thinking geographically chapter 1. key issue 1map scale 3 types of scale: fractional/ratio-1/24,000...
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THINKING GEOGRAPHICALLY
Chapter 1
Key Issue 1 Map Scale• 3 types of scale:
• Fractional/Ratio-1/24,000 or 1:24,000 means 1 inch on the map represents 24,000 inches on the ground
• Written: 1 inch equals one mile• Bar -
• Scale examples• Neighborhood maps, world maps, country maps all have different
scales• The scale is determined by the amount of detail shown in a map• Neighborhood maps will have the largest scale, World maps have
the smallest scale
Scale Differences: Maps of Florida
Projection
• Since the earth is a 3D object and a map is a 2D object, maps will have distortions
• This leads to distortion• Shape, distance, relative size, direction
• Types of projections• Robinson, Mercator, Mollweide, Sinusoidal, Goode homolosine,
• Robinson is best to show size of the oceans• Mercator has least distortion in shape and direction. Grossly distorted near poles
How Geographers Address Location• GIS- Geographic information system• Software program that producing maps that display data
• Typically maps are multiple layers with different data for each layer. Data is relational (meaning there is a connection to all layers)
How Geographers Address Location
• Remote sensing- Satellites that record and map the Earth (mostly environmental but helps with monitoring urban sprawl)
• GPS- Global positioning System. Precise location provided by satellites (navigation) Used after 9/11 to record the debris of the World Trade Centers
Key issue 2 Uniqueness of Places and Regions
• Place: Unique location of a feature• Place names- Lakeland (toponym). Can be named
for several reasons• Site- physical character like climate, water, soil,
vegetation. • Situation-location to other places. Singapore is a
good example.• Mathematical location- GPS coordinates
• Greenwich, England• Latitude and longitude provide location• Latitudes are calculated by the sun whereas longitudes are
man made• East of international dateline-ahead• West of international dateline-behind
World Geographic Grid
Fig. 1-8: The world geographic grid consists of meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude. The prime meridan (0º) passes through Greenwich, England.
World Time Zones
Fig. 1-9: The world’s 24 standard time zones are often depicted using the Mercator projection.
Calculating Time Zones• Every 15 degrees longitude is an hour difference• Greenwich mean time (GMT) is 0 degrees (England)• New York- 75 degrees WEST• India- 75 degrees EAST• Australia- 120 degrees EAST• California- 120 degrees WEST
Uniqueness of Places and Regions• Cultural landscape- regions have distinct characteristics
because of social and physical processes and the Earth is shaped by these relationships.• Defined by Carl Sauer• Combination of things like language, religion, jobs and physical
earth qualities• Los Angeles is different thank New York City
• Spatial association• There are trends between data and the physical earth
• Cancer rates are higher in eastern US
• Regional integration of culture -Care about/care for help explain why places on the Earth are unique
• Cultural ecology-Culture effects the environment• Possibilism versus Environmental determinism• How does the environment affect human actions
Types of Regions• Formal regions- clearly defined boundaries with a common
characteristic through out (uniform region)• Common language, climate, laws• States, corn belt, voting• Used to identify national or global trends
• Function regions- an area or characteristic organized around a node (nodal regions)• New papers, radio stations, tv stations
• Vernacular regions- an area distinguished by cultural opinions (perceptual region)• The South is a good example• Everyone has a different idea of what makes up the South therefore the
region does not have a defined boundary
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.
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.
Physical processes that make places unique
• Climate- 5 types. People will not live in harsh climates therefore climate influences human activities
• Vegetation- 4 types. Mostly influences types of agriculture practiced
• Soil-10 orders (not types). Erosion and depletion• Landforms-Geomorphology helps understand the distribution of people and economic activities• Mountains aren’t good places to build Wal-marts
Cultural Ecology = Culture + Environment
Environmental Determinism
• Humboldt and Ritter• The environment
determines human activity• People live and develop in
regions where there is a temperate climate
• Humans don’t live in hostile areas
• The Earth determines where humans develop stuff
Possibilism
• Humans are not limited by the environment
• We are smart enough to adapt the environment to suit our needs
• We irrigate deserts into farms
• Air conditioning allows more development in hot regions
Key Issue 3 Similarity of Different Places
• Scale: From local to global-local decisions impact global• Globalization of economy- people can do business anywhere in the
world because of electronic banking. Now economies are more linked than ever
• Globalization of culture- The internet has been crucial to spreading popular culture. Fashion is a good example of popular culture. You would find blue jeans in Japan, making it seem familiar
• Connections between places• Spatial interaction- Faster travel, technology increases interaction
over wide distances• The world is shrinking – space time compression• Popular culture, religion, music, news, disease all spread faster today
than in the past
Space-Time Compression, 1492–1962
Fig. 1-20: The times required to cross the Atlantic, or orbit the Earth, illustrate how transport improvements have
shrunk the world.
Diffusion- spread of a characteristic• Relocation - when something is spread by physical
movement• Disease popping up in a country • Spread of religion or languages
• Expansion- spread in a snowballing pattern• Hierarchical- Spread from a hearth to outward areas
• Fashion is a great example (Paris, Milan, New York)
• Contagious- spreads like a disease, no discrimination • Think of the wave at a sports stadium
• Stimulus- an idea is diffused or transmitted from one culture to another. This idea then is improved upon or has stimulated another idea or invention• Samsung stealing some of Apple’s patents for cell phones and
improving on the technology