THE EARTH SYSTEM AND PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
MATERIALS NEEDED FOR CLASS:
Daily Lesson Plans. H.K.C--Take
roll and announcements.TEXT: Essential of Physical Geography: 6th Edition,
Robert E. Gabler, Robert J. Sager, Daniel L. Wise, and James Peterson.
Saunders College Publishing, Harcourt Brace College Publishers 1999. Rand
McNally GOODE's WORLD ATLAS
GENERAL OUTLINE
I. The Earth System and Physical
Geography
A To Define the Earth System.
B. To identify the Major Divisions,
the Environmental Spheres, of Physical Geography.
C. To recall Spaceship Earth
, the interrelated systems of planet Earth.
D. To recognize Models and Systems
and how they work.
E. To study how People and their
Environment are linked.
F. To Define the different types
of Geography.
G. To understand the location, the
place,
distributions, patterns in Geography.
THE MATERIAL IN THIS OUTLINE COVERS PAGES 1-29 BUT THERE IS MATERIAL NOT IN YOUR BOOK--KNOW IT--KNOW IT--KNOW IT
ANTICIPATORY SET
Can the Earth be considered a dynamic and interconnected system?
What are the Major Divisions or Spheres of Physical Geography?
Can the Earth be called life-support system?
How can Models represent Earth?
How does System Theory work?
How does Equilibrium operate in the Earth System?
How do people and the Environment interact?
What are the definitions of Geography?
What technologies, tools, and methods used in Geography?
What is the Major themes in Physical Geography and how does it apply to people?
BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES
To define systems and subsystems--variables.
To define Earth Systems.
To broadly define Geography.
To link the Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere.
To draw the analogy between the Planet Earth and Space Ship Earth.
To identify natural resources, pollution
To recall the different kind of models which depict the Earth or part of it.
To describe Systems Theory.
To portray how Systems work.
To relate the Equilibrium in Earth Systems.
To define equilibrium, feedback, positive and negative feedback, threshold, and feedback loop.
To describe the relationship between people and their environment.
To trace the study of Geography.
To define spatial, and regions. (These big ones in Geography so it would be a good idea to know them for this course and other courses in Geography.),
To identify Cultural geography as Human Geography.
To recall that Geography is both a physical and social science.
To recognize the tools, technology, and methods of Geography.
To compare and contrast absolute location and relative location (This is another big one in Geography. You will get the hang of it! Relative Location is the more important of the two)
To recount and describe the Characteristics of Places.
To sketch Spatial Distributions and Spatial Patterns.
To define Spatial Interaction.
To compare and contrast Human Interactions with the Environment.
To investigate Physical Geography and its affect on people.
I THE EARTH SYSTEM
A. A System defined by geographers means: A set of objects linked together by their relationships to one another. A System is a set of interrelated elements or parts. A system can have any number of subsystems. These subsystems can be called variables and can be considered separately or grouped together. The Earth is an excellent example of a system, the Earth system.
B. No part of the Earth's subsystems are separated from it's other subsystems and taken as a whole consist of the entire system of Planet Earth. The example in your textbook is the location of mountain ranges and how they affect precipitation, which can determine vegetation, soils, and the location of human populations.
C. There are many examples of interconnected
Earth systems. One that I'll talk about a great deal is the location of
oceanic currents, which can modify nearby land areas. Sometimes the changes
in the dynamic Earth System are as brief as a thunder storm, or as long
as an ice age. A textbook definition of a system is:
A set of objects linked together
by their relationships to one another. I'll go more into systems in
another section because a system approach is the key to this text book
and especially this chapter. (NOTE: From time to time, it may appear that
I'm repeating myself, but since things in Physical Geography are so closely
related many times this can not be helped so just bare with me.)
