Why Study Geography?

1
Why Study Geography?

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vdDk06h7Abbwfeature
  fvw

2
Section 1 Themes and Essential Elements
Question What are the two main branches of
geography?
3
Section 1 Themes and Essential Elements
Human Geography
Physical Geography
Both
Studies distribution and characteristics of the
worlds people (where people live and what they
do) Examines how people make and trade things
that they need to survive
Focuses on Earths natural environments,
including landforms, water features, plants,
animals, and other physical features Studies
the processes that shape physical environments
Studies how people interact with their
environments
4
Section 1 Themes and Essential Elements

• We Use Geography
• In GovernmentFor mapmaking and planning
• In BusinessFor marketing and development
• In SchoolsFor education
• Every DayTo find our way in town or on trips,
  when we watch the news and weather, when we read
  about other countries, when we make decisions
  about locations for events or businesses

5
Section 1 Themes and Essential Elements
Organizing the Study of Geography
Organizing the Study of Geography

• By Five Themes
• LocationExact or relative spot of something on
  Earth
• PlacePhysical and human features of a location
• Human-Environment InteractionWays people and
  environments interrelate with and affect each
  other
• MovementHow people and things change locations
  and the effects of these changes
• RegionGeographic areas with one or more shared
  characteristics

6
Location

• "Where are we?"   is the question that the theme
  Location answers. Location may be absolute or it
  may be relative.  These locations, whether
  relative or absolute, may be of people or places.
  
• An absolute location is a latitude and longitude
  (a global location) or a street address (local
  location).Ex Paris, France is 48o51' North
  latitude and 2.20' East longitude

7

• Relative locations are described by landmarks,
  time, direction or distance from one place to
  another and may associate a particular place with
  another.Ex Paris is located along the Seine
  River.

8
Place

• What kind of place is it?  What do you think of
  when you imagine China?  Japan?  Russia?  Saudi
  Arabia?
• Places have both human and physical
  characteristics, as well as images.
• Physical characteristics include mountains,
  rivers, soil, beaches, wildlife, soil. 

9

• Places have human characteristics also.  These
  characteristics are derived from the ideas and
  actions of people that result in changes to the
  environment, such as buildings, roads, clothing,
  and food habits.
• The image people have of a place is based on
  their experiences, both intellectual and
  emotional.  People's descriptions of a place
  reveal their values, attitudes, and perceptions.

10
Human/Environmental Interaction

• There are three key concepts to
  human/environmental interaction
•  Humans adapt on the environment. Humans modify
  the environment. Humans depend on the
  environment.
• All places on Earth have advantages and
  disadvantages for human settlement.  One person's
  advantage may be another person's disadvantage.

11

• Some like the excitement of large cities whereas
  others prefer remoteness.   Environment is not
  just trees, spotted owls, and rain forests. 
  Environment is a feeling.  What is the
  environment of a big city?  New York?  Los
  Angeles?  Las Vegas? Dallas?
• Given the choice, where would you live?  Why? 
  What is the environment?

12
Movement

• The movement of people, the import and export of
  goods, and mass communication have all played
  major roles in shaping our world. 
• People everywhere interact.  They travel from
  place to place and they communicate.  We live in
  a global village and global economy.

13

• People interact with each other through
  movement.  Humans occupy places unevenly on Earth
  because of the environment but also because we
  are social beings.  We interact with each other
  through travel, trade, information flows (E-Mail)
  and political events.
• Not only do humans move but also ideas move
  fashions move fads move.  What is an example of
  an idea that moves?  Fashion?  Fad?  How do we
  depend on people in other places?

14
Section 1 Themes and Essential Elements
Organizing the World by Regions

• FormalHas one or more common features that make
  it different from surrounding areas
• FunctionalDifferent places that are linked
  together and function as a unit
• PerceptualReflects human feelings and attitudes

15
Region

• A region is the basic unit of study in
  geography.  A region is an area that displays a
  coherent unity in terms of the government,
  language, or possibly the landform or situation. 
  Regions are human constructs that can be mapped
  and analyzed.
• There are three basic types of regions.

16

• Formal regions are those defined by governmental
  or administrative boundaries (i. e., United
  States, Birmingham, Brazil).  These regional
  boundaries are not open to dispute, therefore
  physical regions fall under this category (i. e.,
  The Rockies, the Great Lakes States).

17

• Functional regions are those defined by a
  function (i. e., TVA, United Airlines Service
  area or a newspaper service area).  If the
  function ceases to exists, the region no longer
  exists.
• Vernacular regions are those loosely defined by
  people's perception (i. e., The South, The Middle
  East).  

18

• http//www.popvssoda.com/

19
Section 1 Themes and Essential Elements

• By Six Essential Elements
• The World in Spatial Terms
• How to use maps and other tools
• How to use mental maps to organize information
• How to analyze the spatial organization of
  people, places, and environments
• Places and Regions
• The physical and human characteristics of places
• How people create regions to interpret Earth
• How culture and experience influence peoples
  perceptions of places and regions

20
Section 1 Themes and Essential Elements

• By Six Essential Elements
• Physical Systems
• Human Systems
• Environment and Society
• The physical processes that shape Earths surface
• The distribution of ecosystems on Earth
• The characteristics, distribution, and migration
  of human populations
• The complexity of Earths cultural mosaics
• The patterns and networks of economic
  interdependence on Earth
• The patterns of human settlement

21
Section 1 Themes and Essential Elements

• By Six Essential Elements
• Physical Systems
• Human Systems
• Environment and Society
• The forces of cooperation and conflict
• How human actions modify the physical environment
• How physical systems affect human systems
• The distribution and meaning of resources
• The Uses of Geography
• Apply geography to interpret the past
• Apply geography to interpret the present and plan
  for the future

22
Section 2 Skill Building Using the
Geographers Tools
Map Projection
Disadvantages
Advantages
Used by navigators because it shows true
direction and shape
Exaggerates landmasses at high latitudes
Cylindrical
Not as accurate for areas that extend mostly
north to south
Conic
Accurate for areas with long east-west dimensions
Used by pilots and navigators because it shows
true direction and area sizes
Flat-Plane
Distorts shapes
23
Section 2 Skill Building Using the
Geographers Tools
Special-Purpose Maps

• Climate and Precipitation MapsShow weather
  patterns and atmospheric conditions
• Population and Economic MapsShow the
  distribution of people, natural resources, and
  land usage patterns
• Elevation Profiles and Topographic MapsShow
  physical features of the land

24
Section 2 Skill Building Using the
Geographers Tools
Important Geographic Characteristics

• Climate graphs show average temperatures and
  precipitation in a place.
• Population pyramids show percentages of males and
  females by age group in a countrys population.
  They help us understand population trends.