Unit 1: Thinking Geographically - Chapter 1: Maps and Geography

Introduction to Geography

  • Physical geography: This is defined as the study of the spatial different t characteristics of various elements of the spatial p physical environment. Physical geographers focus on various topics, including but not limited to:
    • Landforms
    • Bodies of water
    • Climate
    • Ecosystems
    • Erosion
  • Human geography: This is the study of the spatial characteristics of humans and human activities. Those specialized in human geography study topics including:
    • Population
    • Urban areas
    • Economies

Geographic Analysis and Patterns

  • Four-Level Analysis: This serves as a guide for thinking, intended to provide an approach to spatial thinking and to help an individual think like a geographer. It is designed to show how things are connected or related.
  • Time-distance decay: This concept explores the idea that things, such as cities, are more closely connected or related if they are closer together. Conversely, they become less connected and less related the further apart they are.
  • Spatial patterns: These refer to the general arrangements of things being studied as well as the repeated sequences of events that create those patterns.
  • Scales of analysis: This involves examining geographic topics at various levels, specifically at the local, regional, country, or global scale.

Types of Geographic Data

  • Quantitative data: This includes any information that can be measured and recorded using numbers. An example of this would be the total number of immigrants arriving in a specific city.
  • Qualitative sources: This type of data is not usually represented by numbers. Instead, it is collected through various means, such as:
    • Interviews
    • Photographs
    • Remote satellite images
    • Description maps
    • Cartoons

Classification of General and Reference Maps

  • Reference maps: These are aptly named because they are designed specifically for people to refer to when seeking general information about various places.
  • Political maps: These maps are intended to show and label human-created boundaries and various designations. Elements shown include:
    • Countries
    • States
    • Cities
    • Capitals
  • Physical maps: These are designed to show and label natural features of the Earth, such as mountains, rivers, and deserts.
  • Plat maps: These maps are utilized to show and label property lines as well as specific details regarding land ownership.

Thematic Mapping and Visualization Techniques

  • Thematic maps: These maps are used to show spatial aspects of information or to illustrate a specific phenomenon.
  • Choropleth maps: These maps utilize various colors or patterns to show both the location and the distribution of specific data sets.
  • Dot distribution maps: These are used to indicate the specific location and the distribution of something across a given map.
  • Graduated symbol maps: These maps use symbols of different sizes to indicate varying amounts of something. Larger sizes are used to indicate a greater amount, while smaller sizes indicate a lesser amount.
  • Isoline maps: These maps use lines that connect points of equal value to depict variations in data across space. When lines are close together, it indicates a rapid change in the data; when lines are spaced out, it indicates that values are relatively the same.
  • Cartogram: In this type of map, the sizes of countries are shown according to a specific statistic rather than their actual physical landmass.

Concepts of Geographic Scale

  • Scale: This is the ratio between the size of things as they exist in the real world and the size of those same things as depicted on a map.
  • Cartographic scale: This refers specifically to the way the map communicates the ratio of its own size to the size of the area it represents.
  • Small-scale maps: These maps show a larger amount of area but provides a smaller amount of detail. An example of this is a global scale map.
  • Large-scale maps: These maps show a smaller amount of area while providing a greater amount of detail.

Absolute and Relative Location

  • Absolute location: This is defined as the precise spot where something is located according to a specific system.
  • Latitude: This refers to the distance measured north or south of the equator.
  • Equator: This is an imaginary line that circles the globe exactly halfway between the North and South poles.
  • Longitude: This refers to the distance measured east or west of the prime meridian.
  • Prime meridian: This is an imaginary line that runs Role to Pole through Greenwich, England.
  • International Date Line: This follows the prime meridian line for the most part but makes deviations in order to accomodate international bantaries.
  • Relative location: This is a description of where something is located in relation to other things.

Geographical Relationships and Connectivity

  • Connectivity: This refers to how well various locations are tied together by roads or other types of links.
  • Accessibility: This measures how quickly and easily people in one location can interact with people in another location.
  • Patterns: This refers to the general arrangement of things.
  • Absolute distance: (The term cited without further definition in the source).