Catch Up Unit 1: Physical Geography “Welcome to the BIG Show”

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

AP Curriculum –ModelsModels Relevant Information –Current Events/Issues –Parallel/Summer Readings

Basic Knowledge: Maps Maps = Geographers tools Basic Terms –Axis – Earth moves 1000 mph –Rotation = 23 hours, 56 min., 4.09 sec. WHY???? Several Theories… what are theories? theories –Revolution = days –Leap Year makes up for the inaccuracies in our day/year –Hemisphere Hemi Sphere How many? What are continents?

Maps cont. Longitudinal Lines/Meridians –Most important line? –Which hemispheres does it create? –How many total degrees? How many minutes? –Where and what is the 180 th meridian? (Hint: It has to do with something this guy never has)(Hint: It has to do with something this guy never has) Latitudinal Lines/Parallels –Most important line? –Which hemispheres? –How many degrees? How many minutes? –23 1 / 2 degrees N? 23 1 / 2 degrees S? –66 2 / 3 degrees N? 66 2 / 3 degrees S? (It’s cold)(It’s cold) –High latitude vs. Low Latitude? (Middle Latitude)

Maps cont. Map components –Title – what purpose? –Compass Rose: Cardinal and intermediate (depends on the projection) N, S, E, W NE, SE, SW, NW NNE, ENE, … –Legend/Key –Scale – Fraction vs. Graphic scales The ratio of map units to real units Global, national, regional, local Large scale vs. Small scale?Large scale Small scale How big would your house look on the map????

How Are Maps Like Men? They all LIE!!! All are distorted – most accurate in center Different Lies… 1. Map Projections Mercator projection Robinson projection Azimuthal or polar projectionAzimuthal Dymaxion projection Equal Area projection Area projection 2. Shortest distance b/t 2 points? Great-circle route

Great Circle Route

These mushroom spores are too small to see, so we put them under a MICROSCOPE. When we can see them, we can study them.

This planet is too big to see, so we put it under a MACROSCOPE. When we can see it, we can study it.

“Some things are very tiny, and we must use complex electric and optical means (e.g., a microscope) to enlarge them so as to understand their configuration and structural relationships. In contrast, geographical things are so extensive that we must somehow reduce them to bring them into view.” - Arthur Robinson, cartographer

Format of Many pre-1914 German School Atlases

Comparative Size of Germany and USA in 1914

More Lies – Electoral Maps Aggregation aggregation can obscure regional disparities within certain territories and doesn’t usually include population density among other measures. Who won the 2000 & 2008 election according to the map? How close was the election? 4. Maps created by BIASED people = BIASED information!! Manipulation!!

Types of Maps PhysicalPhysicalPhysical PoliticalPolitical ChoroplethChoropleth TopographicTopographic Dot (density)Dot (density) Cartograms – my personal favoriteCartograms – my personal favoriteCartograms phy.pdf phy.pdf

Title Compass Rose Legend or Key Scale

Small Scale Map Covers a LARGE area because 1 bar = 1000 miles!!

Large Scale Map Covers a SMALL area because 1 bar is 1000 feet

Mercator Good with direction Bad with sizes and shapes

Robinson Projection Compromise b/t size and shape More accurate overall representation Golden map for most geographers

Azimuthal/Polar Projection Shows true direction and shapeShows true direction and shape Distorts sizeDistorts size

Equal Area Projection Excellent with size/shapeExcellent with size/shape Bad w/ direction & distanceBad w/ direction & distance Ugly! Splits in map = “interruptions”Ugly! Splits in map = “interruptions”

What’s Wrong with this map?

CONSIDER THE MAP The 2008 electoral vote.

CONSIDER THE MAP The 2008 electoral vote by county.

Physical Map

Political Map

Choropleth Map

Topographic Map

Dot Density Map

Theories What is a theory? –A story that TRIES to explain the facts Versions of theories –Medicine – diagnosis –Science - hypothesis –Lawyers – argument/motive –Geography – MODELS Hard vs. Soft sciences Our 1 st Theory… Why do theories change? –New evidence contradicts –A theory more concisely explains the information

This map shows the total number of African-Americans per state. Examine Georgia.

In the previous slide, Georgia had one of the highest number of African-Americans, but a closer look tells a different picture. The dark red is the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Using Census Tracts of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, a different scale gives different results.

Basic Knowledge: Seasons Activity The earth always points to the same spot in the sky

Miss South Carolina