BROAD DEFINITION OF GEOGRAPHY
D. It should be obvious that people are part of the Earth System. This text like many other physical geography text books stress the Physical Environment, as well as the human element. Geography can be both a physical science and a social science. It is a bridgehead between the two. Geography is not a specialized science, but a generalized science. The study of Geography is the interrelationships between physical environment and human environment. Sometimes the physical aspects are stressed other times the human aspects are stressed.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF GEOGRAPHY
| PHYSICAL ELEMENTS |
|
|
| 1. Water,
oceans, seas, lakes ponds, rivers, streams, underground water, and the
great
sheets of ice. |
{HYDROSPHERE | Population, numbers, densities, patterns,settlements. Economic activities, occupations, like hunting, fishing, gathering, mining, agriculture, ranching, manufacturing, trade, services. In short how people make a living. |
| 2. Landforms, major and minor, rocks, minerals, (actual and potential) Soil groups or individual soil types. | {LITHOSPHERE | |
| 3. Climate and weather, long term and short. The gases in the atmosphere. | {ATMOSPHERE | Transportation and communication, structures like railroads, highways, airports, and canals |
| 4. Natural vegetation, and crops make the Flora Wild and domestic animal life make up the Fauna. In short all living things in the environment. | {BIOSPHERE | Languages, Religions, Cultural inheritance, Traditions, Governments and other institutions which shape the human environment. |
 |
II THE ENVIRONMENTAL SPHERES OR DIVISIONS
THE FOUR MAJOR DIVISIONS OR SPHERES
IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO KNOW
THEM LOOK AT MY CHART, IT COULD HELP YOU. DO YOU GET IT? (Take
a look at Figure 1.2 on p. 3 and read the cutline.)
THE ATMOSPHERE
A. Atmosphere is from the Greek word meaning air. The atmosphere is a very shallow blanket of nearly transparent gases which surrounds the planet which is held in place by the force of Earth's gravity. It screens and insulates Earth from harmful effects of the Sun's rays. The actions of the atmosphere, caused by solar energy and the rotation of the planet, are major components of weather and climate. The atmosphere is made up of gases, about 78 per cent Nitrogen and about 21 percent Oxygen and other gases like carbon dioxide. Also suspended in the atmosphere are things like water vapor and small particles. Water vapor is also part of the hydrosphere and small particles can be from the lithosphere or from the biosphere just to show more linkages between the major subsystems of planet Earth. These gases and water vapor maintain life on this planet. (What is the theory called that warns us about increased Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere? What will happen if this theory is correct?)
THE LITHOSPHERE
B. The lithosphere is Greek for stone. The lithosphere is the crust and upper mantle of the Earth. It is the seven major landmasses, which are the continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, Antarctica, and Australia. (Yes I know Europe, Asia, and Africa could be considered a single land mass but this is where Cultural Geography and tradition might be more important than just the straight facts. The same approach could be made for North and South America.) The lithosphere is also the broken parts of rocks and minerals which overlay the bedrock. This material along with water and organic materials, the biosphere and hydrosphere, make up soils. Another linkage between the four spheres. The Lithosphere is also the bottom of the seabeds between the continents. The bottom of the seabeds play an important part of the story of the Earth with Plate Tectonics. (What are Plate Tectonics?)
THE HYDROSPHERE
C. The Hydrosphere (hydro is Greek for water) is simply a fancy name for water in all its forms. The three basic forms of water are: liquid (both fresh and saline),solid forms of ice, and a gaseous state called water vapor. Water also has important heat properties which can modify climates, and can act as a solvent mild acid,.which can dissolve parts of the lithosphere if given enough time. Most living things are made up of water, just more connections between the four spheres. Another connection between the hydrosphere and the biosphere are the life-forms which live in the world's waters.
D. The three major oceans are the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian, and are the major source of most of the precipitation which falls on the planet which comes from water evaporated from the world's oceans. The process is caused by the warming of Sun and are carried by the wind, the atmosphere. This is just another connection between the spheres. There are also several major seas and many fresh water lakes and rivers which play a part in the hydrosphere. Ground water should not be ignored and do not forget the great sheets of ice near the poles and high mountains. Without water life would not exist on this planet.
THE BIOSPHERE
E. The Biosphere, (Bio is a Greek word for life) are the life forms on the Planet. The Biosphere is an interconnected web from microbes to the largest living creatures. Life on this planet ranges from the seafloor to five miles into the atmosphere. Plant life is called the Flora, while animal life is called Fauna..
III LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEM
SPACESHIP EARTH
A. As far as we know Earth is the only planet with a life-support system. (There are those who believe that life of some type exists else where in the universe, but concrete proof may be lacking.) A space ship needs oxygen, the correct temperature, and food. The planet Earth needs the same things, but while a spaceship must take materials with it, many of those things are created by the Earth itself. Life on this planet is dependent on these systems. Your book uses the analogy of "Space Ship Earth," and it is a good analogy. The analogy put in question form is this: Can we better use the space ship or is it popping it's rivets already and ready to crash? The term Spaceship Earth sums up this entire book and the problems facing the people of Earth. The term Spaceship Earth was first used by Buckminster Fuller in 1969 the same year man first landed on the moon. (What type of architectural structure did invent?)
B. The Earth is not a treasure house of infinite resources, but a finite system. The natural resources of air, water, soil, and minerals can be squandered or denigrated. One type of denigration to the environment is pollution. Environmental pollution is any release of material or energy into water, land, or air that cause or may cause, short term or long term damage to the ecology of the planet. In current usage, pollution occurs whenever man adds more material to a system than the system can tolerate.
ECOLOGY IS AN ANCIENT PROBLEM
C. For most of human history pollution, ecological damage was a local problem. The impact on the environment can either be premeditated or accidental. Whole species of animals have been hunted or have lost their environment and become extinct since the late Pleistocene. Once fertile fields of wheat in the Middle East are now salt-caked desert. Places like the Imperial Valley in California also have the same problem today. Sometimes we think of ecology as a modern problem, but it is an ancient one. Since the Industrial Revolution, the problem has become a global problem. (What changed with the Industrial Revolution? This question is a little open ended but I am going for something specific.)
A GLOBAL PROBLEM--ACID RAIN
D. I could use almost any example and the one in your book is a good one, I'll just expand it a little. Acid rain comes from heavy industries, power plants, and motor vehicles. The burning of these fossil fuels, create sulfuric dioxide nitric oxides which combine with water to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These pollutants are carried by the winds and damage forests, lakes, and buildings far from their point of origin. The blame game goes around and around, the Germans and Scandinavians, blame the British, the Canadians blame the Americans, and New England blames the Midwest.
E. Why should an old coal fired power plant in Pennsylvania be forced to clean up for trout fishermen in Maine? Even if less sulfur coal is used, which would be a good thing for coal mining in parts of Colorado which has low sulfur coal, but a bad thing for coal miners in Kentucky and West Virginia which has high sulfur coal. Even if the power plant were closed down what about the people who need low cost electricity. Part of this problem was the construction of high smokestacks in the late 1960s and 1970s to meet pollution requirements of cities. This got rid of the pollution in some cities, but made it a problem for someone else. Of course there are other examples. (Take a look at Figure 1.5 on p. 6.)
NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES & LOSS OF FARMLAND
F. Another problem is nonrenewable resources like oil and coal which are mentioned in your text. This is just one example of mineral resources. I could also add the damage to the environment in the extraction and transportation of these energy supplies, I've already mentioned the problems of pollution from fossil fuels. Once productive farm lands now only grow suburbs while some land can only be farmed at great cost in time, money, and water. By the way has any one noticed the connections between problems in the environment and connections between the four major divisions of the Earth?
IV MODELS AND SYSTEMS
MODELS--A MIRROR OF REALITY
(Take a look at Figure 1.6 on
p. 7. Sometimes pictures in the text can tell you more than words on a
page or listening to me.)
A. To understand the complex and interrelated systems of the Earth geographers and other scientists need a smaller representation of reality called a model. A model is reality in a theoretical form. It is practical and understandable of a more complicated reality. In short, models are an idealized abstraction or a simplification. Models can help in forecasting future events, but such predictions are only as good as the data, the assumptions, formulated into the model. PUGAMENTUM INIT, EXIT PUGAMENTUM--GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT, results are only as good as the original data up into a model. Computer based models can be very useful because of the amount of data. Each model has a particular purpose.
