Transcript how geographers look at the world

HOW GEOGRAPHERS
LOOK AT THE WORLD
5 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY
 1. Location: Where is it?
 2. Place: What is it like?
 3. Region: How are places similar
or different?
 4. Movement: How do people,
goods, and ideas move from one
location to another?
 5. Human-Environment
Interaction: How do people relate
to the physical world
GEOGRAPHER’S TOOLS
GLOBES AND MAPS
 Globe: 3D scale model of the
Earth
 Map: flat representation of all of
part of the planet
 Cartographer: map maker
GREAT CIRCLE ROUTES
 DEF: an imaginary line that follows
the curve of the Earth and
represents the shortest distance
btwn 2 pts.
MAP PROJECTION
 DEF: a mathematical formula
used to represent the curved
surface of the Earth on the flat
surface of a map
 Problem: DISTORTION---size,
shape, distance, area, and
direction can be affected
TYPES OF MAP PROJECTIONS
 3 major categories
 1. PLANAR PROJECTION: project
an image of the Earth onto a
geometric plane
 Distortions: greatest accuracy at
the center
 Use: maps of the Poles
TYPES CONTINUED
 2. CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION:
project Earth’s image onto a
cylinder
 Distortions: accurate at Equator
and toward Poles
 Use: navigation
TYPES CONTINUED
 3. CONIC PROJECTION: Earth’s
surface projected onto a map
formed into a cone
 Distortion: Shape relatively
accurate
 Use: mid-latitude regions
DETERMINING LOCATION
GRID SYSTEM
 LINES OF LATITUDE (PARALLELS):
circle the Earth parallel to the
Equator; measure distance to the
north and south of the Equator
 Equator = 0°, North Pole= 90°N,
South Pole= 90°S
 LONGITUDE LINES (MERIDIANS):
connect N and S Poles; measure
distance E to W
 Prime Meridian=0º, International
Date Line=180º
LOCATION
 ABSOLUTE LOCATION: exact
position
 Where Lat and Long intersect
 RELATIVE LOCATION: location in
relation to other places
 Ex: Denton is Northwest of Dallas
USING MAPS
PARTS OF A MAP
 Purpose (title)
 Time period
 Legend/Key: identifies
symbols/icons on map
 Compass Rose: indicates
directions
--CARDINAL DIRECTIONS: North,
South, East, West
--INTERMEDIATE DIRECTIONS: NE, SE,
etc…
PARTS CONTINUED
 Lines: represent human activity
--can also represent physical
features
 Colors distinguish btwn human
and physical features
 Colors also can show ELEVATION:
height above sea level
PARTS CONTINUED
 SCALE: represents consistent,
proportional relationship btwn
measurements on map and
actual Earth measurements
 Small-scale: shows a large area
with very little detail
 Large-scale: shows a small area
with a great amount of detail
TYPES OF MAPS
PHYSICAL MAP
 Shows location and topography;
includes natural features
 Highlight RELIEF: variation in
elevation
POLITICAL MAP
 Shows boundaries and locations
of political units (countries, states,
counties, cities, and towns)
 Mostly man-made features
THEMATIC MAP
 Emphasizes a particular theme
 Focus on a single topic (climate,
vegetation, pop. density,
economic activities)
MENTAL MAP
 Describes an individual’s
perception of features
 Helps geographers understand
how ppl view their relationship to
the space around them
 Changes due to experience