introduction to ap human geography...human-environmental interaction cultural ecology •the...
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Introduction to AP Human GeographyMr. Stepek
“Geography”
• “geography” from the Greek • “geo” = Earth• “graph” = to write or describe•\ geography = “to write about or describe the
Earth”• Geographers organize things across space while
historians organize over time• Periodization vs. regionalization
Map scale (relationship of distance on a map to that in reality)
• LARGE(R) SCALE• Therefore does a larger
scale cover a larger or smaller area in reality?
• Large scale = small area• Large scale = more detail
• Small scale = large area• Small scale = less detail
• Expressed in terms of words, fraction, ratio, or bar scale
Scale (“level of analysis”)• Over what “scale”
would these environmental problems be analyzed?
• Acid rain (factories produce sulfur which drops elsewhere)• NATIONAL or
REGIONAL• Garbage, landfill,
recycling, etc.• LOCAL
• Climate change• GLOBAL
“level of aggregation”/ “generalization”(over what “spatial unit” are you analyzing a phenomenon)
Models: Abstract generalization to help explain a common pattern.
Spatial models show commonalities in the patterns on landscapes
Non-spatial models show a pattern on other than a map.
Qualitative vs. Quantitative analysis
• “qualitative” refers to information about subjective characteristics (softness, beauty, feelings); info that can't actually be measured.
• “quantitative” refers to data that can be measured and written down with numbers.
“Mapping a 3-dimensional world on a 2-dimensional surface” = Map Projections
• “Equal area” –relative sizes of landmasses are maintained, but shape is often grossly distorted.
• “Conformal” –shapes of landmasses and local direction maintained while sacrificing accurate size.
GoalMethod
Azimuthal or Planar Projections
Mercator Projection (1569)
Classic size distortion example: South America vs. Greenland
Gall-Peters Projection
Goode’s homolosine “Interrupted” projection
Robinson Projection
Winkel-tripel Projection
All projections have some degree of distortion:size, shape, distance, or direction
Map legend/key
• For analysis purposes special attention MUST be placed on the map index or legend• Identifies scale• Identifies
symbols• Identifies color
coding
Thematic Types of Maps: choropleth
• unit is assigned color• best = use shades of same color• darker = greater occurrence of
the phenomenon being analyzed
• strength• shows dominance of a trait
• weakness• level of
aggregation/generalization must be considered.
• could give false conclusion • must compare “apples to apples”
Thematic Types of Maps: dot maps
• dots indicate the # of occurrences in a given area
• Best for raw data, not ratios or normalized data
• Snow video = early use of GIS
• can be described using the three properties of a distribution
Thematic Types of Maps: isoline
• similar data is connected by lines • always used for
elevation• ex: barometric
pressure on weather maps
• Data bands assigned colors = isopleth
Thematic Types of Maps: flow line maps
Shows movement of people, information, and goods between places
Types of Maps: Topographic
Reflects the Earth’s physical features(terrain, elevation)
Graphs in the form of “maps”: Cartograms
• Distorts size of a map units to allow comparison of data.• more of a “graph” concept than a map = graph in map form
2008 Election Results
Five Themes of Geography
•Location•Place
•Region
•Interaction
•Movement
• Where? (most basic question)
• How can this location be described?
• With what other locations does this place share certain characteristics?
• How have humans and the environment affected each other in this location?
• How has this location been affected by the flow of people, goods and ideas?
Five Themes of Geography mnemonic
•Movement•Region•Location•Interaction•Place
= “Mr. Lip”
Two ways to describe a “location”
• Absolute or “Exact” location
• Using latitude and longitude• Another type = street addresses, “townships”
Two ways to describe a “location”
• Relative location
• where something is, in reference to someplace else.• “Illinois is south of Wisconsin”• San Francisco is 350 miles north of L.A.• can hint at the importance of a location
Location Tools
• GPS (Global Positioning System)• uses satellites to pinpoint location,
direction, velocity
Location Tools (continued)
• GIS (geographic info. system)• permits storage/analysis of data
in layers• Ghost Map (Snow/Cholera)
• Remote sensing• collect data with tools while
physically distant from the area.
Place: how can a location be described?Physical
• toponym = place name • Michigan = “large water”• “Half Day Road”
• climate and vegetation • see GR #37 and #38
People
Koppen’s climate classification
Place: how can a location be described?Physical
• toponym = place name • climate and vegetation
• see GR #37 and #38• terrain/landform
• mountainous, flat, coastal• built landscape
• type and density of construction
People
• toponyms• England = “Land of the
Angles”• “New England”• “Greektown”• What do the toponyms of San
Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles tell you about California?
