Geography involves the study of places: their locations, their characteristics, and how humans use and move around them. 1.

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Geography involves the study of places: their locations, their characteristics, and how humans

use and move around them.

Looking at the Earth

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Geographers view the world in terms of the use of space.

Geographers study the world by looking at location, place, region, movement, and human-environment interaction.

Section 1: The Five Themes of Geography

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Geographers and Historians- Historians look at events over time

Geographers look at:- Use of space on Earth- Interactions that take place there- Patterns and connections between people

and landGeography is the study of the distribution and

interaction of:- Physical features on Earth- Human features on Earth

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Methods of Geography Geographers use a variety of tools:

- Maps - Photographs- Charts, graphs, tables- scale models- Five themes of geography

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Where is it?Absolute location—exact place where a

geographic feature is foundRelative location—location of a place

compared to places around it

Theme: Location

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Absolute Location• Earth is divided into two equal halves, vertically

and horizontally• Each vertical and horizontal half is called a

hemisphere• An imaginary line, the Equator, divides north and

south halves• Another imaginary line, the Prime Meridian,

divides east and west Axis: A line about which a rotating body turns.Grid System: Longitude and latitude lines.

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Latitude LinesGeographers use latitude lines to locate places

north and southLatitude—imaginary lines that run parallel to the

equatorLongitude Lines

Geographers use longitude lines to mark positions east and west

Longitude—imaginary lines that go over the polesWhere latitude and longitude lines cross is the

absolute location

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Relative LocationHow a place is related to its surrounding

environmentTheme: PlaceWhat is it Like?Place includes physical features and cultural

characteristics:- physical features include climate,

landforms, vegetation- cultural characteristics include dams,

highways, houses

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Theme: RegionHow are Places Similar or Different?A region is an area united by similar

characteristicsUnifying characteristics—physical, political,

economic, culturalThree types of regions:

formalfunctionalperceptual

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Formal RegionsDefined by a limited number of related characteristicsFormal regions of the world:

The United States and CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeRussia and the RepublicsAfricaSouthwest AsiaSouth AsiaEast AsiaSoutheast Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica

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Functional RegionsOrganized around interactions and connections

between placesExample: a city and its suburbs are connected

through human movement  Perceptual RegionsRegion with characteristics people perceive in much

the same wayExample: the American Midwest Sometimes perceptions differ: Does Midwest begin in

Ohio or Illinois?

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Theme: Human-Environment InteractionHow Do People Relate to the Physical World?A relationship exists between people and

their environmentPeople use and change the environment to

meet their needsPeople adapt to environmental conditions

they cannot changeOften, people in similar environments adapt

in different ways

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Theme: MovementHow Do People, Goods, and Ideas Get from One Place to

Another?Geographers use three types of distance to analyze movement:

- linear distance: how far a person, product, or idea travels- time distance: how long it takes for person,

product, idea to travel- psychological distance: Refers to the way people perceive distance

Example: unfamiliar places may seem farther away than familiar ones

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Geographers use two- and three-dimensional tools to learn about the earth.

Geographers use computer-assisted technology to study the use of the earth’s surface.

Section 2: The Geographer’s Tools

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Maps and GlobesVisualizing EarthOldest known map: Babylonian clay tablet,

circa 500 B.C.Maps show locations of places, landforms,

bodies of water

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Two or Three DimensionsGlobe—a three-dimensional representation (a

sphere) of EarthMap—a two-dimensional graphic

representation of Earth’s surface Cartographer (mapmaker) tries to accurately

reflect earth’s surfaceMap projection—way of showing Earth’s

curved surface on a flat map

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Types of MapsThree types of maps: general reference, thematic, navigationalA topographic map is one kind of general reference mapTopographic map—shows natural and man-made features of

earthThematic map—shows specific data such as climate,

population densityA navigation map is used by sailors, pilots

Cardinal Directions are the most common form of direction. (North, South, East, West)

Political Maps are designed to show boundaries of countries, cities, and states.

Physical Maps are designed to show physical features of the world. (Mountains, Plateaus, etc…)

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Physical and Political Maps

(maps-of-usa.co.uk, 2012)

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Surveying Surveyors observe, measure, record what they see in a specific

area Remote sensing, gathering geographic data from a distance,

includes:- Aerial photography- Satellite imaging

Satellites Best known satellites are Landsat and GOES Landsat is a series of satellites; can scan the entire planet in 16

days Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite (GOES):

- Orbits in sync with Earth’s rotation- gathers images of atmospheric conditions

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Geographic Information SystemsGeographic Information Systems (GIS) is a digital

geographic databaseCombines and displays information from many

sourcesGlobal Positioning System (GPS)Uses series of 24 Navstar satellites to beam

information to EarthHand-held GPS receivers on Earth display exact

positionGPS used by explorers, sailors, drivers; also used

to track animals

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Mcdougal Littell, World Geography. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2012

Bibliography