UNIT 1: map shap

intro

  • physical geography: the study of the spatial characteristics of various elements of the physical environment.

    • think of the geographer in the little prince!!

    • ex: weather, climate, ecosystems, erosion

  • human geography: the study of spatial characters of humans and human activities.

    • ex: population, culture, urban areas, and economics

  • geographers dont only focus on where but more so WHY THERE

    • geography is the why of where

  • spatial approach: considers the arrangement of phenomena being studied across the surface of the earth

    • location, distance, direction, orientation, pattern and interconnection

    • movement of ppl and goods, chances in places over time, human perceptions of time and space

four level analysis

  • L1 (comprehension)

    • key questions:

      • what? (ex: earth at night)

      • where? (ex: earth)

      • when? (ex: 2016)

      • scale? (ex: global)

      • source? (ex: nasa.gov)

  • L2 (identification)

    • key questions:

      • are there any patterns in the source?

        • the source could be map/chart/graph etc. Could be multiple patterns (ex: numerous patterns- coasts are brighter than interior; Northern hemisphere is brighter than southern; etc)

  • L3 (explanation)

    • key questions (pick a pattern from source and explain):

      • why did this pattern occur there?

      • how did this pattern occur?

        • u will use the content of the course to help ans these qs

        • ex: access to global trade networks or nat resources from oceans (fish), which results in more job opportunities, income, and food. the interior often has harsher climates (desert or cold) and often less access to nat resources

  • L4 (prediction)

    • key questions:

      • what will be the impact of the economy, society, politics, or the environment?

      • what if the pattern continues into the future?

        • describing the impact or effects and make predictions

        • ex: IMPACTS

          • economic- cost of living (rent) is higher on the coasts bc of high demand for housing

          • environmental: human and factory waste can pollute the ocean, killing fish and wildlife

MAPS

  • reference maps: designed for ppl to refer for general info abt places

    • political maps: show and label human created boundaries and designations, like countries, cities, and capitals

    • physical maps: show and label nat features, like mts, rivers, ad deserts

    • road maps: show and label highways, streets, and alleys

    • plat maps: show and label property lines and deets of land ownership

    • locator maps: are illustrations used in books and ads to show specific locations mentioned in the text

  • thematic maps: show spatial aspects of info or of a phenomenon

    • choropleth maps: use various colors/shades of one color/ patterns to show the location and dist of spatial data

      • think republicans vs democrats maps to varying degrees

    • dot dist maps: used to show the specific location and dist of smth across a map (each dot reps a specific quantity)

      • think that each dot reps one of the thing, like a school

    • graduated symbol maps: use symbols of diff sizes to indicate diff amts of smth. Larger= more of thing, and vice versa

      • think pandemic maps

    • isolene maps: (aka isometric maps) use lines that connect pts of equal values to depict variations in the data across space

      • think storm system maps

      • topographic maps: points of equal elevation are connected on these maps creating contours (same thing/ synonyms)

    • cartogram: sizes of countries (or states/counties/ other areal units) are shown according to some specific stats

SCALE

  • map is a reduction of the actual land area it reps

  • scale: the ratio between the the size of things irl and the size of those same things on the map

    • three types of scale: cartographic, geographic, and the scale of the data repd on the map

      • cartographic: refers to the way the map communicates the ratio of its size to the size of what it reps

        • words:

          • ex: “1 in=10 miles”

        • ratio:

          • ex: 1/200,000 or 1:200,000 (means 1 unit of measurement on the map is equal to 200,000x the same unit irl

        • a line:

          • the map may show a line and indicate that its dist on the map reps ten miles irl (aka linear/geographic scale)

        • scale:

          • small-scale maps: show a larger amt of area w less deets (ex: global scale earth at night)

          • large scale maps: show a smaller amt of area w a greater amt of deets (ex: north america at night)

    • geographic scale: normally appears as a line or bar divided into conveniently numbered segments (

    • geographic model: reps of reality/theory, to help them to see general spatial patterns focus:

TYPES OF SPATIAL PATTERNS

  • Location

    • absolute location: precise spot where smth is according to a system

      • latitude: is the dist north or south of the equator (=0 degrees; the poles are 90 deg N and 90 deg S)

