The Geographers Eye

The Geographers EyeThe Geographers Eye

Seeing the World In Seeing the World In

Spatial TermsSpatial Terms

What do Geographers What do Geographers Do?Do?

How do they answer those How do they answer those questions?questions?

• They use the They use the SPATIAL ANALYSIS SPATIAL ANALYSIS of of natural and human phenomenanatural and human phenomena..

•What in the world What in the world does this mean?does this mean?

Spatial AnalysisSpatial Analysis• They see geography as a study of They see geography as a study of

distribution, places and regions. A study distribution, places and regions. A study of man-land relationships and research in of man-land relationships and research in earth sciences. Geographers seek to earth sciences. Geographers seek to understand the Earth and all of its human understand the Earth and all of its human and natural complexities—not merely and natural complexities—not merely where objects are, but how they have where objects are, but how they have changed and come to be. changed and come to be.

• Geography has been called 'the world Geography has been called 'the world discipline'. As "the bridge between the discipline'. As "the bridge between the human and physical sciences," geography human and physical sciences," geography is divided into two main branches—human is divided into two main branches—human geography and geography and physical geography physical geography

Where is it?

Two Types of LocationTwo Types of Location

Absolute LocationAbsolute Location

• AbsoluteAbsolute: Latitude and Longitude: Latitude and Longitude30° north and 95° west (anyone know 30° north and 95° west (anyone know

where that is?)where that is?)

World Geographic World Geographic GridGrid

The world geographic grid consists of meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude. The prime meridian ( 0º) passes through Greenwich, England.

LatitudesLatitudes

North/South HemispheresNorth/South Hemispheres

LongitudesLongitudes

MeasurementMeasurement

Relative LocationRelative Location

• Relative: Relative: Describing where a Describing where a place is by place is by describing places describing places near it.near it.– South Carolina is South Carolina is

north of Georgia north of Georgia and east of and east of Tennessee.Tennessee.

What it is like?

Two FeaturesTwo Features

• Human features: The Human features: The culture of a place.culture of a place.– Race, religions, Race, religions,

languages, governments, languages, governments, occupations, occupations, architecture, foods, architecture, foods, clothing, etc.clothing, etc.

• Physical features: Things Physical features: Things determined by nature.determined by nature.– Climate, indigenous plants, animals, Climate, indigenous plants, animals,

land forms, types of soils, etc.land forms, types of soils, etc.

How do people relate to the physical world?

Human- Environment Human- Environment InteractionInteraction

• How people effect the environment and How people effect the environment and how the environment affects people.how the environment affects people.

ExamplesExamples

• DamsDams

• RoadsRoads

• FarmsFarms

• CitiesCities

How do people, ideas,

& products move from

one location to another?

MovementMovement• Movement of people, goods, and Movement of people, goods, and

ideas from one place to another.ideas from one place to another.

Everything Came From Everything Came From SomewhereSomewhere

Movement is Measured In Movement is Measured In Distance and TimeDistance and Time

• Linear DistanceLinear Distance

How far do people, products and How far do people, products and ideas travel from one location to ideas travel from one location to another.another.

Time DistanceTime Distance

• The amount of time it takes for a The amount of time it takes for a person/idea/good to travel from one person/idea/good to travel from one location to another.location to another.

Psychological TimePsychological Time

• The way people perceive distance.The way people perceive distance.

How are areas similar or different?

RegionRegion

• An area that is unique. Geographers An area that is unique. Geographers use regions to compare different areas.use regions to compare different areas.

Distinctive CharacteristicsDistinctive Characteristics

Formal RegionsFormal Regions

• Formal regions are those that are Formal regions are those that are designated by official boundaries, such as designated by official boundaries, such as cities, states, counties, and countries. For cities, states, counties, and countries. For the most part, they are clearly indicated the most part, they are clearly indicated and publicly known. and publicly known.

• TexasTexas

• USAUSA

• HoustonHouston

• Harris countyHarris county

Functional RegionsFunctional Regions

• Organized around a set of interactions Organized around a set of interactions and connections between places. and connections between places. Areas are connected because a certain Areas are connected because a certain type of function exists to connect type of function exists to connect them.them.

• Railroad service areasRailroad service areas

• Distribution of a paperDistribution of a paper

• Bus routesBus routes

Formal and Functional Formal and Functional RegionsRegions

The state of Iowa is an example of a formal region; the areas of influence of various television stations are examples of functional regions.

Perceptual RegionsPerceptual Regions

• People see characteristics the same People see characteristics the same way.way.

• Hill CountryHill Country

• AcadianaAcadiana

• The MidwestThe Midwest

• NW HoustonNW Houston

Spatial Association at Spatial Association at Various ScalesVarious Scales

Death rates from cancer in the US, Maryland, and Baltimore show different patterns that can identify associations with different factors.

Cancer Death Rates in Cancer Death Rates in the U.S.the U.S.

Cancer Death Rates in Cancer Death Rates in MarylandMaryland

Cancer Cancer Death Death Rates in Rates in BaltimorBaltimoree

Perceptual RegionsPerceptual Regions

A number of features are often used to define the South as a perceptual region, each of which identifies somewhat different boundaries.