Chapter 1(Rubenstein 11th ed.)

Basic Concepts of Geography

Key Issue 1How Do Geographers Describe Where Things

Are?

A map of the US based on movie titles & state location

Maps Geography = Greek word

Geo = earth; graphy = to write Geography is the study of where things are

found on the Earth’s surface and why they are at that location

Map of Chicago’s neighborhoods

Street map of Chicago

Maps Geographers think SPACIALLY Where are things located on the Earth and why? Maps are a geographer’s basic & most important tool A map is a 2D model of the Earth Cartography = study of mapmaking Maps serve 2 purposes:

1. Reference tool Where is the lake? How do I get to Joan’s house? What is the

route for the fire escape? 2. Communication tool – primary use for modern maps

How much land is used for cattle farming? How did each county vote in the local election? Where do most college graduates live in the US?

Early Map Making

Figure 1-2

Maps

Public transportation in Hong Kong

Map Scale 1st question to ask: how much detail to include

in your map?

All maps are of Saint Viator High School

Map Scale Scale can be presented in 3 ways on a map Ratio or Fraction

Expressed as: 1:b or 1/b 1 unit : b number of units (1 ft = 1 mile, 1 inch =

10 miles, 1 meter = 49 meters, etc) 1:10,000; 1/10,000; 1:8500; 1/65

Written Scale Describes distance in words “1 inch equals 10,000 ft”; “1 cm equals 1 mile”

Graphic Scale A bar line that shows distance

Map Scale Match the scale to the correct term

•Graphic

•Written

•Ratio/Fraction

Map Scale

Small Scale

Large Scale

Projection Earth = sphere; Globe = sphere

Pros: accurately represent places on the earth Cons: can’t add much detail, size and shape

Earth = sphere; Map = flat Pros: can add much detail, very portable Cons: image distortion

Projection = the scientific method of transferring locations on earth to a flat map

Distortion = inaccurate depiction of a place on a map

You Tube – West Wing “Why are we changing maps?”

Projection There are 4 types of distortion

Shape Distance Size Direction

U.S.-centered world map

Asia-centered world map

Geographic Grid Meridians = lines drawn from one pole to the

other; run north-south; meet @ poles Measured in longitude (max = 180o) Prime Meridian = 0o longitude

Parallels = lines drawn parallel to the equator; run east-west; never touch other parallels Measured in latitude (max = 90o) Equator = 0o latitude

Latitude & longitude measured in: Degrees Minutes Seconds

What is at: N 42o 5’ 40”W 87o 58’ 11”

Geographic Grid 360 divided by 15 = 24 Each meridian = 15o wide 24 total meridians around the Earth Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Prime Meridian Reference point for all time on Earth 1 meridian = 1 hour

International Date Line Move forward or back 24 hrs (depending on route

of travel) Located at 180o longitude

Contemporary tools GIScience = geographic information science

Uses satellites to obtain info about Earth GPS = Global positioning system GIS = Geographic Information System

Computer system that stores & analyzes data Used to produce accurate maps Info collected can be stored in layers (roads,

names, water, etc.) Mashup = mixing of layers of GIS info

Key Issue 2 Why Is Each Point on Earth Unique?

Place Place = specific point on Earth distinguished

by a particular characteristic Location = the position something occupies

on the Earth’s surface 4 ways to indentify location

Place name Site Situation Mathematical

Place Name Toponym = name given to a place on Earth

St. Louis, Rocky Mountains, Gobi Dessert, Andalusia, Oakton St.

Names determined by any number of factors Famous person (Martin Luther King High School) Connection to area (Dunton St. – William Dunton =

founder of Arlington Heights) Natural landmarks (Nile Delta) Conquest (Constantinople / Istanbul) Origin of settlers (Witwatersrand = rocky hills near

Johannesburg, South Africa; Dutch name)

Situation Situation = location of a place in relation to

other places Allows comparisons between unfamiliar places

with familiar ones Allows understanding of importance of a

location.• Near trade or transportation route

• Omaha along the US Transcontinental RR• Religious site

• Mecca

Fig. 1-7: Singapore is situated at a key location for international trade.

Site Site = physical characteristic of a place

Climate, topography, soil, vegetation, latitude, elevation

Site factors influence settlement locations protection? trade routes? natural resources?

Humans can modify a site

Northerly Island in Chicago is a man-made peninsula.