      • longitude: is the dist east/west of the prime meridian (runs thru greenwich, england). designated as 0, opp side is 180 deg longitude

    • relative location: description of where smth is in relation to other things

      • think: woh udhar hai uske paas

    • connectivity: how well two locations are tied together by roads or other links

    • accessibility: how quickly and easily ppl in one location can interact w ppl in another location

    • direction: used in order to describe where things are in relation to each other

  • Place

    • place: specific human and physical characteristics of a location

    • region: a group of places in the same area that share a characteristic

      • formal/uniform/homogenous: united by one+ traits (physical, environmental etc)

      • functional/nodal region: organized around a focal pt and are defined by an activity that accross across the region. often unified by networks of communication and transportation that are centered by a node

      • perceptual/vernacular: defined by the informal sense of place that people ascribe to them. boundaries, therefore, vary greatly bc of ppl individual sense of place

        • ex: the middle east

    • site: the characteristics at an immediate location

    • situation: refers to the location of a place relative to its surroundings and other places

    • sense of place: humans perceive the characteristics of places in diff ways based on personal beliefs

    • toponyms: place names

    • the built environment: are the physical artifacts that humans have created and that form part of the landscape

      • ex: buildings, roads, signs, fences

      • aka cultural landscape bc diffs in culture create diff in physical landscapes and the built environment

    • natural environment: any natural feature of earth

  • Distance

    • distance: measurement of how far/near things are to one another

      • consider the geographic perspective and spatial approach

      • can be measured in terms of time

        • time space compression: the shrinking “time distance” between location because of improved methods of transportation and communication

          • global forces (internet) are influencing culture everywhere and reducing local diversity

    • proximity: indicates degree of nearness

    • absolute distance: measured mostly in terms of ft, mi, meters, or km

    • relative distance: indicates the degree of closeness based on time/money and is often dependant on the mode of travel

    • spatial interaction: contact, movement, information, and flow of goods/ ppl between location (physical or informational)

    • friction of distance: when things are further apart they are less connected

      • distance decay: inverse exponential decay of relation between distance and connection (synonym to friction distance)

        • ex:

        • whats reducing this trend: time-space compression (tech)

  • Elevation

    • elevation: distance of features above sea lvl, usually measured in ft or meters

  • Pattern dist

    • distribution: the way a phenomenon is spread over an area

      • density: number of smth in a specifically defined area

        • pop density= num of ppl/sq mile (counting of ppl/area)

        • NOTE: large num of a feature doesnt mean it has a high density (FEATURE A N D LAND AREA)

      • concentration: if objects in an area are close together/ clustered, or if objects are far apart/dispersed.

      • patterns: the general arrangement of things/ geometric arrangement of objects in space

      • clustered/agglomerated: phenomena are arranged in a group or are concentrated in an area

        • think restaurants in a food court

      • linear: phenomena are arranged in a straight line

        • think dist of towns along a railroad line

      • dispersed: phenomena are spread out over a large area

        • think dist of large malls in a city

      • circular: phenomena are equally spaced from a central pt, forming a circle

        • think dist of the homes of ppl who shop at a particular store

      • geometric: phenomena are in regular arrangement

        • think squares or blocks formed by roads in the midwest

      • random: phenomena appear to have no order to their position

        • think the dist of pet owners in a city

  • Projections

    • all maps distort some aspect of reality

    • Mercator:

      • purpose: navigation

      • strengths:

        • directions are shown accurately

        • lines of latitude and longitude meet at right angles

      • distortion (weaknesses):

        • distance between lines of longitude appears constant

        • land masses near the poles appear large

    • Peters:

      • purpose: spatial dists related to an area

      • strengths:

        • sizes of land masses are accurate

      • distortion (weaknesses):

        • shapes are inaccurate, esp near poles

          peters

      Conic:

      • purpose: general use in midlatitude countries

      • strengths:

        • lines of longitude converge

        • lines of latitude are curved

        • size and shape are both close to reality

      • distortion (weaknesses):

        • direction is not constant

        • on a world map, longitude lines converge at only one pole

    • Robinson:

      • purpose: general use

      • strengths:

        • no major distortion

        • oval shape appears more like a globe than a rectangle

      • distortion (weaknesses):

        • area, shape, size, and direction are all slightly distorted

robinson

LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS

  • landscape analysis: defining and describing landscapes

observation and interpretation

  • field observation: act of physically visiting a location, place, or region and recording the information there

  • spatial data: all of the info that can be tied to specific locations

  • remote sensing: gathers information from satellites that orbit the earth or other craft above the atmosphere

  • aerial photography: pro images captured from planes within the atmosphere

  • geographer looks at:

    • who r the ppl migrating into this area? who’s leaving?

