Section 1: Introduction and Key Concepts Flashcards
Environment and Society
The study of the complex and reciprocal relationships between people (societies-collections of people) and their natural, build and socio-economic environments
Geography
the study of patterns and processes on the earth’s surface. Geographers are interested in the links between environments and human societies- is interdisciplinary
Derived from:
Geo (Greek) meaning earth
Graphe (Greek) meaning to write about
2 branches of geography: Physical geography
Study of pattern of the physical world
Physical environments (landforms, climate, hydrology, geology, ecology ect)
Mountains, rivers, glaciers, climate et
2 branches of geography: Human Geography
Study of patterns and processes of the human world
Socio-economic and build environments (economy, culture, politics, behaviour, settlements, ect)
Population, cities, economic activity, human behaviour, health, transport, ect
Charles Gritzner looks at geography by examining
What is where (description), why there (an explanation) and why care (what is the meaning or significance) (involves interpretation)
What is where
description of the spatial distribution or organization (patterns) of people, places and human phenomena
-eg cities, factories, neighbourhoods, nation-states, ect
Why there
Explanation of the processes that produce these distributions
eg globalization, colonialism, capitalism, spatial agglomeration , ect
Why care
Interpretation of what these distributions mean (ie the significance or meaning of these distributions)
-ie social inequality, economic development, conflict
space
The areal extent of something. Measures the amount of earth surface occupied by something can measures in a few different ways.
Absolute Space
Objective–> has clear definable, physically real, with measurable extent and definable boundaries.
Key for map making, description and analysis (explanation) of spatial distribution
Eg. McMaster campus area occupies about 50 acres
Mathematical projections - Mercator prediction using math to create maps.
Relative space
Subjective (perceptual) and variable over time.
Eg mac campus- spacious campus some think its big others think its small- changes over time first year vs fourth year as get to know buildings ect.
Relative positioning and importance- eg topological and sketch maps
Location
Refers to a particular postion in space, a specific part of the earth’s surface
Absolute (mathematical) location
specific location on a map. Latitude and longitude co-ordinates suing arbitrary mathematical grid
Relative (perceived) location
a short divre from downtown or adjacent to cootes paradise ect.
Subject tot change and interpretation ie when unfamiliar it feels longer
Nominal (toponym) location
a place name.
A location of significance is given a name
Toponym
the common name given to a location; a place name =. May be given by those forst discovered them
Topographic map
can be used to determine a very precise absolute location
Place
a location that has acquired particular meaning or significance.
Individual (you or someone else) or collective (a society) significance.
Location + cultural/human meaning = place (not all locations are place- need significance
Eg. Home, place of worship
Sense of place
the feelings evokes by or deep attatchments to, specific locations (places) such as home, that result from the experiences individuals associate with the location
Reinforced by local and regional characteristics and uniqueness0 ie travelling
ie nostalgia, disney- regardless of if you have been evokes a sense of place
Sacred place
a location with particular significance to an individual or a group, usually (but not necessarily) for religious reasons
very strong and unique identity associated
eg cemetery, religious/non religious
Placelessness
The nature of locations that lack uniqueness or individual character: used for homogenous and standard landscapes. Evoke little or no meaning.
eg chain stores and restaurants (Walmart, east side Mario’s, ect)
Region
A part of the earth’s surface that displays internal homogeneity and is relatively distinct from it’s surrounding areas according to certain criteria; a contiguous spatial unit
-relatively same within, but different from what is around it.
eg McMaster campus, Latin America
Areal Differentiation
what makes one region/area different from another
Formal (uniform) region
an area (region) that possesses a certain degree of uniformity with respect to one or more physical or cultural traits
Functional (nodal) region
an area (region) organized around a node or focal point, and unified by specific economic or social activity
Vernacular (perceptual) region
an Area (region) identified on the basis of the perceptions held by the people inside or outside of the region or both.
Regionalization
the process of classifying locations or areas of the earth’s surface into various regions
-generalization of data- ie high income people more likely to be vaccinated; people in Latin America speak Spanish–> not all but generally speaking
Geographer’s goal is to find similarities among places- one are seems generally similar to the other- comprise a region
regional variation based on: subjectivity
regional understanding vary from person to person
regional variation based on: scale
Regions vary depending on one’s spatial perspective. Local vs global scale
regional variation based on: theme
regions vary depending on one’s thematic perspective. ie in terms of physical characteristics, economic activities, social/cultural values, ect
Landscape
The characteristics or overall appearance of a particular area or location, comprising a combination of natural and human influences
ie Canadian prairies landscape- flat, dry climate, agricultural, rural villages
Cultural landscape
the characteristics or overall appearance of a particular area or location resulting from human modification of the natural environment. reflects the unique adaptations of human environments by cultural groups
eg. agricultural areas or suburban neighbourhoods
cultural landscapes have symbolic meaning- symbolic of the cultures that produced them.
Distance
A measure of the amount of space between two or more locations
Absolute distance
KM, miles- how far apart are 2 things
Travel distance
Measured by travel time- varies by time of day, person, mode of transport
Economic/communication distance
measured in dollars- how much $ to transport depends on weight, distance, how quickly. Long distance call, fed ex, stamps
Psychological (perceptual) distance
many ways to measure. Travel in sketchy neighbourhood walk in dark feels longer even if it is the same absolute distance
Perception
the process by which humans acquire information about physical and social environments; a way of interpreting one’s lived experience. Important for relative location, place and regions.
Distribution
The spatial arrangement of geographical phenomena (eg people) within an area. Three forms (density, concentration, pattern)
Density
a measure of the relationship between the number of geographic phenomena (eg people) and a unit of area; typically expressed as a ration. eg people/km^2, houses/area^2.
