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Chapter One

Chapter One. Thinking Geographically. Geographers ASK: WHERE things are, WHY they are THERE, & WHY CARE?. How Geographers Address LOCATION (e.g where something is relatively or absolutely). they use Maps = a scale model of the world

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Chapter One

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  1. Chapter One Thinking Geographically Geographers ASK: WHERE things are, WHY they are THERE, & WHY CARE?

  2. How Geographers Address LOCATION (e.g where something is relatively or absolutely) • they useMaps = a scale model of the world WHEN: Early mapmaking (cartography) 2300 B.C. earliest maps WHY:used for navigating ships HOW: applies principles of geometry WHO: Aristotle:1st to id earth as a sphere; Eratosthenes: 1st to accurately calculate spherical size; Ptolemy: codified basic principles of Mapmaking & wrote 8 vol. Guide to Geography

  3. Principal Meridians & BaselinesU.S. Land Ordinance of 1785

  4. Township & Range System in the USVia the Land Ordinance of 1785 Principal meridians & east-west baselines of the township system. Townships in northwest Mississippi & topographic map of the area.

  5. How Geographers Address LOCATION cont’d(e.g where something is relatively or absolutely)Maps=a scale model of the real world • Map SCALE:1st decisions a mapmaker makes; determines level of DETAIL and AREA covered • PROJECTION:used to overcome the spherical shape of earth: shown as flat (-) causes distortions: shape, distance, relative size, direction • U.S. Land Ordinance of 1785- mathematical indicator of location; divided parts of the country into system of townships (6 sq. m) & ranges to facilitate the sale of land to settlers in the West. Ea. Township has a # corresponding to its distance N/S of a specific baseline. E/W of principle meridian’s are ranges. Each township is divided into sections (1 X 1 m) & then again into 4 quarters (.5 X .5) or 160 acres • POINT: explains the location (process of) of objects across much of the US e.g. Hwys, farm fields, streets, etc.---- They are not accidental or “happenstantial” WHAT IS WHERE? WHY THERE? WHY CARE?!!!!!

  6. Washington State (1:10 million scale) Scale Differences:Maps of Washington State The effects of scale in maps of Washington State. (Scales from 1:10 million to 1:10,000) Back

  7. World Political Boundaries(2007)maps are used to delineate SPACE (in this case Political space) National political boundaries are among the most significant elements of the CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

  8. How Geographers Address Location Cont.’d • Contemporary Tools • GIS-computer system: captures, stores, query, analyze & display geog. Info/data • Remote sensing-satellites that can scan Earth’s surface/transmit the image back to earth. Used for environmental analysis, weather, vegetation, oceans, urban sprawl etc. • GPS-computer system: accurately determines the precise position of something on earth. (available in portable version for driving)

  9. Layers of a GIS A geographic information system (GIS) stores information about a location in several layers. Each layer represents a different category of information.

  10. Google Map Chicago pizza restaurants

  11. Key Issue 2:Uniqueness of Places & R egions Place: • Unique charateristics/features of a location e.g.- • Place names: (Toponyms): political, social, cultural, historical) • Site: physical character of a place (physical, strategic, modified, etc.) • Situation: location of a place relative to other places • Mathematical location: (aka absolute location) determined precisely by meridians & parallel (lat/long)= absolute location

  12. Site: (physical Characteristics)Lower Manhattan Island Site of lower Manhattan Island, New York City. There have been many changes to the area over the last 200 years.

  13. Situation: location relative to another placeSingapore Singapore is situated at a key location for international trade.

  14. World Geographic Grid The world geographic grid consists of meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude. The prime meridian ( 0º) passes through Greenwich, England.

  15. World Time Zones The world’s 24 standard time zones each represent about 15° of longitude. They are often depicted using the Mercator projection.

  16. Uniqueness of Places & Regions cont.’d Regions: Areas of unique characteristics • Cultural landscape:combo of cultural, economic & physical features. “Culture is the agent, the natural area the medium, the cultural landscape is the result.” • Types of Regions: 3 types: 1)Formal: everyone shares in common 1 or > distinctive characteristics, 2) Functional (nodal): area organized around a focal pnt or node 3) vernacular: or perceptual region, ppl believe it exists as part of the cultural identity. *Regions can be constructed to encompass areas of varying SCALE; ----SCALE CHANGES PERSPECTIVE!!! • Spatial association:distribution &/or location of “things” in relation to another “thing”. Used to Explain WHY ?

  17. Presidential Election 2004Regional Differences Presidential election results by county & state illustrate differences in regional voting patterns.

  18. Formal and Functional Regions The state of Iowa is an example of a formal region; the areas of influence of various television stations are examples of functional regions.

  19. Vernacular Regions A number of features are often used to define the South as a vernacular region, each of which identifies somewhat different boundaries.

