chapter 1 (rubenstein 11 th ed.) basic concepts of geography
DESCRIPTION
Maps Geography = Greek word Geo = earth; graphy = to write Geography is the study of where things are found on the Earth’s surface and why they are at that location Map of Chicago’s neighborhoods Street map of ChicagoTRANSCRIPT
Chapter 1(Rubenstein 11th ed.)
Basic Concepts of Geography
Key Issue 1How Do Geographers Describe Where Things
Are?
A map of the US based on movie titles & state location
Maps Geography = Greek word
Geo = earth; graphy = to write Geography is the study of where things are
found on the Earth’s surface and why they are at that location
Map of Chicago’s neighborhoods
Street map of Chicago
Maps Geographers think SPACIALLY Where are things located on the Earth and why? Maps are a geographer’s basic & most important tool A map is a 2D model of the Earth Cartography = study of mapmaking Maps serve 2 purposes:
1. Reference tool Where is the lake? How do I get to Joan’s house? What is the
route for the fire escape? 2. Communication tool – primary use for modern maps
How much land is used for cattle farming? How did each county vote in the local election? Where do most college graduates live in the US?
Early Map Making
Figure 1-2
Maps
Public transportation in Hong Kong
Map Scale 1st question to ask: how much detail to include
in your map?
All maps are of Saint Viator High School
Map Scale Scale can be presented in 3 ways on a map Ratio or Fraction
Expressed as: 1:b or 1/b 1 unit : b number of units (1 ft = 1 mile, 1 inch =
10 miles, 1 meter = 49 meters, etc) 1:10,000; 1/10,000; 1:8500; 1/65
Written Scale Describes distance in words “1 inch equals 10,000 ft”; “1 cm equals 1 mile”
Graphic Scale A bar line that shows distance
Map Scale Match the scale to the correct term
•Graphic
•Written
•Ratio/Fraction
Map Scale
Small Scale
Large Scale
Projection Earth = sphere; Globe = sphere
Pros: accurately represent places on the earth Cons: can’t add much detail, size and shape
Earth = sphere; Map = flat Pros: can add much detail, very portable Cons: image distortion
Projection = the scientific method of transferring locations on earth to a flat map
Distortion = inaccurate depiction of a place on a map
You Tube – West Wing “Why are we changing maps?”
Projection There are 4 types of distortion
Shape Distance Size Direction
U.S.-centered world map
Asia-centered world map
Geographic Grid Meridians = lines drawn from one pole to the
other; run north-south; meet @ poles Measured in longitude (max = 180o) Prime Meridian = 0o longitude
Parallels = lines drawn parallel to the equator; run east-west; never touch other parallels Measured in latitude (max = 90o) Equator = 0o latitude
Latitude & longitude measured in: Degrees Minutes Seconds
What is at: N 42o 5’ 40”W 87o 58’ 11”
Geographic Grid 360 divided by 15 = 24 Each meridian = 15o wide 24 total meridians around the Earth Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Prime Meridian Reference point for all time on Earth 1 meridian = 1 hour
International Date Line Move forward or back 24 hrs (depending on route
of travel) Located at 180o longitude
Contemporary tools GIScience = geographic information science
Uses satellites to obtain info about Earth GPS = Global positioning system GIS = Geographic Information System
Computer system that stores & analyzes data Used to produce accurate maps Info collected can be stored in layers (roads,
names, water, etc.) Mashup = mixing of layers of GIS info
Key Issue 2 Why Is Each Point on Earth Unique?
Place Place = specific point on Earth distinguished
by a particular characteristic Location = the position something occupies
on the Earth’s surface 4 ways to indentify location
Place name Site Situation Mathematical
Place Name Toponym = name given to a place on Earth
St. Louis, Rocky Mountains, Gobi Dessert, Andalusia, Oakton St.
Names determined by any number of factors Famous person (Martin Luther King High School) Connection to area (Dunton St. – William Dunton =
founder of Arlington Heights) Natural landmarks (Nile Delta) Conquest (Constantinople / Istanbul) Origin of settlers (Witwatersrand = rocky hills near
Johannesburg, South Africa; Dutch name)
Situation Situation = location of a place in relation to
other places Allows comparisons between unfamiliar places
with familiar ones Allows understanding of importance of a
location.• Near trade or transportation route
• Omaha along the US Transcontinental RR• Religious site
• Mecca
Fig. 1-7: Singapore is situated at a key location for international trade.
Site Site = physical characteristic of a place
Climate, topography, soil, vegetation, latitude, elevation
Site factors influence settlement locations protection? trade routes? natural resources?
Humans can modify a site
Northerly Island in Chicago is a man-made peninsula.
