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World Geography Chapter 1, How Geographers Look at the World

I. Geography Skills Handbook

A. Globes and Maps 1. From 3-D to 2-D . Cartographer (mapmaker) . Distortion (shape, size, distance, or area) 2. Great Circle Routes . Shortest route follows the curve of the Earth

B. Projections 1. Planer Projection 2. Cylindrical Projection 3. Conic Projection 4. Common Map Projections a. Winkel Tripel Projection b.Goode’s Interrupted Equal-Area Projection c. Robinson Projection d.Mercator Projection

C. Determining Location . Grid system . Hemispheres 2

1. Latitude (parallels) . Measures distance north/south . Equator, tropic of cancer and Capricorn, arctic circle 2. Longitude (meridians) . Measures distance east/west . Prime meridian 0 degrees 3. The Global Grid . Degrees and minutes . Absolute location 4. Northern and Southern Hemispheres . Equator is the dividing line 5. Eastern and Western Hemispheres . Prime meridian and International Date Line

D. Reading a Map 1. Title (what kind of information is on the map) 2. Scale Bar (relationship between the map and reality) . Representative fraction or words 3. Compass Rose . Cardinal and intermediate directions 4. Cities . Dots (size denotes population) 5. Key or Legend 3

6. Using Scale a. Small-scale Maps b.Large-scale Maps 7. Absolute and Relative Location . X,Y, and Z values . Where are you in relation to something else?

E. Physical Maps 1. Water Features (rivers, streams, marshes, lakes, seas, bays, oceans) 2. Landforms (mountains, plains, plateaus, valleys etc.) 3. Relief and Elevation . The distance between the high and low point . Topographic maps

F. Political Maps 1. Human Made Features . Boundaries, capitals, cities, roads, highways, railroads, etc. 2. Physical Features . Sometimes they show basic physical features 3. Non-subject Areas 4

. Usually shown in different colors to attract your eye to what is important

G. Thematic Maps 1. Qualitative Maps . Historical information . Often use symbols, lines, dots 2. Flow-line Maps . Use arrows to show direction of something (oil, migration, trade)

H. Geographic Information Systems . Computers can handle multiple levels of information

II. The Geographer’s Craft

A. The Elements of Geography 1. The World in Spatial Terms . Linkages between people and places . Places are reference points a. Absolute Location b.Relative Location c. Place and Regions . Places have unique human and physical characteristics 5

. Region is a collection of these unique characteristics which are different from other places . Formal Region (characteristic is present throughout the area . Functional Region (node – the characteristic is strongest at the center) . Perceptual Region (popular feelings define the area) 2. Physical Systems and Human Systems . Branches of Geography (human and physical) 3. Environment and Society . Interaction between the human and physical (Human Ecology) 4. The Uses of Geography . Government (USGS, Census, transportation, NOAA, NASA, etc.) . Business (location analysis, marketing)

B. Research Methods 1. Direct Observation! 2. Mapping (Cartography) 3. Interviewing (Census) 6

4. Analyzing Statistics (displaying information graphically- charts, graphs, maps) 5. Using Technology . GIS, GPS, Aerial Photography, Satellite Imagery, Remote Sensing, Google Earth!

C. Geography and Other Subjects 1. Past Environments and Politics . Environmental history – recreated ecosystems . Political boundaries (school attendance areas representative districts etc. . How does politics impact the environment and vice versa 2. Society and Culture . Understanding cultures and society 3. Economies . Location analysis, marketing, determining the location for businesses

D. Geography as a Career