World Regional GeographyWorld Regional Geography

January 13, 2010January 13, 2010

Reading: Marston Chapter 1 World Atlas vi-xii

Waitlisted Students:If you are still on the waitlist please leave your name, student #, recitation section, and e-mail on the yellow pad on the desk before leaving today.

• The study of Earth as created by natural The study of Earth as created by natural forces and as modified by human action.forces and as modified by human action.

• The interaction between humans and the The interaction between humans and the environment.environment.

What is Geography?What is Geography?

• Physical GeographyPhysical Geography• Examine how natural/physical forces shape the Examine how natural/physical forces shape the

Earth.Earth.

• What are Earth’s natural processes, and what are What are Earth’s natural processes, and what are their outcomes?their outcomes?

What is Geography?What is Geography?

• Physical Geographers Study Physical Geographers Study (including but not limited to):(including but not limited to):

• Climate and weather patternsClimate and weather patterns• Landforms (e.g. mountains)Landforms (e.g. mountains)• Rivers and oceansRivers and oceans• SoilsSoils• Plant and animal ecologyPlant and animal ecology

• Human GeographyHuman Geography• Examines the spatial organization of human Examines the spatial organization of human

processes, and their relationship to the processes, and their relationship to the environment (physical and social/cultural).environment (physical and social/cultural).

• How do humans organize themselves and function How do humans organize themselves and function in space? How do these patterns and process in space? How do these patterns and process affect the environment, and how does the affect the environment, and how does the environment affect them?environment affect them?

What is Geography?What is Geography?

• Human Geographers Study Human Geographers Study (including but not limited to):(including but not limited to):

• Population and demographyPopulation and demography• Resource managementResource management• Agricultural production and food securityAgricultural production and food security• Regional/urban planningRegional/urban planning• Human and animal disease vectorsHuman and animal disease vectors• Cultural/symbolic meaning of placeCultural/symbolic meaning of place• ConflictConflict

What is Geography?What is Geography?

• Human geographers often categorize Human geographers often categorize themselves and quantitative or qualitative.themselves and quantitative or qualitative.

• Combines physical and human geography.Combines physical and human geography.

• How combinations of environmental and How combinations of environmental and human factors produce unique physical, human factors produce unique physical, social, and cultural landscapes.social, and cultural landscapes.

• How do natural, social, economic, political, How do natural, social, economic, political, and cultural phenomena produce distinct and cultural phenomena produce distinct geographic areas?geographic areas?

Regional GeographyRegional Geography

What is a RegionWhat is a Region

• ““Region” is a concept that is used to identify and Region” is a concept that is used to identify and organize areas of Earth’s surface for various organize areas of Earth’s surface for various purposes. purposes.

• A region is a human construct whose boundaries A region is a human construct whose boundaries and characteristics are derived from sets of and characteristics are derived from sets of specific criteria. specific criteria.

• Can vary in scale from global to local.Can vary in scale from global to local.

• A region has certain characteristics that give it a A region has certain characteristics that give it a measure of cohesiveness and distinctiveness that measure of cohesiveness and distinctiveness that set it apart from other regions.set it apart from other regions.

World RegionsWorld Regions

““Extensive geographic divisions based on continental and Extensive geographic divisions based on continental and physiographic settings that contains major clusters of physiographic settings that contains major clusters of humankind with broadly similar cultural attributes.”humankind with broadly similar cultural attributes.”

• FormalFormal

• FunctionalFunctional

• PerceptionalPerceptional

Types of RegionsTypes of Regions

Formal RegionsFormal Regions

A formal region is comprised of a group of A formal region is comprised of a group of areal units that share a common areal units that share a common distinguishing feature (human or physical).distinguishing feature (human or physical).

• Political entities (counties, states, countries)Political entities (counties, states, countries)• Climate/vegetation Climate/vegetation • LandformsLandforms• Language, religion, nationality, cultureLanguage, religion, nationality, culture• Specific measuresSpecific measures

• Population densityPopulation density• Per capita incomePer capita income• TemperatureTemperature• RainfallRainfall

Global Global Rainfall Rainfall

& & Climatic Climatic ZonesZones

World EcosystemsWorld Ecosystems

Basque Language Region Basque Language Region (Spain & France)(Spain & France)

Soda, Pop, or Coke?Soda, Pop, or Coke?

Functional RegionsFunctional RegionsA functional region is organized and defined by A functional region is organized and defined by patterns of spatial interaction or organization, patterns of spatial interaction or organization, and is often centered on a node.and is often centered on a node.

• Metropolitan areasMetropolitan areas• Economic interactionEconomic interaction

• TradeTrade• ProductionProduction

• Transportation networks Transportation networks • Subway systemSubway system• Air travelAir travel

• Communications networksCommunications networks• Newspaper readershipNewspaper readership• RadioRadio

Coverage Area Map Coverage Area Map KBCO 97.3 FM – Boulder, COKBCO 97.3 FM – Boulder, CO

Metropolitan Statistical AreasMetropolitan Statistical Areas New YorkNew York

Frontier Airlines Functional RegionFrontier Airlines Functional Region

Perceptual RegionsPerceptual RegionsA perceptual region is a construct that A perceptual region is a construct that reflects human feelings and attitudes about reflects human feelings and attitudes about areas and is therefore defined by people’s areas and is therefore defined by people’s shared subjective images of those areas.shared subjective images of those areas.

• Often refer loosely to geographic areasOften refer loosely to geographic areas• Southern CaliforniaSouthern California• The Upper MidwestThe Upper Midwest• DixieDixie

• Shared beliefs or attitudesShared beliefs or attitudes• Blue / Red AmericaBlue / Red America

• Shared interests or loyaltiesShared interests or loyalties• Red Sox NationRed Sox Nation

Perceptual RegionsPerceptual Regions• The “perceptual region” will often vary from The “perceptual region” will often vary from

person-to-person and his heavily tied to person-to-person and his heavily tied to sense of placesense of place. .

• Sense of place refers to the feelings evoked Sense of place refers to the feelings evoked as a result of experiences and memories as a result of experiences and memories that people associate with place.that people associate with place.

• Place attachment refers to the emotional Place attachment refers to the emotional and functional ties one has to a specific and functional ties one has to a specific place. place.

Defining “New England” Defining “New England”

Regions as Dynamic EntitiesRegions as Dynamic Entities• Regions are both outcomes of geographic Regions are both outcomes of geographic

processes, and part of the process processes, and part of the process themselves.themselves.

• The properties and boundaries of regions The properties and boundaries of regions can change.can change.

• FormalFormal regions defined by political boundaries are regions defined by political boundaries are less likely to change spatially, but may change in less likely to change spatially, but may change in character.character.

• FunctionalFunctional regions typically maintain their defining regions typically maintain their defining characteristic, but change spatially.characteristic, but change spatially.

• PerceptualPerceptual regions are both spatially and socially regions are both spatially and socially fluid in nature.fluid in nature.