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The Science of Geography ... The Science of Geography ...
What and WhyWhat and Why
And who cares?And who cares?
How big is the Universe?How big is the Universe?Hubble Deep Field ViewHubble Deep Field View
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releahttp://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2004/07/image/ases/2004/07/image/a
The Hubble Telescope was pointed at a ‘dark’ The Hubble Telescope was pointed at a ‘dark’ part of the skypart of the sky
Located in the constellation Fornax, the region is Located in the constellation Fornax, the region is so empty that only a handful of stars within the so empty that only a handful of stars within the Milky Way galaxy can be seen in the imageMilky Way galaxy can be seen in the image..
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof1http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/0/
The Great galaxy in Andromeda… a spiral galaxy similar to our own
Our sun is but one single middle sized and middle aged star hanging out along the edge of an average sized galaxy
Our Sun, the source of life on Earth is but one of millions….
X-ray image from Dec. 2002
Our Earth is planet # 3 in a system of Nine Planets
Comparative orbits of the local solar system. Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter is a broad band of material, the asteroid belt.
Images of the ‘inner’ planets… relative sizes are shown.
The image of Venus is from a RADAR mapping mission as the Venusian surface cannot be seen through the thick atmosphere.
Comparatively, we are dealing with a very small part of a very big system…..
The atmosphere
behaves like a fluid, with currents and eddies.
Weather is a product of these atmospheric movements.
The Atmosphere of the Earth is only about 20 miles thick.
Were the Planet the size of a peach the lower atmosphere (3 miles) would be thinner than the ‘fuzz’ of that peach.
The Earth's atmosphere is 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, with traces of argon, carbon dioxide and water.
The lower atmosphere is where life is possible and where weather occurs.
Hydrosphere:
71 Percent of the Earth's surface is covered with water. Earth is the only planet on which water can exist in liquid form on the surface.
At ‘diverging’ margins… new crust is being created.
At converging margins the crust is re-melted.
The continents ‘float’ like chocolate chips on the tectonic ‘cookie’
The Biosphere consists of all living organisms on Earth. Animals exist in very close relationship with plant communities
Vegetation of the conterminous United States as shown in a false color infra-red (healthy vegetation is shown in shades of red) AVHRR composite.
So here we have our Earth, fundamentally the only planet we have explored…
GEOGRAPHY
Is the science of describing this planet… literally,
“Writing about Earth”
Geography
From the Greek Language “geo” = Earth “graphia” = description or depiction Eratosthenes, a 3rd century B.C. Greek
Scholar and chief librarian at the famous Library of Alexandria was perhaps the first person to use the term “Geography.”
What is Geography?What is Geography?
““A A sciencescience that deals with the that deals with the natural features of the earth and natural features of the earth and the climate, products and the climate, products and inhabitantsinhabitants.” .” The Merriam-Webster The Merriam-Webster DictionaryDictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, . Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 1997. 3181997. 318
DEFINITIONSThe world and all that is in it.
Spatial perspective on people, places and environment.
Geography is a social science that focuses on the spatial distribution of human and physical phenomena.
The science and art of understanding the spatial relations among people, place, and environment.
Geography is the study of pattern and processes associated with the Earth. The focus of the geographer is on spatial patterns and how phenomena that share common space interact spatially.
DEFINITIONS contd.The world and all that is in it.
Spatial perspective on people, places and environment.
Geography is a social science that focuses on the spatial distribution of human and physical phenomena.
The science and art of understanding the spatial relations among people, place, and environment.
Geography is the study of pattern and processes associated with the Earth. The focus of the geographer is on spatial patterns and how phenomena that share common space interact spatially.
Earth System Science (ESS)Earth System Science (ESS) ...” ...” The Earth system science concept pioneered The Earth system science concept pioneered
by NASA has changed the way our research is by NASA has changed the way our research is conducted, transitioning from a conducted, transitioning from a compartmentalized to interconnected view of compartmentalized to interconnected view of Earth. .... aims to acquire a deeper scientific Earth. .... aims to acquire a deeper scientific understanding of the major components of the understanding of the major components of the Earth system, their interactions, and the Earth system, their interactions, and the consequences of changes for life on Earth....”consequences of changes for life on Earth....”
(insert crude word here) ESS is the recognition (insert crude word here) ESS is the recognition by NASA (and others) that deconstruction of the by NASA (and others) that deconstruction of the world into little parts doesn’t always work and world into little parts doesn’t always work and they need a they need a GEOGRAPHIC GEOGRAPHIC perspective!perspective!
DEFINITION
Geography is the study of people, places and environments. But more than that, it is a way of looking at the world and asking why it works ( or doesn’t work ) and the way it does work. It is more than where, but why there. It is looking at issues from a spatial perspective and inquiring about them.
Why What is Where?Why What is Where?andand
Who Cares?Who Cares?
