Maps and Regions Review

Cartography Remote sensing GPS GIS Thematic layers Captures images of Earth’s surface from airplanes or satellites GPS Global Positioning System- integrated network of satellites the orbit Earth constantly and broadcasts location information GIS Geographic Information Systems- software program that allows geographers to map, analyze, and model spatial data using thematic layers Thematic layers Layers of the Earth’s surface

Types of Maps: Reference Maps Show locations of places and geographic features Absolute locations Thematic Maps Tell a story about the degree of an attribute, the pattern of its distribution, or its movement. Relative locations

Reference Map

Thematic Map What story about median income in the Washington, DC area is this map telling?

Cartograms Skewing a map to show a more realistic view of what happened Ex: 2012 Presidential Election

Cartogram of world population

Types of Maps: Topographic- path of each isoline (countour line) indicates a constant elevation. The closer together the lines, the higher the elevation. Choropleth- use colors or tonal shading to represent categories of data for given geographic areas. Using five colors to show five income levels

Types of Maps Cognitive- formed by people’s perceived information about their surroundings and then create a mental image Very informative for how people interpret and understand places in which they live. Aka mental maps Preference- type of cognitive map that show people’s ideas about the environmental, social, or economic quality of life in various places Both influenced by your sense of place

Why are we changing maps?! Projections Mercator- landmasses become amplified and larger closer to the poles Fuller- maintains accurate size and shape of landmasses but rearranges direction Robinson- attempts to balance projection errors and is aesthetically pleasing. Frequently used by cartographers Peters- equal-area projection centered on Africa Azimuthal- north or south pole is in the center of the map, giving the impression that you’re looking down on the Earth

Map Projections Fuller Mercator- most used but not very accurate

Map Projections Robinson Peters- more accurate

Azimuthal

Scale Ratio between the distance on a map and the actual distance on Earth’s surface Standard = 1:24,000 Small scale = 1:100,000 Large scale = 1:5,000

Regions World USA

defined by a commonality, typically a cultural linkage or a physical characteristic. e.g. Location, Climate, Religion, Language… Formal Regions

Functional Regions defined by a set of social, political, or economic activities or the interactions that occur within it. e.g. an urban area

Perceptual Regions ideas in our minds, based on accumulated knowledge of places and regions, that define an area of “sameness” or “connectedness.” e.g. the South the Mid-Atlantic the Middle East

Midwest North Northeast West South Southwest

Maps & Geography Skills! Yes, you need to have map and geo skills

Describing location Equator Prime Meridian Latitude Longitude 0*- runs west to east & separate Earth north and south Prime Meridian 0*- runs north to south & separates Earth west and east Latitude Aka parallels- runs parallel to & measures distance north and south of equator Longitude Aka meridians- runs parallel to & measures distance west and east of Prime Meridian

Describing location Site Situation Absolute distance Relative distance Physical and cultural features, independent of its relationship to other places around it San Francisco is about 37* N lat. And 123* W long. on a peninsula separating San Fran Bay from the Pacific Ocean Situation Aka relative location- describing the location based on the relationship to other places San Francisco is an economic hub in northern California near the Pacific Ocean Absolute distance Measurement of linear space Bangor, Maine is 130 miles northeast of Portland, Maine Relative distance Includes the local, cultural, political, or economic connectivity

The World Systems Theory World is broken down into three categories of countries- developed by Immanuel Wallerstein Idea that the world is broken down economically where some countries benefit where others are exploited Core (MDC) (Developed) Wealthy, powerful Semi-Periphery (LDC) (Developing) Has a little bit of both core and periphery in the country Periphery (LDC) (Developing) Poor, struggling

Core countries MDC, Developed Dominant capitalist countries Wealthy Citizens are doing well Strong military power Do not depend on one single state or country Uses power to exploit poorer countries Labor Raw materials

Label the core countries on your map

Periphery countries LDC, Developing Lack a strong, central government Controlled by other countries Dependent on core countries for capital Low skill, labor-intensive production Aka- third-world countries

Label the periphery countries on your map

Semi-periphery countries LDC, Developing Have qualities of core and periphery in the country Trying to get out of periphery Declining from core Sometimes exploited by the core Sometimes exploit periphery

Label the semi-periphery countries on your map