B. There are many different kinds of models perhaps the most common mirror of reality is a map. There are physical models like a globe or a relief map, and pictorial/graphic models, like photographs, maps, images, graphs, diagrams, and drawings. There are mathematical or statistical models, which can duplicate changes in weather and predict floods, tornadoes, and other events. Words and language can be thought of as a model. (I guess that these notes are a model, how good of one depends on how well they are written and how the student uses them.)
MENTAL MAPS
C. Another type of model is a conceptual model, which exists in a person's mind. One type of conceptual model is a mental map. Mental Maps exist in the minds of a person to aid us in our daily activities. In short your route to and from school, or to Denver, or the market, or where ever a person is going. (Ask someone how to get to USC from their home.)
V SYSTEMS THEORY AND HOW SYSTEMS WORK
THREE STEPS OF SYSTEMS THEORY
A. As I mentioned in passing, systems theory is very important in this textbook. There are several steps which should be taken to understand any given system. Because these notes are first designed to be presented in class there are certain things which sometimes must come directly from the text. So there are the three steps of system theory for planet Earth.
1. Clearly define the system that
you are studying.
What are the boundaries (limits)
of the system?
2. Break the defined system down
into its component parts (variables). The variables in a system are either
matter or energy.
What are the important parts
and processes that are involved in this system?
3. Attempt to understand how these
variables are related to (or affect, react, or impact) one another.
How do the parts interact
with each other in order to make the system work, and what will happen
in the system if a a part changes.
Using these steps will help you in understanding the Earth system and subsystems. The parts of each system and subsystem are interwoven with each other. Physical Geography is best described as: Integrating knowledge about a wide variety of features and processes involving all four of Earth's major subsystems.
B. To understand the Earth it must be broken down to its basic subsystems of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. However, each of the major subsystems must be broken down into smaller subsystems.
HOW SYSTEMS WORK
(Take a look at Figure 1.7 on
p. 9 and read the material sometimes diagrams are better than the text.)
C. The Earth system operates by the
flow of matter and energy. Both are stored and retrieved, and energy is
transformed from one type to another. The simplified example in your book
is the hydrologic cycle or water cycle. (It is not labeled as the hydrologic
cycle) There are many cycles of building up and tearing down in nature.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPEN
AND CLOSED SYSTEMS
KNOW WHAT SYSTEMS ARE OPEN AND
WHAT SYSTEMS ARE CLOSED.
(Take a look at Figure 1.8 on
p. 9 for open and closed systems)
D. The movement of energy or matter into a system is called inputs, and the flow out of the system is called outputs while the interactions between energy and matter is called feedback within the system. A system in which matter and energy flow in and out and is not self-contained is called an open system. Most of the subsystems of the Earth operate as open systems in both energy and matter, although there are some exceptions.
E. The Earth system is an open system in terms of energy, but is essentially a closed system as far as most matter is concerned. Very small meteorites, cosmic and meteoric dust, frequently, reach the Earth's surface. Large meteorites, have been recorded and comets and asteroids are quite rare. (What is the Tunguska Event?) A few Moon rocks came back during the Apollo program, and some gas molecules from Earth can escape into space. The point is that as physical matter is finite as far as the Earth is involved.
VI EQUILIBRIUM IN EARTH SYSTEMS
DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM
A. Most of the Earth systems and subsystems are in a rough balance over time and are in a steady-state condition. This condition is called equilibrium or balance of nature. This occurs when the rate of inputs of energy and matter and outputs are equal. This is an ideal state and nature is not usually in an ideal state. Equilibrium in most natural Earth subsystems generally means: The Interrelated factors in a system are in a state of continual adjustment to each other. Most of the systems and subsystems of planet Earth are in a state of flux because of external conditions. They fluctuate around an average or range of tolerance called dynamic equilibrium.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEEDBACK
B. The activity between different parts of a system is called feedback. There are two types of feedback in a system. Negative feedback balances the system where gains and losses offset each other. Negative feedback is much more common than positive feedback. An example of negative feedback is a feedback loop which is a circular set of inputs which tends to offset the change in the system and restore balance. A less technical definition of a feedback loop is a chain of processes in a system that operate in a repeating or changing cycle. (Take a look at Figure 1.10 and read the cutline on 12 and read the six steps on p.11.)
