Geography is the scientific and systematic study of both Geography is the scientific and systematic study of both the physical and cultural features of the earth’s the physical and cultural features of the earth’s

surface. It is a spatial perspective looking at patterns surface. It is a spatial perspective looking at patterns and distributions on the earth’s surface.and distributions on the earth’s surface.

Questions that Questions that “Geography” addresses“Geography” addresses

• Where are things located?Where are things located?• Why are they important?Why are they important?• How are places related?How are places related?• How are places connected?How are places connected?• How are humans affected by these How are humans affected by these

locations?locations?

Tools and Methods of Tools and Methods of GeographersGeographers

• Collecting DataCollecting Data– Field StudiesField Studies– Secondary Sources Secondary Sources (censuses, surveys, (censuses, surveys,

maps, and photographs)maps, and photographs)– Since WWII (aerial photography, radar, Since WWII (aerial photography, radar,

underwater crafts (bathyspheres) underwater crafts (bathyspheres) and and ““Remote Sensing” with satellitesRemote Sensing” with satellites. . Information obtained from the Landsat Information obtained from the Landsat satellite is used to map land use, manage satellite is used to map land use, manage forested land, estimate crop prodution, forested land, estimate crop prodution, monitoring grazing conditions, access to monitoring grazing conditions, access to quality water and protect wildlifequality water and protect wildlife

– Global Positioning SystemGlobal Positioning System-a series of -a series of satellites that provide precise information on satellites that provide precise information on location, altitude, and timelocation, altitude, and time

Tools and Methods of Tools and Methods of GeographersGeographers

• CartographyCartography--the art and science of the art and science of creating, using and study of creating, using and study of mappingmapping– The map is the most important tool of The map is the most important tool of

geographygeography– Maps provide a wealth of factual Maps provide a wealth of factual

information such as visual comparisons information such as visual comparisons between areas and geographic features between areas and geographic features of an areaof an area

Tools and Methods of Tools and Methods of GeographersGeographers

• Analyzing Geographic InformationAnalyzing Geographic Information– Since the 1950’s geographers have made Since the 1950’s geographers have made

increasing use of quantitative methods and increasing use of quantitative methods and techniques to analyze datatechniques to analyze data

– Quantitative methods have been particularly useful Quantitative methods have been particularly useful in location theory and population distributionin location theory and population distribution

– Google and other apps are gathering some of the Google and other apps are gathering some of the most accurate and up to the minute data about most accurate and up to the minute data about your geographyyour geography

Tools and Methods of Tools and Methods of GeographersGeographers

• Geographic Information SystemsGeographic Information Systems– GIS is a computer technology that GIS is a computer technology that

manages georeferenced informationmanages georeferenced information– GIS allows the analysis of mass GIS allows the analysis of mass

amounts of data in a two or three amounts of data in a two or three dimensional imaging systemsdimensional imaging systems

Tools and Methods of Tools and Methods of GeographersGeographers

Types of MapsTypes of Maps

ThematicThematic– Dot mapsDot maps– Choropleth mapsChoropleth maps– Isoline mapsIsoline maps

Tools and Methods of Tools and Methods of GeographersGeographers

Types of MapsTypes of Maps

TopographicTopographic

Tools and Methods of Tools and Methods of GeographersGeographers

Types of MapsTypes of Maps

PhysicalPhysical

Tools and Methods of Tools and Methods of GeographersGeographers

Types of MapsTypes of Maps

PoliticalPolitical

THE 5 THEMES OF THE 5 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY

NOTESNOTES

THE FIVE THEMES OF THE FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY

•LocationLocation•PlacePlace•Human-Environment InteractionHuman-Environment Interaction•MovementMovement•RegionsRegions

LOCATIONLOCATIONWhere are we?Where are we?

• Absolute LocationAbsolute Location– A latitude and A latitude and

longitude (global longitude (global location) or a street location) or a street address (local address (local location).location).

