1 geography basics.ppt
DESCRIPTION
GeoTRANSCRIPT
WELCOME TO
Instructor
Carol Jean Cox
Introduction Overview
•Geography defined
•Concepts of Location
•Globes, Maps & Map Basics
•Geographic Grid
GEOGRAPHY
Geo = earth
graphy = to scribe, draw, or map
GEOGRAPHY• the science of location
•the study of spatial relationships, (context &interconnectedness)
•an integrated science that uses
knowledge from many disciplines
DIVISIONS OF GEOGRAPHY
C U L TU R A L G E O G R A P H YH u m an C u ltu res
U rb an G eog rap h yE con om ic G eog rap h y
P H Y S IC A L G E O G R A P H YE arth S c ien cesB io -g eog rap h y
W eath er & C lim ate
TE C H N O L O G IC A L G E O G R A P H YG eog rap h ic In fo rm ation S ys tem s
Q u an ta ta tive G eog rap h yR em ote S en s in g
TH E W O R L D O F G E O G R A P H Y
TOPICAL VS. REGIONAL APPROACH TO STUDYING
GEOGRAPHY• Topical or Thematic
Studies– climate– vegetation– landforms– hydrology– plate tectonics– soils
• Regional Studies– North America– Africa– East Asia– USA– California– Sacramento region
California Geography• Geography: The study of where things are.
• California: A political unit with distinct boundaries, and territory
• California Geography: the study of the location of, context and interaction of phenomenon within the state of California
Northern Hemisphere
Arctic Ocean & North America
Pacific Ocean
Pacific Rim
Western North America
Introduction Overview
•Geography defined
•Concepts of Location
•Globes, Maps & Map Basics
•Geographic Grid
LOCATION• Relative Location
– location relative to other locations– situation
• Exact Location– geographic grid (38 °N 120 °W)
• latitude & longitude
– site
• Place Names – labels for locations
Introduction Overview
•Geography defined
•Concepts of Location
•Globes, Maps & Map Basics
•Geographic Grid
•California Overview
GLOBES & MAPS• Globe: a spherical model of the earth
that maintains area, shape distance & direction
• Map: a flat representation of a globe that allows distortion
MAP BASICS
• Maps may show
–Shape of objects
–Area of objects
–Distance to Objects
–Direction
MAP BASICS
• Maps must include
–Title
–Legend or Key
–Compass Rose
–Scale
SCALE
• Scale: the relationship between units on the map and actual distance on the ground
• Written Scale: one inch equals one mile
• Linear Scale: |---------|---------|----------|
• Ratio Scale: 1:63,360
Introduction Overview
•Geography defined
•Concepts of Location
•Globes, Maps & Map Basics
•Geographic Grid
Latitude
GEOGRAPHIC
GRID
A system of measurements from reference
points that allow us to locate
places
GEOGRAPHIC GRID
• REFERENCE POINTS• Equator - A great circle that divides the
globe into two equal halves or hemispheres of north and south.
Located at 0 ° latitude
• North and South Poles - located at right angles or 90° from the plane of the
equator.
GEOGRAPHIC GRID
• REFERENCE POINTS• Prime Meridian: The meridian, designated
as 0° E, W longitude, that passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England.
• International Date Line: An arc that follows 180° longitude E,W. When crossing the date line, the calendar is turned forward or backward one day, depending on direction of travel.
Latitude
Latitude - angular measurement
north or south of the equator
Latitude
Longitude- angular measurementeast or west of England
Parallels are circularlines used to indicate latitude
Meridians are arcsused to indicate longitude
Introduction Overview
•Geography defined
•Concepts of Location
•Globes, Maps & Map Basics
•Geographic Grid
Instructor
Carol Jean Cox