Unit 1

1.1-1.7

Spatial Patterns

how and where different geographic features occur on the earth’s surface

Absolute Distance (The Different Spatial Patterns)

distance that can be measured in ft. or miles

Elevation (The Different Spatial Patterns)

measures the height of geographic features to sea

Clustering & Dispersal (The Different Spatial Patterns)

 show how different phenomena are organized across an area

Relative Direction (The Different Spatial Patterns)

 Describes one location in reference to another

Absolute Direction (The Different Spatial Patterns)

Cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west)

Relative Distance (The Different Spatial Patterns)

measures social, cultural, or political differences or similarities between two locations

Map Scale (Map Features)

distance

Scales (Map Features)

how much of the word we’re seeing on the map

Compass Rose (Map Features)

indicates the cardinal directions (north, south, east, & west) and can sometimes give intermediate directions

Direction (Map Features)

represented on map by a compass rose

Reference Maps

Display specific geographic locations

Thematic Maps

specialize in displaying geographic information

Choropleth (The Different Thematic Maps)

visualizes data from a specific geographic region in colors

Isoline Map (The Different Thematic Maps)

uses lines to depict changes in

Dot Distribution (The Different Thematic Maps)

uses dots to visualize the location of certain data points

Graduated Symbols/ Proportional Map (The Different Thematic Maps)

the different values

Cartogram (The Different Thematic Maps)

the size of geographic shapes to display differences in data

Two Kinds of Data

I. Quantitative Data: numbers-based

II. Qualitative: characteristics or qualities

Geospatial Technology

hardware and software that can examine and measure geographic features on the earth

Global Positioning System:GPS (The Different Geospatial Technologies)

used to determine location

Aerial Photography:Remote Sensing (The Different Geospatial Technologies)

used for places that need more detailed info. gathered

Satellite Imagery: Remote Sensing (The Different Geospatial Technologies)

helps see population patterns and geospatial info.

Geographic Information System:GIS (The Different Geospatial Technologies)

used to analyze data for the purpose of answering research-based questions

Census

Gathers information about a governments citizens

• Location

• Age

• Religion

Who Gathers Data?

I. Individuals

• field observations

• travel narratives

• media reports

II. Organizations

• businesses

• government agencies

III. Governments

Individuals & Data

I. Recreation Decisions

II. Moving/ Relocation

III. Locating Other People

Governments & Data

I. Census

• affects funds and balance of political power

II. Satellite Imagery

Space (Spatial Concepts)

a theoretical concept that geographer use to describe the geometric surface of the earth

Flow (Spatial Concepts)

the patterns of connection between two places

Distance Decay (Spatial Concepts)

the further apart two things are, the less connected they will be

Time-Space Compression (Spatial Concepts)

describes the decreased distance between two places measured by the time or cost it requires to travel between them

Patterns (Spatial Concepts)

making sense out of the how phenomena are arranged on the landscape

Human- Environmental Interaction

I. Use of Natural Resources

• materials found in the earth that humans use for economic gain

II. Sustainability

• using nonrenewable resources so they will continue to be available in the future

III. Land Use

• how human beings use & modify the land on which they live

Environmental Determinism Human-Environmental Theories

environment determines culture

Possibilism Human-Environmental Theories

humans determine culture (mainly)

Global Scale ( Scales of Analysis)

• entire planet

• largest scale

Regional Scale (Scales of Analysis)

• large chunks/regions

• Ex: Afro-Eurasia, North America, etc.

National Scale ( Scales of Analysis)

• Single country

• Ex: France, Algeria, etc.

Local Scale ( Scales of Analysis)

• province, state, city

• neighborhood

Region

a geographical unit which shares some unifying principles

• cultural

• economic

• activity

Formal Regions

a geographic area that is linked by common traits like language or region or economic prosperity or some geographical feature

Functional Regions

• Known as nodal regions

• organized not based on shared traits but on a shared function

Perceptual/ Vernacular Regions

regions defined by people’s shared beliefs and feelings about themselves, and the borders are pretty vague