| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| absolute direction | The precise compass direction (north, south, east, west) between two locations. |
| absolute distance | The exact measurable distance between two locations, typically expressed in units such as miles or kilometers. |
| clustering | A spatial pattern in which similar phenomena or features are concentrated in the same geographic area. |
| direction | The position of one location relative to another, typically described using cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) or intermediate directions. |
| dispersal | A spatial pattern in which phenomena or features are spread out or scattered across a geographic area. |
| elevation | The height of a location above sea level, often represented on maps through contour lines or color gradients. |
| map projections | Methods used to represent the three-dimensional surface of Earth on a two-dimensional map. |
| reference maps | Maps that display general geographic information such as political boundaries, physical features, and locations of places. |
| relative direction | The directional relationship between two locations described in relative terms such as 'near,' 'far,' 'left,' or 'right.' |
| relative distance | The perceived or functional distance between two locations based on factors such as time, cost, or accessibility rather than actual measurement. |
| spatial patterns | The geographic distribution and arrangement of phenomena across a landscape or urban area. |
| spatial relationships | The ways in which places, phenomena, and human activities are organized, connected, and distributed across geographic space. |
| thematic maps | Maps that focus on a specific theme or topic, such as population distribution, climate, or economic activity. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| field observations | Direct data collection conducted by researchers or individuals in the geographic location being studied. |
| geographic data collection | The process of gathering spatial and locational information about Earth's features and phenomena through various methods. |
| geographic information systems | A computer-based technology that captures, stores, analyzes, and displays geographic data and spatial information. |
| geographic information systems (GIS) | A computer-based technology that captures, stores, analyzes, and displays geographic data and spatial relationships. |
| geospatial technologies | Tools and systems used to capture, analyze, and visualize geographic information and spatial data. |
| landscape analysis | The systematic examination and interpretation of the physical and cultural features visible across a geographic area. |
| online mapping and visualization | Digital tools and platforms used to display, analyze, and share geographic data and spatial information over the internet. |
| photographic interpretation | The analysis and extraction of geographic information from photographs, including aerial and satellite imagery. |
| remote sensing | The collection of information about Earth's features and phenomena from a distance using satellites or aircraft without direct physical contact. |
| satellite navigation systems | Technology that uses satellites to determine precise geographic locations and coordinates on Earth's surface. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| census data | Statistical information collected about populations, including demographics and characteristics used for planning and policy decisions. |
| geographical effects | The spatial and environmental consequences or impacts that result from decisions and actions taken in specific places. |
| geospatial data | Information about locations and spatial relationships on Earth's surface, used to analyze geographic patterns and inform decision-making. |
| satellite imagery | Images of Earth's surface captured from satellites, used to observe land use, environmental changes, and geographic features. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| absolute location | The precise position of a place on Earth's surface, typically identified using coordinates such as latitude and longitude. |
| distance decay | The principle that the intensity of interaction between two places decreases as the distance between them increases. |
| flows | The movement of people, goods, ideas, and information across space from one location to another. |
| pattern | The spatial arrangement or distribution of phenomena, features, or human activities across Earth's surface. |
| place | A specific location on Earth that has meaning and identity, shaped by human experiences, culture, and characteristics. |
| relative location | The position of a place in relation to other places or geographic features, described using directional or descriptive terms. |
| space | The arrangement and organization of phenomena across Earth's surface, including the distances and relationships between places. |
| time-space compression | The reduction in the time it takes to travel between places or communicate across distances due to technological advances. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| environmental determinism | A theory that the physical environment directly determines human societies, cultures, and behaviors. |
| land use | The human modification and management of Earth's surface for purposes such as agriculture, urban development, conservation, or resource extraction. |
| natural resources | Materials and substances found in the natural environment that are useful or valuable to humans, such as water, minerals, forests, and fossil fuels. |
| possibilism | A theory that the natural environment sets constraints and possibilities for human societies, but human agency and culture determine how those possibilities are used. |
| spatial relationships | The ways in which places, phenomena, and human activities are organized, connected, and distributed across geographic space. |
| sustainability | The ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, particularly regarding natural resources and land use. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| global scale | The largest scale of geographic analysis encompassing worldwide patterns and processes. |
| local scale | The smallest scale of geographic analysis, examining phenomena at the community, city, or neighborhood level. |
| national scale | A scale of geographic analysis focused on patterns and processes within a country's borders. |
| pattern | The spatial arrangement or distribution of phenomena, features, or human activities across Earth's surface. |
| processes | Dynamic mechanisms and interactions that shape geographic phenomena and vary across different scales of analysis. |
| regional scale | A scale of geographic analysis that examines areas larger than a single country but smaller than the entire world, often defined by shared characteristics. |
| scales of analysis | Different levels of geographic study (local, regional, national, global) used to examine spatial patterns and processes. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| formal regions | Regions defined by official political, administrative, or governmental boundaries with clearly defined limits. |
| functional regions | Regions organized around a focal point or node of activity, where the area is unified by economic, social, or political connections to a central location. |
| perceptual regions | Regions defined by people's shared perceptions, cultural beliefs, and subjective feelings about an area; also called vernacular regions. |
| regional analysis | A geographic method of studying areas by examining their unifying characteristics and patterns at local, national, and global scales. |
| regional boundaries | The borders or limits of regions that are often transitional, contested, and overlapping rather than fixed and absolute. |
| regions | Areas of Earth's surface defined by one or more unifying characteristics or patterns of activity that geographers use to organize and analyze geographic phenomena. |