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Defining Geography
- One of the oldest intellectual inquiries
- Definition evolved over time
- First "geographers" were travel writers
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Word Origin
- "Geo" means earth
- "Graphien" means to write
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Modern Definition
- Where-spatial component
- What-content component
- Why-process component
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Geography
Interpreting and describing variable characteristics of the earth's surface
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Why Study Geography
- Geographic interdependence is increasing
- Instant global communication
- Changing international relationships
- Environmental degradation
- Learn about places and regions
- Occurrences affects all
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Physical Geography
Deals with earth's natural processes, such as weather, climate, and landforms
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Human Geography
Deals with spatial organization of humans, and the relationship to the environment
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Regional Geography
- Combines elements of both physical and human
- Concerned with combination of human and environmental factors
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Settings for Social Interaction
- Provide daily routines for people's lives
- Provide opportunities/constraints for social well-being
- Provides context to gain knowledge and experience
- Provide setting for socialization process
- Provide area for social norms
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Elements of Map Use
- Map Projections
- Map Scales
- Equidistant Projections
- Conformal Projections
- Equal-Area Projections
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Map Scale
Ratio between linear distance on map, and linear distance on Earth's surface
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Map Projections
Systematic rendering of geographic coordinates of Earth's features on a flat surface
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Equidistant Projections
Accurately represents distances
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Conformal Projections
Accurate projections of compass directions
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GIS
Geographic Information Systems
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Geodemographic Research
Uses census and commercial data to create population profiles for market research
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Spatial Anlysis
Arrangement of points, lines, areas, or surfaces to study phenomena
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Units of Measurement
- Latitude
- Longitude
- Equator
- Meridian
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Latitude
Angular distance of point measured North or South from the equator
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Longitude
Angular distance of point measured East to West from prime meridian
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Equator
Line of measurement running east to west around the center of the earth
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Meridian
- Line of measurement running north to south along the earth
- Prime Meridian runs through the center of the earth
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GPS
- Global Positioning System
- Uses coordinates to find one's location on the map
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Cognitive Images
A person's individual psychological representations of a location
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Cognitive Distance
Distance people perceive as existing
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Friction of Distance
Reflection of time and cost of a distance
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Spatial Interaction
Movement involving human activity
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Regionalization
- Geographer's equivalent to scientific classification
- Places and areal units are objects classified
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