Physical Geography

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Physical Geography

• Honors Unit One

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What is Geography?

• Defined description of the Earths surface and
  the people and processes that shape its
  landscapes
• Literally means earth writing
• Greeks were first to study and classify geography
• During the Middle Ages Europe ignored
  geographic education but other countries in Asia
  and the Islamic World continued to learn about
  and study the world around them
• The Age of Exploration re-opened Europe to the
  idea of geography and world understanding

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Maps

• Defined basic tools that geographers use to
  convey information
• There are many different types of maps used to
  show many different pieces of information
• Fundamental problem with maps is trying to move a
  three dimensional sphere onto a two dimensional
  piece of paper-this causes DISTORTION
• The larger the map, the more distortion that is
  found!

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Scale
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Types of maps

• Maps can be used to show different types of
  geographic phenomena
• There are many different types of thematic maps
• Flow-line maps good for determining movement
  like migration

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Other types of thematic maps

• Choropleth maps put data into spatial
  format-example good for demographic info
• Cartograms chart and assign data by size-good
  example would be population

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Other Map Types

• Dot Distribution
• Uses dots to show a number
• Used frequently to show demographic information
• Graduated Symbol
• Uses symbols of different sizes to show different
  amounts

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USING STATE PLATEVANITIZATION RATE TO LOOK AT
DIFFERENT TYPES OF MAPS
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Graduated Symbol
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Dot distribution
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Choropleth
5 Classes, Standard Deviation
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Choropleth
5 Classes, Equal Number (10 states in each class)
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Choropleth
10 Classes, Equal Number (5 states in each class)
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Cartographic Generalization

• Every map goes through 4 steps to generalize
  the map
• Steps differ greatly but all four can usually be
  found
• Simplification omitting details that clutter the
  map and may confuse the reader depends on scale
  of the map
• Classification reducing information to form that
  can be easily presented on a map think legend or
  key
• Symbolization using various shapes, colors or
  patterns to symbolize categories of data think
  legend or key
• Induction the process where more information is
  represented on a map than is actually supplies by
  original data

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Simplification
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Simplification
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Symbolization
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Symbolization
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Symbolization
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Symbolization
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Classification
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Classification
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Induction
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Centering
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Map Projections

• There are many different types of map projections
• Defined different methods to show the three
  dimensional spherical globe on two dimensional
  flat paper
• All maps have distortion but different types of
  projections have different things that are
  distortion

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Cylindrical Maps

• Most common and cheapest projection
• Shows true direction but loses distance
• Example Mercator projection

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Planar Projection

• Also known as azimuthal map or flat-plane
  projection
• Shows true direction and examine the Earth from
  one point
• Shows Great-Circle Routes

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Conical Projections

• Puts a cone over the Earth and tries to keep
  distance intact but loses directional qualities

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Conformal Maps

• These distort area but keep shapes intact
• Example Lambert conic projection

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Oval Projections
Molleweide Projection
Robinson Projection

• Combination of the cylindrical and conic
  projections
• Example Molleweide or Robinson projection

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Equal-area Projection

• Keeps the size or amount of area but distorts
  shape
• Example Goodes-homosoline projection that
  breaks the globe into continents and separates
  oceans

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The three most common map projections
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Map Basics

• Legends give key or symbols for what is found
  on a map
• Direction North is usually top of map
• Scale relationship of the size of the map to
  the amount of area it covers
• Difference between large and small scale
• Can be written three different ways
• Word scale one inch equals 100 miles
• Line
• Ratio 124,000 which means that for every 1 on
  a map, 24,000 would be represented in real life

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More Scale Examples
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Modern Geography

• GIS Geographic Information Systems
• Uses geographic information and layers it into a
  new map showing specific types of geographic
  data-example watersheds, population density,
  highways and agricultural data can now be on the
  same map
• GPS Global Positioning System
• Uses latitude and longitude coordinate to
  determine exact location on the Earth

