Term
|
Definition
| A type of thematic map that transforms space such that the political unit with the greatest value for some type of data is represented by the largest relative area. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The science of map making. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A thematic map that uses tones or colors to represent spatial data as average values per unit area. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Maps that put a cone over the Earth and keep distance intact but lose directional qualities. Best for examining large land masses at the middle latitudes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Maps that show true direction but lose distance. Also known as Mercator maps and useful for sea navigation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Thematic maps that use points to show the precise locations of specific observation or occurrences, such as crimes, car accidents, or births. Good for showing density. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The line of longitude that marks where each new day begins, centered on the 180th meridian. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A relatively small ratio between map units and ground units. They usually have high resolution and cover much smaller regions than small scale maps. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The angular distance north or south of the equator, defined by lines of latitude, or parallels. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The angular distance east or west of the prime meridian, defined by lines of longitude, or meridians. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A mathematical method that involves transferring the earth’s sphere onto a flat surface. This term can also be used to describe the type of map that results from the process of projecting. All map projections have distortions in either area, direction, distance, or shape. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An image of a portion of the earth’s surface that an individual creates in his or her mind. They can include knowledge of actual locations and relationships between locations as well as personal perceptions and preferences of particular places. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A true conformal cylindrical map projection. It is particularly useful for sea navigation because it maintains accurate direction. They are famous for their distortion in area that makes landmasses at the poles appear oversized. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An imaginary line passing though the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, which marks the 0° line of longitude. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The ratio between the size of an area on a map and the actual size of that same area on the earth’s surface. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Map scale ratio in which the ratio of units on a map to units on the earth is quite small. These maps usually depict large areas. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Maps that show true direction and examine the Earth from one point, usually from a pole or polar direction. Also known as an Azimuthal map, and used most often for air navigation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A type of map that displays one or more variables – such as population, or income level within a specific area. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Regions where anything and everything inside has the same characteristics or phenomena. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Regions that can be defined around a central point or node; they are most intense around the center but lose their characteristics as the distance from the focal point increases. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A region that exists primarily in the individual’s mind or feelings. Also known as a Vernacular Region. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A concept used to link different places together based on any parameter the geographer chooses. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The degree of economic, social, cultural, or political connection between two places. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The spread of a disease, innovation, or cultural traits through direct contact with another person or another place. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Describes the spread or movement of a principle or idea. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The decrease in interaction between two phenomena, places, or people as the distance between them increases. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The spread of ideas, innovations, fashion, or other phenomena to surrounding areas through contact and exchange. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A measure of how much absolute distance affects the interaction between two places. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A mathematical formula that describes the level of interaction between two places, based on the size of their populations and their distance from each other. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A type of diffusion in which the object being diffused spreads in a pattern where the more influential people or places get it first and then it is passed on to people or places of lowers status. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The term used to describe the physical spread of people moving from one place to another. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Concerned with how linked a place is to the outside world, this theme of geography deals mainly with area, because of how well an area is connected to the world determines its importance. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| When the object being diffused is changed by its adopters to fit in with their own cultural norms. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The idea that distance between some places is actually shrinking as technology enables more rapid communication and increased interaction between those places. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The exact position of an object or place, measured within the spatial coordinates of a grid system. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The position of a place relative to places around it. For example, Virginia is on the east coast of the U.S. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The physical and cultural characteristics of a place, described by local relief, landforms. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The relative location of a place in relation to the physical and cultural characteristics of the surrounding area and the connections and interdependencies with other areas. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Cultural attributes, built by man, of an area often to describe a place (i.e.-buildings, theaters, places of worship). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Describe how often an object occurs within a given area or space; most often used in terms of population |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Where things are located and how far they are from other things. |
|
|
Term
| Environmental Determinism |
|
Definition
| States that human behaviors are a direct result of their environment. This philosophy gave some people the justification to believe that Europeans were smarter than other peoples, because they live in a more temperate climate. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The description of the Earth’s surface and the people and processes that shape those landscapes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The study of human characteristics on the landscape, including population, agriculture, urbanization, and culture. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Describing how objects are organized in a space and can be anything from triangular to linear or even three dimensional. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The idea that suggests that humans are not a product of their environment and possess skills necessary to change their environment to satisfy their needs. This approach, people can determine their own outcomes without regard to location. |
|
|