– Paris France is 48Paris France is 48o o

North Latitude and North Latitude and 22oo East Longitude. East Longitude.

– The White House is The White House is located at 1600 located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Pennsylvania Ave.

• Relative LocationRelative Location– Described by Described by

landmarks, time, landmarks, time, direction or direction or distance. From one distance. From one place to another.place to another.

– Go 1 mile westGo 1 mile west on main street on main street

and turn left and turn left for 1 block.for 1 block.

You are

PLACEPLACEWhat is it like there, what kind of place is it?What is it like there, what kind of place is it?• Human Human

CharacteristiCharacteristicscs

• What are the main What are the main languages, customs, languages, customs, and beliefs.and beliefs.

• How many people How many people live, work, and visit live, work, and visit a place.a place.

• Physical Physical CharacteristiCharacteristicscs

• Landforms Landforms (mountains, rivers, (mountains, rivers, etc.), climate, etc.), climate, vegetation, wildlife, vegetation, wildlife, soil, etc.soil, etc.

HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONINTERACTION

• How do humans and the How do humans and the environment affect each other?environment affect each other?– We depend on it.We depend on it.

• People depend on Lake Michigan for water and People depend on Lake Michigan for water and transportation.transportation.

– We modify itWe modify it..• People modify our environment by People modify our environment by

creating dams to produce electricity.creating dams to produce electricity.

– We adapt to it. We adapt to it. • We adapt to the environment by wearing We adapt to the environment by wearing

clothing suitable for summer (shorts) and clothing suitable for summer (shorts) and winter (coats), rain and shine.winter (coats), rain and shine.

MOVEMENTMOVEMENT•How are people, goods, ideas How are people, goods, ideas

moved from place to place?moved from place to place?– Human MovementHuman Movement

• Trucks, Trains, PlanesTrucks, Trains, Planes

– Information MovementInformation Movement• Phones, computer (email), mailPhones, computer (email), mail

– Idea MovementIdea Movement• How do fads move from place to place? How do fads move from place to place?

TV, Radio, MagazinesTV, Radio, Magazines

REGIONSREGIONS•How are Regions similar to How are Regions similar to

and different from other and different from other places?places?

•REGION: basic unit of REGION: basic unit of geographic study, an area on geographic study, an area on the earththe earth’’s surface that is s surface that is defined by certain unifying defined by certain unifying characteristics. characteristics.

–Formal RegionsFormal Regions•RegionRegions defined by s defined by governmental or governmental or administrative boundaries administrative boundaries (States, Countries, Cities)(States, Countries, Cities)

• Regions defined by Regions defined by similar similar characteristics characteristics (Corn Belt, (Corn Belt, Rocky Mountain region, Rocky Mountain region, Chinatown).Chinatown).

–Functional RegionsFunctional Regions• Regions defined by a Regions defined by a functionfunction (newspaper service area, cell (newspaper service area, cell phone coverage area).phone coverage area).

–Vernacular RegionsVernacular Regions• Regions defined by Regions defined by peoples peoples perception perception (middle east, the (middle east, the south, etc.south, etc.))

Regions in ChicagoRegions in Chicago

Regions in the USARegions in the USA

U.S. National Park U.S. National Park RegionsRegions

Cell phone regionsCell phone regions

EPA REGIONSEPA REGIONS

World Language RegionsWorld Language Regions

US

English

Regions in the worldRegions in the world

Regions in IllinoisRegions in Illinois

Remembering the 5 Remembering the 5 themesthemes

• If you canIf you can’’t remember what they t remember what they are just ask MR. HELP!!!are just ask MR. HELP!!!

•MM – Movement – Movement•RR – Regions – Regions•HEHE – Human Environment – Human Environment interactioninteraction

•LL – Location – Location•PP - Place - Place

AssessmentAssessment• Analyze a visual using the five Analyze a visual using the five

themes of geogrpahythemes of geogrpahy