An alternative definition of ‘geography’ developed by Dr.s McKnight and Strong during a snowball fight along the empty streets of Washington DC.
ClimatologyClimatology
The difference between meteorology and The difference between meteorology and climatology....climatology....
Time.....Time.....
Weather (Meteorology) is the study of the state of Weather (Meteorology) is the study of the state of the atmosphere ant a given time and place.the atmosphere ant a given time and place.
Climate (Climatology) is based on accumulated Climate (Climatology) is based on accumulated observations over time.observations over time.
The News….The News…. Heat Wave Continues; Deaths Rise to 50Heat Wave Continues; Deaths Rise to 50 By DUNCAN MANSFIELDBy DUNCAN MANSFIELD The Associated PressThe Associated Press
Wednesday, August 22, 2007; 7:35 PMWednesday, August 22, 2007; 7:35 PM
Over 1,000 Displaced by Midwest FloodingOver 1,000 Displaced by Midwest Flooding Thursday August 23, 2007 2:16 PMThursday August 23, 2007 2:16 PM
By JOHN SEEWERBy JOHN SEEWER Associated Press WriterAssociated Press Writer
Dean raises flood fears in Mexico Dean raises flood fears in Mexico The remnants of Hurricane Dean have brought The remnants of Hurricane Dean have brought
torrential rain to Mexico, raising fears of floods and torrential rain to Mexico, raising fears of floods and mudslides.mudslides.
Reuters 23 August 2007Reuters 23 August 2007
Drought declared a disaster by the U.S.Drought declared a disaster by the U.S. BBC News 23 August 2007BBC News 23 August 2007 Extreme heat has contributed to 'exceptional' Extreme heat has contributed to 'exceptional'
droughtdroughtLake levels have dropped sharply, stream flows are reaching record lowsLake levels have dropped sharply, stream flows are reaching record lows
MIKE MORRISMIKE MORRISThe Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution
08/23/0708/23/07
http://www.atmos.uiuc.edu/~jewett/sat_mgm.html
“Climate is the sum of all statistical weather information that helps describe a place or
region”
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/extremes/2000/december/extremes1200.html
Global climatic zones....Global climatic zones....
“
Statistics: the basis for understanding climate.
Decade by decade change...Decade by decade change...
Average height for a Man was 5-foot-8 in 1960 Average height for a Man was 5-foot-8 in 1960 and 5-9½ in 2002and 5-9½ in 2002
average height for women increased from slightly average height for women increased from slightly over 5-3 in 1960 to 5-4 in 2002.over 5-3 in 1960 to 5-4 in 2002.
The average weight for men rose from 166.3 The average weight for men rose from 166.3 pounds in 1960 to 191 pounds in 2002. pounds in 1960 to 191 pounds in 2002.
Women went from 140.2 pounds in 1960 to 164.3 Women went from 140.2 pounds in 1960 to 164.3 pounds in 2002.pounds in 2002.
http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/041027http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/041027_america_size.html_america_size.html
Changing climate?Changing climate?
Does the climate ‘change’ based on which Does the climate ‘change’ based on which time window you use to collect data?time window you use to collect data?
The statistical ‘tails’.... Variations and The statistical ‘tails’.... Variations and extremes are part of the data set.extremes are part of the data set.
Cycles in Climate?Cycles in Climate?
Obviously, there is variation in weather day Obviously, there is variation in weather day to day minute to minute....to day minute to minute....
The seasons are one cycle caused by The seasons are one cycle caused by orbital parameters of the earth-sun systemorbital parameters of the earth-sun system
Are there other cycles? Are there other cycles? Long term cycles (ice ages)Long term cycles (ice ages) Meso-scale cycles (ENSO)Meso-scale cycles (ENSO)
ENSO
El Nino....
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/elnino/impacts.html#part5b
The “Great American Desert”Account of an Expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains:
performed in the years 1819 and '20 Stephen H. Long
““...faulty characterization...”?...faulty characterization...”?
The [map], based on Long's own The [map], based on Long's own explorations and earlier surveys, corrected explorations and earlier surveys, corrected many geographical errors made by previous many geographical errors made by previous expeditions. Boldly blazoned, however, on expeditions. Boldly blazoned, however, on the southern plains is Long's faulty the southern plains is Long's faulty characterization," Great American Desert." characterization," Great American Desert."
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/lewisandclark/lewis-after.htmlhttp://www.loc.gov/exhibits/lewisandclark/lewis-after.html
The ‘dust bowl’?
Climate and AgricultureClimate and Agriculture
‘‘Extreme’ weather events....Extreme’ weather events.... Normal, but worthy of special study....tornadoes, Normal, but worthy of special study....tornadoes,
blizzards, heat waves, cyclones etc....blizzards, heat waves, cyclones etc....
Tropical Storms.... More of them ?
Katrina
A Changing climate?A Changing climate?
What happened to the Anasazi and Freemont peoples?
Sunspot Cycles…
