Unit 1: Maps & Spatial Concepts

• What type of map displays the spatial distribution of a phenomenon?

  Thematic map
• How does a cartogram map distort geographic shapes?

  To display differences in data
• What does a graduated symbol map use to visualize data?

  Graduated symbols
• What is the primary function of a choropleth map?

  To visualize data with different colors
• What does a dot distribution map visualize?

  The location of certain data points
• What does an isoline map use to depict data?

  Lines
• What is absolute location?


  The precise spot on Earth expressed as coordinates
• How is relative distance defined?


  The distance between locations relative to time, cost, effort, etc.
• What is absolute distance?


  The exact measurement of space between locations
• What does relative location describe?


  Where something is in relation to other things
• What are examples of absolute direction?


  North, South, East, West
• What are examples of relative direction?


  Left, right, across the bridge
• The concentration of people, activities, or phenomena in a specific area or region: cluster
• 
  

  • A Settlement Pattern where people or structures are spread out over a large area, far apart: Dispersed
• • - A compromise between Peters and Mercator Map projections, distorts all parts of the map : Robinson Pattern
• - Challenges Eurocentric Mercator projection by depicting continents according to the true size of their landmass: Peters Projection
• • latitude and longitude lines meet at right angles and thus represents true direction, farther south/north,(toward the poles)=distorted
• The extent of an area; can be expressed in an absolute and relative Sense: Space
• - Refers to human and physical characteristics of an area: Place
• • Describing the location of a place relative to its surroundings : Situation
• • Describing the characteristics of a location, such as climate, landforms, structures, etc: Site
• • - The perceived Shrinking in time/ distance between locations caused by greater connectivity : Time-Space Compression
• • The diminishing in importance of a phenomena as distance from its origin increases: Distance Decay
• • - Maps that refer to general information : Reference Map