AP Human Geography Intro to APHG Maps Spatial Thinking

" "As a young man, my fondest dream was to become a geographer. However, while working in the customs office I thought deeply about the matter and concluded it was too difficult a subject. With some reluctance I then turned to physics as a substitute."

Geography “Geo”= Earth, “Graphy”= to write Geography is divided into two categories Physical: natural forces such as climates, landforms, types of vegetation Human: where human activities are located such as industry, religion, language, etc. In AP Human Geography we are concerned with Where and Why?

Maps Maps are the primary tools geographers use to display and analyze information. Geography is distinguished from other subjects by its reliance on maps. Today you will be looking at the different ways in which maps display information and are designed.

 Type of Map (thematic* or reference) Maps: Two-dimensional, scaled representations of Earth surface - show spatial data (data with locational component)` Cartography (map-making) involves 4 design decisions – based on purpose of map  Projection  Scale  Aggregation  Type of Map (thematic* or reference) DISCUSSION: * Break this definition down and explain what each part means.

Systematic methods of transferring a spherical surface to a flat map Sample Map Projections Systematic methods of transferring a spherical surface to a flat map Distortion must occur in either size, shape, distance, or direction – all projections are compromises Mercator DISCUSSION: * How are these two map projections different? * Which do you prefer? Which one is more popular? Robinson Polar

(They distort shapes to make sizes correct.) Equal-Area projections best where purpose is to compare distributions of a variable between places (They distort shapes to make sizes correct.) What impressions do you get from this map?

Larger-scale shows less land area in more detail. Used on local maps. The ratio of map distance to earth distance, measured in the same units Map Scale smaller scale Sample Area Covered Fraction Scale Verbal Scale World 1:78,000,000 1 in = 1,250 mi No. America 1:36,000,000 1 in = 570 mi Central U.S. 1: 4,000,000 1 in = 64 mi AAA Colo map 1: 1,267,200 1 in = 20 mi larger scale Smaller-scale shows more land area in less detail. Used to show global patterns. Larger-scale shows less land area in more detail. Used on local maps.

The scale at which one analyzes an issue is critical DIA – Only major U.S. airport built since 1980 At the national scale, why did the location of this airport make sense? At the local scale, why was it necessary to locate the airport where it is? DISCUSSION: * Think about the nearest major airport to where you live. How close is it to the center of the city whose name it carries? * Can you think of examples around the country where the airport is not even in the city whose name it carries? Why is this? * Does this issue matter when viewing a map at the national scale? Urban scale?

Which of the following maps of Chicago is small-scale and which one is large-scale?

Map Aggregation The level of detail for dividing a thematic map into geographic units Ranges from coarse divisions (e.g., by countries) to fine divisions (e.g., by zip codes) DISCUSSION: * Is it likely that educational levels within California are the same in all parts of the state? * Are there parts of your state or province that you think probably have a higher than average percentage of Bachelor's degrees? Percent of 1990 pop age 25+ with bachelor's degree Data aggregated by State

Note what information is lost at higher levels of aggregation Percent of pop age 25+ with bachelor's degree (1990) Note what information is lost at higher levels of aggregation Aggregated by State (northeast close-up) Aggregated by County (WV, MA) DISCUSSION: * What can you learn about educational levels within West Virginia and Massachusetts on the local map that you can't see on the national map?

2004 Presidential Election Red = Bush; Blue = Kerry State results, by land area County results, by land area State results, by population County results, by population Source: M. Gastner, C. Shalizi, and M. Newman, University of Michigan http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/

2004 Presidential Election Red = Solidly Bush (70% +) Purples = divided … redder = Bush majority; bluer = Kerry majority Blue = Solidly Kerry (70%+) By land area By population Source: M. Gastner, C. Shalizi, and M. Newman, University of Michigan http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/

THEMATIC MAPS – depict characteristics of places Categorical type - Depict areas that are different in kind - Use several distinct colors to show different categories desert forest tundra Examples: climates, religions Choropleth type - Depict areas that are different in amount - Use shades of similar colors to show different values high value medium low value Examples: population density, literacy rates

Example of “categorical map”

Example of “choropleth map” Human Development Index (HDI) Rankings Includes GNI/PPP, Literacy, and Life Expectancy Which regions have high HDI? Which regions have low HDI? Which places are exceptions?

Isoline type (Average Daily Solar Radiation) Lines connect points of equal value DISCUSSION: * Do you have a preference among these two types of maps? * Do you find one of these easier to understand than the other? Dot Density type (Wisconsin Acreage in Potatoes) Each dot represents a frequency of mapped variable

Proportional Symbol Map (Graduated Circle type) Size of symbol varies in relation to frequency or intensity of the mapped variable DISCUSSION: * What are some of the advantages of each of the four types of thematic maps? Proportional Symbol Map (Flow Vector type)

Spot any spatial correlations? Middle & South America Agricultural Regions (left) and Population Density (below) Spot any spatial correlations?

QUESTIONS? WHERE CAN YOU FIND THIS POWER POINT?

(Phil Gersmehl, Research in Geographic Education, 2006) Spatial Thinking (Phil Gersmehl, Research in Geographic Education, 2006)

Quick mapping activity – example of identifying changes in a spatial pattern, reasons for the changes, and consequences of these changes With a partner, map the following (on the same map): 1. Use a diamond symbol  for the cities in which there was a Major League Baseball team in 1952 (16 teams). 2. Use a different symbol for the locations of MLB teams in 2007 (30 teams). Coors Field

What kinds of things are symbolized by lines on this map? Connections What kinds of things are symbolized by lines on this map?

Where are some patterns that illustrate this? Combination of climate, agriculture, and industry explains population density patterns Where are some patterns that illustrate this?

How does this map illustrate the aura or zone of influence for Denver? Denver metro area How does this map illustrate the aura or zone of influence for Denver? How are hierarchies symbolized on this map? For which kinds of services does Denver’s aura extend beyond this map?

Where could you define a region of “Elvis-lovers”? Where are the exceptions? Where are the outliers?

Compare the Pacific coasts of North and South America Which places have analogous climates?

An example of the importance of spatial thinking Christian

TURKIC (Altaic Language Family) Diversity, exceptions, and edges can make for interesting case studies or examples TURKIC (Altaic Language Family) IRANIAN (Indo-European Language Family) SEMITIC (Afro-Asiatic Language Family)

Iraq Ethnic Groups Turkey Knowledge of cultural regions, boundaries, and transitions is necessary for understanding conflicts Syria Iran Jordan Iraq Ethnic Groups Saudi Arabia Kuwait Iraq’s population is 29 million: sixty percent are Shi’a Arab, mostly in the south. Sunni Arabs are concentrated in the center (western Iraq is sparsely populated). Over 4 million Iraqis in northern Iraq are Kurdish. Baghdad is a transition zone.

Pattern Analysis: Density vs. Dispersion Which square mile has the higher density, (a) or (b)?

Various Pattern Arrangements What phenomena could explain the patterns shown in A, B, and C?

Map Making Technology GIS (Geographic Information System) Uses a computer system to store information about various locations Produces maps with greater accuracy Information can be stored in layers to analyze different features

Map Making Technology Remote Sensing Remote sensing uses satellites to gather and display information about the earth

Map Making Technology GPS (Global Positioning System) Determines the precise position of something on Earth Information is received from satellites