Understanding Maps and Geography: Essential Concepts and Techniques

1. Chapter 1 How Geographers See the World

2. Globes and Maps • globe – a scale model of the earth. • Map – a symbolic representation of all or part of the planet. • Cartographer – mapmaker • Great circle route – the shortest distance between any two places

3. Projections • Planar Projection – most accurate at its center. Often used for maps of the poles. • Cylindrical Projection – projecting the globe onto a cylinder. Most accurate near the Equator. Shapes and distances are distorted near the poles. • Conic Projection – comes from placing a cone over part of a globe. Best sutied for showing limited east-west areas that are not too far from the equator.

4. Common Map Projections • Winkel Tripel Projection • Goode’s Interrupted Equal-Area Projection • Robinson Projection • Mercator Projection

5. Determining Location • Location – tool for answering the question where? • Grid system – lines on globes and maps that provide information that can help you locate places. Lines cross each other forming a grid. • Hemisphere – one of the halves into which the Earth is divided.

6. Latitude • Latitude – lines which circle the earth parallel to the Equator and measure the distance north or south of the equator in degrees • Equator – 0 degrees latitude

7. Longitude • Longitude – lines which circle the earth from Pole to Pole. These lines measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. • Prime Meridian – 0 degrees longitude.

8. Global Grid • Absolute Location – the latitude and longitude that cross exactly at that place

9. Northern and Southern Hemispheres • Northern Hemisphere – everything north of the equator • Southern Hemisphere – everything south of the equator

10. Eastern and Western Hemispheres • Eastern Hemisphere – everything east of the Prime Meridian for 180 degrees, or half way around the earth • Western Hemisphere – everything west of the Prime Meridian for 180 degrees

11. Reading a Map • Title – tells you what kind of information the map is showing • Key – lists and explains the symbols, colors, and lines used on the map. Sometimes called the legend. • Scale Bar – shows the relationship between map measurements and actual distances on the Earth. • Compass Rose – indicates directions

12. Cardinal directions – north, south, east and west • Intermediate directions – northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest • Cities – represented by a dot • Capitals – often represented by a star within a circle • Boundary Lines – highlight the borders between different countries and states

13. Using Scale • Scale – a consistent proportional relationship between the measurements shown on the map and measurement of the Earth’s surface. • Small – Scale maps – can show a large area but little detail • Large – Scale maps – can show a small areas with a great amount of detail

14. Absolute and Relative Location • Relative location – location of one place in relation to another.

15. Physical Maps • Physical Maps – show the location and shape of the earth’s physical features • Topography – shape of the earth

16. Political Maps • Political map – shows the boundaries and location of political units such as countries, states, countries, cities and towns. • Many features on a political map are human made, or determined by humans rather than by nature.

17. Thematic Maps • Thematic Maps – maps that emphasize a single idea or a particular kind of information Examples: climate, vegetation , population, economic activities. Qualitative Maps: use colors, symbols, lines of dots to show information related to a specific idea. Often used to depict historical info. Flow – Line Maps – Maps that illustrate of something, such as people, animals, goods, hurricanes, etc.

18. Geographic Information Systems • Most modern cartographers use software programs called GIS to quickly and easily produce maps and change them.

19. 2. The Geographer’s Craft

20. The Elements of Geography • Geographers study the location of people and places on Earth’s surface and the patterns in which they are arranged.

21. The World in Spatial Terms • Spatial relationships – links people and places have to one another because of their location • Site – specific location of a place, including it’s physical setting. • Situation – refers to the geographic position of a place in relation to other places and its connections to other regions.

22. Places and Regions • Place – particular space with physical and human meaning. • Region – areas with similar characteristics • Formal Region – defined by a common characteristic, such as a product produced there. Ex. Corn Belt • Functional Region – a central place and the surrounding area linked to it. • Perceptual Region – defined by popular feelings and images rather than by objective data. Ex. Heartland

23. Physical Systems and Human Systems • Physical Geography – focuses on the study of earth’s physical features. • Human Geography – study of human activities and their relationship to the cultural and physical environment • Ecosystem – a community of plants and animals that depend upon one another and their surroundings for survival • Movement – a recurring theme in geography tracking the movement of people, goods and ideas.

24. Environment and Society • Human Environment Interaction – study of the relationship between people and their physical environment. • Geographers examine the ways people use their environment, how and why they change it, and what consequences result form these changes.

25. Research Methods • Direct Observation – observing the earth to study the patterns of human activities that take place on its surface. • Mapping – show location, features, patterns and relationships of people, place and things. • Interviewing – choosing a paritcular group of people for study, asking questions. • Analyzing Statistics – some information geographers use is numerical and must be analyzed to find patterns and trends. • Using Technology – geographers often use scientific instruments in their work, including GIS.

26. Geography and Other Subjects • Geography is related to other subject areas such as history and economics.

27. Past Environments and Politics • Geographers use historical perspectives to understand what places could have looked like in the past. • Geographers study political patterns to see how people in different places are governed.

28. Society and Culture • Geographers seek to understand cultures around the world. • They study the relationships between physical environment and social structures.

29. Economies • Geographers study economics to understand how the locations of resources affect the ways people make, transport and use goods. • Geographers are also interested in the interdependent of people's economic activities around the world.