AP HUG Unit 1 Topic 2

What is geographic data?

Information about places, people, and environments that geographers collect and analyze to identify spatial patterns and solve geographic problems.

Who collects geographic data?

Individuals (researchers, community members) and organizations (governments, businesses).

What are field observations?

Information collected by physically visiting a location and recording observations through notes, photographs, interviews, or surveys.

Who used field observations to identify the source of a cholera outbreak?

John Snow.

What are travel narratives?

Written accounts of travel that describe the geography, people, and culture of a place.

Who was Ibn Battuta?

A 14th-century traveler whose travel narratives greatly expanded geographic and cultural knowledge.

What are media reports?

News reports that provide geographic information about people, places, and events that geographers can analyze.

Difference between quantitative and qualitative data?

Quantitative: Numerical or measurable data.
Examples: population, income, birth rate.

Qualitative: Descriptive information about characteristics or opinions.
Examples: language, culture, satisfaction.

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What is geospatial technology?

Technology used to collect, analyze, and display geographic information.

Examples:
GPS, GIS, and remote sensing.

What is GPS?

(Global Positioning System)

A satellite navigation system that determines the absolute location of a person or object using signals from at least four satellites.

What is GIS?

(Geographic Information Systems)

Computer software that stores, layers, analyzes, and displays geographic data to answer geographic questions and solve problems.

GPS vs GIS

GPS tells you where something is.

GIS analyzes geographic data to explain why something is there.

What is remote sensing?

Collecting geographic information without physically visiting a location using satellite imagery or aerial photography.

What is latitude?

Imaginary horizontal lines (parallels) that measure distance north or south of the Equator.

What is longitude?

Imaginary vertical lines (meridians) that measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

What is the Equator?

0° latitude.

The reference line used to measure north and south.

What is the Prime Meridian?

0° longitude.

The reference line used to measure east and west.

It passes through Greenwich, England.

What is absolute location?

The exact location of a place identified using latitude and longitude coordinates.

How are time zones determined?

Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours.

Every 15° of longitude ≈ 1 hour.

Time zones are based on longitude, using the Prime Meridian as the reference.

Field observations vs Remote sensing

Field observations: Data collected by physically visiting a place.

Remote sensing: Data collected from a distance using satellites or aircraft.