Unit 1

• Reference Map


  Displays location (Navigation)
• Thematic Map


  Displays data of areas (weather)
• Dot distribution


  Uses same sized dots to represent multiple instances of the same phenomenon
• Cartogram


  Shows density by distorting regions
• Place


  • Areas have unique characteristics
• Isoline


  Shows lines that join areas of equal value
• Chloropleth


  Regions shaded in proportion to unit
• Graduated symbol


  Size of symbol in proportion to the value of variables
• GIS


  A system that tracks data based on a location of the map, uses LAYERS, useful for combining lots of types of data, comparing geographic trends
• Remote sensing


  Measures things from a distance (e.g. satellites, rays to measure ocean floor)
• Absolute Location


  Specific coordinates
• Relative Location


  Location in relation to another thing or place
• Placelessness


  The loss of unique or defining features of a place as places become more similar
• Sense of place


  Human perception of characteristics of places, differs by person
• Time-space compression


  The reduction in time it takes to travel longer distances because of innovations
• Friction of distance


  Harder to get to distant places
• Distance decay


  The further apart 2 things are the less interaction
• Tobler's law: "near things are more related than distant things"
• Scales

  • Local (city, neighborhood)
  • Subnational (part of country, provinces)
  • National (entire country, e.g. U.S.A.)
  • Regional (multiple countries, e.g. Latin America)
  • Global (whole earth)
• Possibilism


  Environment sets limitations, one's culture is not determined by environment
• Environmental determinism


  One's culture is determined by their environment
• Types of regions


  • Formal (based on specific trait, e.g. wildcat region)
  • Functional (based on pattern of activity, interaction with a node, e.g. VUSD bus routes)
  • Perceptual (vernacular, based on perceptions, e.g. wildcat county)