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What is Human Geography? Some Definitions. "The science concerned with the formulation of the laws governing the spatial distribution of certain features on the surface of the earth." - Fred Schaefer , 1953 .
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What is Human Geography?Some Definitions • "The science concerned with the formulation of the laws governing the spatial distribution of certain features on the surface of the earth." - Fred Schaefer, 1953 "...concerned with the locational or spatial variation in both physical and human phenomena at the earth's surface " - Martin Kenzer, 1989
More Definitions • "Geography is the study of earth as the home of people" - Yi-Fu Tuan, 1991 "Geography is the study of the patterns and processes of human (built) and environmental (natural) landscapes, where landscapes comprise real (objective) and perceived (subjective) space." - Gregg Wassmansdorf, 1995
More Definitions • a social science that focuses on the spatial distribution of human and physical phenomena; • the study of the physical world, its inhabitants, the interaction between the two, and the patterns and systems involved; • the world and all that is in it; • the study of pattern and processes asociated with the earth; • the study of relationships between humans and their environment by emphasizing a spatial and environmental perspective at a variety of scales;
Goals of this class: • Start thinking more from a spatial perspective. Where? And Why? • Understand the impact humans have on the physical and cultural landscape. • Understand the impact various landscapes have on people. • Learn about specific areas of the world through a spatial perspective.
Geography Vocabulary • Words that help a geographer describe the spatial dimensions of earth and its people.
Distribution • The arrangement of a feature in space. • Where mountains are on planet earth
Density • The frequency with which something occurs in space. • How many cattle and calves are in a certain area.
Concentration • The extent of a features spread over space. • The feature (lakes) could be spread out or close together. • Look at the concentration of lakes in Cass County.
Cluster • A feature on earth’s surface is bunched together. • Look at the cluster of cancer deaths for white women in the united states 1950-1969.
Dispersed • Features on earths surface are spread out. • Recycling centers are dispersed throughout Cass County.
Pattern • Geometric arrangement of objects in space. • Check out the differences between the patterns of streets in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
GIS-Global Information System High performance computer system that processes geographic information in layers on a map. Layers of data are shown here.
Toponym • A Name given to a place on earth • Names can indicate many possible characteristics of a place. • They can reveal political, religious, and cultural values of a place.
Site • The Physical or Cultural characteristics of a place. • Marshy
Situation • The location of a place relative to other places. • The situation of a place can impact many things including: business, conflict, recreation and culture.
Situation • How is Kurdistan effected by its situation?
Region • An area within which everyone shares in common one or more distinctive characteristics.
Formal Region • An area with measurable, objective boundaries.
Vernacular/Subjective Region • A region that is based on subjective criteria. • What people believe to be a region. • Not easy to measure accurately.
Diffusion • The spread of something from an initial point(s) on earth to other places. Rap music diffusion
Culture • Body of customs, beliefs and material traits that constitute the distinct tradition of a group of people.
Globalization • A force or process which involves making something world-wide in scope.
Scale • http://www.hispaniola.com/dominican_republic/info/maps_zoom.php A progressive classification, as of size.
A proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that which it represents. Cartographers use these terms differently to normal English usage. Cartographers are referring to the relative size of the representative fraction. A large scale map is where the RF is relatively large. An RF of 1:25,000 (1/25,000) is larger than an RF of 1:1,000,000 (1/1,000,000). A large scale map uses more map area to describe a given area on the ground than a small scale map. Many people are initially confused by this terminology as the small scale map shown a much greater area of the ground than a large scale map of the same size.