Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives

Unit 1

Modern Technology

• Global Positioning Systems (GPS) use latitude and longitude coordinates to determine an exact location on Earth.

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) use geographic information and layers it into a new map showing specific types of geographic data.

Modern Technology

• Aerial photography allows geographers to see land use changing over time by comparing pictures of places from years past to current photographs.

• Google Earth, satellite images, and remote sensing bring places from around the world onto our computer screens.

Map Distortion

• Equal-area projection: keep the size or amount of area intact but distorts shapes.

– Ex: Goodes-Homsoline projection

Map Distortion

• Conformal maps: distort area but keeps shapes intact. Distance between latitude lines increases the farther one moves away from the common line of latitude

– Ex: Lambert conic projection

Map Distortion • Mercator map projection: all lines of latitude

and longitude meet at right angles, it greatly exaggerates the land forms around the polar regions.

Map Classes and Types

• Cylindrical- shows true direction but loses distance

• Planar (azimuthal)- shows true direction and examines the Earth from one point

• Conic-puts a cone over the Earth and tries to keep distance intact but loses directional qualitites.

• Oval (Molleweide)- combo of cylindrical and conic projections

Map Classes and Types

Cylindrical Planar

Conic Oval

5 Themes of Geography

• Place

• Region

• Location

• Human-Environment Interaction

• Spatial Interaction or Movement

5 Themes of Geography: Human-Environment Interaction &

Spatial Interaction

• Human-Environment Interaction- describes how people modify or alter the environment to fit individual or societal needs

• Spatial Interaction- describes how linked is a place to the outside world

6 Essential Elements in Geography

• The Spatial World

• Places and Regions

• Physical Systems

• Human Systems

• Environment and Society

• Uses of Geography in Today’s Society

6 Elements

• Spatial World- No place is alone, everywhere is somehow connected or linked to the outside world

• Places and Regions- Assign characteristics to particular locations and link them based on commonalities.

• Physical Systems- Physical barriers that prevent the movement of people across landscapes

6 Elements

• Human Systems- Anything humans have done to modify the Earth’s surface.

• Environment and Society-Use of land for economic or another type of advantage

• Uses of Geography in Today’s Society- How we use geography

Spatial Regions

Physical Systems Human Systems

Environment and Society

Today