field work in geography

Field Work In Field Work In GeographyGeography

Why?Why?

How?How?

Who?Who?

The Science of The Science of Geography ... Geography ...

What and WhyWhat and Why

And who cares?And who cares?

With quotes from:With quotes from:

• The Education of a GeographerThe Education of a Geographer

Carl SauerCarl Sauer

• A Life of LearningA Life of Learning

D.W. MeinigD.W. Meinig

EARTH...

fundamentally the only planet we have explored…

GEOGRAPHY

Is the science of describing this planet…

literally,

“Writing about Earth”

SUBJECT MATTER

From the Greek Language

“geo” = Earth

“graphia” = description or depiction

Eratosthenes, a 3rd century B.C. Greek Scholar and chief librarian at the famous Library of Alexandria was perhaps the first person to use the term “Geography.”

DEFINITIONSThe world and all that is in it.

Spatial perspective on people, places and environment.

Geography is a social science that focuses on the spatial distribution of human and physical phenomena.

The science and art of understanding the spatial relations among people, place, and environment.

Geography is the study of pattern and processes associated with the Earth. The focus of the geographer is on spatial patterns and how phenomena that share common space interact spatially.

DEFINITION

Geography is the study of people, places and environments. But more than that, it is a way of looking at the world and asking why it works ( or doesn’t work ) and the way it does work. It is more than where, but why there. It is looking at issues from a spatial perspective and inquiring about them.

Why What is Where?Why What is Where?andand

Who Cares?Who Cares?

An alternative definition of ‘geography’ developed by Dr.s McKnight and Strong during a snowball fight along the empty streets of Washington DC.

““... The geographer partly is born ..”... The geographer partly is born ..”

““Despite the line breeding now available Despite the line breeding now available by extensive series of courses in by extensive series of courses in geography, running from the freshman geography, running from the freshman year to the Ph.D., we still get much of our year to the Ph.D., we still get much of our best blood from those who come from best blood from those who come from quite other academic stocks and quite other academic stocks and backgrounds. These join us not because backgrounds. These join us not because they have been inadequate in their they have been inadequate in their previous commitments but because it previous commitments but because it took time for them to find their place took time for them to find their place over on our side.”over on our side.”

[Geography] does not fit comfortably [Geography] does not fit comfortably into modern academic structures, into modern academic structures, and has suffered for it. To the not and has suffered for it. To the not uncommon question “is geography a uncommon question “is geography a physical or a social science?” almost physical or a social science?” almost all geographers would answer all geographers would answer “both.” “both.” DWMDWM

““It is about as difficult to It is about as difficult to describe a geographer as it is describe a geographer as it is

to define geography”to define geography”

Ms. Lisa Keys-MathewsAssistant Professor of Geography

Dr. William StrongDepartment ChairProfessor of Geography

Dr. Greg GastonAssociate Professor of Geography

Dr. Francis KotiAssistant Professor of Geography

Dr. Mike PretesAssistant Professor of Geography

“We are odd creatures. Geography is ...not what I do for a living, but what I do with my life. The born geographer lives geography every day.” dwm

““The geographer and the geographer-to-be are The geographer and the geographer-to-be are travelers, vicarious when they must, actual when travelers, vicarious when they must, actual when they may. they may.

They are not of the class of tourists who are directed They are not of the class of tourists who are directed by guide books over the routes of the grand tours by guide books over the routes of the grand tours to the starred attractions, nor do they lodge at to the starred attractions, nor do they lodge at grand hotels. (grand hotels. (much to the dismay of my dear wife!)much to the dismay of my dear wife!)

When vacation bound they may pass by the places When vacation bound they may pass by the places one is supposed to see and seek out byways and one is supposed to see and seek out byways and unnoted places where they gain the feeling of unnoted places where they gain the feeling of personal discovery. They enjoy striking out on foot, personal discovery. They enjoy striking out on foot, away from roads and are pleased to camp out at away from roads and are pleased to camp out at the end of the day.” the end of the day.” The Education of a Geographer The Education of a Geographer Carl SauerCarl Sauer

““Travel is, of course, an important part of a Travel is, of course, an important part of a geographer’s learning “ geographer’s learning “ D.W.Meinig D.W.Meinig A Life of LearningA Life of Learning

“… “…I am become a name; for always I am become a name; for always roaming with a hungry heart.”roaming with a hungry heart.”

