Geog 5 FINAL

Human Geography

The study of the spatial organization of human activities and the relationship between people and places

• Human and Spatial components

• If it does not have spatial analysis dimension to it, it is probably not in the field of geography

• if it does not include a human aspect to it, definitely not in

Maps

A simplified model of reality represented on a two-dimensional surface

• Used for Navigation, Visualization, and Measurement

Large Scale Map

Small area, more detail

Ex: UCSB campus map

Small scale map

Large area, less detail

Ex: World Map

Types of Maps

Reference and Thematic

Reference Maps

map that show general spatial information, focused on location and features instead of patterns

Ex: Political and Topographic

Ex: UCSB Campus Map

Political Map

(RM) map that shows human-made boundaries, have clear borders and labels for different locations

Ex: Countries, states, cities

Topographic map

(RM) map that shows physical landscape using elevation; contour lines, elevation numbers, closely spaced lines= steep slope

Ex: mountain maps

Thematic Map

map that shows one specific variable or theme; Population, Income, Climate

Ex: Graduated circle, dot distribution, isopleth, chloropleth, cartograms, mental maps

Graduated Circle map

(TM) map that uses circles of different size to represent magnitude; bigger circle= higher value, placed at exact location

Ex: city population

Dot Distribution map

(TM) map that uses dots to represent quantity; each dot= a certain number (ex: 1 dot=1000 people), clusters show concentration

Ex: population spread

Isopleth Map

(TM) map that uses lines to connect equal values; smooth continuous lines, not based on boundaries

Ex: Weather maps (temperature, pressure)

Chloropleth map

(TM) map that uses color shading to represent data values per area; Darker= higher values, Lighter= lower values, Data aggregated by regions (states, countries)

Ex: population density map

Cartograms

(TM) map that distorts size of areas based on data; shapes look weird, bigger area= higher value

Ex: Population Cartogram

Mental Map

(TM) map that is based on human perception/memory; inaccurate proportions, reflects personal experience

Ex: how someone draws the world from memory

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

a system used to collect, store, analyze, and visualize geographic data; combination of data, technology, people, methods; “layering spatial data to analyze relationships”

Globe Grid

Latitude: East-West lines, Measure North/South of Equator

Longitude: North-South Lines, Measure East/West of Prime Meridian

Geographic Coordinate Systems (GCS)

system used to define locations or earth using latitude (parallels) and longitude (meridians)

Latitude = horizontal (N/S), Longitude = vertical (E/W), Coordinates (lat,long)

Map Projections

a method used to represent the curved Earth on a flat surface, Distortions (trade-offs of accuracy): Area, shape, distance, direction

Cylindrical Projection

(MP) wrapped around Earth, distorts poles

Conic Projection

(MP) Cone over Earth, Good for mid-latitudes

Planar projection

(MP), “Azithumal,” flat surface touching Earth, Accurate from center

Remote Sensing

collecting data from Earth without direct contact; used for climate monitoring, urban growth, environmental change

Ex: satellites, drones, aerial photos

Field Data

Data collected directly

Ex: traffic counts

Absolute

Objective, measurable, does not change

Ex: 14.4 miles to Santa Barbara

Relative

Subjective, depends on perception or context

Ex: “close” or “far”

Space

the physical extent or area something occupies

Absolute Space

fixed, measurable (coordinates)

Relative Space

perceived, depends on relationships/culture

Place

a location with meaning, emotion, or human attachment; Includes memory, identity, and perception

Site

physical characteristics of a place (climate, terrain)

Accessibility

ease of reaching a place

Connectivity

degree of linkage between places, usually influenced by population or economic reasons

Absolute Location

exact position using latitude/longitude

Relative Location

position described in relation to other places

Situation

location relative to surroundings (trade routes, cities)

City Block Distance

Distance along a grid (Manhattan-style movement), using streets

Straight-Line Distance

Direct “as the crow flies” distance

Great Circle (orthodromic) distance

shortest path on Earth’s curved surface

Isochrones

Lines connecting points of equal travel time

Ex: 15-minute drive zone

Psychological Distance

Perceived Distance based on familiarity or comfort

Cultural Distance

Differences in language, beliefs, or culture

Density

number of given things within an area, Amount per unit area

Ex: Population density

Distribution

how objects are arranged in space

Clustered: grouped together

Dispersed: Spread apart

Pattern

arrangement (linear, circular, etc.)

