Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1, SECTION 1
 Globes and Maps: Projections
 Determining Location:
 Latitude
 Longitude
 Global Grid (absolute location)
 Hemispheres
 Reading a Map
 Physical Maps
 Political Maps
 Thematic Maps

GLOBES AND MAPS
 The Earth is a 3-Dimensional sphere. We also call this a globe .
 A map is 2-Dimensional. A map allows us to make sense of a 3-D globe on a 2-D piece of paper.

LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE
 We use longitude and latitude to determine location
 Together they make up the grid system . A grid is a box (square) on a map.
 For latitude , think “flat” lines
 The Equator is a line of latitude. It is zero degrees latitude.
 For longitude , think “long” lines
 The Prime Meridian is a line of longitude. It is zero degrees longitude.

GREAT CIRCLE ROUTES
 Going from Miami to London
 A straight line on a map is not the fastest route.
 A straight line on a globe is the fastest route.
 When you draw a straight line on a globe, it appears to bend on a map

PROJECTIONS: PLANAR PROJECTION
 When the Earth just looks like a circle
 Most accurate at the center. The further out we look, the more elongated things get
 Think “Plane” (a flat surface)

PROJECTIONS: CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION
 When the globe is turned into a rectangle
 Most accurate at the equator, and least accurate at the poles
 Antarctica is not that big
 Think “Cylinder”

PROJECTIONS: CONIC PROJECTION
 Similar to a planar projection
 More accurate when indicating distances and directions
 Think “Cone”

OTHER PROJECTIONS
Winkel Tripel Projection Goode’s Projections
Mercator Projection
Robinson Projection

HEMISPHERES
 The Earth is divided into four hemispheres:
 Northern Hemisphere
 Southern Hemisphere
 Eastern Hemisphere
 Western Hemisphere

THE FOUR HEMISPHERES

READING A MAP
Compass Rose
Cardinal Directions
Intermediate Directions
Scale Bar
Key
Boundary Lines
Cities/Capitals

SMALL-SCALE MAPS, LARGE-SCALE MAPS
Small-Scale Map Large-Scale Map
In a small-scale map, the Eiffel Tower looks small. In a large-scale map, the Eiffel Tower looks large

MAPS
 There are three main types of maps:
 Physical Maps : which shows Earth’s physical features
(lakes, mountains, etc.)
 Political Maps : which shows boundaries, cities, and states (helps with politics)
 Thematic Maps : which is basically every other type of map. These maps have themes, and can help illustrate anything.

PHYSICAL MAP

POLITICAL MAP

THEMATIC MAP
Qualitative Map : symbols and colors
Flow-line Map : illustrate movement

CHAPTER 1, SECTION 2
 Why is it important to understand geography?
 Elements of Geography
 Absolute Location and Relative Location
 Place and Regions
 Physical Systems and Human Systems (pretty much what this class is about)
 Research Methods
 The Bigger Picture of Geography
 Geography as a Career

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
GEOGRAPHY?

ELEMENTS OF GEOGRAPHY
 Absolute Location : Exactly where something is located.
 Global Address
 Relative Location : Where something is compared to where something else is.

PLACE AND REGIONS
 Place : A particular space
 Regions : Areas with similar characteristics
 Formal Region : A region that has a common characteristic throughout
 The Great Plains
 Remembering: Collegiate Greeks want to throw a “Formal” in The Great Plains
 Functional Region : A region that has a central place, with surroundings linked to it
 Pretty much any city in the world (Metropolis and the suburbs)
 Remembering: Washington, D.C. is dys”function”al
 Perceptual Region : A region based on perception (ideas and feelings)
 The Bible Belt
 What is your “perception” of the South?

PHYSICAL SYSTEMS AND HUMAN
SYSTEMS
 Physical Geography: Earth’s physical features
 What does the Earth look like here?
 An ecosystem is a community of plants and animals that depend on one another for survival
 Human Geography: Earth’s cultural features
 What do the people do here? What do they eat?
 Movement : The spread of people, goods, and ideas
 Human-environment interaction: exactly what the name suggests.

RESEARCH METHODS
 Direct Observation : look around
 Mapping: How do you illustrate the land on paper? You make a map. Designing and making maps = cartography
 Interviewing: asking people questions about what they know.
 You get dropped off in the middle of Africa. You don’t really know where you are, but there are a lot of people. What do you do?
 Bizarre Foods
 Analyzing Statistics: the easiest way for us to learn about another place
 Rainfall, average temperature, etc.
 Using Technology: Combining statistics with technology paints an even better picture
 Geographic Information Systems (GIS): computer tools that process and organize data and satellite images with other types of information gathered by geographers and scientists

GEOGRAPHY: THE BIGGER PICTURE
Geography has an effect on:
 Past Environments: What did Florida look like 1 million years ago?
 Politics: John Boehner’s opinion on global warming
 Society and Culture: A society and its culture is largely based on its surroundings
 Economies: How are locations chosen for economic activities?