Inro to Human GeographyInro to Human Geography

Human Geography: Five ThemesHuman Geography: Five Themes

LocationLocation – the space that is occupied in the – the space that is occupied in the universe (absolute/relative).universe (absolute/relative).

PlacePlace – physical and human characteristics: space – physical and human characteristics: space after humans.after humans.

Human/Environment InteractionsHuman/Environment Interactions – how – how humans depend, modify, and adapt to their humans depend, modify, and adapt to their environments.environments.

MovementMovement – how humans interact on earth, the – how humans interact on earth, the diffusion of religion or trade patterns through diffusion of religion or trade patterns through connections of peoples.connections of peoples.

RegionsRegions – an area with one or more shared – an area with one or more shared characteristics.characteristics.

Space/LocationSpace/Location

Distribution – the arrangement of a feature in space.Distribution – the arrangement of a feature in space.

Three propertiesThree properties

a.a. DensityDensity – the frequency with which something occurs. – the frequency with which something occurs.

b.b. ConcentrationConcentration – the extent of a feature’s spread over – the extent of a feature’s spread over space. Used to describe changes in distribution.space. Used to describe changes in distribution.» ClusteredClustered

» DispersedDispersed

c.c. PatternPattern – geometric arrangement of objects in space. – geometric arrangement of objects in space.

Evolution of MapmakingEvolution of Mapmaking

Babylonians – 2300 BC earliest surviving maps Babylonians – 2300 BC earliest surviving maps written on clay tablets.written on clay tablets.

Aristotle – 384-322 BC demonstrated earth was Aristotle – 384-322 BC demonstrated earth was spherical through maps.spherical through maps.

Eratosthenes – 276-194 BC first person to use the Eratosthenes – 276-194 BC first person to use the word geography. Also the first person to correctly word geography. Also the first person to correctly divide earth into 5 climatic regions.divide earth into 5 climatic regions.

Ptolemy – 100-170 AD Ptolemy – 100-170 AD Guide to GeographyGuide to Geography Age of Exploration – by the 17th century, most Age of Exploration – by the 17th century, most

continents and oceans were accurately displayed.continents and oceans were accurately displayed.

How to Lie with mapsHow to Lie with maps

A map is a generalization or representation of the A map is a generalization or representation of the real world.real world.

Cartography – the science of mapmaking.Cartography – the science of mapmaking. Contemporary Mapping – Contemporary Mapping –

– Remote Sensing SatellitesRemote Sensing Satellites– GIS (geographic information systems)GIS (geographic information systems)– GPS (global positioning system) GPS (global positioning system)

All maps lie. They contain distortions. You cannot All maps lie. They contain distortions. You cannot represent the three-dimensional earth on a flat represent the three-dimensional earth on a flat surface without distorting reality.surface without distorting reality.

Any useful map is selective in what is put in and Any useful map is selective in what is put in and left out. Example: road or subway map.left out. Example: road or subway map.

Important Point: any single map is Important Point: any single map is but one of an indefinitely large but one of an indefinitely large number of maps that might be number of maps that might be produced for the same situation from produced for the same situation from the samethe same datadata..

Three sources of map distortionThree sources of map distortion

Map scale – most maps are smaller than the Map scale – most maps are smaller than the reality they represent. Map scales tell us reality they represent. Map scales tell us how much smaller.how much smaller.

Map projection – this occurs because you Map projection – this occurs because you must transform the curved surface of the must transform the curved surface of the earth on a flat plan.earth on a flat plan.

Map type – you can display the same Map type – you can display the same information on different types of maps.information on different types of maps.

Map scale – tells us relationship between Map scale – tells us relationship between distance on map and distance on earth’s surfacedistance on map and distance on earth’s surface

Ratio scale = ratio of map distance to earth Ratio scale = ratio of map distance to earth distance.distance.– 1:10,000 means that one inch on the map equals 10,000 1:10,000 means that one inch on the map equals 10,000

inches earth’s surface; one centimeter represents 10,000 inches earth’s surface; one centimeter represents 10,000 centimeters; or one foot equals 10,000 feet.centimeters; or one foot equals 10,000 feet.

– Recall a small fraction has a large denominator so that Recall a small fraction has a large denominator so that 1:100,000 is a smaller scale than 1:25,000.1:100,000 is a smaller scale than 1:25,000.

– A A large-scalelarge-scale map depicts a small area with map depicts a small area with great great detail.detail.

– A A small-scalesmall-scale map depicts a larger area with map depicts a larger area with little little detail. Distortion is especially severe here.detail. Distortion is especially severe here.

Ratio scaleRatio scale

Which is the large-scale map?Which is the large-scale map?

Map scale continuedMap scale continued

Verbal scale – translates the representative Verbal scale – translates the representative fraction into words.fraction into words.– One inch represents one mile conveys more meaning One inch represents one mile conveys more meaning

than 1:63,630.than 1:63,630.

