Thinking Geographically Chapter 1

Map Scale 3 types of scale: Scale examples Fractional/Ratio-1/24,000 or 1:24,000 means 1 inch on the map represents 24,000 inches on the ground Written: 1 inch equals one mile Bar - Scale examples Neighborhood maps, world maps, country maps all have different scales The scale is determined by the amount of detail shown in a map Neighborhood maps will have the largest scale, World maps have the smallest scale

Scale Differences: Maps of Florida

Projection Since the earth is a 3D object and a map is a 2D object, maps will have distortions This leads to distortion Shape, distance, relative size, direction Types of projections Robinson, Mercator, Mollweide, Sinusoidal, Goode homolosine, Robinson is best to show size of the oceans Mercator has least distortion in shape and direction. Grossly distorted near poles

How Geographers Address Location Contemporary Tools GIS- layered data to show patterns and relationships (Ian McHarg) Remote sensing- Satellites that record and map the Earth (mostly environmental but helps with monitoring urban sprawl) GPS- Precise location provided by satellites (navigation)

Uniqueness of Places and Regions Place: Unique location of a feature Place names- Lakeland (toponym). Can be named for several reasons Site- physical character like climate, water, soil, vegetation. Situation-location to other places. Singapore is a good example. Mathematical location- GPS coordinates Greenwich, England Latitude and longitude provide location Latitudes are calculated by the sun whereas longitudes are man made East of international dateline-ahead West of international dateline-behind

World Geographic Grid Fig. 1-8: The world geographic grid consists of meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude. The prime meridan (0º) passes through Greenwich, England.

World Time Zones Fig. 1-9: The world’s 24 standard time zones are often depicted using the Mercator projection.

Uniqueness of Places and Regions Regions: Areas of unique characteristics Cultural landscape- regions have distinct characteristics because of social and physical processes and the Earth is shaped by these relationships. Types of regions- Vernacular, Formal and Functional Regional integration of culture -Care about/care for help explain why places on the Earth are unique Cultural ecology-Culture effects the environment Possibilism versus Environmental determinism

Formal and Functional Regions Fig. 1-11: The state of Iowa is an example of a formal region; the areas of influence of various television stations are examples of functional regions.

Vernacular Regions Fig. 1-12: A number of factors are often used to define the South as a vernacular region, each of which identifies somewhat different boundaries.

Physical Processes Climate- 5 types. People will not live in harsh climates therefore climate influences human activities Vegetation- 4 types. Mostly influences types of agriculture practiced Soil-10 orders (not types). Erosion and depletion Landforms-Geomorphology helps understand the distribution of people and economic activities

Similarity of Different Places Scale: From local to global Globalization of economy- people can do business anywhere in the world Globalization of culture- Blue jeans in Japan Space: Distribution of features Distribution- arrangement of data Gender and ethnic diversity in space- both shape the Earth’s surface Connections between places Spatial interaction- Faster travel, technology increases interaction over wide distances Diffusion-something spread over distance Expansion, contagious and stimulus diffusion

Space-Time Compression, 1492–1962 Fig. 1-20: The times required to cross the Atlantic, or orbit the Earth, illustrate how transport improvements have shrunk the world.