Much have I seen and known; cities of Much have I seen and known; cities of men and manners, climates, councils, men and manners, climates, councils, governments, myself not least, but governments, myself not least, but honored of them all; …honored of them all; …

I am a part of all that I have met; Yet I am a part of all that I have met; Yet all experience is an arch wherethroughall experience is an arch wherethroughGleams that untravelled world, whose Gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades For ever and for ever margin fades For ever and for ever when I move.” when I move.” Ulysses Ulysses Alfred TennysonAlfred Tennyson

“…“…Death closes all: but something ere the Death closes all: but something ere the end, some work of noble note, may yet be end, some work of noble note, may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove with done, Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods. Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to Gods. Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.seek a newer world.

Though much is taken, much abides; and Though much is taken, much abides; and though we are not now that strength which though we are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven; that in old days Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are; One equal temper of which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”and not to yield.”

Ulysses Ulysses Alfred TennysonAlfred Tennyson

The “geographic eye”The “geographic eye”

Learning to SEE space and spatial Learning to SEE space and spatial relationships.relationships.

An important part of training this skill An important part of training this skill is learning to communicate spatial is learning to communicate spatial relationships….relationships….

““There is, I am confident, such a thing as the There is, I am confident, such a thing as the "morphologic eye," a spontaneous and critical "morphologic eye," a spontaneous and critical

attention to form and pattern.”attention to form and pattern.”

Carl Sauer

Education of a Geographer

““An innate aptitude to register on An innate aptitude to register on differences and similarities is joined to differences and similarities is joined to a ready curiosity and reflection on the a ready curiosity and reflection on the meaning of likeness and unlikeness.”meaning of likeness and unlikeness.”

““Some of us have this sense of Some of us have this sense of significant form, some develop it (and significant form, some develop it (and in them I take it to have been latent), in them I take it to have been latent), and some never get it.”and some never get it.”

Field Work is an essential Field Work is an essential component of the Science of component of the Science of

GeographyGeography

It is impossible to accurately describe It is impossible to accurately describe the Earth without actually observing the Earth without actually observing the Earth!the Earth!

Well designed field observations are Well designed field observations are very powerful scientific toolsvery powerful scientific tools

“…“…the principal training of the geographer the principal training of the geographer should come, wherever possible, by doing should come, wherever possible, by doing

field work”field work”

“…“…I like to think of any young field group as I like to think of any young field group as on a journey of discovery, not as a surveying on a journey of discovery, not as a surveying

party.”party.” “… Such excursions and field courses are the best apprenticeship….”

“…“…the study of landforms … is at the the study of landforms … is at the very heart of our being.”very heart of our being.”

““When we dropped land forms as our When we dropped land forms as our business, we lost a major stimulus to get into business, we lost a major stimulus to get into the field,to see and think, to state and solve the field,to see and think, to state and solve

problems”problems”

““Being afoot, sleeping out, sitting about camp in the evening, Being afoot, sleeping out, sitting about camp in the evening, seeing the land in all its seasons are proper ways to intensify seeing the land in all its seasons are proper ways to intensify the experience, of developing impression into larger the experience, of developing impression into larger

appreciation and judgment”appreciation and judgment”

Essentials for Geographic Field Essentials for Geographic Field WorkWork

A well developed ‘geographic eye’A well developed ‘geographic eye’ CuriosityCuriosity A passion to understandA passion to understand

Tools for systematic observationTools for systematic observation

The field notebook....The field notebook....– A mechanism that serves to strengthen A mechanism that serves to strengthen

the memory of the observerthe memory of the observer– Where was I? what day was it? What did Where was I? what day was it? What did

I observe?I observe?– The field notebook is THE tool that The field notebook is THE tool that

conquers the failings of memoryconquers the failings of memory

What does a field notebook look What does a field notebook look like?like?

A field book can take a wide variety A field book can take a wide variety of forms....of forms....

The Forks of the Missouri sketched by Capt. Wm. Clark..

Note the grid base, the transect data and the features sketched along the river (bluffs, meanders, islands etc.)

OOPS!!OOPS!!

Damage and lost data....Damage and lost data.... The previous picture is of a portion of my The previous picture is of a portion of my

field notes from July 2006field notes from July 2006 Written in pen on a spiral notebook, which Written in pen on a spiral notebook, which

worked fine.... Until, later in the trip the worked fine.... Until, later in the trip the notebook shared the bottom of my pack notebook shared the bottom of my pack with a water bottle and a very large rock with a water bottle and a very large rock (a piece of pumice about the size of a (a piece of pumice about the size of a football)football)

I was able to recover all the vital data... I was able to recover all the vital data... But the lesson was clear... Don’t be cheap But the lesson was clear... Don’t be cheap with a field book!!with a field book!!

