Introduction to AP Human GeographyMr. Stepek

“Geography”

• “geography” from the Greek • “geo” = Earth• “graph” = to write or describe•\ geography = “to write about or describe the

Earth”• Geographers organize things across space while

historians organize over time• Periodization vs. regionalization

Map scale (relationship of distance on a map to that in reality)

• LARGE(R) SCALE• Therefore does a larger

scale cover a larger or smaller area in reality?

• Large scale = small area• Large scale = more detail

• Small scale = large area• Small scale = less detail

• Expressed in terms of words, fraction, ratio, or bar scale

Scale (“level of analysis”)• Over what “scale”

would these environmental problems be analyzed?

• Acid rain (factories produce sulfur which drops elsewhere)• NATIONAL or

REGIONAL• Garbage, landfill,

recycling, etc.• LOCAL

• Climate change• GLOBAL

“level of aggregation”/ “generalization”(over what “spatial unit” are you analyzing a phenomenon)

Models: Abstract generalization to help explain a common pattern.

Spatial models show commonalities in the patterns on landscapes

Non-spatial models show a pattern on other than a map.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative analysis

• “qualitative” refers to information about subjective characteristics (softness, beauty, feelings); info that can't actually be measured.

• “quantitative” refers to data that can be measured and written down with numbers.

“Mapping a 3-dimensional world on a 2-dimensional surface” = Map Projections

• “Equal area” –relative sizes of landmasses are maintained, but shape is often grossly distorted.

• “Conformal” –shapes of landmasses and local direction maintained while sacrificing accurate size.

GoalMethod

Azimuthal or Planar Projections

Mercator Projection (1569)

Classic size distortion example: South America vs. Greenland

Gall-Peters Projection

Goode’s homolosine “Interrupted” projection

Robinson Projection

Winkel-tripel Projection

All projections have some degree of distortion:size, shape, distance, or direction

Map legend/key

• For analysis purposes special attention MUST be placed on the map index or legend• Identifies scale• Identifies

symbols• Identifies color

coding

Thematic Types of Maps: choropleth

• unit is assigned color• best = use shades of same color• darker = greater occurrence of

the phenomenon being analyzed

• strength• shows dominance of a trait

• weakness• level of

aggregation/generalization must be considered.

• could give false conclusion • must compare “apples to apples”

Thematic Types of Maps: dot maps

• dots indicate the # of occurrences in a given area

• Best for raw data, not ratios or normalized data

• Snow video = early use of GIS

• can be described using the three properties of a distribution

Thematic Types of Maps: isoline

• similar data is connected by lines • always used for

elevation• ex: barometric

pressure on weather maps

• Data bands assigned colors = isopleth

Thematic Types of Maps: flow line maps

Shows movement of people, information, and goods between places

Types of Maps: Topographic

Reflects the Earth’s physical features(terrain, elevation)

Graphs in the form of “maps”: Cartograms

• Distorts size of a map units to allow comparison of data.• more of a “graph” concept than a map = graph in map form

2008 Election Results

Five Themes of Geography

•Location•Place

•Region

•Interaction

•Movement

• Where? (most basic question)

• How can this location be described?

• With what other locations does this place share certain characteristics?

• How have humans and the environment affected each other in this location?

• How has this location been affected by the flow of people, goods and ideas?

Five Themes of Geography mnemonic

•Movement•Region•Location•Interaction•Place

= “Mr. Lip”

Two ways to describe a “location”

• Absolute or “Exact” location

• Using latitude and longitude• Another type = street addresses, “townships”

Two ways to describe a “location”

• Relative location

• where something is, in reference to someplace else.• “Illinois is south of Wisconsin”• San Francisco is 350 miles north of L.A.• can hint at the importance of a location

Location Tools

• GPS (Global Positioning System)• uses satellites to pinpoint location,

direction, velocity

Location Tools (continued)

• GIS (geographic info. system)• permits storage/analysis of data

in layers• Ghost Map (Snow/Cholera)

• Remote sensing• collect data with tools while

physically distant from the area.

Place: how can a location be described?Physical

• toponym = place name • Michigan = “large water”• “Half Day Road”

• climate and vegetation • see GR #37 and #38

People

Koppen’s climate classification

Place: how can a location be described?Physical

• toponym = place name • climate and vegetation

• see GR #37 and #38• terrain/landform

• mountainous, flat, coastal• built landscape

• type and density of construction

People

• toponyms• England = “Land of the

Angles”• “New England”• “Greektown”• What do the toponyms of San

Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles tell you about California?

