ENVSOCTY 1HA3 STUDY GUIDE
Physical Geography - Answer -The study of patterns and processes of the physical
environment
ex.(land forms, climate, geology, ecology, hydrology, etc)
Human Geography - Answer -The study of patterns and processes of the social
environment
ex.(Spatial patterns of people, their cultures, economies, settlements, political and
social structures and behaviour)
What is where? Why there? Why care? - Answer -What is where? Describing the
environment, Why there? explaining the causes, Why care? interpreting the events and
our actions
space - Answer -areal extent
Space (absolute) - Answer -Objective, physically real, with measurable extent and
definable boundaries
Key for map-making, description & analysis\explanation of spatial distributions
Ex. Projection
Space (Relative) - Answer -Subjective and variable over time.
Locations identified by their relative positioning and importance.
Ex. Topological maps (clarity of location is more important than 100% accuracy)
geographical (spatial) perspective - Answer -The approach that geographers utilize in
their study of the human and physical environments of the earth; a view of observing
variations in geographic phenomena on the earth's surface
spatial - Answer -pertaining to space on the Earth's surface; sometimes used as a
synonym for geographic.
perception - Answer -The process by which humans acquire information about physical
and social environments; a way of interpreting one's lived experience
mental (perceptual) map - Answer -An image or spatial representation (map) of the way
space is organized, as influenced by an individual's knowledge or lived experience in
that space
geographic scale - Answer -The territorial extent or level of analysis, such as local,
regional, and global
,location - Answer -A particular position in space; a specific part of the earth's surface;
used in absolute, relative, and nominal forms
toponym - Answer -The common name given to a location; a place name
site - Answer -The physical attributes or characteristics of a location, including its
topography, climate, water resources, vegetation, and so on.
situation - Answer -The geographic context of a location, relative to other locations,
including its economic, political, and social characteristics
Place - Answer -A location that has acquired particular meaning or significance
sense of place - Answer -The feelings evoked by, or deep attachments to, specific
locations (places) such as home, that result from the experiences individuals associate
with the location
sacred place - Answer -A location with particular significance to an individual or a
group, usually (but not necessarily) for religious reasons.
placelessness - Answer -The nature of locations that lack uniqueness or individual
character; used for homogeneous and standardized landscapes
region - Answer -A part of the earth's surface that displays internal homogeneity and is
relatively distinct from surrounding areas according to certain criteria; a contiguous
spatial unit
regionalization - Answer -The process of classifying locations or areas of the earth's
surface into various region
formal (or uniform) region - Answer -An area (region) that possesses a certain degree
of uniformity with respect to one or more physical or cultural traits.
functional (or nodal) region - Answer -An area (region) organized around a node or
focal point, and unified by specific economic, political, or social activity
vernacular (or perceptual) region - Answer -An area (region) identified on the basis of
the perceptions held by people inside or outside the region, or both
landscape - Answer -The characteristics, or overall appearance, of a particular area or
location, comprising a combination of natural and human influences.
cultural landscape - Answer -The characteristics or overall appearance of a particular
area or location, resulting from human modification of the natural environment.
, distance - Answer -A measure of the amount of space between two or more locations;
can be measured in both absolute terms (physical distance) and relative terms (time
distance, economic distance, or psychological distance)
distribution - Answer -The spatial arrangement of geographic phenomena (e.g. people)
within an area; includes density, concentration, and pattern
density - Answer -A measure of the relationship between the number of geographic
phenomena (e.g. people) and a unit of area; typically expressed as a ratio
concentration - Answer -The spread of geographic phenomena (e.g. people) over a
given area
Clustered/Agglomerated - Answer -One of two common forms of concentration; occur
when the distance between geographic phenomena (e.g. people) is small; clustering
(agglomerating) occurs when geographic phenomena (e.g. businesses) move closer
together, sometimes around a nucleus (nucleated)
dispersed/deglomerated - Answer -One of two common forms of concentration; occur
when the distance between geographic phenomena (e.g. people) is large; dispersion
(deglomerating) occurs when geographic phenomena (e.g. businesses) move apart
from one another.
pattern - Answer -The geometric, regular, or other (i.e. random) spatial arrangement of
geographic phenomena (e.g. people) in a given area
diffusion - Answer -The process of geographic phenomena spreading over space and
through time.
