* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Intro to World Geography
Survey
Document related concepts
Department of Geography, University of Kentucky wikipedia , lookup
Early world maps wikipedia , lookup
Royal Geographical Society wikipedia , lookup
Cultural ecology wikipedia , lookup
Environmental determinism wikipedia , lookup
Mercator 1569 world map wikipedia , lookup
History of cartography wikipedia , lookup
Map projection wikipedia , lookup
Counter-mapping wikipedia , lookup
Cartographic propaganda wikipedia , lookup
Children's geographies wikipedia , lookup
Iberian cartography, 1400–1600 wikipedia , lookup
Military geography wikipedia , lookup
Transcript
Introduction to World Geography ©2012, TESCCC What is Geography???? • Geography is the study of place and space: Geographers look at where things are and why they are there. • Study of human activity, the natural environment, and the relationship between the two (human-environment interactions). ©2012, TESCCC What do Geographers do?? ► Observe ► Look for patterns, relationships, and processes ► Examine spatial patterns: From a local to global scale ► Look from multiple perspectives ► Ask: Where? Why, Where? and Why do we care? ©2012, TESCCC Physical v. Cultural Geography Physical Geography Cultural Geography Rocks/Minerals Population/Settlements/Urbanizati on Landforms Economic and Political Systems Animal and Plant Life Transportation Soils Human Migration Atmosphere/Climate/Weather Social Systems Environment Recreation Rivers/Oceans/Other bodies of Water Religion/Belief System Physical Geography is the study of the Natural Landscape of the Earth while Cultural Geography is the study of the Human Landscape of the ©2012, TESCCC Earth. What types of jobs do geographers have (in the U.S.)? Location Analysts, for: franchises (like “Burger King”) stores (like big department stores) public facilities (like new schools) Environmental Scientists and Consultants GIS (computer mapping) Urban and Regional Planners Real Estate and Residential Development Analysts Transportation and Tourism Planners and Analysts University and public school teachers ©2012, TESCCC CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS Geologists Taxonomy: kingdom, phylum, Class, order, family, genus, species Geological time Historians Eras, ages, periods Biologists Geographers ©2012, TESCCC Geographic Regions GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS: What defines a region? Regions are based on Spatial Criteria ►Physical (natural) characteristics landforms, climate, vegetation ►Human (cultural) characteristics language, religion, ethnicity, population ©2012, TESCCC GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS: ►Change over time. ►Do not have definite borders Are separated from or blend with other regions by transition zones. ►Transition Zone: Gradual shift (not a sharp break) to neighboring regions. ►Regions criteria is determined by human needs. This criteria allows for comparisons with other areas. ©2012, TESCCC Properties of Regions Area Boundaries Location ©2012, TESCCC SUB-REGIONS ► Classification of Regions is based upon physical features and human characteristics. Examples: The United States is in the North American Region. The U.S. has several sub-regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, etc. ► Region & Sub-region boundaries are based on criteria we establish. ► Criteria can be: Human (cultural) properties Physical or ©2012, TESCCC Both (natural) characteristics Example Region Classification Dominated by one political power: ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► North America: U.S. Middle America: Mexico South America: Brazil Russian Realm: Russia East Asia: China South Asia: India Southeast Asia: Indonesia Australian Realm: Australia ©2012, TESCCC No dominant State ► ► ► ► Europe Sub-Saharan Africa North Africa / Southwest Asia Oceania (Pacific Realm) Other Classification of Regions ►Regions can also be classified by Formal Characteristics Functional Characteristics Perceptual Characteristics ©2012, TESCCC FORMAL REGION ► Marked by a certain degree of homogeneity in one or more phenomena. Limited number of characteristics. ► Example: ©2012, TESCCC Latin America, Europe FUNCTIONAL REGION ►A region marked less by its functional structure. Organized around a set of interactions and connections between places. Example: Metropolitan Area ©2012, TESCCC Perceptual Region ► Region in which people perceive the characteristics of the region in the same way. ► Example: American Midwest ©2012, TESCCC Maps & More Maps Maps are geographers’ most common and useful tool ► Types of maps and projections Physical maps Political maps Special Purpose maps ► ► Cultural characteristics: Population density, infant mortality, literacy, GDP, etc. ► Physical characteristics: Climate, Vegetation, Precipitation, etc. ►Why ©2012, TESCCC do geographers use each type map? TODALSIGS ► TODALSIGS is an acronym to help us remember the parts to a good map: T - Title O - Orientation D - Date A - Author L - Legend S - Scale I - Index G - Grid S - Source ©2012, TESCCC The Grid System ► A grid system may use numbers and letters or a system of numbers . ► A system that uses numbers and letters will have numbers running along the side and letters running along the top of the map (or vise versa). ► Latitude and Longitude use a series of numbers identified with cardinal directions (N, S, E, W). Latitude: Lines of latitude run horizontal around the globe or a map. They are either North or South of the Equator. Longitude: Lines of longitude run vertically around the globe or map. They are either West or East of the Prime Meridian. ©2012, TESCCC SUMMARY • Geography means “the study of the earth” and is also known as “the study of the earth as the home of humankind.” Four main goals for this class: 1. Identify and analyze patterns, relationships, and processes 2. Examine important geographic problems and their potential solutions 3. Identify and analyze different types of information and connections among data 4. Discuss and interpret current events 5. Develop geographic analytical skills in interpreting places and understanding landscapes. ©2012, TESCCC SUMMARY • Maps are the geographers’ most basic and useful tools. To be able to use maps effectively, one must understand their basic language, especially the concepts and terms of scale, coordinate systems, projection, and symbolization. There are a variety of ways in which maps can depict spatial data. ©2012, TESCCC