T. M. Whitmore

Todays TopicsScope, methods, maps in GeographyDiversity & Commonality in Latin AmericaLatin American Physical GeographyPhysical Regions: Northern Mexican Drylands

T. M. Whitmore

What is Geography?Characteristics of places and the connections between them - this implies 4 basic questions:Where are things? Geography is a study that prioritizes locationHow places and peoples therein are similar and different ?Why are they similar or different?Why do we care?

T. M. Whitmore

Methods in GeographyWhat are the characteristics of places?Location and situation Spatial organization of phenomena and patternsHow phenomena are interconnected Human use & cultural landscapesRole of maps analyticallygeneral vs thematic or dataOrganization of characteristics into regions for simplicity

Havana

T. M. Whitmore

T. M. Whitmore

Latin America Diversity IGreat size, especially N-STopographic (land forms and elevation)In many places diversity is very close spatially - many LA countries are quite diverseBiotic - from deserts to tropical rainforests...

T. M. Whitmore

Latin America Diversity IIGeographic diversity Economic diversityPre-Columbian cultural diversity Amerindian cultures from empires to hunting-gathering bands Diverse experiences after the end of colonizationDiverse immigration experience and resulting population patterns

T. M. Whitmore

Commonality: Similar historical and cultural experience - unitesRoughly similar economic experience of Iberian colonialismBroadly similar language, religion, cultural values (but with important exceptions)Common physical environmental regions overlap multiple countries

T. M. Whitmore

Latin American layer cakeMultiple physical environmentsConstraints & opportunities for human useSuccessive periods of influence Pre-Colombian (before 1492)Colonial (roughly 1492-1820)Post-colonial or Neo-colonial (roughly 1820s - 1900)Contemporary (20th & 21st C)

T. M. Whitmore

T. M. Whitmore

Environment in Latin AmericaClimate (long term norms of weather) - temperature, precipitation, seasonality, etc.Natural vegetation - tricky due to elevations, human modification, etc.Soils - very much variation but with broad patternsLand forms and elevation - the latter is very importantWhitmores simplified environmental sub-regions of Latin America are a composite of above

T. M. Whitmore

Middle America Environmental Zones

T. M. Whitmore

Environmental Sub-region I Northern Mexican drylandsMexico ~ North of tropic of CancerClimate - desert and steppe climate Koppen dry or B climates: Bw & BsVery little precipitation (vs Raleigh)Wide seasonal temp swingsVegetation: mostly arid adapted (except at elevation)Soils - quite variable

T. M. Whitmore

Northern MexicanDry landsSierra Madre OrientalSierra Madre Occidental

T. M. Whitmore

T. M. Whitmore

Climate: Northern Mexican drylandsClimographs (e.g., compare with Raleigh)Very little precipitationDry And drier!Wide seasonal temp swingsExamples

T. M. Whitmore

ChihuahuaParker

T. M. Whitmore

Northern Mexican drylandsVegetation: mostly arid adapted Grasslands (Bs)Open ground, brush, cacti, etc. (Bw)Conifers at elevationSoils - quite variable Mountain and plateau land formsSierra Madre (Oriental & Occidental)

T. M. Whitmore

NASA World WindLandsat 7 visible band

T. M. Whitmore

245613

T. M. Whitmore

1: Sierra Madre Occidental from Chihuahua T. M. Whitmore

T. M. Whitmore

2: Sierra Madre Occidental:Copper Canyon T. M. Whitmore

T. M. Whitmore

3: Nopal (cactus)

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4: Sierra Madre Occidental (Sonora) T. M. Whitmore

T. M. Whitmore

5: Coastal Plain looking E towards Sierra Madre Occidental T. M. Whitmore

T. M. Whitmore

6: Sierra Madre Oriental (Coahuila- Nuevo Leon) T. M. Whitmore

T. M. Whitmore

Environmental Sub-region IIMesoamerican highlandsTectonic forcesLand forms - very complex Soils micro-variability

T. M. Whitmore

Environmental Sub-regions IIMiddle American highlandsClimate - role of the tropics and elevationTropical seasonality of rainfall (summer) Example: Mexico City rainfall Summer (high sun) rainsSeasonal drought

T. M. Whitmore

Environmental Sub-region II Middle American highlandsVegetation types vary with elevation: grassland, oak forests, pinesAll highly modified by humansLandscapes

T. M. Whitmore

Middle America & Caribbean Environmental ZonesTropic of Cancer

T. M. Whitmore

NASA World WindOrizaba18,405 ft5,610 m

Orizaba18,405 ft5,610 m

Transverse volcanic range

T. M. WhitmoreXochicalco, Mexico

T. M. WhitmoreHighland Chiapas, Mexico

T. M. WhitmoreBlack soils near Xela, Guatemala

T. M. WhitmoreHill-side fields near Xela, Guatemala

T. M. WhitmoreL. Atitln, Guatemala

T. M. WhitmoreVolcano near Antigua, Guatemala

Mexico City