Chapter 1
Section 1 notes
A globe is a scale model of earth that accurately depicts area distance and direction
Cartographers are map makers that convert 3-d globe images onto flat maps to create a map
projection
Three types of map projections
1. Planar - map created by projecting an image of the earth onto a geometric plan
*Known as azimuthal projection
2. Cylindrical - a map created by projecting an image of the earth onto a cylinder
*Ex.is a Mercator projection
3. Conic - a map created by projecting an image of earth onto a cone placed over port of
an earth model
*Used for great circle routes
Determining location
Lines of latitude and longitude create a grid system on earth's surface use to determine location
Equator divides the earth in half creating the northern and southern hemispheres.
Prime meridian splits into the eastern and western hemispheres.
Absolute location of a place is the point at which its latitude and longitude intersect
Relative location a reference point to identify on place in relation to another
Using maps
Components to map
*a title, legend, symbols, color-coding
Types of maps
*physical maps - shows location and topography
*political maps provides boundaries and location of political units
*thematic maps - emphasizes particular theme or subject
*Mental map describes an individual's perception of features of earth surface
Geospatial technologies includes global positioning systems (GPS), Geographic information
systems (GIS), and remote sensing from satellites and aircraft
GPS uses networks of satellites and receivers to provide the absolute location of something on
earth
*geographers use satellite imagery to study earth's natural and human processes
GIS are software programs used to process and organize data that links a location to its
characteristics
Remote sensing is any technique used to measure observe, or monitor something without
touching it
*analyze images from satellites
Section 2 notes
Geographers study the locations and relationships of earths physical and living features
Spatial perspective - focuses on how individual places objects and people are related to one
another across earth’s surface.
Thinking like a geographer involves asking and answering geographic questions by acquiring,
organizing and analyzing geographic information.
The five themes of geography
1. Location – exact or relative spot of something on the earth
2. Place - physical and human features of a locations
3. Human - environment interaction- way people and environment interrelate with and
affect each other
4. Region – geographic areas with one or more shared characteristics
5. Movement – how people and things change locations and the effect these changes
The elements of geography
Six elements of geography include - the world in spatial terms, places and region, physical
system, human systems, environment, society and uses of geography.
Geographers group places with similar characteristics into three types of regions:
Formal region – has one of more common features to make it different from
surrounding areas. Ex corn belt.
Functional region – different places that are linked together and functions as a unit. Ex
City transportation
Perceptional region – reflects human feelings and attitudes (certain traditions or values).
Ex Yank or Back home
A place has both physical and human significance. Geographers divide their focus into two
branches: physical geography and human geography
Geographers gather and analyze info through direct observation and measurement, by visiting
a place or through remote sensing they often convey their finding through mappings.
*Physical Geography – climate, land water, plant, and animal life
*Human geography (cultural geography) analyzes human activates and their
relationship to the cultural and physical environments.
Interviewing involves a geographer asking direct questions to gather info.
Technology is often used to help geographers analyze statistics and data and compile findings in
an understandable manner.
Geography is used to understand historical patterns economies politics and the impact of
societies and cultures on the landscape
Cultural geographers use sociology and anthropology to study human tendencies and past
cultures and their influence on current traditions and social norms.
Geographers study economies to understand how locations of resources impact the ways
people make and transport and use goods and services.
*Focus on urban development and consumption but not how the island are formed
Geography and other subjects
*geographers work in a variety of jobs in government business and education
EX.
Physical geography would be useful to a weather forecaster on the south who wanted to
predict precipitation patters
A geographer studying an ecosystem would look at how the community of plants and animals
depend on one another and their surroundings
Ex. of physical system that geographers study is a wetland
