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
