The Basics of Geography

Physical Geography: Looking at the Earth The Geographer’s Perspective What is geography? Is the study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth. Methods of Geography Map Photographs Charts Graphs Tables

The Five Themes of Geography Movement: “How do people, goods and ideas move from one location to another?” Geographer’s analyze movement by looking at three types of distance: Linear: how far across the earth a person, good or idea travels. Time: amount of time it takes for a person, good or idea to travel. Psychological: way people perceive distance.

The Five Themes of Geography 2. Region: “How are places similar of different?” Is an area of the earth’s surface with similar characteristics. Geographers categorize regions in three ways: Formal: defined by a limited number of related characteristics. Functional: organized around a set of interactions and connections b/w places characterized by a central hub. Perceptual: the way people perceive the characteristics of the region in the same way.

The Five Themes of Geography Human-Environment Interaction: “How do people relate to the physical world?” People learn to use what the environment offers them. To change that environment to meet their needs. People also adapt to aspects of the environment they cannot control. ex: Climate.

The Five Themes of Geography Location: “Where is it?” Geographer’s describe location in two ways: Absolute: the exact location on earth where a geographic feature is found. Relative: describes a place in comparison to other places around it.

Absolute Location Geographers use a grid system of imaginary lines for locating places on earth’s surface. Equator: imaginary line that divides the north and south halves of earth. Prime Meridian: imaginary line dividing the earth east and west. Latitiude: (parallels) to locate places north or south, geographers use imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator. Longitude: (meridians) to locate east or west of the prime merididan.

The Five Themes of Geography Place: “What is it like?” Includes the physical features and cultural characteristics of location. Physical Features: climate, landforms, vegetation. HEI: building dams, highways, houses.

The Global Grid

Hipparchus invented the global grid some 2,200 years ago. Greece

Fundamental Observations A. places have location, direction, and distance with respect to other places A place may be large or small; SCALE!! A place has both physical structure and cultural content Characteristics of places develop and change over time Places interact with other places Content of places is rationally structured Places are assorted into regions

II. Location, Direction, Distance Absolute Relative Site situation Direction Absolute Relative/ relational Distance Absolute Relative Psychological impact

III. Physical & Cultural Attributes Description of Place Natural Landscape Cultural Landscape Changing attributes: space + time= change/ time

IV. Interaction among Places Accessibility Connectivity Spatial diffusion

V. Structured Content of Place Density Dispersion Pattern It’s all about spatial distribution

VI. Organizing Space & Places Regions Characteristics Location Spatial extent Boundaries Hierarchal arrangement

Geography is life!!!