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GIS Explanations
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Location

• Answers the question of Where am I?
• We can use mental maps to help determine
  location
• A few words to know for the future
• Site internal, physical characteristics of a
  place
• Situation outside benefits/problems with a site
• Example New Orleans is a poor site for humans
  because it is eight feet below sea level but has
  an excellent situation for human development
  because it sits at the end of the Mississippi
  river
• Two types of location
• Relative Location gives location according to
  another feature on the Earths surface
• Absolute Location gives location using latitude
  and longitude coordinates

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Longitude and Latitude used to determine
absolute location

• LONGITUDE
• DRAWN IN NORTH-SOUTH DIRECTION AND CALLED
  MERIDIANS
• START AT PRIME MERIDIAN (LINE FROM NORTH POLE TO
  GREENWHICH, ENGLAND)
• MEASURE BETWEEN 0 DEGREES AND 180 DEGREES
• USE EAST AND WEST TO DETERMINE WHICH HEMISPHERE

• LATITUDE
• DRAWN IN EAST-WEST DIRECTION AND CALLED PARALLELS
• START AT EQUATOR (CENTER OF GLOBE)
• MEASURE BETWEEN 0 DEGREES AND 90 DEGREES
• USE NORTH OR SOUTH TO DETERMINE WHICH HEMISPHERE

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Regions

• We will study geography through a regional
  perspective during 2nd semester
• Regions can vary in size from a single location
  to a global area
• Three main types of regions
• Formal
• Functional
• Vernacular

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Formal Regions

• Region where anything and everything inside has
  the same characteristic or phenomena
• The characteristic can be anything-examples could
  include language, religion or cultural trait
• Germany is a formal region-Why?
• The Corn Belt is a formal region-Why?

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Functional Regions

• Defined around a certain point or node
• These regions are most intense around the center
  but lose their characteristics the further they
  distance from the focal point
• Examples include a radio station and the area it
  serves or a shopping mall
• The process of reducing the sphere of influence
  as distance increases is known as distance decay

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Perceptual or Vernacular Region

• Exist primarily in an individual's perceptions or
  feelings
• An example would be the idea of the South in
  the United States-Why?
• People may be in several regions simultaneously
  Example-you may be in California (formal region),
  reading a LA newspaper (functional region) while
  dreaming of a ski trip to Utah (perceptual
  region)
• Regions can also overlap!

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Perceptual Regions in U.S.
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World Perceptual Regions
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Distribution

• Defined how everything on the Earth has a
  physical location and the organization in
  space-there are three types
• Density how often an object occurs within a
  given area or space-popular with population
  discussions
• Concentration refers to the proximity of a
  particular phenomena over the area in which it is
  spread-phenomena can be clustered, agglomerated,
  dispersed or scattered
• Pattern how objects are organized in
  space-usually linear (along a straight line)
  centralized (clustered together) or random (lack
  of pattern)

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Population Density
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Concentration Maps
Internet Traffic Map
World Map of Happiness
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CLIMATE ZONES

• Climate meteorological conditions that exists
  in a specific region over long periods of time
• Weather is not climate, but PART of climate
• Throughout the world, different climates exist.
  These climates vary greatly depending on
  rainfall, temperature and location
• Each climate has different ecosystems and
  biospheres that it supports
• Many different climates exist

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TYPES OF CLIMATES TROPICAL

• TROPICAL WET AND DRY
• LOCATED TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF TROPICAL HUMID
  CLIMATES
• EXPERIENCES SEASONAL CHANGES
• HOTTEST, WETTEST SEASON IS SUMMER
• WINTER IS COOL WITH LIMITED RAIN
• USUALLY HAVE SAVANNAHS AND GRASSLANDS

