1. Introduction to The Study of Geography

2. What is Geography? *It is the study of our earth; our home. OR *Anything that can be mapped! Geo = Earth Graph = Writing/Drawing So....Geography = Writing/Drawing about the Earth

3. *Geography combines the physical and human aspects of our world into one field of study. *Geography shows the relationship between people and the environment.

4. What is a geographer? Someone who analyzes the Earth from many points of view.

5. The Five Themes of Geography There are five ways to look at the earth When geographers work, they are guided by two basic questions: 1) 1)Where are things located? 2) 2)Why are they there? To find these answers, geographers use five themes to organize information

6. The Five Themes: 1) 1) Location – Geographers begin to study a place by finding where it is, or its location. 2) 2) Place – Geographers study the physical and human features of a location. 3) 3) Human-Environment Interaction – Geographers study how people affect or shape physical characteristics of their natural surroundings and how do their surroundings (environment) affect them?

7. 4) 4) Movement – Helps explain how people, goods, and ideas get from one place to another. 5) 5) Regions – Geographers compare the climate, land, population, or history of locations and put them into groups with similar characteristics.

8. Location There are two ways to think about location: 1. 1.absolute location – describes the place’s exact position on the Earth. There is only one absolute location. 2. 2.relative location – explains where a place is by describing places near it. There are many relative locations.

9. Place This includes a location’s physical and human features. – – To describe physical features, you might say that the climate is hot or cold or that the land is hilly. – – To describe human features, you might discuss how many people live there, what types of work they do, or what they do for fun.

10. Human-Environment Interaction How does the environment impact people and the choices we make? How do people impact the environment? Geographers also use interaction to study the consequences of people’s actions.

11. Movement Explains how people, goods, and ideas move from one place to another. Helps geographers understand cultural changes and shifting patterns.

12. Regions A region has a unifying characteristic, like climate, land, population, religion, or history. On maps, geographers use color and shape or special symbols to show regions. What regions can you name?

13. Now let’s practice the Five Themes… Can you identify the theme exemplified by each sentence on your sheet?

14. Map Projections Globes and Maps: – – As people explored the Earth, they collected information about it. – – Mapmakers wanted to present this information correctly. – – The best way was to put it on a globe, a round ball that represented the Earth.

15. – – Because globes are not practical or easy to use to carry, flat maps were invented. – – However, the earth is round and a map is flat. – – Mapmakers had to find ways to make maps accurate.

16. All Maps Are WRONG!!! All maps distort one or more of the following: – – Shape – – Area – – Distance – – Direction – – Position

17. Mercator Projection (conformal – retains shape) Gerardus Mercator - 1569

18. Mercator Projection Best for ocean navigation Retains shape of large land areas Used for many years in schools, newscasts Misrepresents relative size of land areas

19. Mollweide Projection (Equal Area – Retains Size)

20. Peters Projection (another Equal-Area)

21. Mollweide and Peters Projections Maintain relative size of land areas Distort shape Not great for navigation Best used for thematic maps (ie. Population density, land use, etc.)

22. Interrupted Projection Good for land travel…size and shape of landmasses are relatively accurate... but not so great for ocean navigation (obviously!)

24. Robinson Projection (Neither Conformal nor Equal-Area)

25. Robinson Projection Developed in the 1960’s Abandons fidelity of both shape and size…seeks a compromise on both Often used in schools today

26. Projection Selection Guidelines Determine which global feature is most important for your purpose IN THIS INSTANCE (shape, area, etc.)

27. And to really get you thinking…

28. Now…Let’s test that idea. Is it really impossible to make a perfect map? Can you take a globe and turn it into a decent map?

29. Latitude Lines Latitude lines measure distance north or south of the Equator. Measured in degrees (to 90° North or South) Also called “parallels” Equator is 0° Latitude

30. Longitude Lines Longitude lines measure distance East or West of the Prime Meridian, which runs through Greenwich, England Measured in degrees (to 180° East or West) Also called Meridians Prime Meridian is 0° Longitude

31. How Latitude and Longitude Form the Global Grid

32. The Hemispheres

33. The Parts of a Map Compass Rose Symbol on a map that tells the cardinal directions, which are north, south, east, and west. Scale The scale on a map tells you the relative distance on the map to the real world. For example, a map’s scale may tell you that one inch on the map equals one mile in the real world.

34. Key The key, or legend, on a map explains what the symbols on a map represent, such as triangles representing trees. Grids Some maps use a grid of parallels and meridians. On a map of a small area, letters and numbers are often used to help you find your location.