Human Geography

Chapter 1

what is geography?
description of the earth a study of spatial variation
the how and why of physical & cultural differences location, location, location observable patterns that have evolved through time

-interaction of physical environment and human activity

-cultural landscape can alter the natural

environment

evolution of the discipline - mapping/human interpretation

Aristotle (384-322 BC) Erathosthenes (276 BC) Strabos (63BC-24AD)/Herodotus (484423BC)

Ptoleny

nd (2

century AD)

outside the western world

Chinese Scholars Muslim Scholars

Where are people? What are they like? What is their interaction over space? What kinds of landscapes do they erect?

human geography

physical geography
attention towards natural landscape
landforms and their distribution atmospheric conditions and climatic patterns soils / vegetation associations

modern geography..
1. Climates, patterns, processes of physical environment 2. Rapid development of natural sciences 3. Accurate mapping 4. Data collection / statistics

academic geography
Earth science Man-land relations Areal differentiation Spatial organization
location processes patterns interactions/relations distributions

three concepts about space

Location Direction Distance

absolute location
Mathematical location
Latitude & Longitude
degrees, minutes, seconds

Township & Range (1785 Land Ordinance)

Subdivision: parallels & meridians Topographic quadrangle, US Geological Survey

Metes & Bounds

latitude & longitude

(22 15' N, 114 10 E)

relative location
place in relationship to surroundings

 Site
absolute location concept physical & cultural characteristics
Topography, vegetation, water, physical characteristic

 Situation
external relations of locale relative location concept dynamic

absolute directions
Based on cardinal systems
north, south, east, west from solar system

relative directions
Based on cultural & local perceptions
no absolute boundaries or definitions down south, out west, up north, down south, Near East, Far East

absolute distance
Absolute mathematical mileage, or measurement of distance

relative distance
Refers to a more regional spatial relationship
how distance is described
$$$ & TIME MILES MINUTES

psychological distance
Distance lengthened / shortened
first time traveled night / day travel safety / danger / excitement

size & scale

Size of unit studied Scale implies degree of generalization
broad or narrow Varying sizes
local regional global

landscapes
Natural Cultural Dynamic

multi-varied landscapes

process of change
Before 1970 After development

Long Island, New York

spatial interaction
Accessibility
how easy/difficult to overcome & space separation time

Connectivity
how places are connected

Spatial diffusion
process of dispersion of ideas or items from a center of origin to more distant points

Globalization
Increasing interconnection of peoples and societies worldwide

globalization
Standardization
$$$$, EU, time, United Nations

Containerization
movement of products outsourcing

Intersection of the haves & have nots

cell phones, internet

spatial distribution
Arrangement of items on Earths surface Three concepts

1. density
Measure of the number/quantity within a defined unit of areas
proportion
arithmetic physiological density

2. dispersion (concentration)
Amount of spread of phenomenon over an area
1. clustered, agglomerated 2. dispersed, scattered, random

3. pattern
Emphasizes design rather than spacing
linear (a) road, river, rail line centralized (b) city & suburbs random (c)

Rectangular system of land survey U.S.

rural: checkerboard, 1 mile squares cities: grid system

regional concepts

1. formal or uniform regions

Areas of essential uniformity
Physical or cultural Sahara Desert, Bible Belt

2. functional region
spatial system defined by interactions/ connections
Glendale Galleria

Newspaper Route

3. perceptual regions
Less structured & more culturally based

China Town

The Valley

cartography
the science of making maps
Maps provide a visual tool Maps are subjective Map projections transfer locations on a round surface to a flat surface
some form of distortion always occurs greater distortion results from larger areas depicted

global grid system

mathematics of the Earth

Aristotle (384-322 BC) discovered the earth to be an oblate spheroid
Equatorial bulge 7926.38 (7924) Polar shortening 7899.80 (7922) 23.5 axis (tilt)

seasons and climate

Earths rotation & movement around the sun Tilt of the earths axis (23.5) Receipt of solar radiation Re-radiation of energy in the form of heat

the Earths divisions

Latitude lines
Equal distance between lines Lines become increasingly smaller descending from the equator to poles

Longitude lines
Each line is the same exact length All lines become increasingly close together as they descend to the poles

important lines of latitude

Equator: 0 degrees Tropic of Cancer: 23.5 degrees North Tropic of Capricorn: 23.5 degrees South Arctic Circle: 66.5 degrees North Antarctic Circle: 66.5 degrees South

important lines of longitude

Prime Meridian: 0 degrees (runs through Greenwich, England) International Dateline: 180 degrees Time Zones: every 15 degrees of longitude equals one hour

maps
Scale
the smaller the scale the greater the detail - for example one inch = mile is more detailed one inch = one miles 1:1 or 1:100 one than hundred

Legend
interprets map information

map projections & distortion

Shape Distance Relative size Direction

Robinson map projection

Fullers Dymaxion projection

Topographical map

Thematic maps

Cartogram map

Geographical Information Systems

mental maps