• TROPICAL HUMID
• OCCURS CLOSE TO EQUATOR
• GENERALLY WARM TEMPERATURES
• RAIN ALL YEAR USUALLY, BUT IN SOME AREAS IT IS
  CONCENTRATED IN ONE WET SEASON CALLED MONSOON
• USUALLY HAVE DENSE RAIN FORESTS

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TYPES OF CLIMATES DRY

• ARID CLIMATE
• USUALLY LOCATED AROUND 30 DEGREES NORTH OR SOUTH
  OF EQUATOR
• ALSO KNOWN AS DESERTS
• CAN BE FOUND IN RAIN SHADOWS
• MANY FOUND ALONG WESTERN EDGES OF CONTINENTS

• SEMI-ARID CLIMATE
• TRANSISTION ZONE BETWEEN ARID AND MORE HUMID
  CLIMATES
• HAVE MEDIUM AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL
• USEFULL FOR AGRICULTURE AND GROWING OF GRAIN
• LEVELS OF RAINFALL DOES DIFFER DEPENDING ON
  LOCATION

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CLIMATE TYPES MID-LATITUDE

• HUMID CONTINENTAL
• Interiors and east coasts of upper-middle
  latitudes
• Experiences four distinct season with most
  changeable weather
• MEDITERRANEAN
• Only exists in two areas of world, southern
  Europe and west coasts of continents with cool
  ocean currents
• Long dry summers and wet moderate winters
• HUMID SUBTROPICAL
• Found on eastern side of continents with warm
  ocean currents
• Summers are hot and humid with winters mild and
  occasional snow
• Have deciduous and/or coniferous forests
• MARINE WEST COAST
• Heavily influenced by oceans
• Usually along coasts of upper middle latitudes
• Mild temperatures all year but winters are foggy
  and rainy and summers warm and sunny

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CLIMATE TYPES HIGH-LATITUDE AND HIGHLAND

• SUBARCTIC
• Usually above 50 degrees north latitude
• Long cold winters with temperatures below
  freezing for half the year but summers can be
  warm
• TUNDRA
• Coastal areas in high latitudes
• Long winters, temperatures above freezing only in
  short summer
• Permafrost permanently frozen ground in some
  places
• Trees cannot grow here but flowers can grow
  during summer
• ICE CAP
• Polar regions
• Always covered by huge masses of ice and snow
• Limited plant life, but usually great deal of
  animal life
• HIGHLAND
• Varying climates depending on latitude, elevation
  and location
• Kind of leftover category

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CLIMATE ZONES OF THE WORLD
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Diffusion

• Process by which characteristics spreads across
  space from one place to another over time

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Cultural Diffusion

• Cultural diffusion defined spread of peoples
  culture across space
• Two categories of diffusion exist
• Expansion diffusion cultural component spreads
  outward to new places while remaining strong in
  its original hearth
• Relocation diffusion actual movement of original
  adopters from their point of origin (hearth) to a
  new place
• Spatial diffusion spread of any phenomenon
  across space (like a disease)

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Expansion Diffusion

• Several forms exists
• Stimulus expansion diffusion happens when an
  innovative idea diffuses from its hearth outward
  but original idea is changed by new adopters
• Example apple icons and Microsoft
• Contagious expansion diffusion when numerous
  places or people near the point of origin become
  adopters (or infected in the case of disease)
• Example spread of diseases or KFC restaurants
• Hierarchical expansion diffusion occurs when
  diffusion innovation or concept spreads from a
  place or person of power or high susceptibility
  to another in a leveled pattern
• Example rap music moved from large to small
  cities or war

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Models of Diffusion
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Relocation Diffusion

• Different from expansion diffusion where
  innovation or disease does the moving, here the
  people do the moving
• Examples HIV/AIDS, Chinese food in America
• Migrant diffusion where innovation spreads and
  lasts only a brief time in the newly adopted
  place-makes finding the place of origin difficult
• Example the flu, native languages
• Most diffusion is mixed and doesnt fit into one
  category!
• Example HIV/AIDS