The Social Studies PraxisThe Social Studies PraxisGeographyGeography

Maps & MappingMaps & Mapping

Meridians and ParallelsThe earth spins around an axis (23 ½ degrees) that extends between the North and South poles. The poles are the anchor points for the geographical coordinate system of latitude and longitude

Longitude designates distance E or W from the Prime Meridian that runs through Greenwich, UK.

Latitude designates distance N or S from the equator, a line around the earth halfway between the poles.

Latitude:Latitude:Angular Angular distance distance N or S N or S

of of EquatorEquator

Latitude Latitude –– Angular Distance from the EquatorAngular Distance from the Equator

Time Zones & the International Time Zones & the International Date LineDate Line

International Date Line International Date Line –– 180 degrees opposite the 180 degrees opposite the Prime Meridian & the line at which the day Prime Meridian & the line at which the day

changes upon crossingchanges upon crossing

Map ProjectionsMap Projections

What is a map projection and what kinds What is a map projection and what kinds of decisions does it force mapmakers to of decisions does it force mapmakers to make?make?

Map ProjectionsMap Projections

Map projections are attempts to portray the surface of the earth or a portion of the earth on a flat surface. Some distortions of shape, distance, direction, scale, and area always result from this process.

The purpose, or function of the map, The purpose, or function of the map, determines what projection should be useddetermines what projection should be usedThe geographic location determines what The geographic location determines what projection should be usedprojection should be used

•Mercator•The Mercator projection has straight meridians and parallels that intersect at right angles. Scale is true at the equator or at two standard parallels equidistant from the equator. The projection is often used for marine navigation because all straight lines on the map are lines of constant compass bearing.

The Mercator is not good for The Mercator is not good for geographic education purposesgeographic education purposes

•Peters Projection•The Peters projection is a cylindrical equal-area projection that de-emphasizes area exaggerations in high latitudes. It preserves the size of land masses correctly, but distorts shape

Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine Projection

•Scale

•Scale is the relationship between a distance portrayed on a map and the same distance on the Earth.

Graphic (Bar) ScaleRepresentative Fraction = the ratio of distance on the map to distance on the earth

Topographic Contour Map

Contour Interval = 20 feet

Contour lines connect all points of the same elevation. On this particular map, there are 20 feet between each line (the Contour Interval).

Likewise, an isotherm is a line of equal or constant temperatureon a graph, plot, or map;

World Regions can be World Regions can be described by physical (climate), described by physical (climate),

economic (NAFTA or the economic (NAFTA or the European Union), political, or European Union), political, or

other patternsother patterns

Climate RegionsClimate Regions

World RegionsWorld Regions

What is the primary categorization of the What is the primary categorization of the following regions, and why?following regions, and why?

Latin AmericaLatin America

Composed of Composed of similar similar cultural cultural (language & (language & religion) and religion) and historical historical patternspatterns

CaribbeanCaribbean

North Africa & SubNorth Africa & Sub--Saharan AfricaSaharan Africa

North Africa North Africa has different has different religious, religious, language, and language, and racial racial characteristics characteristics than Subthan Sub--Saharan Africa Saharan Africa North Africa is North Africa is mostly Islamicmostly Islamic

Middle East & Arab World*Middle East & Arab World*

*The Arab *The Arab World is a World is a subset of the subset of the Middle EastMiddle EastThis region is This region is also also predominantly predominantly Muslim and Muslim and has strong ties has strong ties to North Africato North Africa

Western EuropeWestern Europe

Countries West of the former “Iron Curtain”

Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

Countries east of the former “Iron Curtain” and those formerly part of the Soviet Union

East Asia East Asia ––the the

Northern Northern part of part of

Eastern Eastern Asia (China, Asia (China,

Taiwan, Taiwan, Japan, Japan, Korea)Korea)

Southeast Southeast AsiaAsia

Central Asia Central Asia –– the the ““Stan CountriesStan Countries””

OceaniaOceania

North AmericaNorth America

The 4 OceansThe 4 Oceans

Major Major ““SeasSeas”” of the Worldof the World

Basic Physical GeographyBasic Physical GeographyWhat creates seasonal climate?What creates seasonal climate?

Tilt of the earthTilt of the earth’’s axis (23 s axis (23 ½½ degrees)degrees)

Other Influences on ClimateOther Influences on Climate

Air flow patterns & the global air circulation Air flow patterns & the global air circulation system (high and low pressure systems)system (high and low pressure systems)Elevation Elevation

What is the Difference Between What is the Difference Between Weather & Climate?Weather & Climate?

Weather is shortWeather is short--term: the physical state term: the physical state of the atmosphere at a given time and of the atmosphere at a given time and placeplaceClimate is longClimate is long--term, based on statistics of term, based on statistics of a long recorda long record

How do Earthquakes Create How do Earthquakes Create Mountain Ranges?Mountain Ranges?

Collision of Continental Plates at fault zonesCollision of Continental Plates at fault zones

What Physical Systems led to the What Physical Systems led to the Creation of the Grand Canyon?Creation of the Grand Canyon?

Erosion Erosion by the by the Colorado Colorado River, River, combined combined with uplift with uplift of the of the western western half of the half of the continentcontinent

Grand Grand CanyonCanyon

What Physical Systems led to the What Physical Systems led to the Creation of the Yosemite Valley?Creation of the Yosemite Valley?

Primarily Primarily Glaciation Glaciation events events ––glaciers glaciers chiseling chiseling away at the away at the surface surface below them below them and carving and carving valleysvalleys

U.S. Population GeographyU.S. Population Geography

Growth in the first half of the 20Growth in the first half of the 20thth Century took Century took place in the place in the ““Continental CoreContinental Core”” of the Industrial of the Industrial East and CaliforniaEast and CaliforniaCurrently the most rapid growth is taking place Currently the most rapid growth is taking place in the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountain in the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountain West, and the SouthWest, and the South

Economic Changes (the industrial East has been referred to Economic Changes (the industrial East has been referred to as the as the ““Rust Belt,Rust Belt,”” and the agricultural Midwest and Great and the agricultural Midwest and Great Plains continue to lose populationPlains continue to lose populationPeople wanting to live in warm and/or scenic areas with lots People wanting to live in warm and/or scenic areas with lots of natural amenitiesof natural amenities

PopulationPopulation

U.S. ImmigrationU.S. Immigration

Throughout most of U.S. history, migration Throughout most of U.S. history, migration policies and migration itself was focused policies and migration itself was focused on European immigrantson European immigrantsToday the majority of U.S. immigrants are Today the majority of U.S. immigrants are from Asia & Latin Americafrom Asia & Latin AmericaHispanic people are now the largest Hispanic people are now the largest minority population in the U.S. (about minority population in the U.S. (about 12%), just recently passing African 12%), just recently passing African AmericansAmericans