    • what r the cultures of these groups of ppl?

    • what effects will the changes have on the local economy?

    • what r the causes of ppl moving?

    • what types of human-environment interaction r occurring?

geospatial data

  • geospatial data: (quantitative/qualitative) includes all info that can be tied to a specific place

    • ex: where do speakers of mandarin live?

  • fieldwork: observing and recording info on location (in the field)

  • geovisualizations: 2d/3d interactive maps that can be zoomed in/out

GEOSPATIAL TECH

  • global positioning system (GPS)

    • description: gps receivers on the earths surface use the locations of multiple satellites to determine and record a receivers exact location

    • uses:

      • locating borders precisely

      • navigating vehicles

      • mapping lines (trails) or points (fire hydrants)

  • remote sensing:

    • description: the use of cameras or other sensors mounted on aircraft or satellites to collect digital images or video of the earth’s surface

    • uses:

      • determining land cover and use

      • monitoring environmental changes

      • assessing spread of spatial phenomena

      • monitoring the weather

  • geographic information systems (GIS)

    • description: computer system that can store, analyze, and display info from multiple digital maps/geospatial data sets

    • uses:

      • analyzing of crime data

      • monitoring the effects of pollution

      • analyzing transportation/travel time

      • planning urban area

  • smartphone and computer applications

    • description: location aware apps that gather, store, and use locational data from computers/other personal devices

    • uses:

      • suggesting restaurants stores, or best routes to users

      • contact tracing related to tracking diseases or exposure to chemicals

      • mapping of photos from geotags

RUBENSTEIN NOTES

CULTURE

  • culture: the body of customs, beliefs, material traits, and social forms that create a distinct tradition of ppl

    • study why the customary ideas, beliefs, and values of a people produce distinct cultural places

      • need to know language, religion, ethnicity

    • interested in production of material wealth

      • food, clothing, shelter

  • geographers divide the world into region of developed and developing countries

    • uneven development: increasing gap in economic conditions between region in the core (north america, europe, japan) and the periphery (africa, asia, latin america) that results from the globalization of the economy

      • barriers derive from unequal access to electronics and electronic services (the internet), capital to invest in new activities, and wealth to purchase goods and services

CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION AND LOCAL DIVERSITY

  • geographers observe increasingly uniform cultural preferences and uniform “global” landscapes of material artifacts and cultural values

    • globalization: a force or process (helped by tech) that involves the entire world and results in making smth worldwide in scope

    • time-space dilation

      • ex: communication (english), tech (internet and portable tech), food (fast food chains), clothing (large retailers)

  • transnational corp: conduct research operate facilities, and sell products in many countries,not just where it’s hqs and principal shareholders are located

    • ex: amazon

CONNECTION

  • connection: refers to the relationships among ppl and objects across the barrier of space

    • has three results:

      • assimilation: a group’s cultural features are altered (and ultimately lost) to resemble those of the dominant group)

        • immigrant assimilation

      • acculturation: the process of changes in culture that result from the meeting of two groups. the two groups retain two distinct culture features

        • ex: navajo and american cultures

      • syncretism: the combo of elements of two groups into a new cultural feature. formation of a new culture

        • ex: greece —> rome

  • diffusion: the process of by which a feature spreads across from one place to another

    • relocation diffusion: spread of an idea thru physical movement of ppl from one place to another

      • ex: human migration

    • expansion diffusion: spread of a feature from one place to another in an additive process

      • hierarchical: spread of an idea from personsor nodes of authority/power (also core to periphery)

      • contagious: rapid, widespread of a characteristic throughout a population (going viral)

      • stimulus: spread of an underlying principle even tho a characteristic itself apparently fails to diffuse (cheeseburgers aren’t eaten in india, so they changed the menu)

  • hearth: place from which an innovation originates