GEOG 1112: Weather and Climate

Introduction

What is Geography?

• Geography is the science that studies the spatial and temporal characteristics of all life, landforms, and atmospheric elements on Earth

• It is the study of space and how things are organized in space

• Geography from “geo” meaning Earth and “graphen” meaning to write about or to graph

Geography is…

• The science that studies the relationships among:

Defining Physical Geography

• Spatial Analysis of physical components and natural processes of Earth

• Key to processes is incoming solar radiation

• Interconnected processes constitute natural systems

• Physical Geography stresses:

Earth Systems Concept

• Systems theory  

• Open systems

• Closed systems

Earth Systems

• System feedback

– Positive feedback

– Negative feedback

• System equilibrium

• Dynamic equilibrium

Earth Systems Concepts

System Feedback

Earth’s Four Spheres

• Atmosphere

• Lithosphere

• Hydrosphere

• Biosphere

Chapter 2

Geographer’s Tools

Tools

• Geographic grid: latitude and longitude → big imaginary grid system draped over the Earth; provides a common reference system for describing locations

Earth’s Dimensions

Geographic Grid

• Latitude• Parallels• Equator• N & S Hemispheres• Parallels run

east/west, but measure locations that are north/south

Geographic Grid• Longitude• Meridians• Prime Meridian• Int. Dateline• Meridians run north/south, but measure locations that are east/west

Prime Meridian and Standard Time  

Standard Time

• A day begins at the International Dateline– Areas west of the line are one day ahead

of those east of the line

• Each 15º of longitude is equivalent to a 1 hour time zone– Earth = 360º sphere / 24 hours = 15º– 24 time zones

Standard Time

• You are located at 50ºE longitude and it is 6am where you are. Your Friend is located at 30ºW longitude. What time is it where your friend is?

6pm Sat

2pm Mon

9am Tues

11pm Fri

150˚E 165˚E 165˚W180˚

Standard Time

Tools: Maps

• What Is a Map?• 1. A map is a two-dimensional (flat)

representation of the whole Earth or a specific region of the Earth.

• 2. A map is a generalized view of an area, as seen from above, that is reduced in size.

• 3. A map is a tool that is used to depict spatial information and to analyze spatial relationships.

Maps

• Globe – The most visually complete and accurate way to represent the Earth.

• Map Projections – Representation of the 3-dimensional Earth on a 2-dimensional surface– Inherent Distortion

• 2 types of projection:– Conformal – Shape OK– Equivalent – Size OK

Maps

The Mercator Projection is a conformal projection with correct shapes for landmasses but great exaggeration of size near the poles.

Maps• Equivalent Projection – This Albers Equal-Area

Projection (the standard projection for the continental US) is an example of an equivalent projection. Size is consistent throughout this map, but shape is distorted, especially toward the poles and toward the equator.

Maps

• Map Scale – The distance ratio between features on a map and features in the real world (linear)

• Means of converting distance on a map to distance in the real world– Large scale – small area, fine detail– Small scale – large area, little detail

Large ScaleVerbal Scale 1 inch = 0.25 miles

Representative Fraction 1:16,000

Bar Scale

Small ScaleVerbal Scale 1 inch = 3000 miles

Representative Fraction 1:190,000,000

Bar Scale 0 5000

Miles

0 0.4 Miles