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Introduction to
Geography
I am a Geographer Journal
1. How do you use geography every single day
at home &/or school? Be specific and
explain!
2. What tools do you use when you study
geography? Be specific and explain!
**Remember to put a DATE, TITLE, and PAGE
NUMBER for all journal entries. ALWAYS
update your table of contents.
INTRO TO GEO NOTES
• Geography is a
description of the
earth and the
things on it….
• Physical
• Human
TOOLS OF GEO:
• Direct Observation – visiting a region, aerial photos
& satellite
• Mapping / Cartography – study & making maps
• Statistics - math
• Technology
• Graphic information systems (GIS)
• Definition: computer systems that store and analyze
geographic data
• Global Positioning system (GPS)
• Definition: a system that uses satellites and receivers
to determine absolute location
FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY
• The earth is HUGE! So geographers divide this
description into groups called the Five
Themes of Geography
1. Location
• Where is it?
1. Absolute Location:
exactly where something
is.
• Ex: address, latitude and
longitude
2. Relative Location:
about where something
is?
Southwest, Converse
2. Place
• What is it like there?
• Physical Characteristics
• Human Characteristics
3. Region
• Areas united by
similar features
• How are areas
similar and
different?
• Ex: climate,
Latin America
• Can be uniform
or functional
3. Formal and Functional and
Perceptual Regions
Formal
• There are three types of
regions:
• Formal: clear boundaries,
defined by human or physical
characteristic
•
Functional
**ex: common government, Rocky Mountains
• Functional- area defined by
one function that can cross
political boundaries; area
organized around focal point
** ex: highway systems, river drainage basin
• Perceptual: based on
people’s attitudes and
emotions about a place (may
not be based on fact)
** ex: “Deep South” or “The Big Apple” (New York City)
4. Movement
-IDEAS
-PEOPLE
-GOODS
• How are people and places connected?
• How do people shape the earth?
• What are reasons for movement?
5. Human Environment Interaction
• How does the environment affect Humans?
• How do we humans impact the environment?
FIVE THEMES PRACTICE
• The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
• The I-35 Corridor is a major area of trade, travel, and
commuting.
• If you go to Antarctica, you’d better bring a coat!
• San Antonio’s Riverwalk, the Alamo, and the Hemisphere
tower are well known landmarks.
• The Japanese tsunami caused a nuclear meltdown that
made thousands evacuate the area.
• When I think of the “West” I usually think of everything
west of the Rockies.
• In many of the countries colonized by Spain, they speak
Spanish and practice Catholicism.
• The Gulf states share the same coastline.
• I live in Converse which is next to Randolph Air force Base.
EXIT DISCUSSION: “L”
• List AT LEAST THREE different things you
learned today about Geography that you did not
know before in the L of your KWL charts from
DAY TWO.
• IF YOU WERE NOT HERE: Just tell me three
things you learned about geography.
Why is Geography important?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww
Meridian (Longitude)
• Lines that run north and south or vertical
• 0 degrees called Prime Meridian
• Goes through Greenwich, England
• Opposite end called “International Date Line”
and found at 180 degrees
• Time is measured using meridians
• Every 15 degrees (east or west) equals one hour of
time
Parallels (Latitude)
• Imaginary lines that run west to east or
horizontal
• 0 degrees latitude called equator
• Two other major parallels are the Tropic of
Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
Grid
• Combining Longitude and Latitude allow people
to identify exact locations of places on the earth
(absolute location)
• (DON’T COPY below)
Example:
Denver is found at
39 degrees North
Latitude and 104
degrees West
Longitude
Longitude and Time
• 24 time zones were created by dividing 15 degrees
(1 hour) into the total amount of Degrees in latitude
(360)
• The time at 0 degrees longitude is known as
Greenwich Mean Time or Universal Time
• When crossing the International Date Line you
must either move your clock forward by 24 hours
(heading west) or set your clock by 24 hours
(heading east)
What is a map?