– Used little in places where people use metric system. Used little in places where people use metric system. People familiar with centimeters and kilometers have People familiar with centimeters and kilometers have little need for verbal scales to tell them that 1:100,000 little need for verbal scales to tell them that 1:100,000 means that one centimeter equals 1 kilometer or that means that one centimeter equals 1 kilometer or that 1:250,000 means that four centimeter represent one 1:250,000 means that four centimeter represent one kilometer.kilometer.

Map scale continuedMap scale continued

Graphic scale – is a simple bar scale that portrays Graphic scale – is a simple bar scale that portrays distance on the map.distance on the map.

Map projection is the way we fit Map projection is the way we fit earth’s three-dimensional surface earth’s three-dimensional surface

onto flat paper or a screenonto flat paper or a screen

Projection ActivityProjection Activity

Take a look at the following map Take a look at the following map projections in your text. Compare the projections in your text. Compare the treatment of land masses such as Greenland treatment of land masses such as Greenland and Australia in the 3 projections. Record and Australia in the 3 projections. Record your answers.your answers.

Figure 1-15 Robinson uninterrupted Figure 1-15 Robinson uninterrupted Figure 1-8: Mercator projectionFigure 1-8: Mercator projection Figure 3-3: Modified Goode’s Equal Area Figure 3-3: Modified Goode’s Equal Area

Goode’s projection interrupts the oceans and Goode’s projection interrupts the oceans and tucks Australia and New Zealand farther west tucks Australia and New Zealand farther west than in reality. Therefore, land masses appear than in reality. Therefore, land masses appear relatively large compared to the oceans.relatively large compared to the oceans.

However, this projection also minimized However, this projection also minimized distortion in the shape of the various land distortion in the shape of the various land masses and the size of one land mass masses and the size of one land mass compared to other land masses.compared to other land masses.

The major benefit of the Robinson projection The major benefit of the Robinson projection is that oceans are uninterrupted. This is that oceans are uninterrupted. This projection is useful in depicting patterns of projection is useful in depicting patterns of global interaction.global interaction.

Mercator ProjectionMercator Projection

Mercator ProjectionMercator Projection

Stretches the poles from one length to the size of Stretches the poles from one length to the size of the equator. The north-south scale is constant, but the equator. The north-south scale is constant, but east-west scale increases to twice the north-south east-west scale increases to twice the north-south scale at 60 degrees N and infinitely at the poles.scale at 60 degrees N and infinitely at the poles.

Shapes are correct for all areas, and map has Shapes are correct for all areas, and map has correct directional relationships.correct directional relationships.

Look at the size of Greenland and Antarctica.Look at the size of Greenland and Antarctica. Map exaggerates the distance between Chicago Map exaggerates the distance between Chicago

and Stockholm, both in northern latitudes.and Stockholm, both in northern latitudes.

Equal Area ProjectionEqual Area Projection

Equal Area ProjectionEqual Area Projection

Represents areas correctly, but distorts Represents areas correctly, but distorts shapes.shapes.

If South America is 8 times larger than If South America is 8 times larger than Greenland on the globe, it will be 8 times Greenland on the globe, it will be 8 times bigger on the map.bigger on the map.

Robinson ProjectionRobinson Projection

Robinson ProjectionRobinson Projection

Frequently used.Frequently used. Distorts both size and shape, but not too much.Distorts both size and shape, but not too much.

Map Type – you can display the Map Type – you can display the same information on different mapssame information on different maps

A thematic map depicts a single feature, for A thematic map depicts a single feature, for example: climate, population, landform or land use.example: climate, population, landform or land use.

Types of thematic maps:Types of thematic maps:– Isoline – connects points of equal valueIsoline – connects points of equal value

– Choropleth – puts features into classes and then maps Choropleth – puts features into classes and then maps classes for each regionclasses for each region

– Proportional symbol – size of the symbol corresponds to Proportional symbol – size of the symbol corresponds to the magnitude of the mapped featurethe magnitude of the mapped feature

– Dot – each dot represents some frequencyDot – each dot represents some frequency

Map typesMap types

What kind of map is this?What kind of map is this?

What kind of map is this?What kind of map is this?

What kind of map is this?What kind of map is this?

What kind of map is this?What kind of map is this?

Other types of visual images:Other types of visual images:

Mental map = map of an area in your mindMental map = map of an area in your mind

The acquisition of data about Earth’s The acquisition of data about Earth’s surface from a satellite orbiting the surface from a satellite orbiting the

planet is called planet is called remote sensingremote sensing..

Bottom line: hundreds of decisions Bottom line: hundreds of decisions are made in the making of a map, are made in the making of a map, including scale, projection, and type. including scale, projection, and type. These decision ultimately determine These decision ultimately determine the map’s message.the map’s message.