01b_GEOG_ATSC_Fundamentals

Geography and Atmospheric Science FundamentalS

The Science of Geography

Definition and Purpose:Geographers analyze spatial interactions of Earth's processes over both space and time. The study of geography aims to understand how physical landscapes and human activities interact. Derived from Greek: "geo" meaning "Earth" and "graphein" meaning "to write". Geography encompasses mapping and documenting the Earth.

The First Law of Geography

Quote by Waldo Tobler:"Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things." This principle suggests that geographic proximity influences interactions, emphasizing the importance of spatial relationships in geographic studies.

Areas of Geography Study Relationships Among:

• Natural Systems: The study of ecosystems, climate, and geology, focusing on physical processes and their interactions.

• Geographic Areas: Specific regions of the Earth, analyzed for their unique characteristics and interactions.

• Society: Examination of human social structures, demographics, and interactions with the environment.

• Cultural Activities: Study of human behaviors, practices, beliefs, and how these shape and are shaped by geographical contexts.

• Interdependence over Space and Time: Understanding how processes affect one another across different locations and historical periods.

Key Fields:

1. Physical and Life Sciences: The study of natural processes, including biology and ecology, focusing on the physical world.

2. Socio-Ecological Sciences: Exploration of interactions between social systems and ecological systems.

3. Social and Cultural Sciences: Examination of culturally significant behaviors, norms, and practices within societal contexts.

4. Geomorphology: The study of landforms and the processes that shape them.

5. Environmental Planning: The process of evaluating the environmental impact of land use and development planning.

6. Population Geography: Analysis of population distribution, density, and trends over time.

7. Hydrology: The study of water in the environment, including its movement, distribution, and quality.

8. Natural Hazards: The study of natural events that can cause damage, such as earthquakes or floods.

9. Cartography: The art and science of map-making, focusing on the representation of geographic information.

10. Medical Geography: Investigating the spatial aspects of health, diseases, and healthcare systems.

11. Landscape Ecology: Analysis of the relationships between spatial pattern and ecological processes on a range of scales.

12. Economic Geography: Study of economic activities and spatial distributions of economic phenomena.

13. Physical Geography: The study of Earth's biological and physical systems, including the climate, landforms, and ecosystems.

14. Remote Sensing: The acquisition of information about an object from a distance, typically by satellite or aerial imagery.

15. Human Geography: Focused on human societies and their spatial dynamics and relationships.

16. Environmental Geography: Examines the interactions between humans and the environment.

17. Meteorology: The study of atmospheric phenomena, weather, and climate.

18. Historical Geography: Analyzes historical records to understand geographical patterns over time.

19. Climatology: The study of climate, its variability, and how it affects natural and human systems.

20. Natural Resource Geography: The study of the distribution, utilization, and management of natural resources.

21. Political Geography: Exploration of the relationship between geographical space and political power.

22. Glaciology: The study of glaciers and their impact on the landscape.

23. GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Systems used to capture, store, analyze, and manage spatial or geographic data.

24. Urban Geography: The study of urban spaces, including demographic, spatial, and environmental aspects of city life.

25. Oceanography: The exploration of ocean environments and their interactions with land and atmosphere.

26. Conservation Geography: Focused on preserving natural resources and understanding biodiversity.

27. Behavioral Geography: Examines the psychological basis of human behavior in spatial contexts.

28. Soils: Study of soil formation, classification, and its role in ecosystems.

29. Synthesis of Physical and Human Geography: Integrating physical and human factors to analyze geographical phenomena comprehensively.

Essential Tools

The Scientific Method Overview:A process for scientists to collaboratively create an accurate representation of the world. Minimizes bias and prejudice, ensuring reproducible results that can be scrutinized.

Example of Scientific Inquiry:Contrails and Temperature

• Question: Can contrails affect surface temperature?

• Hypothesis: Contrails lower daytime temperatures by reflecting sunlight, but raise nighttime temperatures by trapping heat.

• Prediction: If contrails stop, diurnal temperature variation should increase.

• Experiment: Gather temperature data from Sept. 11-14, 2001, during grounded flights.

• Analysis: Documented increase in temperature range during grounding compared to previous 30 years.

• Conclusion: Findings support the hypothesis, but further inquiry may update conclusions.

Units of Measurement:

The International System (SI):Key Units:

• Length: meters (m)

• Mass: grams (g)

• Pressure: pascals (Pa)

• Temperature: kelvin (K)

Prefixes and Multipliers:

• Kilo (10^3): Kilometers = 1000 m

• Hecto (10^2): Hectopascal = 100 Pa

• Milli (10^-3): Millimeter = 0.001 m

Latitude and Longitude

Latitude:Measures angular distance from the equator (0°) to poles (90°N/S). Values span from 0° to 90°.

Longitude:Measures angular distance east/west of the prime meridian. Values range from 0° to 180°E/W.

Prime Meridian and Time Zones

Time Zones:Represented as hours ahead or behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Movement across the International Date Line changes the day.

Mapping Spatial Data Using Contouring

Isopleth:Lines on a map connecting points of equal value (e.g., temperature, pressure).

Contour Interval:The difference in elevation between adjacent contour lines, providing gradient information.

Analysis of Contours

Gradient Interpretation:The steeper the slope, the closer the contours. Closed circles indicate peaks or valleys.

Atmospheric Sciences and Isopleths

Isotherms and Isobars:Used to visualize temperature and pressure data respectively.

Applications:Essential for understanding weather patterns and atmospheric phenomena.