The best choice for me is a 4X6 Write The best choice for me is a 4X6 Write in the Rain notebook and a pencil....in the Rain notebook and a pencil....

Taking good field notesTaking good field notes

Develop a style, a format that you Develop a style, a format that you are comfortable withare comfortable with

Record everything, don’t trust your Record everything, don’t trust your memorymemory

Sketches are extremely valuable as Sketches are extremely valuable as part of your field observationspart of your field observations

Make the field notes a habit that you Make the field notes a habit that you practice constantly.practice constantly.

Format for field notesFormat for field notes

The nature of the project will be the The nature of the project will be the primary driver for the amount and primary driver for the amount and type of information included in the type of information included in the field notes.field notes.

A plane table map with a high degree A plane table map with a high degree of accuracy will require different of accuracy will require different notes from a trans-contentintal notes from a trans-contentintal transect.transect.

Format for field notesFormat for field notes

The format of field notes will vary The format of field notes will vary from individual to individualfrom individual to individual

Location can either be descriptive Location can either be descriptive e.g. “collier glacier” or more precise e.g. “collier glacier” or more precise using maps/GPS… again the needs of using maps/GPS… again the needs of the project will be the primary the project will be the primary determining factordetermining factor

Always include date/time/and a brief Always include date/time/and a brief notation of conditions.notation of conditions.

PhotographyPhotography

While I will force you to begin While I will force you to begin sketching as part of your sketching as part of your observation/data recording process... observation/data recording process... A camera can be a VERY useful tool!A camera can be a VERY useful tool!

I am more photographer than note I am more photographer than note taker or sketch builder....taker or sketch builder....

What to look for in a camera?What to look for in a camera? ReliabilityReliability

– You have to be able to count on the cameraYou have to be able to count on the camera

Large Storage mediaLarge Storage media– Extra cardsExtra cards

Easy MaintenanceEasy Maintenance– Standard batteries are a plusStandard batteries are a plus– Avoid little shutter flaps and other dust catchersAvoid little shutter flaps and other dust catchers

Read reviews, talk to people, and carry a spare!Read reviews, talk to people, and carry a spare!

Other tools in the field....Other tools in the field....

Location and directionLocation and direction– CompassCompass– GPSGPS– Plane TablePlane Table

Elevation and slopeElevation and slope– Brunton transitBrunton transit– Builders LevelBuilders Level– Total stationTotal station

Other Tools in the Field (contd.)Other Tools in the Field (contd.) Soil and RockSoil and Rock

– Rock hammerRock hammer– AcidAcid– Ph metersPh meters– Munsell color chartMunsell color chart– Etc.Etc.

Water and Biotic conditionsWater and Biotic conditions– Collecting bottlesCollecting bottles– DO metersDO meters– Secchi diskSecchi disk– Tree coring toolTree coring tool– Etc.Etc.

Subsurface conditionsSubsurface conditions

A sub-class of field observations are A sub-class of field observations are those that utilize various tools to those that utilize various tools to “see” beneath the surface....“see” beneath the surface....– GPR (Ground Penetrating RADAR)GPR (Ground Penetrating RADAR)– Electrical Resistance ImagingElectrical Resistance Imaging– Seismic DataSeismic Data

Site 2: Known Glacial Ice

Site 1:

Suspected Ice Cored Moraine

Sketch MappingLike Sketching, a sketch map gives a geographer the opportunity to selectively present information.

A sketch map can easily be seen as a perceptual map… how does one perceive the world?… this is embodied in a sketch map.

Sketch mapping is graphic communication Sketch mapping is graphic communication in its in its purest formpurest form..

Although very rarely considered, the basic Although very rarely considered, the basic rules of cartography should be rules of cartography should be remembered.remembered.

Scale, direction, angular fidelity, Scale, direction, angular fidelity, symbolism, simplicity are all useful to symbolism, simplicity are all useful to remember.remember.

These are the maps you sketch on the These are the maps you sketch on the back of a napkin to give someone back of a napkin to give someone directions….directions….

Auto-biographical map by LKM… (from her web site)

Auto-biographical Map by GGG

A sketch map and sketches of objects A sketch map and sketches of objects follow the same basic procedures… follow the same basic procedures…

establish the limits of the area to be establish the limits of the area to be mappedmapped

Layout a basic referencing system and Layout a basic referencing system and make sure the map follows these make sure the map follows these referencesreferences

Focus on the vital elements and make Focus on the vital elements and make these the primary focus of the mapthese the primary focus of the map

Label features Label features

The Hundred Acre Wood