C. Positive feedback intensifies or stimulates the direction of initial change. In short, the system keeps on growing and growing. Unchecked positive feedback can snowball until a critical limit, threshold, is reached stopping positive feedback. Thresholds can be thought of as trigger mechanisms.
VII HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
A. The study of physical geography's subsystems advances a holistic approach which emphases the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts. Physical geography tries to tie the physical environment to people. In the last thirty years more and more interest has been expressed about the environment. To keep everyone on the same track, the terms environment, ecology, and ecosystem must be defined.
ENVIRONMENT
B. The environment is the total circumstances surrounding an organism or group of organisms. The complex of social and cultural conditions affecting the nature of an individual or community. For a textbook definition, look at the definition in the back of the book as well. What ever definition used, it is a wide one. (Take a look a Figure 1.11 on p.14 and Figure 1.12 on p. 15)
ECOLOGY
C. Ecology is the science of the relationships between organisms and their environments. These organisms can be plants or animals. Relationships between organisms are complicated and should be thought of as a "web of life." In most cases changing the natural ecology of an area will have unfavorable outcomes, mixed results for some species, or can be beneficial for most species.
ECOSYSTEM--A DYNAMIC SYSTEM
D. An ecosystem is an ecological community together with its physical environment considered as a unit. An ecosystem is not a static but active system, always in motion. Since the various parts of an ecosystem are always in flux, the ecosystem is said to be dynamic. A change in the environment, like too little rain or too much rain can change the entire system, sometimes these changes can last a season or they can be longer lasting. An ecosystem can be large or small, it can be the rain forest, a city park, or even your back yard. These systems are open as far as energy are concerned. Most of the time the line between different ecosystems is vague called a transitional borderland or transitional zone. Other times the lines could be cut with a knife. The textbook uses the example of a small lake or desert oasis.(Can someone give me an example, this is open-ended but I am going for a specific example very, very, close?)
PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS CHANGED ECOSYSTEMS
E. Human beings, no matter what color, or what time in history or pre-history, have transformed ecosystems to suit their current needs. Many consider that Fire was the first tool used by people, it may depend on how you define a tool, whether you consider it a tool or not, it has been used to change the landscape. Both in Africa and North America, native peoples used fire to burn off forests, to increase the amount of grazing land for the animals they hunted. (What is the biggest change that human beings have made in their environment in the last 10,000 years. Hint: It has happened a least four times and in different places. It could be called the seeds of change.)
F. It is only in the last hundred years or so that man's impact on ecosystems has been overwhelming. Your textbook uses the example of Kissimmee River-Lake Okeechobee-Everglades system which has be drained, channelized, and paved over since the late 19th century. (Take a look at Figure 1.12 p 15 and read the cutline.) (Just for a point of information it could have been worse Miami airport wanted to expand operations which would have harmed Everglades National Park, but was stopped.) The channelization, artificially straightening a stream, occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970, and has disrupted the system the most. Read the specifics in your text book. (What group with a great deal of money is not mention in your textbook and is very active in restoring the South Florida's wetlands?)
THE HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT EQUATION
G. Just about twenty-five years ago, there were only 3.8 billion people today there is 6 billion plus people. This means the earth's population has increased between 84 to 90 million people annually. (In local terms the population of Earth increases by one Colorado Springs, or two Pueblos around 230,000 people daily.) This century began with only two billion people. A major problem is the food to feed the growing population of Earth. Although many times it is more the breakdown of distribution than production.
WORLD POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
AND HAZARD ZONES
H. The peoples of the world are not spread over the planet in an even manner. There are places with billions of people, while there are places with very few people. Most of the people of the earth are still found in rural areas, about 60% the rest live in cities. Even places with a similar physical nature have different populations. (Take a look at Figure 1.13 on p. 20 21.) There are locations in the world that have large human populations, but are not very safe. There are certain places where people live which have natural hazards or hazard zones, like volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and other things that can kill you or make you ill.
