AP Human Geography Fellmann Chapter 1
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)
functional 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. (nodal region)
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
relative distance
Distance measured in terms such as cost or time which are more meaningful for the space relationship in question
natural landscape
The array of landforms that constitutes the Earth's surface (mountains, hills, plains, and plateaus) and the physical features that mark them (such as water bodies, soils, and vegetation). Each geographic realm has its distinctive combination of natural landscapes.
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
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
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
pattern
geometric arrangement of objects in space
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
spatial interaction
places interact with each other in structured and comprehensible ways
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
absolute location
the identification of a place by some precise and accepted system of coordinates
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.
accessibility
the relative ease with which a destination may be reached from some other place
concentration
the spatial property of being crowded together
cultural landscape
the visible imprint of human activity and culture on the landscape.
