Exploring Physical Geography: The Importance of Maps and Theories

1. Catch Up Unit 1: Physical Geography “The Roma & Mitchell Show”

2. What is Geography? • 2 Main Branches • Human Geography • Physical Geography “The Spatial Perspective” • Why is Geography Important? • Environmental Determinism • Possibilism • Ethnocentrism

3. AP Curriculum • Models • Relevant Information • Current Events/Issues • Parallel/Summer Readings

4. Basic Knowledge: Maps • Maps = Geographers tools • Basic Terms • Axis – Earth moves 1000 mph • Rotation = 23 hours, 56 min., 4.09 sec. WHY???? Several Theories… what aretheories? • Revolution = 365.25 days • Leap Year makes up for the inaccuracies in our day/year • Hemisphere • Hemi • Sphere • How many? What are continents? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uBcq1x7P34

5. Maps cont. • Latitudinal Lines/Parallels • Most important line? • Which hemispheres? • How many degrees? • How many minutes? • 231/2 degrees N? 231/2 degrees S? • 662/3 degrees N? 662/3 degrees S? (It’s cold) • High latitude vs. Low Latitude? (Middle Latitude) • Longitudinal Lines/Meridians • Most important line? • Which hemispheres does it create? • How many total degrees? • How many minutes? • Where and what is the 180th meridian? (Hint: It has to do with something this guy never has)

6. Maps cont. • Map components • Title – what purpose? • Compass Rose: Cardinal and intermediate • (depends on the projection) • N, S, E, W • NE, SE, SW, NW • NNE, ENE, … • Legend/Key • Scale – Fraction vs. Graphic scales • The ratio of map units to real units • Global, national, regional, local • Large scale vs. Small scale? • www.ifitweremyhome.comwww.howbigreally.com How big would your house look on the map????

8. How Are Maps Like Men? • They all LIE!!! • All are distorted – most accurate in center • Different Lies… 1. Map Projections • Mercator projection • Robinson projection • Azimuthal or polar projection • Dymaxion projection • Equal Area projectionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVX-PrBRtTY 2. Shortest distance b/t 2 points? • Great-circle route

10. Great Circle Route

11. Great Circle Route

12. These mushroom spores are too small to see, so we put them under a MICROSCOPE. When we can see them, we can study them.

13. This planet is too big to see, so we put it under a MACROSCOPE. When we can see it, we can study it.

14. “Some things are very tiny, and we must use complex electric and optical means (e.g., a microscope) to enlarge them so as to understand their configuration and structural relationships. In contrast, geographical things are so extensive that we must somehow reduce them to bring them into view.” - Arthur Robinson, cartographer

18. Format of Many pre-1914 German School Atlases

19. Comparative Size of Germany and USA in 1914

21. More Lies – Electoral Maps Aggregation aggregation can obscure regional disparities within certain territories and doesn’t usually include population density among other measures. Who won the 2000 & 2008 election according to the map? How close was the election? 4. Maps created by BIASED people = BIASED information!! Manipulation!!

22. Types of Maps • Physical • Political • Choropleth • Topographic • Dot (density) • Cartograms – my personal favorite • http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap09_frq_human_geography.pdf

23. Legend or Key Title Scale Compass Rose

24. Small Scale Map • Covers a LARGE area because 1 bar = 1000 miles!!

25. Large Scale Map • Covers a SMALL area because 1 bar is 1000 feet

26. Mercator • Good with direction • Bad with sizes and shapes

27. Robinson Projection • Compromise b/t size and shape • More accurate overall representation • Golden map for most geographers

28. Azimuthal/Polar Projection • Shows true direction and shape • Distorts size

29. Equal Area Projection • Excellent with size/shape • Bad w/ direction & distance • Ugly! Splits in map = “interruptions”

30. What’s Wrong with this map?

34. CONSIDER THE MAP The 2008 electoral vote. http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2008/

35. CONSIDER THE MAP The 2008 electoral vote by county.

38. Physical Map

39. Political Map

40. Choropleth Map

41. Topographic Map

42. Dot Density Map

46. Theories • What is a theory? • A story that TRIES to explain the facts • Versions of theories • Medicine – diagnosis • Science - hypothesis • Lawyers – argument/motive • Geography – MODELS • Hard vs. Soft sciences • Our 1st Theory… • Why do theories change? • New evidence contradicts • A theory more concisely explains the information

47. This map shows the total number of African-Americans per state. Examine Georgia.

48. In the previous slide, Georgia had one of the highest number of African-Americans, but a closer look tells a different picture. The dark red is the Atlanta metropolitan area.

49. Using Census Tracts of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, a different scale gives different results.