VIII THE STUDY OF GEOGRAPHY
A. Geography has many meanings and
is an extensive field. The beginning of Geography began with the Greeks
who called geography "earth description.". Some things do not change
very much over time. (What period in European History did a renewed
interest in geography start?) Despite many changes in the world there
is a major geographic theme, that things are different from place to place
and things are scattered randomly from place to place. This is the Spatial
Concept.
KNOW THE DEFINITIONS OF SPATIAL AND REGIONS
B. Like many other disciplines geography has it own vocabulary. One of the key words or concepts in geography is the spatial concept. It is a major modifier for many geographic terms. In the text, notes, and lecture the term spatial concept is used. Geography is a spatial science and is concerned with spatial behavior of people, their spatial relationships, and the spatial relationships between places on the earth. A FANCY NAME FOR SPACE AND THOSE THINGS THAT TAKE UP SPACE, WHETHER THEY BE PEOPLE OR THINGS AND HOW THEY INTERACT. Geography is often called the spatial science because it includes the recognition, analysis, and explanations of variations in phenomena as they are distributed of the earth's surface.
REGIONS
C. No two places on the planet are precisely alike, each place is just a little different, physically and culturally, but sometimes there are more similarities than differences. Such places are called regions. This is a generalization and tries to connect similarities, in language, culture, industry, climate, agriculture, or some unifying principle. It is an attempt to apply order from diversity. Regions occupy space, or have spatial extent. A region has certain territorial limits, which have established physical, cultural, or organizational features. A short and precise definition is that all regions have area. (Do regions change over time--What about some examples?)
CULTURAL OR HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PHYSICAL
GEOGRAPHY
AND CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
D. Geography can be divided into two broad areas, they are physical geography and cultural geography, or human geography. Human geography is the study of people and their activities but always remember there is a relationship between the physical world and the human world. (Take a look at my chart in this set of notes on p. 3) A sub group of human geography is regional geography which studies a specific region.
E. Physical geography is the nonhuman processes of the environment and sometimes could be called Earth science. It is weather and climate, the oceans and the atmosphere, and geological and biological aspects of the planet but does not ignore the human element. Physical geography's major function is to learn about the Earth's environment and the processes that influence them.
TECHNOLOGY, TOOLS, AND METHODS
F. Like many things in the last fifteen to twenty years technology has changed the study of physical geography. The power of computers to record cleaner images has changed the way we can look at the world. The power of the Internet connects the world into a truly "global village."
Satellites are constantly giving us better views and perspectives of planet Earth and its systems. Combined with computers the way maps are drawn has been revolutionized. (I'll go into more detail in some other chapters.)
IX THEMES IN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
QUESTIONS THAT GEOGRAPHERS ASK
The first question geographers ask is: WHERE is the Location, and HOW does the Location relate to other places? The second question: WHAT is the location like, Characteristics of the Place? Is it like our unlike other places. The third question is: WHAT is the layout of objects on Earth, the spatialdistribution and spatial patterns of the place?
LOCATION
A. Like many things in life a certain frame of reference is needed. Physical geography has certain themes or questions. Since geography is a spatial science the location of a place is important. A place can be described in two ways in geography, absolute location and relative location. Your text gives the absolute location and relative location of the Titanic.
ABSOLUTE LOCATION
B. Any place can be located by using the GEOGRAPHIC GRID, that spot on the map is called the Absolute Location of a place. Sometimes it is called mathematical location . Using Absolute Location anyplace on the globe can be established by using the global grid, sometimes called geographic grid of latitude and longitude and describe by degrees, minutes, and seconds. Absolute location is a precise position on the surface of the globe. It could be said that a street address is an example of absolute location within a town or city. (What is the absolute location of Pueblo Colorado?)
RELATIVE LOCATION
IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ABSOLUTE
LOCATION
IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ABSOLUTE
LOCATION
C. In addition to Absolute Location
a place has a relative location. It would be a very good idea to
know both, (A test question or two might be based on the difference between
the two.) Relative Location is more important than absolute location.
Relative Location designates a place in relation to something else.