• demographics• population/cultural stats

• ethnicity, language, religion• age & gender, birth rates• economic stats• density (a property of

distribution)

Distribution: use special terms to describe spatial relationships and their organization

• Density: how often an object occurs within a given area or space (used often with population)• Arithmetic or population density • occurrence of a phenomenon or population / total area

“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density

“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density

“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density

“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density

“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density

“Arithmetic” or “Population” Density

Physiological density =

• pop. / unit of arable (farmable) land• If all other factors are held constant it is a rough measure of the

ability of area to feed its population • related to the concept of carrying capacity

“Physiological” Density

Physiological density =

• pop. / unit of arable (farmable) land• If all other factors are held constant it is a rough measure of the

ability of area to feed its population • related to the concept of carrying capacity

Agricultural density• = farmers / arable land

• measures farming efficiency/modernization • consequently – it shows development!

• High = many farmers, by hand, low tech = less development• Low = few farmers, lots of machinery = more developed

Distribution: use special terms to describe spatial relationships and their organization GR 35

• Density: how often an object occurs within a given area or space (used often with population)

• Concentration: refers to the proximity over the area in which an item is spread.• Cluster/agglomeration = close together• Dispersed/scattered = spread out

Distribution: use special terms to describe spatial relationships and their organization GR 35

• Density:• Concentration: • Pattern: how things are geometrically organized

within their space.• Linear = along a straight line (any other descriptive shape as

well)• Circular, grid pattern, U-shaped, L-shaped, etc.• Random = no discernible pattern

Region: commonalities between places (GR 24)

• 3 ways to discuss region• Formal or uniform = homogeneous characteristics

• area where everybody speaks the same language• uniform terrain or physical features• jurisdictions (everyone is subject to same laws)

Formal regions

Region: commonalities between places

• 3 ways to discuss region• Functional or nodal = organized around a central point.

• market areas are the best example• Radio stations, zip codes, delivery areas, etc.

Functional region

Region: commonalities between places

• 3 ways to discuss region• Perceptual or vernacular = based on a person’s cultural

identity, shared values, cultural landscape, “in our minds” = mental map

• Midwest, “Rust Belt”, “Middle America”• South, “Bible Belt”, “Deep South”• Neighborhood designations

Perceptual or vernacular regions

Perceptual regions are often contradictory

Region: commonalities between places

• 3 ways to discuss region• Perceptual or vernacular = based on a person’s cultural

identity, shared values, cultural landscape, “in our minds” = mental map

• Midwest, “Rust Belt”, “Middle America”• South, “Bible Belt”, “Deep South”• Neighborhood designations• https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150928/loop/this-is-

where-chicagoans-say-borders-of-their-neighborhoods-are

Human-Environmental InteractionCultural ecology

• The geographic study of human-environmental relationships

• Two main ideas:• Environmental determinism vs. possibilism

• Distribute handout summary.• Play video:• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsZBnHxu95w

Movement

Movement of people = migration (Unit 2)Movement of ideas/culture = “diffusion” (Unit 3)

hearth = place of origination1) Relocation diffusion spread through migration2) Expansion diffusion = spread without physical relocation,

snow ball effect as more people/area exposeda) Contagious• fast, widespread to those in contact or adjacent (like disease)

b) Hierarchical • spread through nodes of power or influence or authority

Movement (of ideas/culture = “diffusion”)hearth = place of origination

1) Relocation diffusion spread thru migration2) Expansion diffusion = spread without physical relocation,

snow ball effect as more people/area exposeda) Contagious• fast, widespread to those in contact or adjacent (like disease)

b) Hierarchical • spread through nodes of power or influence or authority

c) Stimulus • underlying principles/idea spread but not end product

Movement (of ideas/culture = “diffusion”)

• Barriers to diffusion• physical and cultural barriers • distance

• “distance decay” (Tobler’s Law)

• Time-space compression • reduction of time it takes for

diffusion• especially quickened by technology

(adv. trans, telecomm., the internet)

Globalization

set of processes that are:- increasing interactions- deepening relationships- heightening

interdependence

without regard to country borders

set of outcomes that are:- unevenly distributed- varying across scales- differently manifested

throughout the world.

“Site and Situation”• site = what gives a location its distinctive character (land, labor

and capital) (combines absolute location w/place characteristics)• situation = how the “site” factors give this location importance

(what connections does it facilitate? what advantages does the site factor give?) (relative location and movement)

• London• Site:

• island • North Atlantic • Thames River = estuary

• Situation• protected from invasion • ideal for triangular trade

• 1530 = 50,000 • 1750 = 750,000

New York City “Site and Situation”Site

• island• large, natural, deep-

water harbor• Atlantic coast

New York City “Site and Situation”Site

• island• large, natural, deep-

water harbor• Atlantic coast

Situation• ideal for shipping

• docks numerous and protected• connect to Europe

• triangular trade

New York City “Site and Situation”Site

• mouth of Hudson River

New York City “Site and Situation”Site

• mouth of Hudson River Situation

• connects to the interior• Erie Canal (1825)

• before RRs• ship through Great Lakes• access to raw materials

• center of commerce and trade• overtakes Philly as largest port

• fresh water supply for huge pop.