• A generalized view of an area, usually
some portion of Earth’s surface, as
seen from above at a greatly reduced
size
What is a Globe?
• a 3-D representation of the earth
Why make maps and not use globes?
Represent a larger area
Shows what
we cannot
see
How do we read maps?
• Size of the map relative to reality (scale)
• What’s on the map (symbolization)
• Shape of the map (projection)
• Direction of a map (compass)
• What the map is about (title)
Map Scale
Map Scale• Ratio of the distance on the map to the
distance on the ground
Large Scale
Small Scale
Reading a Map
• Key: explains what the symbols stand
for
• Compass Rose: marker that
indicates directions
• Scale Bar: shows the relationship
between map measurements and
actual distances
Boundary Lines
Key
Cities
Compass Rose
Scale Bar
A map projection is the
shape of a map and has
distortions (mistakes).
Conic Projection:
Distances and
directions are fairly
accurately. This
projection is best for
showing limited eastwest areas that are
not too far from the
Equator.
Pseudo cylindrical
• Pseudocylindrical projections represent the central
meridian (verical lines of longitude) and each parallel
(horizontal lines of latitude) as a single straight line
segment, but not the other meridians.
• A sinusoidal projection shows relative sizes
accurately, but grossly distorts shapes. Distortion
can be reduced by "interrupting" the map.
Mercator Projection
Projection distorts size and distance as it moves away
from the Equator. These projections do accurately show
true directions & shapes of landmasses, making these
maps useful for sea travel.
Robinson Projection
Projection has minor distortions; the size & shapes
near the eastern and western edges of the map are
accurate. Polar areas appear somewhat distorted.
Main map used in your text book
Types of Maps
• Thematic maps: show a particular theme or topic.
• Geographers can use these maps to illustrate
various features of Earth’s surface.
• Such features include:
• Landforms: mountains, hills, plains and plateaus
• Climate: long term weather patterns or rainfall
• Natural Vegetation: plant life that grows in a
certain area if people have not change the natural
environment
• Resources of an area
Special Purpose Maps emphasize a single idea or
particular kind of information about an area. The
colors and symbols represent the location or
distribution of activities / resources.
Physical Maps show the
location and the
topography (shape) of
earth’s physical features.
Usage of different colors
or patterns indicate
relief.
Political Maps show the
boundaries between
countries. These maps
often show human-made
features such as capitals,
cities, roads and railroads.
What are some visual ways to look at Data?
• Graphs, Charts, and Tables
• Graph: a visual presentation of
information
• Charts and Tables: facts displayed in a
way that makes comparisons easy
• Diagram: a drawing
Graphs
• Visual presentation of information
• Generally consists of two axis in order to compare data
• 4 basic types of Graphs
•
•
•
•
Line
Bar
Circle
Pictograph
Line Graph
• Change of two sets of variables
over time
• Allows for the study of trends
and changes
Bar Graph
• Shows comparisons
• Generally shows differences in quantities
Circle Graph/Pie Graph
• Shows relationship of parts
to the whole
• Percentages are indicated
by size (Sometimes color)
Pictograph
• Similar to a bar graph
• Uses pictures to represent
a subject
Charts and Tables
• Data arranged in columns or rows
• Facts displayed in an organized manner
Diagram
• Drawing
• Shows what something is
• How something is done
5 Themes Review: MR H/ELP
• Converse, TX is next to Randolph Air Force Base.
• My publishing company ships textbooks all over
the world.
• Southwest Airlines has interconnected travel
routes all over the U.S.
• India is a tropical place with beautiful
architecture.
• The river area needed electricity so we built a
dam to generate power.
• NAFTA is a trade alliance that links Canada, the
U.S., and Mexico.
Map Projections Journal
1. Using your notes, explain what a map projection is and
why they sometimes are not accurate.
2. Also using your notes, explain which one of the map
projections you would use for a road trip across the
United States and why.