The Cultural Landscape A unique combination of social

relationships and physical processes Each region = a distinctive landscape People = the most important agents of

change to Earth’s surface

Region Region: an area defined by one or more distinctive

characteristics A place can be included in more than one region Can be applied to any area smaller than the planet

Ex: Latin America, Bible Belt, Wrigleyville Cultural landscape: combination of cultural features

(ex: language, religion), economic features (ex: agriculture, industry), & physical features (ex: climate, vegetation)

There are 3 types of regions: Formal Functional Vernacular

Formal Region Also called “uniform region” Area where everyone shares one or more

distinctive characteristics Can be cultural (ex: common language),

economic (ex: production of one product – Detroit & cars), or environmental (ex: same climate)

Some regions the characteristic may be predominant, not universal. (see pg. 16 election map for example)

Functional Region Also called nodal region Area organized around a node or focal point Central focused and importance diminishes

further from epicenter Ex: radio station reach – Chicagoans care

about WSCR 670 AM sports talk but even though you can hear the broadcast in Indianapolis & St. Louis, those residents don’t care as much about Chicago sports

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.

Map of WSCR broadcast range

Vernacular Region Also called perceptual region Area people believe exist as a part of cultural

identity Drawing a mental map of a place

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.

Divide the US based on your impressions

Culture Culture: beliefs, customs, traditions, social

structure, and tangible items of a group of people

Has two different meanings: To care about: to worship To take care of: to look after something

What people care about Ideas, beliefs and values Ex: language, religion, politics, race, social status

What people take care of Production of material Ex: food, clothing, art

Spatial Association Regions A wide lens in viewing an area may not be

accurate in describing a region

Spatial Associations @ Various Scales 2012 Presidential Election County ResultsBlue = ObamaRed = Romney

Why is IL a “blue” state?

More counties voted for Romney.

Spatial Associations @ Various ScalesSpatial Association at Various Scales

Death rates from cancer in the U.S., Maryland, and Baltimore show different patterns that can identify associations with different factors.

Key Issue 3 Why are Different Places Similar?

Scale: From Local to Global Scale: relationship between portion of Earth

being studied and the Earth as a whole Globalization: force or process that involves

the entire world & results in making something worldwide in scope

Globalization of the Economy Example: 2008 recession 1st global recession Housing prices increase Banks giving loans @ low interest rates Banks giving loans to high-risk applicants Wealthy bought 2 or 3 homes as investments

Globalization of the Economy People stopped buying homes People couldn’t keep up with mortgage

payments Value of homes drops Selling a home for less than purchase price People not buying furniture, tvs, pools, shower

curtains, etc. Companies that make household items lose

money and fire workers to keep from going bankrupt

Globalization of the Economy Globalization led by transnational corporations

companies that conducts research, operates factories, and sells products in many countries

Globalization leads to specialization Each place contributes a specific part based on local

assets (ex: natural resources, labor, research, transportation, etc.)

Ex: Nike HQ: Oregon Shoes made in Asia Charities in Africa Sponsors soccer teams Sold worldwide

FC Barcelona jersey

Globalization of Culture A global culture? Enhanced communication Unequal Access

Case Study McDonalds

Space: Distribution of Features Distribution—three features

Density – the number of a feature in an area Concentration

Clustered vs. dispersed Pattern

Gender and ethnic diversity in space

Density, Concentration, and Pattern

Fig. 1-18: The density, concentration, and pattern (of houses in this example) may each vary in an area or landscape.

Housing density in Hong Kong

Density and Concentration of Baseball Teams, 1952–2000

Fig. 1-19: The changing distribution of North American baseball teams illustrates the differences between density and concentration.

Pattern: U.S. Land Ordinance of 1785 US Congress sold land in west

territory dividing it up Township and range system

Township = 6 sq. miles on each side North–south lines = principal

meridians East–west lines = base lines Range Sections

Figure 1-5

Diffusion The process by which a characteristic

spreads across space and over time Hearth = source area for innovations Two types of diffusion

Relocation Expansion

Three types: hierarchical, contagious, stimulus

Relocation Diffusion: Example

Figure 1-31

Spatial Interaction Transportation networks Electronic communications and the

“death” of geography? Distance decay

Figure 1-30

Space–Time Compression

Figure 1-29

Cultural Ecology The geographic study of human–

environment relationships Two perspectives:

Environmental determinism Possibilism

Modern geographers generally reject environmental determinism in favor of possibilism

Physical Processes Climate Vegetation Soil Landforms

These four processes are important for understanding human activities

Modifying the Environment Examples

The Netherlands Polders

The Florida Everglades

Figure 1-21

Fig. 1-16: Straightening the Kissimmee River has had many unintended side effects. Polders and dikes have been

used for extensive environmental modification in the Netherlands.

The End.

Up next: Population