Geography

AP Human Geography

GeographyUnit 1AChapter 1

GeographersToolbox

Thinking GloballyGeo-earthgraphy-to writeGeographers ask where things are and why they are there

Geography-The study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth.GeographyPhysical Geography-focus on natural environment.

The earths natural phenomena, like soil, plants, climate and topography.

This is what most think of when they think Geography.Human Geography-focus on people.

Processes, and locations of the earths human creations and their interactions.Both are concerned with the central why of where question3Looking at the earthContinents

County

State/province/territory

Islands

OceansThe World

The Science of MapmakingCartographer-A person who makes maps

How do you know where things are without a map?

Maps and Map SymbolsScaleCompass RoseSymbolsTitleKey/LegendColor

MapsMaps-a two dimensional or flat scale model of the earths surfaceGlobe-scale model of the earthGreat Circle Route-shortest distance between 2 points on the earth

Types of MapsDuring the course of the year we will look at all types of maps, here are a few:ThematicFlow-lineChloroplethDot DensityProportionalSymbol thematicReferenceIsoline ThematicCognative or mental maps

Map ProjectionsProjections are the scientific method of transferring locations on the Earths surface to a flat map.

Think of a projection of making the skin of an orange lay flat.Four types of distortions can occur:

1. shape of an area is distorted.2. distance between two points may increase or decrease.3. relative size of different areas may be altered.4. Direction from one place to another can be distorted.

Classes of MapsCylindrical (compromise)-shows true direction but loses distance.

Planar-shows true direction and examines the earth from one point.

Conic-cone over the earth, loses direction but keeps distance intact.

Oval-combination of cylindrical and conicAzimuthal map is planar, Mollenwide is oval12Contemporary Tools for MappingGet out your notebook Put yourself in groups of 3. HURRY! DO THIS BEFORE THE TARDY BELL RINGS!Analyze your picture: What do you see in the picture? What do you think is "different" in the picture? Does this look like everywhere else in the world?What affects the look of this place? Is the location of this place important?If I were trying to get to this place, how I might I travel there? Warm-UPDescribe Manvel High School using the 5 Themes of Geography- there should be a characteristic for each Theme

Five Themes of Geography

LocationHuman/Environment InteractionsRegionsPlaceMovementLocationHow do Geographers know where things are?

Absolute Location: refers to a position on the global grid.

Relative Location: a location as described in relation to places around it.Absolute or Mathematical LocationMathematical location-location described by meridians and parallels, otherwise known as latitude and longitude.

Absolute location is unique for each place on earth. The absolute location of the ACC radio tower.Latitude: 29-24'02'' NLongitude: 095-12'14'' W

Latitude and Longitude

Meridians or longitude

Parallels or Latitude

Prime MeridianGMT-Greenwich Mean TimeInternational Date line

Equator

Hemispheres

Latitude and Longitude

Place-Unique location of a featureWhy is each point on Earth Unique? Four ways to identify a place on earth by its location.1. Place nameToponym or name to distinguish them from others. Some names reflect historyNew YorkSome reflect the founder-Alvin-Alvin MorganSome are reflective-Three Rivers

Site2. Site- physical character of a placeClimateTopographysoilwater resourcesVegetationelevation.

Situation3. Situation-location of a place relative to another place.This characteristic refers to relative location.

Human Environment InteractionPeople and their environment.

Environmental ModificationChanges to environment to suit people.

MovementInterconnections between areasWhat connects people and placesHow do people move from one placeTo another?

RegionsThe organization of the earths surface into distinct areas that are viewed as different from other areas.

Types of regionsThere are three types of regions:

Formal regionFunctional RegionVernacular or perceptual regionFormal RegionOther wise known as uniform or homogeneous region. Everyone within the region shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics.Creation of a state or province is a formal region

Formal regionsThe North America Wheat Belt is a formal region.Persons in the USA who vote Republican or Democratic .

Functional RegionFunctional or Nodal Regions are organized around a core, node or focal point.

Geographers use functional regions to display information about economic areas.Newspaper circulationTV Station reception areaPeople in our are who follow the Texans.Functional regionThe core area has distinct characteristics that lessen in intensity as one travels to the periphery, or the regions margins.

Traveling West from Denver persons will venture to the periphery of Salt Lake City.

Perceptual or Vernacular RegionsThey are places that people believe to exist as part of their cultural identity.

The reflect feelings and images more than any objective reality.

RegionsEmerging mega regions of the USAGlobalizationA force or process that involves the entire world and results in making something worldwide in scope.

Human activities are rarely confined to one location.

Multinational Corporation-located inmore than one country. Can affect the culture of other nations.

DistributionDistribution-the arrangement of a feature in space

Density-frequency in which something occurs.Distribution, cont.Concentration-the extent of a features spread over space.

Are they clustered (close together)?Are they dispersed (far apart) ?

Concentration is not the same as density. You can have the same density but different concentrations. Think housing in communities.Distribution, cont.Pattern-the geometric arrangement of objects in space.Some are geometric-houses on a street are linear.Some are random and irregularChina

Spatial interactionHistorically-settlers, explorers created interaction between locationsToday- Airplanes, computers, Television, internetDistance Decay-the farther away one group is from another group, the less likely they are to interact with each other.

Electronic communicationHas lessened this concept.Diffusion of culture and economyNorth America, Western Europe and Japan are the centers of global culture and economy.