GY 100 Module 1 Quiz

geography:

spatial study of the earth’s surface and the people, places, and things on it

geography bridges the social and physical sciences and:

provides a framework for understanding our world

geo means:

earth

graphein means:

to write

1st known use of the word geography:

Greek scholar Eratosthenes of Cyrene between 276-194 BCE

What system did Eratosthenes devise:

latitude and longitude

Eratosthenes calculated:

Earth’s circumference

Eratosthenes’ map of the world was:

it was inaccurate

The three questions geographers seek to answer:

1. What is where?

2. Why there?

3. Why do we care?

EX: tourism, wars, natural disasters, etc.

Branches of geography:

• human geography

• physical geography

• human-environment geography

• geoinformation science (GIS)/Mapping Science

Why geography matters:

helps us understand global issues on multiple scales (climate change, migration, etc.)

Geography is essential in:

urban planning, disaster response, and business logistics

Geography helps to improve:

spatial thinking and decision making

5 geography themes:

1. Location —> absolute vs relative

2. Place

3. Human Environment Interaction

4. Movement

5. Region

Absolute location:

defines exact location of a place on earth’s surface using a specific pair of coordinates known as latitude and longitude

Relative location:

in relation to other places

Place:

physical characteristics (mountains, rivers, etc.) and human characteristics (food, architecture, etc.)

Human environment interaction:

how people adapt to and change the environment

Movement:

movement pf people, goods, and ideas/trends

Region:

formal, informal, and perceptual regions

longitude:

how far east/west something is from the prime meridian

prime meridian:

line from North to South Pole running through Greenwich, England

Latitude:

how far North/South location is from the equator

Relative location:

position of a place in relation to other landmarks, regions, or geographical features 

EX: Brazil is a thousand miles from here, etc.

Region:

basic unit of study in geography

Boundaries:

vary w/ region type

Formal regions:

area with specifically agreed upon administrative, governmental, or political boundaries 

Natural physical geographic features have a huge influence on where:

on where political boundaries/ formal regions are set

Functional regions:

area defined by boundaries related to function

EX: 251 area code

Vernacular regions:

large area defined by boundaries based on people’s perception or thoughts

EX: The South, The Middle East, etc.

Regional borders are:

fuzzy

ethnocentrism:

notion that one’s own culture is more beautiful/rational/nearer to perfection than any other

Qualitative data:

rely on info derived from words

EX: observations, surveys, interviews

Quantitative data:

rely on info derived from #s

EX: specimen sampling, mapping, remote sensing

Mixed method:

uses both qualitative and quantitative data, overlap between the two 

Tools used:

• Global Positioning System (GPS)

• Remote sensing

• Geographic Information System (GIS)

• Maps

GPS:

U.S. space-based system providing precise location and time data anywhere on Earth

GPS components:

• satellites (space)

• ground stations (control)

• receivers (user devices)

Key GPS uses:

accurate mapping and navigation, field data and location verification, supports emergency response, urban planning, and environmental monitoring

Real world GPS examples:

phones, cars, agriculture, defense, etc.

Remote sensing:

process of collecting information about Earth’s surface without direct contact by detecting emitted or reflected radiation

Types of remote sensing:

• passive sensors

• active sensors

Passive sensors:

detect natural radiation/sunlight; include cameras, radiometers, satellites 

Active sensors: 

emit own signal and measure reflection

EX: RADAR, LiDAR, altimeters

Key remote sensing uses:

mapping land cover, monitoring weather, oceans, vegetation, and urban growth

Remote sensing example:

mapping vegetation in NOLA before, immediately after, and years after Hurricane Katrina

GIS:

computer based system for collecting, storing, analyzing, and displaying spatial data

What GIS does:

combines multiple map layers (roads, population, land use), visualize and analyze spatial patterns, support decision-making in business, government, health, and planning

How GIS is used:

site selection (new stores/hospitals), urban planning and environmental management, tracking natural and cultural features over time 

Maps:

spatial distributions and patterns that cannot usually be seen at eye level

Cartography:

art and science of map-making

Map scale:

ratio between measurement on a map and corresponding measurement on the Earth

3 ways map scale is represented:

• verbal scale

• graphic/bar scale (subdivided line/bar)

• representative fraction (numerical relation of map distance on ground w/ map distance always being 1)

Ratio applies to:

applies to all units of measure

Small scale:

zoomed out

Large scale:

zoomed in

Point symbols quantitative:

to show # of something in particular area

Point symbols qualitative:

show locations of a class of features

EX: silver mines or fire hydrants

Area symbols:

show extent of class of phenomenon over particular area

Line symbols:

represent features with length but insignificant width, denote a feature type if qualitative/quantitative, and denotes numerical values

Isoline:

line of equal value

Flow line maps:

portray linear movement between places, lines have direction arrows

Thematic map types:

choropleth and cartogram

Choropleth:

area map showing quantity/amount of something varies in space, use political boundaries and level at which data are available

Cartogram:

area map where area units are drawn proportionally according to their respective values (makes stuff BIG or LITTLE)

Geographic scales of analysis:

• local

• regional

• global

Scales of analysis show geographers:

how to study spatial patterns and relationships

Scale geographer chooses:

affects conclusions

Local scale:

examination of geographic phenomena within specific, small area/community, allowing for detailed analysis of localized patterns

Example of local scale:

public transportation in the Bronx, NY or neighborhood weather prediction

Regional scale:

geographic phenomena within specific area, encompassing various local areas and reflect various local area and their characteristics

Example of regional scale:

how different regions say “pecan,” drought trends in Sub-Saharan Africa

Global scale:

examination across entire planet, broad patterns and trends across multiple regions

Examples of global scale:

global trade patterns and spread of pandemics