• demographics• population/cultural stats
• ethnicity, language, religion• age & gender, birth rates• economic stats• density (a property of
distribution)
Distribution: use special terms to describe spatial relationships and their organization
• Density: how often an object occurs within a given area or space (used often with population)• Arithmetic or population density • occurrence of a phenomenon or population / total area
“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density
“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density
“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density
“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density
“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density
“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density
Physiological density =
• pop. / unit of arable (farmable) land• If all other factors are held constant it is a rough measure of the
ability of area to feed its population • related to the concept of carrying capacity
“Physiological” Density
Physiological density =
• pop. / unit of arable (farmable) land• If all other factors are held constant it is a rough measure of the
ability of area to feed its population • related to the concept of carrying capacity
Agricultural density• = farmers / arable land
• measures farming efficiency/modernization • consequently – it shows development!
• High = many farmers, by hand, low tech = less development• Low = few farmers, lots of machinery = more developed
Distribution: use special terms to describe spatial relationships and their organization GR 35
• Density: how often an object occurs within a given area or space (used often with population)
• Concentration: refers to the proximity over the area in which an item is spread.• Cluster/agglomeration = close together• Dispersed/scattered = spread out
Distribution: use special terms to describe spatial relationships and their organization GR 35
• Density:• Concentration: • Pattern: how things are geometrically organized
within their space.• Linear = along a straight line (any other descriptive shape as
well)• Circular, grid pattern, U-shaped, L-shaped, etc.• Random = no discernible pattern
Region: commonalities between places (GR 24)
• 3 ways to discuss region• Formal or uniform = homogeneous characteristics
• area where everybody speaks the same language• uniform terrain or physical features• jurisdictions (everyone is subject to same laws)
Formal regions
Region: commonalities between places
• 3 ways to discuss region• Functional or nodal = organized around a central point.
• market areas are the best example• Radio stations, zip codes, delivery areas, etc.
Functional region
Region: commonalities between places
• 3 ways to discuss region• Perceptual or vernacular = based on a person’s cultural
identity, shared values, cultural landscape, “in our minds” = mental map
• Midwest, “Rust Belt”, “Middle America”• South, “Bible Belt”, “Deep South”• Neighborhood designations
Perceptual or vernacular regions
Perceptual regions are often contradictory
Region: commonalities between places
• 3 ways to discuss region• Perceptual or vernacular = based on a person’s cultural
identity, shared values, cultural landscape, “in our minds” = mental map
• Midwest, “Rust Belt”, “Middle America”• South, “Bible Belt”, “Deep South”• Neighborhood designations• https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150928/loop/this-is-
where-chicagoans-say-borders-of-their-neighborhoods-are
Human-Environmental InteractionCultural ecology
• The geographic study of human-environmental relationships
• Two main ideas:• Environmental determinism vs. possibilism
• Distribute handout summary.• Play video:• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsZBnHxu95w
Movement
Movement of people = migration (Unit 2)Movement of ideas/culture = “diffusion” (Unit 3)
hearth = place of origination1) Relocation diffusion spread through migration2) Expansion diffusion = spread without physical relocation,
snow ball effect as more people/area exposeda) Contagious• fast, widespread to those in contact or adjacent (like disease)
b) Hierarchical • spread through nodes of power or influence or authority
Movement (of ideas/culture = “diffusion”)hearth = place of origination
1) Relocation diffusion spread thru migration2) Expansion diffusion = spread without physical relocation,
snow ball effect as more people/area exposeda) Contagious• fast, widespread to those in contact or adjacent (like disease)
b) Hierarchical • spread through nodes of power or influence or authority
c) Stimulus • underlying principles/idea spread but not end product
Movement (of ideas/culture = “diffusion”)
• Barriers to diffusion• physical and cultural barriers • distance
• “distance decay” (Tobler’s Law)
• Time-space compression • reduction of time it takes for
diffusion• especially quickened by technology
(adv. trans, telecomm., the internet)
Globalization
set of processes that are:- increasing interactions- deepening relationships- heightening
interdependence
without regard to country borders
set of outcomes that are:- unevenly distributed- varying across scales- differently manifested
throughout the world.
“Site and Situation”• site = what gives a location its distinctive character (land, labor
and capital) (combines absolute location w/place characteristics)• situation = how the “site” factors give this location importance
(what connections does it facilitate? what advantages does the site factor give?) (relative location and movement)
• London• Site:
• island • North Atlantic • Thames River = estuary
• Situation• protected from invasion • ideal for triangular trade
• 1530 = 50,000 • 1750 = 750,000
New York City “Site and Situation”Site
• island• large, natural, deep-
water harbor• Atlantic coast
New York City “Site and Situation”Site
• island• large, natural, deep-
water harbor• Atlantic coast
Situation• ideal for shipping
• docks numerous and protected• connect to Europe
• triangular trade
New York City “Site and Situation”Site
• mouth of Hudson River
New York City “Site and Situation”Site
• mouth of Hudson River Situation
• connects to the interior• Erie Canal (1825)
• before RRs• ship through Great Lakes• access to raw materials
• center of commerce and trade• overtakes Philly as largest port
• fresh water supply for huge pop.