what is geography?

What is Geography?Unit 1

Chapter 1

Vocabulary• Location• Absolute Location• Hemisphere• Grid System• Relative Location• Place• Region• Formal Region• Functional Region• Perceptual Region

• Ecosystem• Movement• Human Environment

Interaction• Physical Geography• Human Geography• Meteorology• Cartography• Geographic Information

Systems(GIS)

Geography Geography is the study of the distribution and

interaction of physical and human features on the earth

Geographers are specialists who describe Earth’s physical and human features and the interactions of people, places, and environments.

What are some tools geographers might use to describe Earth?

Maps

Maps Topographic- shows natural and man-made

features on earth Thematic- shows information Navigation- maps air and sea- navigators would

use these

Thematic Map of Africa

Navigation Map

5 Themes of Geography

Also known as Elements

1. Location

2. Place

3. Region

4. Movement

5. Human-Environment Interaction

Theme 1- Location Spatial Relations- how places, people,

and features of the Earth are connected There are 2 types

Absolute Location- exact latitude and longitude at which a place is found on the globe

Relative Location- describes a place’s location in relation to another place

Absolute and Relative Absolute of Spartanburg County:

Latitude- 34.93163 North Longitude- 81.99075 West

-The entire county goes from approximately 35.2 to 34.6 degrees north and 82.2 to 81.7 degrees west

Relative Location Relative to other states: East of GA, North of

FL, SE of TN, South of VA Relative to other counties- North of Newberry,

Lexington, Saluda, West of Cherokee, York, Chester, East of Greenville

Relative to bodies of water: East Saluda and Reedy, west of Broad

Relative to landmarks- South of Chimney Rock, east of Table rock

Relativehttp://images.google.com/

“around the corner, past the Wal-Mart and across the street from the barber shop.”

When is it useful to know the absolute or relative location of a place?

Theme 2- PlacePlace- a particular space on Earth with

physical and human meaningPlace Types are based on human

characteristics and physical characteristicsHuman include: bridges, buildings, language,

modes of transportation, and religionPhysical include: landforms, climate, wildlife,

bodies of water, and vegetation

Physical and Human Systems Physical systems- volcanoes, floods, and

hurricanes shape the Earth’s surface Human systems- people affect the Earth by

settling it, forming societies, and migrating. People also move goods and ideas to new places.

What historical movements of people and ideas have changed the US and World?

Theme 3- RegionA region, larger than a place, is a group of places

that are united by shared characteristics. 3 Types

1. Formal/Uniform- area defined by a common characteristic

2. Functional- central place and the outlying areas linked to it by transit systems

3. Perceptual- defined by popular feelings and images rather than by objective data

Region Places that are connected

Cultural (Bible belt) Political (conservative south) Economic (rustbelt) Physical (sunbelt)

3 categories Formal Function Perceptual

Theme 4- MovementMovement- How goods, cultures, and rituals

migrate from place to place.3 Types of Movement

a. peopleb. goodsc. ideas

Theme 5- Human-Environment Interaction Pertains to how the environment and

people effect each other People depend on the environment- it

dictates what type of crops we grow. People modify the environment- clear land

and plant crops on it People adapt to the environment- wear

certain types of clothing according to the season

Map Skills Why are all map projections distorted?

The earth is round, and maps are flat, so the earth’s curves cannot be accurately shown on a map

Map Projections Mercator- used for ship navigation Polar (Azimuthal)- used for air travel Robinson- used in classrooms

Mercator Map

Polar (Azimuthal) Map

Robinson Map

Map Directions Cardinal directions- north, south, east, and

west Intermediate directions- southeast,

southwest, northeast, northwest

Hemispheres The world is divided into hemispheres by latitude

and longitude lines The Equator divides north and south, while the

Prime Meridian divides east and west

Reading MapsThere are 8 key elements that you need to know when reading a map

Reading Maps Title- explains subject of map Compass Rose- shows orientation Labels- words or phrases that explain map

features Legend-Lists and explains the symbols

and use of color on a map

Labels and Compass Rose

Reading Maps Latitude Lines-Run horizontal from the

equator out on both sides of the globe (mark north and south positions)

Longitude Lines- Run vertical from the prime meridian out on both sides of the globe (mark east and west positions)

Scale- Ruler-like line that shows the lengths of earth distance units on the map

Longitude (left) and Latitude (right)

What do Geographers do? Observe Map (cartography) Interview Create and use

statistics Technology (GIS

and GPS)