In economic geography anentrepoˆtis often considered to have a hinterland.
The hinterland region is the larger market space through which the goods and serv-
ices provided by the entrepoˆt are dispersed. It is also the region that may provide
raw materials for export to the entrepoˆt. The size and function of the hinterland
will modify, depending on the rate of growth (or lack thereof) of the entrepoˆt.
Lower-order economic centers may emerge in the hinterland, which function as
distribution centers for the larger entrepoˆt, and often acquire secondary production
functions, sometimes developing hinterlands of their own on a smaller scale.
The concept of an economic hinterland is a key part ofCentral Place Theory.
Each central place is serviced by a hinterland, or market area. The size of the
hinterland is determined by the range of the good or service in question—the
hinterland’s radius is the equivalent to the range of the good or service in question.
The range of a good or service is the distance that consumers will travel to access it.
Different types of goods have different ranges. So-called higher-order goods
and services, like automobiles, dental care, legal advice, etc., that are expensive
and are used infrequently will have a large range, and therefore a much larger
hinterland associated with them than lower-order goods. Lower-order goods, like
a loaf of bread, gasoline, a car wash, etc., are used frequently and are generally
inexpensive. These have a small range, and the hinterland connected to such goods
and services is much smaller than with higher-order products. Thus, there is a hier-
archy of hinterlands, with smaller hinterlands (lower-order goods and services)
clustered within the hinterlands of higher-order goods and services. Central Place
Theory suggests that these hinterlands are not circular, but rather take the form of
hexagons.Hoyt Model.SeeSector Model.
Humidity
Humidity refers to the water vapor content of the atmosphere. Usually, this term
does not include the water held as liquids and solids in clouds and precipitation.
Instead, water vapor is the gaseous form of water. It is odorless and colorless,
but significant amounts of humidity can impair visibility. Water vapor is one
of the gases of the atmosphere and freely mixes and moves in the fluid flow we
call wind.174 Humidity