Catch Up Unit 1: Physical Geography Mr. Monaco

What is Geography? 2 Main Branches –Human Geography –Physical Geography “The Spatial Perspective” –25 Maps that will change how you see the world Why is Geography Important? –Environmental Determinism –Possibilism –Ethnocentrism

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? 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? –High latitude vs. Low Latitude? (Middle Latitude)

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

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????

Format of Many pre-1914 German School Atlases

Comparative Size of Germany and USA in 1914

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.

All maps have Distortion All are distorted – most accurate in center 1. Map Projections Mercator projection Robinson projection Azimuthal or polar projectionAzimuthal Equal Area projection Area projection 2. Shortest distance between two points? Great-circle route

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”

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

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?

CONSIDER THE MAP The 2008 electoral vote.

CONSIDER THE MAP The 2008 electoral vote by county.

Types of Maps (Small and Large Scale)(Small and Large Scale) ReferenceReference PhysicalPhysical PoliticalPolitical ChoroplethChoropleth TopographicTopographic Dot (density)Dot (density) CartogramsCartograms phy.pdf phy.pdf

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

Title Compass Rose Legend or Key Scale

Physical Map

Political Map

Choropleth Map

Topographic Map

Dot Density Map

Cartogram

US Population Cartogram

What is represented by this Cartogram?

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 Why do theories change? –New evidence contradicts –A theory more concisely explains the information