  20. Spatial Association at Various Scales Death rates from cancer in the US, Maryland, & Baltimore show different patterns that can identify associations with different factors.

  21. World Climate Regions IMPORTANT TO KNOW! The modified Köppen system divides the world into five main climate regions.

  22. Environmental Modification in the Netherlands Polders & dikes have been used for extensive environmental modification in the Netherlands.

  23. Environmental Modification in Florida Straightening the Kissimmee River has had many unintended side effects.

  24. C-38 CanalFlorida The canal (modification) has carried water with agricultural runoff & pollution into Lake Okeechobee

  25. Key Issue #3:Similarity of Different Places • Scale: local to global (multiple levels) geography can explain human actions at all SCALES SO…. Why does Scale Matter? & the Questions it Considers

  26. Globalization Globalization means the scale of the world is SHRINKING! … But… information, integration & interdependency between nation is INCREASING! • Globalization of economics Involving the entire world INTERACTING economically (e.g. transnational corporations, economic nodes, specialization, division of labor) Advances in Transportation, & Technology have extremely increased the impact of economic globalization • Globalization of culture Uniformity …result of globalization Diversity(local customs) are threatened, increases in similarities result, resistance to these trends can lead to conflict! (WHY CARE?)

  27. Globalization of the Economy The Denso corporation is headquartered in Japan, but it has regional headquarters & other facilities in North America and Western Europe.

  28. Similarity of Different Places cont.’d Space: Distribution of features : EVERTHING occupies a unique space on earth DISTRIBUTION =Arrangement of a feature (the stuff being observed) in space 3 PROPERTIES OF DISTRIBUTION 1. Frequency of the feature (the stuff being observed) = DENSITY Measuring Density: Arithmetic Density involves 2 measures. # of people & the land area Physiological Density: # of persons per unit of areas Agricultural Density: # of farmers per unit area of farmland Housing Density: # of dwelling units per unit of area 2. Extenta feature is (the stuff being observed) spread over space =CONCENTRATION close= clustered; relatively far apart= dispersed different from density 3. Geometric arrangement of objects (stuff being observed) in space= PATTERN geometric,irregularly, linear, square, rectangular, grids, etc.

  29. Density & Concentration of Baseball Teams, 1952 & 2007 The changing distribution of No. American baseball teams illustrates the differences between density & concentration.

  30. Distribution:Density, Concentration, & Pattern The density, concentration, & pattern (of houses in this example) may vary in an area or landscape.

  31. Similarity of Different Places cont.’d Gender & Ethnic diversity in space: People care about cultural & ethnic traits & this results in gender & ethnic patterns of distribution over space. Geographers consider CULTURAL IDENTITY important in understanding why people sort themselves out in space & move across the landscape in distinctive ways. Everybody Say It: What is Where? Why There? Why Care?

  32. Similarity of Different Places cont.’d Connections btwn places Reduction in the time it takes for something to reach another place = Rapid change … why? Encourages DIFFUSION • Spatial interaction: places connected to each other through a network (Chains of communication) media, transportation systems, internet, etc. barriers can curb interaction (oceans, mountains, language, tradition, finances, conlict) Distance CAN be a barrier. e.g. As contact diminishes a trailing off phenomenon called DISTANCE DECAY

  33. DIFFUSION: • Process by which a characteristic spreads across space from 1 place to another over time The process & rate of DIFFUSION have increased today due to advances in transportation & communication Hearth = the origination point of the diffusion 2 ways : relocation or expansion Relocation Diffusion:spread of an idea via physical movement from place to place Expansion Diffusion:spread feature from 1 place to another via a snowballing process cause by 1 of the processes below- 3 Processes Hierarchical diffusion-spread of an idea from persons of authority/power to other places Contagions diffusion- rapid, widespread spread of a characteristic thru-out the pop. Stimulus diffusion-spread of an underlying principle, even though a characteristic itself apparently fails to diffuse

  34. Space-Time Compression, 1492-1962 The times required to cross the Atlantic, or orbit the earth, illustrate how transport improvements have shrunk the world.

  35. Airline Route Networks Continental Airlines, like many others, has configured its route network in a “hub & spoke” system. Hierarchical diffusion

  36. AIDS Diffusion in the US,1981-2002 New AIDS cases were concentrated in three nodes in 1981. They spread through the country in the 1980s, but declined in the original nodes in the late 1990s. Contagious Diffusion

  37. The BIG 9 ideas in geography are: • Location - Where is it?Distribution - How is it arranged?Spatial association - This goes with that.Distance - How far is it?Region - Common groundSpatial interaction - How strongly related?Scale - How big is it?Movement - Where to next?Spatial change over time - Before and after

  38. RECAPING the Primary Points • Space – fundamental concern of Geography- Where? • Place – Why There? • Region scale – Observable Data • Connection - Analyze Why Care?

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