Chapter 1 Vocab

an imaginary line that follows the curve of the Earth and represents the shortest distance between two points

• map projection

• elevation

• great circle route

• relief

a mathematical formula used to represent the curved surface of the Earth on the flat surface of a map

• cylindrical projection

• relative location

• GIS

• map projection

a map created by projecting an image of the Earth onto a geometric plane

• cylindrical

• planar

• conic

• thematic

a map created by projecting Earth’s image onto a cylinder

• cylindrical

• planar

• conic

• thematic

a map created by projecting an image of Earth onto a cone placed over part of an Earth model

• cylindrical

• planar

• conic

• thematic

the exact position of a place on the Earth’s surface

• relative location

• situation

• absolute location

• spatial perspective

location in relation to other places

• absolute location

• formal region

• relative location

• relief

the height of a land surface above the level of the sea

• relief

• functional region

• elevation

• GPS

the variation in elevation across an area of Earth's land

• perceptual region

• GIS

• relief

• GPS

a map that emphasizes a single idea or a particular kind of information about an area

• conic

• thematic

• planar

• cylindrical