Physical Geography Introduction

Engage Pick a place in the world would like to visit. What did you see in that place? What was the landscape like? What was the weather like? What were the people like? What was the vegetation or animals like?

What is Geography? Geography is the study of place and space. Study of human activity, the natural environment, and the relationship between the two (human-environment interactions). Geographers look at where things are and why they are there.

What is Geography? Geography can be defined as the study of people, their environments and their resources.

What is Geography Geography is closely linked to history. History is the account of what has happened in the lives of different people.

Physical v. Cultural Geography Physical Geography Cultural Geography Rocks/Minerals Population/Settlements/Urbanization 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 Cultural Geography is the study of the Human Landscape of the Earth.

What kinds of tools would geographers use?

5 Oceans – Southern, Arctic, Pacific, Indian, Atlantic 7 continents – Africa, Asia, Antarctica, South America, North America, Europe & Australia 5 Oceans – Southern, Arctic, Pacific, Indian, Atlantic

Maps and Globes – What’s the difference? Maps – “two dimensional” – usually only show parts of the Earth’s surface. Globes – “three dimensional” representation of the Earth, shows whole surface.

Who makes maps? Cartographers are people who make maps.

What is an Atlas? An ATLAS is a book of maps. You have an Atlas in your textbook also has an Atlas Section near the front. Get to know them both, we will use them a lot this year!

Parts of A Map Title – explains the subject of the map Compass Rose – shows the “Cardinal Directions”, meaning North, South, East, and West Legend or “Key” - shows and explains the symbols used on the map Scale – shows the true size of the objects shown on the map

Activity: Identify the Map Parts Number your paper #1-#4. Identify and label each part of the map below, using the terms you just learned.

What main types of maps are there? PHYSICAL MAPS POLITICAL MAPS THEMATIC MAPS

Physical Maps Show natural features such as landforms and physical borders; lakes, rivers, mountain ranges, and things that were around before humans Physical Borders – Borders defined by a physical feature Example - Rio Grande River, between USA and Mexico

Activity 2 – Using Physical Maps Use the World Physical Map on p A2-A3 of your textbook to answer these questions on your own paper. What mountain range separates European Russia from Asia? What two mountain ranges run the length of North and South America?

Political Maps Show features on the earth’s surface that humans created. Examples of things on a political map? Political Borders – borders created by governments National and State Borders, City Limits, capitals

Activity 3 – Using Political Maps Use the World Political Map on p. A4-A5 of your textbook to answer these questions. What are the two countries that lie on the Himalayan border between India and China? What is the name of the largest island in the world? How many countries share a border with Brazil?

Thematic Maps Thematic maps can be tricky, there are many different kinds. They all do the same thing… they show information Some common thematic maps: Population maps Weather maps Resource maps Topographic maps How data and values are displayed: Choropleths use differences in shading or color to show variables. Cartograms represent map feature surfaces in such a way, as to make them proportional to a given statistical variable.

What Are Choropleths? Thematic map that uses graded differences in shading or color or the placing of symbols inside defined areas on the map in order to indicate the average values of some property or quantity in those areas Many different kinds. Examples??? Climate Vegetation Natural Resources Population

What are Cartograms? A cartogram is a map in which some thematic mapping variable is substituted for land area or distance. The geometry or space of the map is distorted in order to convey the information of this alternate variable. Area cartograms are maps in which the sizes of geographic regions such as countries or provinces appear in proportion to some demographic feature such as population, avg. income, disease incidence, etc.).

More cartograms…………… Top Ten Countries of Citizenship for Billionaires Is Walmart taking over? Which state has the most McDonalds? Is Starbucks a west-coast phenomenon? Top Ten Countries of Citizenship for Billionaires Total Number Country 425 United States 96 Russia 95 China 55 Germany 48 India 38 Hong Kong 36 Brazil United Kingdom 34 Turkey

5 Themes Geographers study the world by looking at Location Place Region Movement Human-Environment Interaction

Location Where is it? Absolute Location Relative Location is the exact place on the earth where a geographic feature is found. 3322 RR 620 South Austin, TX 78738 LTHS Room J205 Latitude   = 30 degrees,   19.7 minutes   North Long = 97 degrees,   58.2 minutes   West Relative Location describes a place in comparison to other places around it. Ex. Next door to the Wendy’s

Place – What is it like? describes the physical features and cultural characteristics of a location.

Region – How are places similar or different? describes an area of the earth’s surface with similar characteristics, usually more than one.

GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS: What defines a region? physical (natural) characteristics landforms, climate, vegetation human (cultural) characteristics language, religion, ethnicity, population

Sub-Regions Further classification of Regions based upon physical features and human characteristics. Examples: The United States is in the North American Region. However, the U.S. has several sub-regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, etc.

Movement How and why people, plants, animals, and ideas move through time and place?

Human–Environment Interaction People learn to use what the environment offers them and to change that environment to meet their needs.

How to remember the 5 themes! M - Movement R - Region H – Human Interaction E – Environment Interaction L - Location P - Place

What theme might this picture represent?

What theme might this picture represent?

What theme might this picture represent?

What theme might this picture represent?

What are important lines on “Geographer’s Grid”? Equator – Divides the earth between Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere Prime Meridian – Divides the Eastern Hemisphere from Western Hemisphere

What is a hemisphere? One half of the Earth. North, South, East, West all have hemispheres. What is a hemisphere?

Where are the “The Tropics”? Tropic of Cancer – 23.5* North of Equator Sun’s most northern location on June 21st Tropic of Capricorn – 23.5* South of Equator Sun’s most southern location on December 21st

Where are the “Polar Circles”? Arctic Circle – 66.5* North of the Equator begins the north polar region Antarctic Circle – 66.5* South of the Equator begins South polar regions

What is “Latitude and Longitude”? It is a grid for finding your location on the Earth. Like “X and Y” from the grid in math class. Or like a football field. Or like the game “Battleship” What is “Latitude and Longitude”?

What is Latitude? Run parallel to Equator Measures North and South 90 degrees North latitude 90 degrees South latitude Important lines of Latitude: Equator Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn 4. Arctic Circle Antarctic Circle

What is Longitude? Run parallel to Prime Meridian Measures East and West 180 degrees of East longitude 180 degrees of West longitude Total = 360 degree circle All lines meet at North Pole and stretch to South Pole

How do you use Latitude and Longitude to find your way? Find the right hemispheres (N, S, E, W). Trace latitude and longitude till they meet. FOLLOW THE CURVE!

Classwork Latitude and Longitude Worksheet Finish 7 Continents and 5 Oceans Map Map Quiz Next Class.