geography: its nature and perspectives
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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. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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
ConicOval
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 SystemsHuman Systems
Environment and Society
Today