WELCOME TO

Instructor

Carol Jean Cox

Introduction Overview

•Geography defined

•Concepts of Location

•Globes, Maps & Map Basics

•Geographic Grid

GEOGRAPHY

Geo = earth

graphy = to scribe, draw, or map

GEOGRAPHY• the science of location

•the study of spatial relationships, (context &interconnectedness)

•an integrated science that uses

knowledge from many disciplines

DIVISIONS OF GEOGRAPHY

C U L TU R A L G E O G R A P H YH u m an C u ltu res

U rb an G eog rap h yE con om ic G eog rap h y

P H Y S IC A L G E O G R A P H YE arth S c ien cesB io -g eog rap h y

W eath er & C lim ate

TE C H N O L O G IC A L G E O G R A P H YG eog rap h ic In fo rm ation S ys tem s

Q u an ta ta tive G eog rap h yR em ote S en s in g

TH E W O R L D O F G E O G R A P H Y

TOPICAL VS. REGIONAL APPROACH TO STUDYING

GEOGRAPHY• Topical or Thematic

Studies– climate– vegetation– landforms– hydrology– plate tectonics– soils

• Regional Studies– North America– Africa– East Asia– USA– California– Sacramento region

California Geography• Geography: The study of where things are.

• California: A political unit with distinct boundaries, and territory

• California Geography: the study of the location of, context and interaction of phenomenon within the state of California

Northern Hemisphere

Arctic Ocean & North America

Pacific Ocean

Pacific Rim

Western North America

Introduction Overview

•Geography defined

•Concepts of Location

•Globes, Maps & Map Basics

•Geographic Grid

LOCATION• Relative Location

– location relative to other locations– situation

• Exact Location– geographic grid (38 °N 120 °W)

• latitude & longitude

– site

• Place Names – labels for locations

Introduction Overview

•Geography defined

•Concepts of Location

•Globes, Maps & Map Basics

•Geographic Grid

•California Overview

GLOBES & MAPS• Globe: a spherical model of the earth

that maintains area, shape distance & direction

• Map: a flat representation of a globe that allows distortion

MAP BASICS

• Maps may show

–Shape of objects

–Area of objects

–Distance to Objects

–Direction

MAP BASICS

• Maps must include

–Title

–Legend or Key

–Compass Rose

–Scale

SCALE

• Scale: the relationship between units on the map and actual distance on the ground

• Written Scale: one inch equals one mile

• Linear Scale: |---------|---------|----------|

• Ratio Scale: 1:63,360

Introduction Overview

•Geography defined

•Concepts of Location

•Globes, Maps & Map Basics

•Geographic Grid

Latitude

GEOGRAPHIC

GRID

A system of measurements from reference

points that allow us to locate

places

GEOGRAPHIC GRID

• REFERENCE POINTS• Equator - A great circle that divides the

globe into two equal halves or hemispheres of north and south.

Located at 0 ° latitude

• North and South Poles - located at right angles or 90° from the plane of the

equator.

GEOGRAPHIC GRID

• REFERENCE POINTS• Prime Meridian: The meridian, designated

as 0° E, W longitude, that passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England.

• International Date Line: An arc that follows 180° longitude E,W. When crossing the date line, the calendar is turned forward or backward one day, depending on direction of travel.

Latitude

Latitude - angular measurement

north or south of the equator

Latitude

Longitude- angular measurementeast or west of England

Parallels are circularlines used to indicate latitude

Meridians are arcsused to indicate longitude

Introduction Overview

•Geography defined

•Concepts of Location

•Globes, Maps & Map Basics

•Geographic Grid

Instructor

Carol Jean Cox