cultural diffusion - Answer -The process of cultural phenomena (e.g. ideas, innovations,
trends, languages) spreading over space and through time
hearth - Answer -The area where a particular cultural trait originates
relocation diffusion - Answer -One of two basic forms of diffusion, in which the
geographic phenomena are physically moved from one area to another, such as
through immigration or trade
expansion diffusion - Answer -One of two basic forms of diffusion in which geographic
phenomena spread from one area to another through an additive process
contagious diffusion - Answer -One of two forms of expansion diffusion in which
geographic phenomena spread rapidly and throughout an area
Physical Geography - Answer -The study of patterns and processes of the physical
environment
ex.(land forms, climate, geology, ecology, hydrology, etc)
Human Geography - Answer -The study of patterns and processes of the social
environment
ex.(Spatial patterns of people, their cultures, economies, settlements, political and
social structures and behaviour)
What is where? Why there? Why care? - Answer -What is where? Describing the
environment, Why there? explaining the causes, Why care? interpreting the events and
our actions
space - Answer -areal extent
Space (absolute) - Answer -Objective, physically real, with measurable extent and
definable boundaries
Key for map-making, description & analysis\explanation of spatial distributions
Ex. Projection
Space (Relative) - Answer -Subjective and variable over time.
Locations identified by their relative positioning and importance.
Ex. Topological maps (clarity of location is more important than 100% accuracy)
geographical (spatial) perspective - Answer -The approach that geographers utilize in
their study of the human and physical environments of the earth; a view of observing
variations in geographic phenomena on the earth's surface
spatial - Answer -pertaining to space on the Earth's surface; sometimes used as a
synonym for geographic.
perception - Answer -The process by which humans acquire information about physical
and social environments; a way of interpreting one's lived experience
mental (perceptual) map - Answer -An image or spatial representation (map) of the way
space is organized, as influenced by an individual's knowledge or lived experience in
that space
geographic scale - Answer -The territorial extent or level of analysis, such as local,
regional, and global
,location - Answer -A particular position in space; a specific part of the earth's surface;
used in absolute, relative, and nominal forms
toponym - Answer -The common name given to a location; a place name
site - Answer -The physical attributes or characteristics of a location, including its
topography, climate, water resources, vegetation, and so on.
situation - Answer -The geographic context of a location, relative to other locations,
including its economic, political, and social characteristics
Place - Answer -A location that has acquired particular meaning or significance
sense of place - Answer -The feelings evoked by, or deep attachments to, specific
locations (places) such as home, that result from the experiences individuals associate
with the location
sacred place - Answer -A location with particular significance to an individual or a
group, usually (but not necessarily) for religious reasons.
placelessness - Answer -The nature of locations that lack uniqueness or individual
character; used for homogeneous and standardized landscapes
region - Answer -A part of the earth's surface that displays internal homogeneity and is
relatively distinct from surrounding areas according to certain criteria; a contiguous
spatial unit
regionalization - Answer -The process of classifying locations or areas of the earth's
surface into various region
formal (or uniform) region - Answer -An area (region) that possesses a certain degree
of uniformity with respect to one or more physical or cultural traits.
functional (or nodal) region - Answer -An area (region) organized around a node or
focal point, and unified by specific economic, political, or social activity
vernacular (or perceptual) region - Answer -An area (region) identified on the basis of
the perceptions held by people inside or outside the region, or both
landscape - Answer -The characteristics, or overall appearance, of a particular area or
location, comprising a combination of natural and human influences.
cultural landscape - Answer -The characteristics or overall appearance of a particular
area or location, resulting from human modification of the natural environment.
, distance - Answer -A measure of the amount of space between two or more locations;
can be measured in both absolute terms (physical distance) and relative terms (time
distance, economic distance, or psychological distance)
distribution - Answer -The spatial arrangement of geographic phenomena (e.g. people)
within an area; includes density, concentration, and pattern
density - Answer -A measure of the relationship between the number of geographic
phenomena (e.g. people) and a unit of area; typically expressed as a ratio
concentration - Answer -The spread of geographic phenomena (e.g. people) over a
given area
Clustered/Agglomerated - Answer -One of two common forms of concentration; occur
when the distance between geographic phenomena (e.g. people) is small; clustering
(agglomerating) occurs when geographic phenomena (e.g. businesses) move closer
together, sometimes around a nucleus (nucleated)
dispersed/deglomerated - Answer -One of two common forms of concentration; occur
when the distance between geographic phenomena (e.g. people) is large; dispersion
(deglomerating) occurs when geographic phenomena (e.g. businesses) move apart
from one another.
pattern - Answer -The geometric, regular, or other (i.e. random) spatial arrangement of
geographic phenomena (e.g. people) in a given area
diffusion - Answer -The process of geographic phenomena spreading over space and
through time.
cultural diffusion - Answer -The process of cultural phenomena (e.g. ideas, innovations,
trends, languages) spreading over space and through time
hearth - Answer -The area where a particular cultural trait originates
relocation diffusion - Answer -One of two basic forms of diffusion, in which the
geographic phenomena are physically moved from one area to another, such as
through immigration or trade
expansion diffusion - Answer -One of two basic forms of diffusion in which geographic
phenomena spread from one area to another through an additive process
contagious diffusion - Answer -One of two forms of expansion diffusion in which
geographic phenomena spread rapidly and throughout an area
