GEOG 2051 : Geog2051 Exam1 AllNotes
• Geography - the study of the spatial distribution of phenomena (on the earth’s surface)…
the study of where things are
• Old Geography
o Literally means: “writing about the earth”
o What is where?
o Description / observation
• Curiosity… Holly Beach or beaches of Brazil. Brazil all day, baby.
o Suggested that Curiosity is a biological function… the Saber Tooth tiger example
of the man who just eats and sleeps vs. the man who knows where the cave is.
Who passes their genes to the next generation and who is lunch?
• Geography only became a university discipline till about 100 years ago
• New Geography
o Why are things where they are?
o Explanation / understanding
• Physical
o Hydrology
o Climatology
o Biogeography
o Geomorphology
o Meteorology
o Pedology
• Human
o Social geography
o Cultural geography
o Economic geography
o Behavioral geography
o Political geography
o Urban geography
• Magic mix of Physical and Human: Holistic Synthesis
• 4 spheres of geography
o Lithosphere (solid portions of the globe)
o Hydrosphere (water portions of the globe)
o Atmosphere (earth’s air…gases that surround the earth)
o Biosphere (earth’s living things that occupy the 3 other spheres)
• Lots of overlap between Geography, Geology, and Engineering
• 5 common themes in geographic research
o Location (where things are)
o Region (characteristics and attributes that a location shares with other locations…
a location that is homogeneous with other locations aka the same)
o Human-earth relationships (how humans affect the earth. How earth affects the
humans. We live in this world. We need to plan ways that we can interact with the
earth that lessen our impact on it and allow us to live well in the long term)
o Place (the characteristics and attributes that make a location unique and not like
other locations)
o Movement, networks, links (the ties between locations that allow them to interact
and influence each other. Examples: rivers, food webs)
Review
• Geography
o Human, physical
• Four Spheres
o Lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere
• Five Themes
o Location (where things are), place (characteristics and attributes that make a
location unique), region (group of similar locations), movement/pathways,
human-earth relationships
Monday, January 17, 2014
• The Scientific Method
o Method: a recipe for doing something
o Purpose: for building knowledge
• Components
o Image of the real world (philosophers call this the knowledge we already know;
this is different for each person)
o Image of the real world = theory (the knowledge that we generally accept to be
correct)
o We come across a gap in our pre-existing knowledge
o Gap in our knowledge… first thing we do: read up on what is already said about
the gap. If the question hasn’t been answered, it is on us to answer it.
o Hypothesis: possible explanation of phenomenon that requires verification
o Verification: go out and collect data, do experiments, satellite images, statistical
analysis
• Gap in knowledge → Hypothesis → Verification → Accept hypothesis if verified →
Theory
• Just because it is theory, doesn’t mean it is true. You can never prove that anything is true
with 100% certainty. Be skeptical. Things should be challenged.
• Systems theory
o Definition: a way to think about the nature of things
o It is a very powerful way to think about things. Very generalized. An abstract way
to think.
o The ideas are general, yet can be applied to many phenomenon
• System
o Definition: a set of objects and their attributes that are linked together by flows of
matter and energy. Boil the universe down to two things: matter and energy.
• Open system:
o Matter and energy are free to enter and leave. Ex: car engine.
• Closed system:
o Energy and matter can’t enter or leave. Ex: wrist watch… the problem with a
closed system is that it has a finite level of energy. Watch battery is used up and
energy converted into an unusable form
• The earth is NOT a closed system. It is a very open system. We are constantly being
bombarded with solar energy and other cosmic goodies
• Budgets
o Conservation of matter and energy: matter and energy cannot be destroyed. They
can only change forms.
o Input → storage → output
o Inputs – Outputs = Δ Storage
• Positive budget = inputs > outputs
• Negative budget = inputs < outputs
• Equilibrium state is inputs = outputs
• Static equilibrium: inputs, outputs, and storage are staying constant (rare in natural
systems)
• Many natural systems are powered by solar energy. Solar energy fluctuates throughout
the year
• Dynamic equilibrium: inputs, outputs, and storage are adjusting
• Wet vs. cold period in grass, mice, and wolf graph. As input of water into system
decreases, biomass decreases
• Lag time: the time it takes for an input to affect a system
• Positive feedbacks: a system response to some change from inputs, that influences the
original input
• Why haven’t ducks taken over the world? Look below
• Negative feedbacks: systems responses that act to decrease or eliminate the original
change / input. Ex: wolf population explodes as duck population raises
• Uplift → (+) Stream gradient → (+) Stream flow velocity → (+) Erosion rate → (-)
Stream Gradient
• Ex of positive feedback: forest fires. Burning hot, dries out surrounding forest, more fuel
to burn hotter
• Negative feedback balances out the system in a changing world
Review:
Scientific Method:
• Develop new knowledge (theory)
• Image of the world
• Gap in knowledge / problem
• Formulate hypothesis
• Verification (observe, experiment, collect / analyze data)
• Accept (new knowledge) / reject (try again)
• Can never PROVE truth!
Systems Theory:
• Conceptual model
• System (open vs. closed)
o All the natural systems are open
• Budget (inputs, outputs, storage, +ve, -ve, balanced/equilibrium)
• Equilibriums (static, dynamic)
Document Summary
Brazil all day, baby: suggested that curiosity is a biological function the saber tooth tiger example of the man who just eats and sleeps vs. the man who knows where the cave is. Review: geography, human, physical, four spheres, lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, five themes, location (where things are), place (characteristics and attributes that make a location unique), region (group of similar locations), movement/pathways, human-earth relationships. Theory: just because it is theory, doesn"t mean it is true. You can never prove that anything is true with 100% certainty. Things should be challenged: systems theory, definition: a way to think about the nature of things, it is a very powerful way to think about things. An abstract way to think: the ideas are general, yet can be applied to many phenomenon, system, definition: a set of objects and their attributes that are linked together by flows of matter and energy.
