Chapter 1-Geography as a Field of Inquiry Flashcards
Human Geography
the study of the spatial variation in the patterns and processes related to human activity
Spatial study means that
geographers look at the way humans interact with and within their space
Spatial
pertaining to space near or on earth’s surface
Geography is a field of
inquiry
Cartography
is the art and science of map making. Also the theory and practice of making visual representations of Earth’s surface in the form of maps
Cultural landscapes
Products of complex interactions between humans and their environment
Quantitative Revolution
a paradigm shift that sought to develop a more rigorous methodology for the disciple of geography
Four Points of the Quantitative Revolution
stressed the use of empirical measurements, the testing of hypotheses, the development of mathematical models, and the use of computer programs to explain geographical patterns
Remote Sensing
the process of capturing images of Earth’s surface from air-bone planet forms such as satellites and airplanes
Bands
colors of visible light
Scientists use bands
to distinguish features of the physical environment
GPS
stands for global positioning system. It’s an integrated network of satellites that orbit earth, broadcasting location information to receiver’s on earth’s surface
GPS 2 points
- allow people to obtain highly accurate info about their geographical location in terms of latitude and longitude
- allow geographers to determine precise distances between 2 points which makes this tool very useful for navigational purposes
GIS
stands for geographical information systems. It’s a family of software programs that enable geographers to map, analyze, and model spatial data
Thematic layers
individual maps of specific features that are overlaid on one another in a GIS to understand and analyze spatial relationships
Cultural Ecology/Nature-Society Geography
the study of interactions between societies and the natural environments in which they live
Environmental Geography
the intersection between human and physical geography which explores the spatial impacts humans have on the physical environment and vice versa
Fertile Cresent
an area in the middle east (modern day iraq) which was one of the first areas of sedentary agriculture and urban farming. Over time climate changes and damaging land uses transformed this once fertile land are, into a very dry desert..
seven major sub-disciplines of human geography
population geography, cultural geography, political geography, economic geography, agriculture & rural geography, and urban geography
Physical Geography
spatial characteristics of Earth’s physical & biological systems
Sustainability
the concept of using earth’s resources in such a way that provide for people’s needs in the present without diminishing Earth’s ability to provide for future generations
According to Pattison, geography drew from four distinct traditions
the earth science tradition(physical geography), the culture environment tradition(environmental geography), the locational tradition(spatial data through cartography), and the area analysis tradition(regional geography)
