AMSCO Unit 1 Vocabulary

the physical artifacts that humans have created and that form part of the landscape

the study of spatial characteristics of humans and human activities

information that can be measured and recorded using numbers

the precise spot where something is according to some system

the characteristics at the immediate location

use symbols if different sizes to indicate different amounts of something

the task of defining and describing landscapes

regions often united by networks of communication and transportation that are centered on a node

organized around a focal point and are defined by an activity that occurs across the region

indicates the degree of nearness

illustrations used in books and advertisements to show specific locations mentioned in text

look like stylized maps, illustrate theories about spatial distributions

the process geographers use to divide and categorize space into smaller areal units

not usually represented by numbers, data collected as interviews, document archives, descriptions and visual observation

the study of how humans adapt to the environment

illustrate theories and concepts using words, graphs or tables

maps that people create in their minds based on their own experience and knowledge

geographers divide regions into smaller areas

the repeated sequences of events that create them

refers to the contact, movement and flow of things between locations

view that acknowledges limits on the effects of the natural environment and focuses on the role that human culture plays

the shrinking “time distance” between locations because of improved models of transportation and communication

representations of reality or theories about reality to help them see general spatial patterns

the way a phenomena is spread out over an area

shows spatial aspects of information or a phenomenon

how well two locations are tied together by roads or other links

the process of showing a curved surface on a flat surface

maps designed for people to refer to for general information about places

distance north or south of the equator, an imaginary line that circles the globe

refers to the way the map communicates the ratio of its size to the size of what it represents

maps that use various colors, shades of one color or patterns to show the location and distribution of spatial data

how quickly and easily people in one location can interact with people in another location

the belief that land forms and climate are the most powerful forces shaping human behavior and societal development

the inverse relationship between distance and connection

indicates when things are farther apart, they tend to be less well connected

maps that show and label human-created boundaries and designations such as countries, states, cities and capitals

measurement of how far or how near things are to one another

used to show the specific location and distribution of something across the territory of the map

the arrangement of the phenomena being studied across the surface of the Earth

the study of spatial characteristics of various elements of the physical environment

names of places

refers to the amount of territory the map represents

the connection and exchange between humans and the natural world

professional images captured from planes within the atmosphere

general arrangements of things being studied

the art of collecting data that was observed and recorded on location

refers to the act of physically visiting a location, place or region and recording, firsthand, information there

description of where something is in relation to other things

imaginary line that runs from pole to pole through Greenwich, England

the way the map communicates the ratio of its size to the size of what it represents