GEOG 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Geomatics, Graphene, Spatial Analysis
Physical Geography
IVC
-Geography: to write about the Earth
(Geo= earth, graphene= to write)
-Two foundations of Geography: Physical and Human (physical science vs the human system)
-It is important to put both of the foundations together and focus on the interrelationship between
the foundation
-Geography is a spatial science, which is what separates it from other sciences
Spatial Science: identifying patterns and distribution of data
-Physical geography: spatial analysis of all physical elements that occur within Earth's
environment.
The 5 Themes of Geography
1. Location ("where"):
a. Relative locations: describing where you are via streets, address landmarks etc.
i. "good" vs "poor" relative locations ex) a business who does business via water
should pick a headquarter location in a coastal city and not in a landlocked city.
b. Absolute Location: geographic grid, locating every point on the surface of the Earth
through longitude and latitude.
2. Region: identifying common characteristics that unifies a space
-this method of identification allows for geographers to compare and contrast.
*Example: Physical: climate, foliage (biomes), mountains (topographical features),
resources, soil type
Human: ethnicity, age, demographics, government systems, religion,
cultural beliefs, income (economic), language, food, agriculture (dominant
crops)
-all of these things allow us to define certain regions
-Borders (mane made and natural [plate tectonics]) are also included in this theme
because they allow us to study changes in traits.
3. Place: identifying all the unique characteristics that create and define a certain place
a. Tangible: things that you can touch, specific details about qualities that distinguish
them
b. Intangible: the other senses (example: New York FEELS fast paced)
***These are the things that make a place within a region different from other places
within that region.
Ex) what makes NY a unique place compared to other cities in the East coast region.
4. Movement: the Earth is always changing and moving
-On movement: (consider the varying speed and rates Example: Earthquakes are
sudden movements where as plate tectonics are slower)
*Examples Physical: ocean currents, plate tectonics, wind currents, air moving (AC)
Human: migration (walk, drive), development, evolution, infrastructure
Document Summary
Geography: to write about the earth (geo= earth, graphene= to write) Two foundations of geography: physical and human (physical science vs the human system) It is important to put both of the foundations together and focus on the interrelationship between the foundation. Geography is a spatial science, which is what separates it from other sciences. Spatial science: identifying patterns and distribution of data. Physical geography: spatial analysis of all physical elements that occur within earth"s environment. The 5 themes of geography: location ("where"), relative locations: describing where you are via streets, address landmarks etc. This method of identification allows for geographers to compare and contrast. *example: physical: climate, foliage (biomes), mountains (topographical features), resources, soil type. Human: ethnicity, age, demographics, government systems, religion, cultural beliefs, income (economic), language, food, agriculture (dominant crops) All of these things allow us to define certain regions. ***these are the things that make a place within a region different from other places within that region.
