Geography Regions Quiz

Regions

• Formal Region: Defined by shared characteristics like language, religion, or climate.
• Functional Region: Characterized by connections or interactions anchored around a specific node or activity.
• Perceptual/Vernacular Region: Based on subjective perceptions and beliefs influenced by cultural, historical, or emotional factors.

Environmental Determinism and Possibilism

• Environmental Determinism: Theory suggesting environment significantly shapes human societies and cultures.
• Possibilism: Concept stating the environment may limit choices but does not fully determine human actions.

Scales of Analysis

• Global Scale: Encompasses the entire planet.
• Regional Scale: Focuses on specific geographic regions, such as continents or subregions.
• National Scale: Centers on individual countries.
• Local Scale: Targets specific cities, towns, or neighborhoods.

Human-Environment Interaction

• Distance Decay: The decrease in frequency or intensity of a phenomenon with increased distance from its origin.
• Time-Space Compression: A phenomenon where improvements in transportation and communication reduce perceived distances between places.
• Pattern: A recurring geographic arrangement or configuration of features.
• Sustainability: The ability of systems to endure without depleting resources or causing lasting environmental damage.
• Natural Resources: Items in nature usable for producing goods or providing services.
• Land Use: Classification of land based on its utilization, such as agricultural, industrial, or residential purposes.

Geographic Data and Analysis

• Elevation: Measurement of landform height above sea level.
• Map Projection: A method for depicting Earth's spherical surface onto a flat map, resulting in unavoidable distortions.
• Absolute Location: Precise coordinates of a place on Earth based on latitude and longitude.
• Relative Location: A place's position concerning other locations.

Geographic Data Sources

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Software for capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographic data.
• Global Positioning Systems (GPS): Satellite-based navigation technology providing precise location data.
• Satellite Navigation Systems: Includes GPS and similar systems like GLONASS and Galileo.
• Remote Sensing: Gathering data about Earth's surface from distance, using satellites, aircraft, or drones.
• Field Observations: Direct data collection through visits to geographic locations.
• Media Reports: Information from news articles, documentaries, or other media sources regarding geographic events.
• Travel Narratives: Personal accounts that offer insights into geographical places and cultures.
• Policy Documents: Official documents detailing policies on land use or environmental management.

Key Concepts in Human-Environment Interaction

• Distance Decay: Similar to previous definition, focused on its impact on phenomena over distance.
• Time-Space Compression: Reflects changes in perceived distance due to technology influences.

Sustainability and Natural Resources

• Sustainability: Emphasizes long-term maintenance without resource depletion or environmental harm.
• Natural Resources: Fundamental materials available in nature for human use.

Land Use

• Land Use: Differentiates how areas are designated based on their functional purposes.

Geographic Terms

• Personal Interviews: Gathers insights from individuals knowledgeable about geographic topics.
• Landscape Analysis: Studies the physical features of a geographic area.
• Photographic Interpretation: Involves analyzing photographs for geographic feature insights.
• Census Data: Information collected regarding population and housing characteristics in a region.
• Satellite Imagery: Provides aerial views to analyze Earth's surface in detail.
• Placelessness: Loss of unique identity in places due to globalization effects.
• Flows: Movements of people, goods, ideas, or information between various locations.

Map Terms

• Reference Map: Displays geographic features such as roads and cities.
• Thematic Map: Focuses on specific themes or data sets like population density or climate data.
• Absolute Distance: Measured distance between two points in units (miles, kilometers).
• Absolute Direction: Exact directional angle between two points, measured in degrees.
• Relative Distance: Perceived distance influenced by time, cost, or effort.
• Relative Direction: Direction indicated relative to other locations (e.g., "northeast").
• Clustering: Concentration of geographic features within an area.
• Dispersal: Spread of geographic features across a broader area.