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Student Answer Sheet
Web-based GIS Learning Module 1:
Population 1_ Where Is the World’s Population Distributed?
Introducing Dr. GIS
Hi! I’m Doctor GIS. I will use GIS as a teaching tool to help you
understand some important Human Geography and GIS concepts. I
look forward to sharing with you the knowledge I know. After learning
some concepts, please write down your answers for every question on
this answer sheet.
Section 1 –Population Concentrations
U.S.A Population Distributions
Step 1: Analyze population distribution in San Diego
Q: Where is the population concentrated in San Diego county and why?
The Population is concentrated near the coast because the coast is very beautiful. In addition, water
is power.
Q: Why might there be less inhabited areas surrounded by more densely populated areas?
Some areas are the water reservoirs so they are less inhabited.
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Step 2: Analyze population distribution in California.
Q: What is the population level in San Diego? Is it higher or lower than other counties adjacent to
it? What could be the reasons for this? (Hint: you can use
to click San Diego to get more
information.)
San Diego is the fourth level in California. There are 2956812 persons living in San Diego. The
populations of countries adjacent to San Diego are lower than San Diego. It may be San Diego has
many popular attractions.
Step 3: Analyze population distribution in United States.
Q: What are some reasons why the population does not concentrate in the centra part of the
United States?
There are many farms in the centra part of the United States.
Where Are People Concentrated?
Step 4: Analyze the difference between the cartogram and a typical population distribution
map.
Q: Compare the cartogram population distribution and “WPop_NaturalBreak”. Why would a
cartogram be a better graphic than a typical population distribution map?
The population cartogram depicts the size of countries according to population rather than land area.
The population cartogram displays the major population clusters in the world. As a result, the
visualization of the population cartogram is better than a typical population distribution.
Q: Compare two specific countries, how are they different?
Canada has big land areas in a typical population distribution map but it looks very small in the
population cartogram.
India looks very big in the population cartogram but it does not have big land areas.
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Q: Based on the above population distribution map, which hemispheres have the greatest
number of inhabitants? Why?
The northern hemisphere has the greatest number of inhabitants than the southern hemisphere
because there are more livable land areas in the northern hemisphere.
Case Study 1: East Asia
Step 6: Recognize that people are clustered near rivers.
Q: In the ArcIMS map answer the following: Why might some regions have high population
density while others have a low population density?
It may be climate, topography, and economics of high population density regions better than lower
regions.
Q: Why is the population density higher in the eastern parts of the river systems?
People need the ocean and river transportation, and arable lands. In addition, the climate of the
eastern parts is better than the western parts.
Case Study 2: South Asia
Step 7: Find the area of South Asia.
Q: Why does the central part of India have a lower population density than the northern or
coastal regions?
The central part of India is drier than the northern or coastal regions.
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Q: Why does the population density distribution drop dramatically between India and China to the
north?
The borders of India and China belong to high lands so the climate is not appropriate for people living.
Case Study 3: Southeast Asia
Step 8: Find the area of Southeast Asia.
Q: Based on the Southeast Asia map, which countries consist of a lot of islands?
Philippine
Indonesia
Q: What factors would be helpful in determining why the population density is low?
Climate
Topography
Rivers
Economics
Arable lands
Case Study 5: Eastern North America
Q: What are some factors in North America that make the east and west coasts more populated
than the central part of the region?
Economics of east and west coast are better than the central part of the region because the central
part of USA has many farms.
Immigrations are easier to enter USA from the east and west coasts.
East and west coasts have many ports.
Q: What major cities in the United States can be found in the highest populated States?
New York City (N.Y.). Chicago (III.). Los Angles (Calif.). San Diego (Calif.). Houston (Tex).
Philadelphia (Pa.). Phoenix (Aris.). Jacksonville (Fla.).
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Section 2 –Sparsely Populated Regions
