What do Geographers What do Geographers Do?Do?

Geographers Geographers look at the look at the

patternspatterns and and connectionsconnections

between between peoplepeople and and landland to help to help

them describe them describe the earth.the earth.

Five Themes of Five Themes of GeographyGeography

Where is it?

Two Types of LocationTwo Types of Location

Absolute LocationAbsolute Location• Absolute: Latitude and Longitude or an Absolute: Latitude and Longitude or an

addressaddress– KCHS: Latitude 30º03’52.337” N Longitude: KCHS: Latitude 30º03’52.337” N Longitude:

95°29’30.833”W or 20811 Ella Blvd. 95°29’30.833”W or 20811 Ella Blvd.

LatitudesLatitudes

North/South HemispheresNorth/South Hemispheres

LongitudesLongitudes

East/West HemispheresEast/West Hemispheres

MeasurementMeasurement

Relative LocationRelative Location

• Relative: Relative: Describing where Describing where a place is by a place is by describing places describing places near it.near it.– KCHS – south of KCHS – south of

Schindelwolf & Schindelwolf & west of Kreinhop.west of Kreinhop.

What is it like?

Two FeaturesTwo Features

• Human features: The Human features: The culture of a place.culture of a place.– Race, religions, Race, religions,

languages, governments, languages, governments, occupations, architecture, occupations, architecture, foods, clothing, etc.foods, clothing, etc.

• Physical features: Things Physical features: Things determined by nature.determined by nature.– Climate, indigenous plants, animals, Climate, indigenous plants, animals,

land forms, types of soils, etc.land forms, types of soils, etc.

How do people relate

to the physical world?

Human- Environment Human- Environment InteractionInteraction

• How people effect the environment and How people effect the environment and how the environment effects people.how the environment effects people.

• People either adapt to their environment People either adapt to their environment or the alter their environment or the alter their environment

ExamplesExamples• DamsDams

• RoadsRoads

• FarmsFarms

• CitiesCities

How do people,

ideas, and products

move from one location to another?

MovementMovement• Movement of people, goods, and Movement of people, goods, and

ideas from one place to another.ideas from one place to another.

Everything Came From Everything Came From SomewhereSomewhere

Linear DistanceLinear Distance• How far do people, products and How far do people, products and

ideas travel from one location to ideas travel from one location to another.another.

Time DistanceTime Distance

• The amount of time it takes for a The amount of time it takes for a person/idea/good to travel from one person/idea/good to travel from one location to another.location to another.

Psychological TimePsychological Time• The way people perceive distance.The way people perceive distance.

How are areas similar or different?

RegionRegion• An area that is unique. Geographers An area that is unique. Geographers

use regions to compare different areas.use regions to compare different areas.

Distinctive CharacteristicsDistinctive Characteristics

Formal RegionsFormal Regions• Defined by a limited number of Defined by a limited number of

related characteristics.related characteristics.

• HoustonHouston• TexasTexas• USAUSA• AfricaAfrica

Functional RegionsFunctional Regions• Organized around a set of Organized around a set of

interactions and connections interactions and connections between places.between places.

• Think of a hub:Think of a hub:– Downtown to SpringDowntown to Spring– Medical Center to SugarlandMedical Center to Sugarland

Perceptual RegionsPerceptual Regions• People see characteristics the same way.People see characteristics the same way.

• Hill CountryHill Country• The SouthThe South• The WestbankThe Westbank• The MidwestThe Midwest• The Middle EastThe Middle East• SW HoustonSW Houston