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GEOG 1112: Weather and Climate
Introduction
What is Geography?
• Geography is the science that studies the spatial and temporal characteristics of all life, landforms, and atmospheric elements on Earth
• It is the study of space and how things are organized in space
• Geography from “geo” meaning Earth and “graphen” meaning to write about or to graph
Geography is…
• The science that studies the relationships among:
Defining Physical Geography
• Spatial Analysis of physical components and natural processes of Earth
• Key to processes is incoming solar radiation
• Interconnected processes constitute natural systems
• Physical Geography stresses:
Earth Systems Concept
• Systems theory
• Open systems
• Closed systems
Earth Systems
• System feedback
– Positive feedback
– Negative feedback
• System equilibrium
• Dynamic equilibrium
Earth Systems Concepts
System Feedback
Earth’s Four Spheres
• Atmosphere
• Lithosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Biosphere
Chapter 2
Geographer’s Tools
Tools
• Geographic grid: latitude and longitude → big imaginary grid system draped over the Earth; provides a common reference system for describing locations
Earth’s Dimensions
Geographic Grid
• Latitude• Parallels• Equator• N & S Hemispheres• Parallels run
east/west, but measure locations that are north/south
Geographic Grid• Longitude• Meridians• Prime Meridian• Int. Dateline• Meridians run north/south, but measure locations that are east/west
Prime Meridian and Standard Time
Standard Time
• A day begins at the International Dateline– Areas west of the line are one day ahead
of those east of the line
• Each 15º of longitude is equivalent to a 1 hour time zone– Earth = 360º sphere / 24 hours = 15º– 24 time zones
Standard Time
• You are located at 50ºE longitude and it is 6am where you are. Your Friend is located at 30ºW longitude. What time is it where your friend is?
6pm Sat
2pm Mon
9am Tues
11pm Fri
150˚E 165˚E 165˚W180˚
Standard Time
Tools: Maps
• What Is a Map?• 1. A map is a two-dimensional (flat)
representation of the whole Earth or a specific region of the Earth.
• 2. A map is a generalized view of an area, as seen from above, that is reduced in size.
• 3. A map is a tool that is used to depict spatial information and to analyze spatial relationships.
Maps
• Globe – The most visually complete and accurate way to represent the Earth.
• Map Projections – Representation of the 3-dimensional Earth on a 2-dimensional surface– Inherent Distortion
• 2 types of projection:– Conformal – Shape OK– Equivalent – Size OK
Maps
The Mercator Projection is a conformal projection with correct shapes for landmasses but great exaggeration of size near the poles.
Maps• Equivalent Projection – This Albers Equal-Area
Projection (the standard projection for the continental US) is an example of an equivalent projection. Size is consistent throughout this map, but shape is distorted, especially toward the poles and toward the equator.
Maps
• Map Scale – The distance ratio between features on a map and features in the real world (linear)
• Means of converting distance on a map to distance in the real world– Large scale – small area, fine detail– Small scale – large area, little detail
Large ScaleVerbal Scale 1 inch = 0.25 miles
Representative Fraction 1:16,000
Bar Scale
Small ScaleVerbal Scale 1 inch = 3000 miles
Representative Fraction 1:190,000,000
Bar Scale 0 5000
Miles
0 0.4 Miles