Spatial Association

relationship between spatial variables

Ex: Income v. Housing prices

Tobler’s First Law

“Everything is related, but nearer things are more related”

Ex: Neighboring cities often share similar demographics

Distance Decay

Interaction decreases as distance increases

Exponential decay graph

Ex: You visit nearby stores more often than distant ones

Accessibility

Ease of reaching a location

Connectivity

Degree to which places are linked

Networks

Systems connecting places

Ex: Highways, Internet, Airline routes

Spatial Diffusion

spread of ideas, people, or phenomena

Expansion Diffusion

Spreads outward while remaining strong at origin

Ex: Social media trends

Relocation Diffusion

Moves with people

Ex: Immigration spreading culture

Diffusion Extent

area covered

Diffusion rate

speed of spread

Administrative Region

Defined by government boundaries

Ex: California

Thematic region

Defined by one characteristic

Ex: Sun Belt (Southern USA region)

Functional region

Organized around a node (city, hub)

Ex: Los Angeles metropolitan area

Cognitive region

Exists in people’s minds, based on perception (mental maps)

Ex: the Northeast

Spatial Interaction

contact between places and the movement of people, goods, ideas; Distance decay; must be complementarity, transferability, intervening opportunity

facilitators: road, tech

barriers: cost, culture, distance

Ex: Crude oil flow

Gravity Model

based on Newton’s law, interaction between 2 places increase with size and decreases with distance; larger populations = “stronger pull,” Greater distance = weaker interaction

Ex: Los Angeles and San Diego interact more than Santa Barbara and Boise

Reilly’s Breaking Point Law

“Retail Gravity Model,” predicts where consumers will shop between 2 competing locations; based on distance (closer= better), size/attractiveness (bigger=better)

Huff Model

type of gravity model, predicts probability that a consumer chooses a l, based off attractiveness (size, quality) and distance

Activity Space

Areas used in daily life

Ex: Apartment → Campus → Gym → Grocery Store

Space-time path

movement through space over time

Space-Time Prism

limits of movement, All places reachable within a given time

Mobility

Temporary movement

Ex: Daily commuting

Migration

Permanent or semi-permanent relocation

Ex: Moving from Arkansas to California

Internal Migration

Within a country

International Migration

Across borders

Voluntary Migration

Choice

Forced Migration

No choice

Ex: Refugees, War displacement, Natural Disasters (Asylum Seekers)

State

An independent political unit, permanently populated, holding sovereignty over a territory

Ex: USA, France, Japan

Nation

not a political structure, it is a community of people with a common culture occupying a territory

Ex: Kurds, Palestinians, Japanese People

Nation-State

where a state’s extent coincides with a distinct nation or people; very rare

Ex: Japan, Iceland

Multinational State

multiple nations (cultures/ethnic groups) within one state

Ex: USA, Canada, India

Part-Nation State

a nation spread across multiple states

Ex: Kurds (Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria)

Mackinder’s Heartland Theory

Who controls Eastern Europe controls the Heartland

Who Controls the Heartland controls the World Island

Who controls the World Island controls the World

• Historical geopolitical theory: control of resource rich area spanning Central Asia and Eastern Europe

• Shift from Sea Power to Land Power

Size

How big is a state?: a contributing factor to determine a state’s stability and strenght

Elongated

(state shape) long and narrow, difficult transportation

Ex: Chile, Norway

Compact

(state shape) round, efficient

Ex: Poland, Zimbabwe

Prorupt

(state shape) compact with extension

Ex: Thailand

Perforated

(state shape) surrounds another state

Ex: South Africa (surrounds Lesotho)

Fragmented

(state shape) broken into pieces

Ex: Philippines, Indonesia

Natural Boundaries

border between states based on physical features

Ex: River, mountains

Geometric Boundaries

borders made up of straight lines (latitude/longitude)

Ex: more common in Africa, Asia, Americas

Centripetal Forces

forces that unify a country

Ex: National pride, strong government, shared language

Centrifugal Forces

forces that divide a country

Ex: ethnic conflict, inequality, political instability

• Separatism- desire to form an independent state (Ex: Catalonia); regionalism, Ethnic conflict

• Devolution- transfer of power to regions (Ex: Scotland in UK)

Supernationalism

countries work together beyond national interests and the state level

Ex: European Union

Regional Alliances

Cooperation within a geographic region

Ex: NATO

What makes a city?

1. Large Population

2. High density

3. Internal Structure

4. Multiple functions

Ex: New York, Los Angeles, Medllin

Central Business District (CBD)

from the Land Use Model, the downtown core

Characteristics: Offices, retail, High land value, Transportation hubs, High building density

Ex: manhattan

Distance Decay and Urban Land Use

Closest to CBD: highest land values, commercial activity

Further away: residential, industry, agriculture

Concentric Zone Model (Burgess)

Zone 1: CBD

Zone 2: Transition zone

Zone 3: Working-class housing

Zone 4: Middle-class housing

Zone 5: suburbs

Sector Model (Hoyt)

Cities develop along transportation corridors

Multiple Nuclei Model

Cities have several centers with different functions

Ex: Downtown, Airport district, University district

Central Place Theory (Christaller)

Explains: Number of cities, Spacing of cities, Services provided

Threshold- Minimum population needed to support a service

Range- Maximum distance people will travel

Ex: People travel farther for a hospital than for coffee

Development

Extent to which resources are used productively to improve well-being

Underdevelopment

Need for additional: capital, labor, technology: to improve living standards