The Cultural Landscape A unique combination of social
relationships and physical processes Each region = a distinctive landscape People = the most important agents of
change to Earth’s surface
Region Region: an area defined by one or more distinctive
characteristics A place can be included in more than one region Can be applied to any area smaller than the planet
Ex: Latin America, Bible Belt, Wrigleyville Cultural landscape: combination of cultural features
(ex: language, religion), economic features (ex: agriculture, industry), & physical features (ex: climate, vegetation)
There are 3 types of regions: Formal Functional Vernacular
Formal Region Also called “uniform region” Area where everyone shares one or more
distinctive characteristics Can be cultural (ex: common language),
economic (ex: production of one product – Detroit & cars), or environmental (ex: same climate)
Some regions the characteristic may be predominant, not universal. (see pg. 16 election map for example)
Functional Region Also called nodal region Area organized around a node or focal point Central focused and importance diminishes
further from epicenter Ex: radio station reach – Chicagoans care
about WSCR 670 AM sports talk but even though you can hear the broadcast in Indianapolis & St. Louis, those residents don’t care as much about Chicago sports
Formal and Functional Regions
Fig. 1-11: The state of Iowa is an example of a formal region; the areas of influence of various television stations are examples of functional regions.
Map of WSCR broadcast range
Vernacular Region Also called perceptual region Area people believe exist as a part of cultural
identity Drawing a mental map of a place
Vernacular Regions
Fig. 1-12: A number of factors are often used to define the South as a vernacular region, each of which identifies somewhat different boundaries.
Divide the US based on your impressions
Culture Culture: beliefs, customs, traditions, social
structure, and tangible items of a group of people
Has two different meanings: To care about: to worship To take care of: to look after something
What people care about Ideas, beliefs and values Ex: language, religion, politics, race, social status
What people take care of Production of material Ex: food, clothing, art
Spatial Association Regions A wide lens in viewing an area may not be
accurate in describing a region
Spatial Associations @ Various Scales 2012 Presidential Election County ResultsBlue = ObamaRed = Romney
Why is IL a “blue” state?
More counties voted for Romney.
Spatial Associations @ Various ScalesSpatial Association at Various Scales
Death rates from cancer in the U.S., Maryland, and Baltimore show different patterns that can identify associations with different factors.
Key Issue 3 Why are Different Places Similar?
Scale: From Local to Global Scale: relationship between portion of Earth
being studied and the Earth as a whole Globalization: force or process that involves
the entire world & results in making something worldwide in scope
Globalization of the Economy Example: 2008 recession 1st global recession Housing prices increase Banks giving loans @ low interest rates Banks giving loans to high-risk applicants Wealthy bought 2 or 3 homes as investments
Globalization of the Economy People stopped buying homes People couldn’t keep up with mortgage
payments Value of homes drops Selling a home for less than purchase price People not buying furniture, tvs, pools, shower
curtains, etc. Companies that make household items lose
money and fire workers to keep from going bankrupt
Globalization of the Economy Globalization led by transnational corporations
companies that conducts research, operates factories, and sells products in many countries
Globalization leads to specialization Each place contributes a specific part based on local
assets (ex: natural resources, labor, research, transportation, etc.)
Ex: Nike HQ: Oregon Shoes made in Asia Charities in Africa Sponsors soccer teams Sold worldwide
FC Barcelona jersey
Globalization of Culture A global culture? Enhanced communication Unequal Access
Case Study McDonalds
Space: Distribution of Features Distribution—three features
Density – the number of a feature in an area Concentration
Clustered vs. dispersed Pattern
Gender and ethnic diversity in space
Density, Concentration, and Pattern
Fig. 1-18: The density, concentration, and pattern (of houses in this example) may each vary in an area or landscape.
Housing density in Hong Kong
Density and Concentration of Baseball Teams, 1952–2000
Fig. 1-19: The changing distribution of North American baseball teams illustrates the differences between density and concentration.
Pattern: U.S. Land Ordinance of 1785 US Congress sold land in west
territory dividing it up Township and range system
Township = 6 sq. miles on each side North–south lines = principal
meridians East–west lines = base lines Range Sections
Figure 1-5
Diffusion The process by which a characteristic
spreads across space and over time Hearth = source area for innovations Two types of diffusion
Relocation Expansion
Three types: hierarchical, contagious, stimulus
Relocation Diffusion: Example
Figure 1-31
Spatial Interaction Transportation networks Electronic communications and the
“death” of geography? Distance decay
Figure 1-30
Space–Time Compression
Figure 1-29
Cultural Ecology The geographic study of human–
environment relationships Two perspectives:
Environmental determinism Possibilism
Modern geographers generally reject environmental determinism in favor of possibilism
Physical Processes Climate Vegetation Soil Landforms
These four processes are important for understanding human activities
Modifying the Environment Examples
The Netherlands Polders
The Florida Everglades
Figure 1-21
Fig. 1-16: Straightening the Kissimmee River has had many unintended side effects. Polders and dikes have been
used for extensive environmental modification in the Netherlands.
The End.
Up next: Population