The table below can be very useful in working with Relative location it
would be a very good idea to use this table in working with relative location.
POINTS TO CONSIDER ON RELATIVE
LOCATION
These are guidelines and overlap
sometimes.
1. Many places are in a country,
like the United States, Russia, or some other
country.
2. In many cases they belong to a
political sub unit like a state or province.
This one can
be difficult outside of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
I want the state
or province in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
3. Most cities are located near
water. This can be a river, lake, or the sea. Be
careful sometimes
cities are on a river, but are also close to the sea as well
get both if when
it applies.
4. Generally they part of a region
like the Midwest in the United States, or
Western Europe,
or some other region. Remember some regions have different
names it depends
on the map and what you might bring into the course. You
can't go wrong
it use the one in the corner of the map. Remember it is the
title
in the upper right hand corner.
5. They are northern, southern,
eastern, western part of a country or region.
(Sometimes the
region has a direction in it like the Midwest.)
6. They many be near another
country,
body of water, mountains, or city.
Nearness can
be expressed by miles, kilometers, or time.
7. If a city has the same name, I usually want the more famous, the largest
8. If you want to put some personal
in relative locations like it has a great hotel,
beaches, baseball
or football teams I can live with this it shows you are
thinking.
9. If it is the capital of the
country I want that. (There are two ways to do it,
one is in front
of your eyes if you can find the legend the other is for your
information.
The key is in your Atlas if you know where to look)
CHARACTERISTICS OF PLACES
D. All locations where people live have physical characteristics which make them unique. These characteristics give them distinction, possibilities, and significance. Some locations are similar, mountains no matter what location can share many of same characteristics, but depending on location can be very different. Geographers want to recognize and evaluate the different characteristics of the place.
STATICAL DISTRIBUTIONS AND SPATIAL PATTERNS
E. The area or areas where a feature exists is called Spatial Distributions. Sometimes a pattern can exist like the location of rain forests, deserts, grasslands, polar ice, or some other feature. The distributions of things of the planet are uneven. In short some places have more oil or coal than other places, while some places have more water, than other places. The list of things could be endless.
F. The geometric distribution of things in an area is called a Spatial pattern. Towns running along a good sized river might be a good example. (Can you list some of the towns and cities along the Arkansas River in Colorado?) Another example could be towns along a railroad line, or interstate, but since for the most part the railroads came first, many times highways are close to railroad lines. This type of pattern is called linear. Your book uses the example of earthwake fault lines, different example but the same pattern. The features in a space can be regular, random, clustered, or widely spaced.
SPATIAL INTERACTION
G. A basic geographic principle is everything is related, or linked, to each other is called spatial interaction but those linkages are stronger when they are near each--this book is only implied in your book but do know it. (Can someone give me an example very near to this campus of an linkage?) Interaction decreases as distance increases. Sometimes these linkages are difficult to confirm because their affect can take a long time.
H. Remember that Earth is a dynamic system. There are changes in the weather from day to day, new lands are being raised up, while other lands are being torn down, nature reassures in places like Mount St. Helens. Closer to home many of the mining areas near Cripple Creek which were devastated by mining now have growths of aspen. The contaminated water from the Leadville mines which stunned the trout from Leadville to Bunea Vista is being cleaned up and trout populations are increasing and the trout are larger.
GUIDED PRACTICE ----Questions during the lecture.
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE --Readings
at home
| Culmination | |
| Give some examples on how the Earth be considered a dynamic and interconnected system? | How do people and the Environment interact? |
| List the Major Divisions or Spheres of Physical Geography? | Know the difference between Environment, Ecology and Ecosystem. |
| Can the Earth be called life-support system? Give some examples of this life-support system. | What are the major definitions of Geography like spatial, and regions? |
| Give some examples of Models
representing the Earth? |
What are the two major fields of Geography? |
| How does Equilibrium differ from Dynamic Equilibrium in the Earth System? | What are the two major fields of Geography? |
| Describe System Theory using feedback, positive feedback, negative feedback, and feedback loops, and thresholds. | What new technologies, tools, and methods used in Geography? |
| What is the Major themes in Physical Geography and how does it apply to people? |