel time or cost; often summarized by the phrase "the world is shrinking".

The decline in travel time between geographical locations as a result of transportation, communication, and related technological and social innovations.

Mobility of people, goods, and ideas across the surface of the Earth. Region.

The process by which businesses and other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

A set of interconnected nodes without a center.

The group of practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs.

The total value of goods and services, including income received from abroad, produced by the residents of a country within a specific time period, usually one year.

It may include wealth, religion, family size, and structure, education level, population density, etc.

A natural resource is considered a renewable resource if nature can reproduce it within a human lifetime.

Materials or substances that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.

The belief that the physical environment is the dominant force shaping cultures and that humanity is a passive product of its physical surroundings.

The belief that any physical environment offers a number of possible ways for a society to develop and that humans can find ways to overcome environmental challenges.

A geographical unit based on one or more common characteristics or functions.

Describing an area in terms of its individual characteristics, such as a shared language or cultural identity, that make that place unique.

A geographical area inhabited by people who have one or more traits in common.

A geographic area that has been organized to function politically, socially, culturally, or economically as one unit.

A geographic area that is perceived to exist by its inhabitants, based on the widespread acceptance and use of a unique regional name.

Transitional and often contested and overlapping boundaries.