Human Geography - Fellmann Ch. 1

functional region

A region differentiated by what occurs within it rather than by homogeneity of physical or cultural phenomena; an earth area recognized as an operational unit upon defined organizational criteria. The concept of unity is based on interdependence between different points within the area (nodal region)

nodal region

Area organized around a node or focal point. The characteristic chosen to define this kind of region dominates at a central focus or node and diminishes in importance outward. This region is tied to the central point by transportation or communication systems or by economic or functional associations. (functional region)

regional concept

The view that physical and cultural phenomena on the surface of the earth are rationally arranged by complex, diverse, but comprehensible interrelated spatial processes.

formal region

a region/area sharing one or more physical or cultural feature (uniform region)

uniform region

a region/area sharing one or more physical or cultural feature. (formal regions)

geographic information system (GIS)

an integrated software package for handling, processing, and analyzing geographical data and computer database in which every item of information is tied to a precise geographic location

absolute direction

based on the cardinal points of North, South, East, and West; These appear uniformly and independently in all cultures, derived from obvious givens of nature

connectivity

broad concept implying all the tangible and intangible ways in which places are connected

relative direction

culturally based and locationally variable direction despite reference to cardinal compass points eg. "Near and Far East"

remote sensing

detecting the nature of an object and the content of an area from a distance

region

earth areas that display significant elements of internal uniformity and external difference from surrounding territories

situation

external relations of a locale; relative location with particular reference to items of significance to the place in question

spatial system

functions as a unit because its component parts are interdependent

spatial interaction

geographers add accessibility and connectivity to the ideas of location and distance; an indication of interdependence between different geographic locations or areas

pattern

geometric arrangement of objects in space

accessibility

how easy or difficult it is to overcome the "friction of distance" ; the relative ease with which a destination may be reached from other locations

mental map

images about an area developed by an individual on the basis of information or impressions received, interpreted or stored

density

measure of the number or quantity of anything within a defined unit of area

natural landscape

provides the setting within which human action occurs; physical characteristics refer to such natural aspects of a locale as its climate and soil, the presence or absence of water supplies and mineral resources, its terrain features, and the like

perceptual region

reflect feelings and images rather than objective data

model

simplified abstraction of reality, structured to clarify causal relationships

absolute distance

spatial separation between two points on the earth's surface

dispersion

the amount of spread of a phenomenon over an area

spatial distribution

the arrangement of items on the earth's surface

concentration

the clustering of a phenomenon around a central location

absolute location

the identification of a place by some precise and accepted system of coordinates (syn: mathematical location)

globalization

the increasing interconnection of peoples and societies in all parts of the world

scale

the mathematical relationship between the size of an area on a map and the actual size of the mapped area

projection

the method chosen to represent the earth's curved surface as a flat map

site

the physical and cultural characteristics and attributes of the place itself

relative location

the position of a place in relation to that of other places or activities

spatial diffusion

the process of dispersion of an idea or an item from a center of origin to more distant points with which it is directly or indirectly connected

cultural landscape

the visible expression of that human activity

relative distance

transforms those linear measurements into other units more meaningful for the space relationship in question