AP Human Geography Unit 1 Summary

Introduction

Unit 1 covers major concepts needed for AP Human Geography.
Study guide available in the Ultimate Review Packet.
Resources include unit review videos, practice quizzes, answer keys, practice AP exams, FRQ resources, vocab lists, and exclusive videos.

Map Distortion: All map projections distort direction, shape, area, or distance due to transforming a 3D globe onto a 2D surface.
Mercator Projection: Conformal projection, good for accurate direction, used in navigation; distorts size, e.g., Greenland vs. Africa.
Good Homolosine Projection: Equal area projection, shows true size and shape; distorts distances at edges, not useful for direction.
Robinson Projection: Distortion near poles, preserves overall size/shape, spreads distortion.
Gall Peters Projection: Shows true land mass sizes, distorts shape and direction.

Reference Maps: Show boundaries, geographic features. Useful for directions, property lines, political boundaries, etc.
- Topographic Maps: Use contour lines for terrain and elevation.
Thematic Maps: Display spatial patterns using quantitative data.
- Choropleth Maps: Use colors/shades to show data quantities.
- Dot Density Maps: Use points to show data occurrences.
- Graduated Symbol Maps: Use symbols to show data location and amount.
- Isoline Maps: Use lines to connect areas with equal data amounts (e.g., weather maps).
- Cartogram Maps: Data shown by area size.
- Flowline Maps: Show movement of goods, people, ideas.

Geospatial Technologies:
- Remote Sensing: Gathering info via satellites.
- GIS (Geographic Information System): Analyzes, displays data; creates layered maps.
- GPS (Global Positioning System): Provides absolute location, aids navigation.
Field Observations: First-hand data collection, costly, sometimes difficult.
Personal Interviews: Collect unique perspectives.
Media Reports: Offer insights into local events and experiences.
Government Documents: Show cultural values, governance.
Travel Narratives: Offer personal perspectives and experiences.
Landscape and Photo Analysis: Help understand environmental changes.

Qualitative Data: Subjective, word form, gathered through observations/interviews.
Quantitative Data: Objective, number form, e.g., census data.

Scale of Analysis:
- Local Scale: Detailed view, shows exact data points.
- National Scale: Shows spatial relationships within country boundaries.
- Global Scale: Shows patterns, more generalized.
Applications:
- Governments use data for planning, understanding needs, zoning.
- Businesses use data for understanding customers, operations, and expansion.
- Individuals use data for navigation, relocation, political decisions.

Location:
- Absolute Location: Exact coordinates.
- Relative Location: Relation to other places.
Place Characteristics:
- Physical: Rivers, mountains, climate.
- Human: Cultures, languages, demographics.
Sense of Place: Emotional connection or identity.
Spatial Distribution:
- Density: Amount of objects/people.
- Concentration: Clustering or dispersion.
- Pattern: Arrangement (e.g., grid, linear).

Types: Agricultural, industrial, commercial, residential, recreational, transportation.
Sustainability: Use of resources without compromising future generations.

Map Scales: Global, national, regional, local.
Scale of Analysis: Organization of data (e.g., by country, state, district).
Small Scale vs. Large Scale Maps: Zoomed out (general) vs. zoomed in (detailed).

Types of Regions:
- Formal Regions: Defined by common attributes (e.g., political boundaries).
- Functional Regions: Organized around a central point (e.g., airports, communication).
- Perceptual Regions: Based on opinions or feelings (e.g., the Middle East).