Step 1: Observe the distribution of the latitude zones.
NAME OF LATITUDE ZONE
North Polar Zone
North Temperate Zone
Tropical Zone
South Temperate Zone
South Polar Zone
AREA IT COVERS IS BETWEEN THESE LATITUDES
Arctic Circle and North Pole
Tropic of Cancer and Arctic Circle
Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
Tropic of Capricorn and Antarctic Circle
Antarctic Circle and South Pole
Q: Why do you think the population density in the North or South polar zones is lower than other
areas?
It is too cold in the North or South polar zones to make people live there.
Q: Which latitude zones have higher population density? Why?
The North Temperate Zone and Tropical Zone have higher population density because the climate is
humid and hot.
Q: Using the data from the map and legend. Complete the table below.
NAMES OF FIVE POPULATION
CLUSTERS
East Asia
NAME OF LATITUDE ZONE
North Temperate Zone
South Asia
Tropical Zone
Southeast Asia
Tropical Zone
Western Europe
North Temperate Zone
Eastern North America
North Temperate Zone
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Step 2: Observe the climate distribution
Q: Using the data from the map and legend, Complete the table below.
LATITUDE
ZONES
Tropical zones
CHARACTERISTIC CLIMATE(S)
Tropical Dry. Tropical Wet. Arid. Semi-arid.
Temperate zones Highlands. Humid Continental. Humid Subtropical. Marine. Mediterranean.
Subarctic.
Polar zones
Tundra. Ice Cap.
Q: Which latitude zone has the greatest number of climates?
Temperate zones.
Q: Based on above findings, what climate zones do these population clusters predominately
occupy? Why? In addition, what climate zones are not occupied by any of the population clusters?
Why?
Climate zones of Humid subtropical, Marine, Tropical Wet, and Mediterranean have population
clusters because the climate is humid.
Climate zones of Tundra, Ice Cap, Arid, and Semi-arid are not occupied by any of the population
clusters because the climate is too dry or too cold.
Q: Using the climate map, name the climate zones in which these population clusters reside.
NAMES OF FIVE POPULATION
CLUSTERS
East Asia
NAME OF CLIMATE ZONE
Humid Subtropical
South Asia
Tropical Wet
Southeast Asia
Tropical Wet
Western Europe
Marine
Eastern North America
Humid Continental
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Section 3 – Population Concentrations in the March of Time
Step 1: Find the largest top 10 cities of 100 C.E.
Q: Write three observations about the location of the ten largest cities in the world in 100 C.E.
(Hint: you can make “Climate” and “GeoReference Line” Visible for answering following questions.)
(1)
Where are they located on the earth’s surface?
(2)
Where are they located in relation to each other?
(3)
Where are they located in relation to physical features?
Q: What are possible explanations for the patterns you see on this map?
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Step 2: Observe and compare population distribution in other historic periods
Q: Using the data from the map and legend. Complete the following table:
YEAR
C.E.
LARGEST
CITY
POPULATION
OF LARGEST
CITY
MAJOR
DIFFERENCES
FROM PREVIOUS
TIME PERIOD
EXPLANATION FOR CHANGE
100
1000
1500
1800
1900
1950
2000
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Section 4 – Population Density
Step 1: The differences between classifications of population density
Q: Write down your observations regarding spatial pattern distribution of these four classification
methods. Also, which one is better for observing the spatial pattern distribution of world population
density and why?
 Quantile:
The population is concentrated in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Western Europe and the
United States.

Equal Interval:
The population density levels of the whole world are the same.

Natural Break:
The population density levels of the whole world are almost the same except the South Asia, Japan,
and South Korea.

Manual:
The population is clustered in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, and Eastern
Norther America.

The better classification method and why:
The natural break or manual method is better because it can show the spatial distribution of the
population density.
Q: After understanding methods of classification, can you recognize what methods of
classification used for population in San Diego, CA, and U.S.A. in the “Section 1-- U.S.A Population
Distributions”?
The method of classifying San Diego, CA, and U.S. A. is natural break.
Step 2: Query population density of countries.
Q: How many results you get? Please write down names of these countries.
Ten countries include Barbados, Maldives, Bahrain, Monaco, Bangladesh, South Korea, Singapore,
Nauru, Tuvalu, and Mauritius.
**********************************************End of Exercises ********************************************
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