The Discipline of Geography

Symbols

drawn elements signifying real world features

map symbols are

drawn elements that signify real world features

scale

size of printable or projected map compared to the real world area shown on the map

largest scale

smallest area

Geography contrasts

space vs. place

Elements of maps

scale, symbols, generalization, location

Relative location

(is location compared to other influencing areas) Does Youngstown exist in a vacuum unrelated to surrounding cities, counties, and states? No, Youngstown's size, population, and economics are all governed by a multitude of factors relating to surrounding locations; for example, its position between Cleveland and Pittsburgh and other places near and far.

smallest scale

largest area

location

(ex. latitude and longitude) spatial coordinate systems to locate places or things

map symbols: annotation

(labels) street names, mountain labels, descriptive text

map symbols: areas

(polygons) lots, crop types, and language areas

Place is tangible

(what your senses tell you about your surroundings) -what your neighbor looks like and why -what your senses tell you about the woods you are in -using historical records to understand what you feel about the place. (so sometimes looks at how areas are unique)

Job titles of geographer

- Environmental technician - GIS analyst - Cartographer - Planner - Former Univeristy President (David Sweet) - Landuse classifier - Zoning inspector - Census manager - GPS data specialist - Municipal grant writer - Royal prince (Prince William) - Prime Minister (Theresa May (Former UK prime minister)) - Basketball player (Michael Jordan) - Remote sensing image reader - Air photo interpreter ​

To make their points, geographers use

- general maps (much detail) - thematic maps (specific subjects) - images (satellite images) - photographs (aerial or places) - graphs (showing trends in data) - charts (visualizing data) -computer graphics

Standard components of a geography program

- physical geography (land without people) - regional geography (how areas are defined) - human geography (economics & culture) - techniques or tools (maps & computers)

Geography

Is looking across the surface of the earth and involves both land and people

absolute location

a system for specific location. We often use latitude and longitude. It is a coordinate system of precise location for a sphere-

map symbols: points

cities, trees, factories

latitude is based on the

equator as the zero line drawn halfway between the poles (0 to 90). Longitude is based on measuring around the Equator in a complete circle (0 to 180 each way).

Overall, maps can be divided into 2 classes

general maps vs thematic maps

two classes of maps

general use vs specific subjects

Space

is abstract (what is happening between here and there). - measuring internet connectivity between countries, or, - how cities are connected together, or, - amount of traffic between cities during a specific time. (so sometimes space looks at how systems are similar)

map symbols: lines

roads, pipelines, political boundaries

generalization

simplifications of reality to understand spatial message

Geography is the study of ______ relationships

spatial

Geography is the study of the

why and where

Geography is the study of spatial relationships (3)

1. Understanding regions. The regions of cities, political areas, & broad divisions (defining areas & transitions between areas) 2. Understanding movement across the earth's surface space (of weather, people and things, as well as ideas) 3. Understanding interactions between people and environment/ land and how culture & physical environment affect each other. 4. Historical changes in the geographies above.

Youngstown is about

41 degrees N. Latitude 82 degrees W. longitude from the zero, zero starting point.