esci 1101 spring_2011_chapter_02_guided_notes

© 2007, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Physical GeographyPhysical Geographyby Alan Arbogastby Alan Arbogast

Chapter 2Chapter 2

The Geographer’s Tools

Lawrence McGlinnDepartment of GeographyState University of New York - New Paltz


ToolsTools

• Geographic grid

• Maps

• Digital Technology


Geographic GridGeographic Grid

• Great Circles

• Small Circles



• Latitude

• _____________

• _____________

• N & S Hemispheres

• Low, Middle and

High LatitudesGeographic Grid



• Longitude

• _____________

• _____________


MapsMaps

• What Is a Map?• 1. A map is a two-dimensional (flat)

representation of the whole Earth or a specific region of the Earth.

• 2. A map is a generalized view of an area, as seen from above, that is reduced in size.

• 3. A map is a tool that is used to depict ___________________________________


MapsMaps

• _____________ – The Study of the design and production of maps.

• _____________– A map showing one or a limited number of types of information, e.g. a map of rainfall and/or temperature

• _____________ – The most visually complete and accurate way to represent the Earth.

Using Maps


MapsMaps

• _____________– Representation of the 3-dimensional Earth on a 2-dimensional surface

• _____________

• 2 types of projection:

• _____________ – Shape OK

• _____________ – Size OK


MapsMaps

The Mercator Projection is a conformal projection with correct shapes for landmasses but great exaggeration of size near the poles.

ConformalProjection


MapsMaps• Equivalent Projection – This Albers Equal-Area Projection (the

standard projection for the continental US) is an example of an equivalent projection. Size is consistent throughout this map, but shape is distorted, especially toward the poles and toward the equator.


MapsMaps

• _____________– The distance ratio between features on a map and features in the real world (linear)

• _____________– small area, fine detail

• _____________– large area, little detail


Large ScaleVerbal Scale 1 inch = 0.25 miles

Representative Fraction 1:16,000

Bar Scale 0 0.4 Miles

Courtesy : USGS

0 5000 Miles

Small ScaleVerbal Scale 1 inch = 3000 miles

Representative Fraction 1:190,000,000

Bar Scale


MapsMaps

• _____________ – Lines connecting points of equal value on a map.

• _____________ – Air pressure

• _____________ – Precipitation

• _____________ – Temperature

• _____________ – Elevation/Topography


Constructing an Isoline Map

Starting with a map of tempera-tures at weather stations (a),Isotherms for 2 degree intervalsare drawn (b) & (c). Then, shading is added, showing thegeographic patterns oftemperature over the upperMidwest (d).


Digital TechnologyDigital Technology

• _____________– Data collected from aerial photography and satellite imagery.

• __________________________– System of satellites & receivers to plot location.

• __________________________- System to manipulate & display spatial data.


Remote SensingRemote Sensing

• Aerial Photography

• Discern Spatial

Patterns

• Resource Inventory

• Emergency

Management



• Sun-Synchronous Satellites

• LANDSAT

• AVHRR



• Geostationary Satellites

• GOES (Weather)


GPSGPS

• Global Positioning System

• ___ satellites orbit earth every 12 hours

• Satellites transmit pseudo random code

• __________________________

• _____________ gives location


GPSGPS

• Distance from satellite to receiver

• Triangulation

• Location


GISGIS• Geographic Information Systems

• ____________________________________________________

• Data consists of layers of one variable such as: vegetation, landforms, or soils

• Layers can be overlaid/combined for analysis or display

• Applications include: resource management, planning, hazard assessment, etc.

Using a Geographic Information System

esci 1101 spring_2011_chapter_02_guided_notes

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