Concentration
The spread of geographic phenomena (eg people) over a given area.
Clustered/agglomerated/concentrated
occurs when the distance between geographic phenomena (eg people) is small; clustering (agglomerating) occurs when geographic phenomena (eg businesses) move closer together, sometimes around a nucleus.
Dispersed/deagglomerated/scattered
occurs when the distance between geographic phenomena (eg people) is large; dispersion (deagglomeration) occurs when geographic phenomena (eg businesses) move apart from each other.
Pattern
The geometric, regular or other (ie random) spatial arrangement of geographical phenomena (eg people) in a given area. Ie linear, rectangular, random, uniform/ordered, ect
Diffusion
the process of geographic phenomena spreading over space and throguh time. Depends on distance separating points, density of the geographic phenomena and the friction of distance
ex Walmart
Cultural diffusion
the process of cultural phenomena (eg ideas, innovations, trends, languages) spreading over space and throguh time. Eg religion, language, fashion, music style, ect
2 broad types: relocation diffusion, expansion diffusion
Relocation diffusion
One of two basic forms of diffusion in which the geographic phenomena are physically moved from one area to another, such as through immigration or trade.
eg immigrants cultural suitcase–> language, religion, ethnic practices
of euro coins spreading throguh France
Expansion diffusion
one of two basic forms of diffusion in which geographic phenomena spread from one area o another throguh an additive process- 2 subtypes- contagious diffusion, hierarchical diffusion
Contagious diffusion:
one of two forms of expansion diffusion in which geographical phenomena spread rapidly and through an area
influenced by the number and proximity of contacts. higher density and concentration–> more contagious
ie covid, gossip, religion
hierarchical diffusion
one of two forms of expansion diffusion in which geographical phenomena spread first to key people ore places and then gradually throughout the rest of a population or an area.
-influenced by key and highly connected and influential people and places at top of hierarchy
-ie new music, fashion, New York, director–> employee
Spatial interaction
the nature and extent of the relatiohip or linkages between locations; the extent of spatial interaction is related to the distance between location and the physical and intangible connections between them - related to first law of geography
First law of geography
everything is related to everythin else, but near things are more related than distant things
Distance decay
the effects of distance on spatial interaction; generally intensity of interaction with increasing distance. –> further appart less likely to interact
-shopping, freinds, ect
Friction of distance
A measurement of the restraining effect of distance on human interaction and movment; generally, greater time and cost are incurred with increasing distance.
-overcoming distance- new transport and technology.
Accessibility
A variable quality of a location, expressing the opportunity for interaction with other locations
refers to the relative each with which a location can be reached from other location.
ie major airport, highways ect
Connectivity
the direct and indirect linkages between two or more locations
tangible connection- ie highways
intangible connections: immigrants connections b/w homeland and local contacts- ethnic neighbourhoods
Map
typically a flat, two dimensional representation of the earths surface, or a portion of it, and its geographical features including people, places and geographic phenomena
Projection
a process to transform the spherical earth’s surface onto a two-dimensional map; a process to transfer locations from the earth’s surface onto a flat map. 3 main forms
Cylindrical Projections
The earth’s surface is projected onto a cylinder that just touches the outside edges of the globe at the equator.
Accuracy is greatest at the equator, distortion increases as you move towards tit poles
Eg. the Mercator projection- good for navigation
Conical projections
the earth’s surface is projected onto a cone that touches the outside edges of the globe in the mid-latitudes ie 30-60 degrees n/s- this of a lamp shade over the earth
-accuracy is greatest in the mid latitudes- Iceland, Russia
eg- lambert conformal conic projection
Azimuthal projections
The earth’s surface is projected onto a flat surface that touches the globe at one point, usually the poles
least distorted at the poles- increases as more further from poles
Latitude (parallels)
the angular distance of a point on the surface on the earth, measured in degrees, minutes and seconds, north and south of the equator (assigned a value of 0 degrees); lines of constant latitude are called parallels.
North pole-> 90 degrees north
South pole-> 90 degrees south
each degree is sub divided into 60 minutes and 60 seconds
each degree of latitude is about 111km
Longitude (meridians)
the angular distance of a ponit on the surface of the earth, measured in degrees, minutes and seconds, east and west of the prime meridian– (assigned value of 0) which runs throguh Greenwich, UK among other places; lines of constant longitude are called meridians
-series of lines which converge at the north and south poles (furthest at the equator)
International date line–> 180 degrees E/W (180 degrees east and west from
Time zone
a region of the earth that observes a uniform standard time
24hrs=360 degrees of longitude–> 15 degrees = 1 hr
Hearth
the area where a particular cultural trait originates
Reference map
a map portraying the absolute locations of places and geographic phenomena (eg buildings) using a standard frame of reference such as the global grid (latitude and longitude)
Thematic maps
an analytical tool to illustrate and emphasize the spatial variation of a particular theme or attribute.
ie. dot maps, choropleth maps, isopleth maps, cartographs
dot map
a thematic map where dots or scale adjusted symbols represent geographic phenomena
choropleth map
a thematic map using colours or shading to indicate intensity of geographic phenomena (ie population density) in a given area
isopleth map
a thematic maps using lines to connect locations of equal value with respect to a geographic phenomena (eg daily temperature)
cartogram
A thematic map where the size and shape of spatial areas are intentionally distorted and replaced by the magnitude of the geographic phenomena (ie country wealth)
Geographic information system (GIS)
a system of computer hardware that facilitates the collection, storage, analysis and display of spatially referenced data through layered maps
