Unit 1: Physical Geography The Basics

1. Unit 1: Physical Geography The Basics Mr. Hammett

2. What is Geography? • 2 Main Branches • Human Geography • Physical Geography “The Spatial Perspective” –Why of Where? • Why is Geography Important? • Environmental Determinism • Possibilism • Ethnocentrism

3. Why of where – Spatial Perspective

4. AP Curriculum • Models and theories • Relevant Information • Current Events/Issues

5. Lookingat the Earth Geography involves the study of places: their locations, their characteristics, and how humans use and move around them.

6. The Five Themes of Geography Geographers view the world in terms of the use of space. Geographers study the world by looking at location, place, region, movement, and human-environment interaction.

7. Geographers look at: • Use of space on Earth • Interactions that take place there • Patterns and connections between people and land • Geography is the study of the distribution and interaction of: • Physical features on Earth • Human features on Earth

8. Methods of Geography • Geographers use a variety of tools: • Maps • Photographs • Charts, graphs, tables • Scale models • Five themes of geography

9. Theme: Location • Where is it? • Absolute location—exact place where a geographic feature is found • Relative location—location of a place compared to places around it

10. Absolute Location • Earth is divided into two equal halves, vertically and horizontally • Each vertical and horizontal half is called a hemisphere • An imaginary line, the Equator, divides north and south halves • Another imaginary line, the Prime Meridian, divides east and west • Axis: A line about which arotating body turns. • Grid System: Longitude andlatitude lines.

12. Latitude Lines • Geographers use latitude lines to locate places north and south • Latitude—imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator • Longitude Lines • Geographers use longitude lines to mark positions east and west • Longitude—imaginary lines that go over the poles • Where latitude and longitude lines cross is the absolute location

13. Relative Location • How a place is related to its surrounding environment

14. Theme: Place • What is it Like? • Place includes physical features and cultural characteristics: • physical features include climate, landforms, vegetation • cultural characteristics include dams, highways, houses

15. Theme: Region • How are Places Similar or Different? • A region is an area united by similar characteristics • Unifying characteristics—physical, political, economic, cultural • Three types of regions: • Formal • Functional • Perceptual

16. Formal Regions • Defined by a limited number of related characteristics • Formal regions of the world: • United States and Canada • Latin America • Europe • Russia and the Republics • Africa • Southwest Asia • South Asia • East and Southeast Asia • Oceania and Antarctica

17. Functional Regions • Organized around interactions and connections between places • Example: a city and its suburbs are connected through human movement • Perceptual Regions • Region with characteristics people perceive in much the same way • Example: the American Midwest • Sometimes perceptions differ: Does Midwest begin in Ohio or Illinois?

18. Theme: Human-Environment Interaction • How Do People Relate to the Physical World? • A relationship exists between people and their environment • People use and change the environment to meet their needs • People adapt to environmental conditions they cannot change • Often, people in similar environments adapt in different ways

19. Theme: Movement • How Do People, Goods, and Ideas Get from One Place to Another? • Geographers use three types of distance to analyze movement: • linear distance: how far a person, product, or idea travels • time distance: how long it takes for person, product, idea to travel • psychological distance: Refers to the way people perceive distance • Example: unfamiliar places may seem farther away than familiar ones

20. The Geographer’s Tools • Geographers use two- and three-dimensional tools to learn about the earth. • Geographers use computer-assisted technology to study the use of the earth’s surface.

21. Maps and Globes • Visualizing Earth • Oldest known map: Babylonian clay tablet, circa 500 B.C. • Maps show locations of places, landforms, bodies of water

22. Two or Three Dimensions • Globe—athree-dimensional representation (a sphere) of Earth • Map—a two-dimensional graphic representation of Earth’s surface • Cartographer (mapmaker) tries to accurately reflect earth’s surface • Map projection—way of showing Earth’s curved surface on a flat map

23. Map Projection

24. Types of Maps • Three types of maps: general reference, thematic, navigational • A topographic map is one kind of general reference map • Topographic map—shows natural and man-made features of earth • Thematic map—shows specific data such as climate, population density • A navigation map is used by sailors, pilotsCardinal Directions are the most common form of direction. (North, South, East, West)

25. Physical and Political Maps • Political Maps are designed to show boundaries of countries, cities, and states. • Physical Maps are designed to show physical features of the world. (Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, etc…)

26. Geographic Information Systems • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a digital geographic database • Combines and displays information from many sources • Global Positioning System (GPS) • Uses series of 24 Navstar satellites to beam information to Earth • Hand-held GPS receivers on Earth display exact position • GPS used by explorers, sailors, drivers; also used to track animals