Chapter 1 Key Issue 1 Why is Geography a Science

Big Question

Key Terms Place Geotagging Parallels Region GI-Science (GIS) Prime Meridian (GMT) Scale Remote sensing International Date Line Space Volunteered Geographic Information VGI Equator Connection Time zones Citizen Science or participatory GIS Map John Harrison Cartography Map scale Eratosthenes Projection Ptolomy Map distortion Global Positioning System (GPS) Meridians

Introducing Geography Word Geography = Ancient Greek…Geo=Earth + graphy=to write Physical geography is where things are on Earth’s surface Human geo is where are they and why are they there

Introducing Geography For geographers to show why a place is unique the use two basic concepts: Place - A unique location or position on Earth that has a specific characteristic Region – A group of places in the same area that share one or more characters Ex. of regions

Introducing Geography To explain why places are interrelated, geographers use three basic concepts: Scale – The relationship between the portion of the Earth being studied and Earth as a whole (can be local, regional, global, etc.) Space – The physical gap between two objects Connection – Relationships among people and objects across space

Cartography: The Science of Mapmaking Geography’s most important tool is a map (two-dimensional model of all or part of the Earth’s surface) Maps help to find the location of a place, the route to somewhere else or show the distribution of human activities or physical features Science of mapmaking is known as cartography and can be as simple as drawing a map showing your route from school to home or as sophisticated as maps made using satellite imagery

Cartography: The Science of Mapmaking Oldest surviving map found in modern-day Turkey and dates back to 6200 B.C. First world map prepared by Eratosthenes (276–194 B.C.)…who invented word “geography” Improvements to world map later made by Ptolemy when he created the science of cartography in his 8 volume “Guide to Geography”

Cartography: The Science of Mapmaking After Ptolemy, advancements in cartography primarily made outside of Europe by Chinese and Islamic world…mapmaking in Europe was less sophisticated and more of an art…showed the world as being flat Mapmaking revived during the Age of Exploration and Discovery (1500s) when Columbus, Magellan, etc. were looking for trade routes Waldseemuller map helped to name America after the explorer Amerigo Vespucci

Contemporary Geographic Tools Modern devices such as iPhones and Google maps have given geographers new tools to help them understand the earth. Tools such as: Pinpointing Loations: Global Positioning System (GPS) Determines the precise position of something on Earth using satellites. U.S. military satellites, tracking stations on earth, and personal receivers help pilots, drivers, hikers, etc. to find destinations. GPS also used to track vehicles and people (ex. Delivery trucks). Photos and locations taken from electronic devices can be monitored using geotagging which gives precise longitude and latitude of where a device is

Contemporary Geographic Tools Analyzing Data: GI-Science (GIS) GIS collects geographic data from remote sensing satellites and other devices and “layers” different info to make a incredibly detailed map Collecting and Sharing Data: VGI Volunteered Geographic Information VGI - The free and voluntary collection and sharing of geographic data Voluntary giving of info – Also known as Citizen Science or participatory GIS

Interpreting Maps When making a map, cartographers must first decide how much of Earth’s surface to show on the map…a city? Country? Continent? The level of detail and amount of detail covered on a map depends on its map scale Map scale is the relationship between a feature’s size on a map to its actual size on Earth Map scale is represented in three ways: Ratio – unit of distance on a map compared to the distance on Earth (1:1, 1:12, 1:1,000,000) Written Scale – 1 unit of distance compared to a different unit of distance on earth (ex. 1 inch = 1 mile) Graphic Scale – A bar line used to show distance on Earth’s surface. A ruler that compares distance

Interpreting Maps The higher the scale, the less detail provided Projection – The most accurate projection of earth is a globe but it is limited based on size and portability Drawing an accurate representation of earth on a 2-D surface creates distortions for a cartographer The method of transferring locations on Earth’s surface to a flat map is called projection…it leads to map distortion

Interpreting Maps Four types of distortion can result: Shape – can make a landmass look more elongated or short Distance – distance between two points may become increased or decreased Relative size – may be altered so one are map appear larger than another on a map Direction – from one place to another can be distorted

Interpreting Maps Types of map projections include:

The Geographic Grid The geographic grid can be very precisely described in terms of meridians and parallels Meridians are arcs drawn from the North to South poles…these are numbered and known as longitude Parallels are circles drawn around the globe, parallel to the equator…these are numbered and known as latitude0 The main line of longitude (0°) passes through the Greenwich, England and is known as the Prime Meridian (GMT) On the opposite side of the planet runs the International Date Line (180°)

The Geographic Grid The main line of latitude is the equator (0°) The North Pole is 90°N and the South Pole is 90°S The two are used together to locate specific places on the planet

The Geographic Grid Longitude and Latitude can be further broke down in to hours (‘) and minutes (“) Ex. = Tipp City Ohio = 39° 57′ 50″ N, 84° 11′ 1″ W Longitude and Latitude are part science and part man made Latitude is scientifically proven by the position of the sun and stars Longitude is man made because the prime meridian was chosen as O°

The Geographic Grid Longitude is the basis for telling time Longitude ranges 360° and is divided into 24 fifteen degree time zones (one for each hour of the day) The International Date Line follows 180° and separates days in the 24-hour cycle

The Geographic Grid The Lines of longitude are “negotiable” and can be moved Example – Kiribati and Samoa moved the International Date Line for purposes of economy Longitude has long eluded mankind until 18th century clockmaker John Harrison won a contest to connect longitude and time. His invention finally proved how longitude could work with latitude to pinpoint any location on Earth

Big Question

Key Terms Place Global Positioning System (GPS) Map distortion Region Geotagging Meridians Scale GI-Science (GIS) Parallels Space Remote sensing Prime Meridian (GMT) Connection Volunteered Geographic Information VGI International Date Line Map Equator Citizen Science or participatory GIS Cartography Time zones Eratosthenes Map scale John Harrison Ptolomy Projection