Geography Greek word origin “ writing about or describing” the earth. The study of how people, places, and things relate to each other Explores the world, cultures, political systems, economy and peoples relationship with the environment

The Geographer's Tools Globes and Map Projections A globe is a scale model of Earth that accurately depicts area, distance, and direction. Cartographers are mapmakers that convert 3-D globe images onto flat maps to create a map projection. There are three types of map projections: planar, cylindrical, and conic.

Planar

Cylindrical (wrapped around a cylinder)

Conic (wrapped around a cone)

Planar (flat view)

The Geographer's Tools Determining Location Lines of latitude and longitude create a grid system on Earth's surface that is used to determine location. The Equator divides Earth in half, creating the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

The Geographer's Tools Determining Location The Prime Meridian splits the globe into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Absolute Location Aiken, SC is located at ° N, ° W Dr. P. Sherman’s dental office: 42 Wallaby Way Sydney, Australia

Relative Location Kroger is across the street from Odell Weeks. Boston is 200 miles northeast of New York City.

The Geographer's Tools Using Maps There are many components to a map, including a title, a legend, symbols, and color-coding. Scale represents the consistent, proportional relationship between the measurements shown on a map and on Earth's surface.

Title Legend Scale

The Geographer's Tools Using Maps Physical, political, and thematic maps each serve a unique purpose and show different types of information. A mental map describes an individual's perception of features of Earth's surface.

Physical Map Shows physical features such as elevation

Political Map Shows man-made distinctions, such as countries, states, or cities

Scale Large scale refers to maps on which objects are relatively large Small scale refers to maps on which objects are relatively small.

Scale This means a small scale map actually shows a bigger area than a large scale map Large scale and small scale are subjective terms

Small scale, because South Carolina is smaller Large scale, because SC is larger

The Geographer's Craft A Geographic Perspective Geographers study the locations and relationships of Earth's physical and living features.

The Geographer's Craft A Geographic Perspective Spatial perspective – how places, objects, and people are related to one another

The Geographer's Craft The Themes of Geography There are five themes of geography: Location Place Movement Region Human/Environment Interaction

The Geographer's Craft The Themes of Geography Location – where something is Absolute location Relative location

The Geographer's Craft The Themes of Geography Place Physical Geography = natural features Human Geography = cultural characteristics

The Geographer's Craft The Themes of Geography Regions: formal region functional region perceptional region

Formal Region – Counties in South Carolina

Functional region – Charleston Metropolitan Area

Perceptual Regions of the United States

The Geographer's Craft The Themes of Geography Human/Environment Interaction A relationship exists between people and their environment People use and change the environment to meet their needs

The Geographer's Craft The Themes of Geography Movement How People, Goods, and Ideas Get from One Place to Another

The Geographer's Craft The Themes of Geography Movement Linear distance Time distance Psychological distance