World Regional Geography January 13, 2010 Reading: Marston Chapter 1 World Atlas vi-xii Waitlisted Students: If you are still on the waitlist please leave your name, student #, recitation section, and on the yellow pad on the desk before leaving today.

The study of Earth as created by natural forces and as modified by human action.The study of Earth as created by natural forces and as modified by human action. The interaction between humans and the environment.The interaction between humans and the environment. What is Geography?

Physical GeographyPhysical Geography Examine how natural/physical forces shape the Earth. Examine how natural/physical forces shape the Earth. What are Earth’s natural processes, and what are their outcomes? What are Earth’s natural processes, and what are their outcomes? What is Geography? Physical Geographers Study (including but not limited to):Physical Geographers Study (including but not limited to): Climate and weather patterns Climate and weather patterns Landforms (e.g. mountains) Landforms (e.g. mountains) Rivers and oceans Rivers and oceans Soils Soils Plant and animal ecology Plant and animal ecology

Human GeographyHuman Geography Examines the spatial organization of human processes, and their relationship to the environment (physical and social/cultural). Examines the spatial organization of human processes, and their relationship to the environment (physical and social/cultural). How do humans organize themselves and function in space? How do these patterns and process affect the environment, and how does the environment affect them? How do humans organize themselves and function in space? How do these patterns and process affect the environment, and how does the environment affect them? What is Geography?

Human Geographers Study (including but not limited to):Human Geographers Study (including but not limited to): Population and demography Population and demography Resource management Resource management Agricultural production and food security Agricultural production and food security Regional/urban planning Regional/urban planning Human and animal disease vectors Human and animal disease vectors Cultural/symbolic meaning of place Cultural/symbolic meaning of place Conflict Conflict What is Geography? Human geographers often categorize themselves and quantitative or qualitative.Human geographers often categorize themselves and quantitative or qualitative.

Combines physical and human geography.Combines physical and human geography. How combinations of environmental and human factors produce unique physical, social, and cultural landscapes.How combinations of environmental and human factors produce unique physical, social, and cultural landscapes. How do natural, social, economic, political, and cultural phenomena produce distinct geographic areas?How do natural, social, economic, political, and cultural phenomena produce distinct geographic areas? Regional Geography

What is a Region “Region” is a concept that is used to identify and organize areas of Earth’s surface for various purposes.“Region” is a concept that is used to identify and organize areas of Earth’s surface for various purposes. A region is a human construct whose boundaries and characteristics are derived from sets of specific criteria.A region is a human construct whose boundaries and characteristics are derived from sets of specific criteria. Can vary in scale from global to local.Can vary in scale from global to local. A region has certain characteristics that give it a measure of cohesiveness and distinctiveness that set it apart from other regions.A region has certain characteristics that give it a measure of cohesiveness and distinctiveness that set it apart from other regions.

World Regions “Extensive geographic divisions based on continental and physiographic settings that contains major clusters of humankind with broadly similar cultural attributes.”

Formal Formal Functional Functional Perceptional Perceptional Types of Regions

Formal Regions A formal region is comprised of a group of areal units that share a common distinguishing feature (human or physical). Political entities (counties, states, countries) Political entities (counties, states, countries) Climate/vegetation Climate/vegetation Landforms Landforms Language, religion, nationality, culture Language, religion, nationality, culture Specific measures Specific measures Population density Population density Per capita income Per capita income Temperature Temperature Rainfall Rainfall

Global Rainfall & Climatic Zones

World Ecosystems

Basque Language Region (Spain & France)

Soda, Pop, or Coke?

Functional Regions A functional region is organized and defined by patterns of spatial interaction or organization, and is often centered on a node. Metropolitan areasMetropolitan areas Economic interactionEconomic interaction Trade Trade Production Production Transportation networksTransportation networks Subway system Subway system Air travel Air travel Communications networksCommunications networks Newspaper readership Newspaper readership Radio Radio

Coverage Area Map KBCO 97.3 FM – Boulder, CO

Metropolitan Statistical Areas New York

Frontier Airlines Functional Region

Perceptual Regions A perceptual region is a construct that reflects human feelings and attitudes about areas and is therefore defined by people’s shared subjective images of those areas. Often refer loosely to geographic areasOften refer loosely to geographic areas Southern California Southern California The Upper Midwest The Upper Midwest Dixie Dixie Shared beliefs or attitudesShared beliefs or attitudes Blue / Red America Blue / Red America Shared interests or loyaltiesShared interests or loyalties Red Sox Nation Red Sox Nation

Perceptual Regions The “perceptual region” will often vary from person-to-person and his heavily tied to sense of place.The “perceptual region” will often vary from person-to-person and his heavily tied to sense of place. Sense of place refers to the feelings evoked as a result of experiences and memories that people associate with place.Sense of place refers to the feelings evoked as a result of experiences and memories that people associate with place. Place attachment refers to the emotional and functional ties one has to a specific place.Place attachment refers to the emotional and functional ties one has to a specific place.

The United “States” As defined by baseball loyalties

Defining “New England”

Regions as Dynamic Entities Regions are both outcomes of geographic processes, and part of the process themselves.Regions are both outcomes of geographic processes, and part of the process themselves. The properties and boundaries of regions can change.The properties and boundaries of regions can change. Formal regions defined by political boundaries are less likely to change spatially, but may change in character.Formal regions defined by political boundaries are less likely to change spatially, but may change in character. Functional regions typically maintain their defining characteristic, but change spatially.Functional regions typically maintain their defining characteristic, but change spatially. Perceptual regions are both spatially and socially fluid in nature.Perceptual regions are both spatially and socially fluid in nature.

World Regions “Extensive geographic divisions based on continental and physiographic settings that contains major clusters of humankind with broadly similar cultural attributes.”

Economic Development

Social Well-Being UN Human Development Index Measures distribution of wealth, education, infant mortality, life expectancy, gender issues & many other factors

Development & Gender Equality Global inequality of female income & attainment Global inequality of female income & attainment In many countries women perform most of the workIn many countries women perform most of the work

The Triadic Core