EXPLORING OUR GEOGRAPHIC

WORLD

TOOLS OF

GEOGRAPHY

GEOGRAPHY -is the study of the world's environment and man's interaction within the environment.Geography has two “strands” or parts:PHYSICAL: the study of the earth's natural features, such as mountains, rivers, soil, vegetation, and weather and; HUMAN: (Cultural) the study of human cultures and man made features.All kinds of resources are used to study geography, but the most common are MAPS

WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

MAPS

A map is a 2 dimensional graphic of the earth or part of the earth.A person who makes maps is called a cartographer.Maps are important as a tool for geography because we can show so much information about the earth on one document.

Cartographers today use many sources of data

collected for their maps. GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is the most

accurate to date: GIS is using computers to plot points and other information on maps.

Air Photography and Satellite Images can help gather information to then be placed on maps. Cartographers can interpret what they see and plot it on a map.

GPS (Global Positioning Systems) use satellites around the world to plot the exact point of location from an electronic receiver.

Geographic Information

Key/ Legend: Shows information as symbolsScale: Used for measuring distance (like a ruler) Scale can also be shown in ratio for or by an equation (ex. 1 inch = 10 miles)Directional Arrow: All maps must have AT LEAST an arrow showing relative direction. This is called orientationCompass Rose: Shows Cardinal & Intermediary Directions

PARTS OF A MAP

WHICH ONE IS

WHICH???

1. Political Map -this is a map that shows political boundaries, borders, area of political entities (countries, states, territories, districts, zones, counties, provinces, etc) These types of maps may also show capitals/ other cities.

2. Physical Map- this type of map uses colors to show elevation and other land/water features of the earth. This map may also show any physical feature such as mountains, oceans, rivers, valleys, etc.

3. Thematic Map- this type of map shows “themes” or subjects on a map- basically any information. Anything can be shown on a map using symbols, colors, pictures, numbers, contour lines, etc. ALL THEMATIC MAPS MUST HAVE A KEY- this tells the reader what each picture/symbols/color/etc represents on the map i.e. + represents a hospital

TYPES OF MAPS

Any collection of maps, graphs, and charts is called an atlas.

We use atlases as a geographic resource for looking up all kinds of information=

To population and economic informationTo topographic information about the surface of the earth.

ATLAS

USING AN ATLAS

Use the INDEX to help locate the location of cities, states, and countries around the world.

Use the KEY on the maps to read information

Use the SCALE of the map to find distances

Use the COMPASS ROSE to locate and pinpoint orientation or

direction.

TYPES OF MAP PROJECTIONS

Mercator Map Projection: Shows accurate direction, but area & shapes are severely distorted at the poles. Mercator projections are based on cylinders.

***Sailors would use these for true direction

MERCATOR

CONICAL

Conical map Projection: -used for mapping a large piece of Earth's surface. It shows accurate distance, direction, & shape for the limited area mapped. Conical projections are based as cone-shape.

Interrupted Map Projection: -Shows accurate area & shape of continents, but oceans have open pie-shaped wedges are to adjust for distance.

INTERRUPTED

Polar Map Projection: -used for mapping hemispheres instead of whole Earth. Shows accurate distance & direction but shape and size are distorted at the edges. Polar view is called Azimuth.

***Airline Pilots would use these maps to follow Great Circle Routes (the shortest path between two points along the curve of the Earth)

AZIMUTH (aka POLAR)

Robinson Map Projection: Shows accurate shape & size of continents, but water areas are expanded to fill in area.Robinson projections are based on ovals. ***These maps are good for data collections like in a classroom or lab.

ROBINSON

-To find just the right map to use, ask yourself “What am I trying to show on my map?”-You don’t want to use a map that has too much distortion (being misshapen on a map)-Usually you ask the question for one of the following four map topics:

-AREA- DIRECTION- DISTANCE- SHAPE

MAP PROJECTIONS

Map Perspective is to look at a map with a DIFFERENT point of view.

Think, for example, how people from Africa would look at a map versus someone from Far East Asia….or someone from Australia versus someone from Europe.

Everyone has a different point of view when it comes to maps….it’s not that they're wrong, it’s just different.

MAP PERSPECTIVE

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE

Reading coordinates is very important in finding location in geography.

Remember that you read the “x-axis” (latitude) first and then read the “y-axis” (longitude) second. (x,y)

X- AXIS

Y- A

XIS

The Earth is divided by

latitude and longitude lines. There are several important lines to know on the earth's surface

THE GLOBAL GRID

#1 is the ARCTIC CIRCLE found at 66 ½ o NORTH of the Equator

#2 is the TROPIC OF CANCER found at 23 ½ o NORTH of the Equator

#3 is the EQUATOR which splits the earth into two hemispheres at 0o Latitude

#4 is the TROPIC OF CAPRICORN found 23 ½ o SOUTH of the Equator.

#5 is the ANTARCTIC CIRCLE found at 66 ½ o SOUTH of the Equator#6 is the PRIME MERIDIAN which runs north to south at 0o LONGITUDE

Read the coordinates for LATITUDE first…. 33o NORTH latitude

Read LONGITUDE next….97o WEST longitude

Which means that coordinates for Dallas, Texas would look like this:

33oN, 97oW

READING COORDINATES

Grid maps -are another way to look at finding location. Instead of latitude and longitude lines, use grid squares to find a specific place on a small area of the earth

GRID MAPS Cheddar, England is found in grid square A-9

Tools geographer’s use to study features on earth.

-Location-Place-Movement-Region-Human Environment Interaction

5 Themes of geography

Types of Location:ABSOLUTE: exact location on earth (fixed)

Doesn’t changeLatitude/LongitudeHemispheresGrid SystemAddress

RELATIVE: compared to other places (variable)

Changes dependent upon where you’re comparing it to.

Miles DistanceDirection

Location

A specific place on the Earth’s surfaceUses a grid systemLatitude and longitudeA global address

Absolute Location

Where a place is in relation to another place-Uses directional words to describe-Cardinal and intermediate directions

Relative Location

A place is defined by it’s unique

characteristics.-Physical characteristics-Human characteristics

Place

Cultural Characteristics

Human Characteristics

What are the main languages, customs, and beliefs.How many people live, work, and visit a place.

Physical CharacteristicsLandforms (mountains, rivers, etc.), climate, vegetation, wildlife, soil, etc.

Human Movement

• Trucks, Trains, PlanesInformation Movement

• Phones, computer (email), mail

Idea Movement• How do fads move from

place to place? TV, Radio, Magazines

Movement

Formal Regions -defined by governmental or administrative boundaries (States, Countries, Cities)-Regions defined by similar characteristics (Corn Belt, Rocky Mountain region, Chinatown).

Functional Region -Regions defined by a function (newspaper service area, cell phone coverage area).

Perceptual Region-Regions defined by peoples perception (middle east, the south, etc.)

Region

http://www.lesd.k12.az.us/webpages/lackert/files/GeographyPP.ppthttp://www.google.com.ph/url?q=http://kw105.k12.sd.us/Geography/1-1a%2520NOTES.ppt&sa=U&ei=QYdDUbmXAcqekQXRxIGIDw&ved=0CBkQFjAA&

References