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Chapter 1: Looking at the EarthThe Five Themes of Geography
1 (pages 5–9)
What is geography?
Geography The word comes from a Greek word that means,
“to describe the earth.”
Geographers look at the use of space on the earth and the interactions that take place there.
They look for patterns and connections between people and the land on which they live.
The distribution and interaction of physical and human features on earth.
Many methods Geographers use many methods to study the use of space on earth.
–Map The most common method.
Maps are representations of portions of the earth.
–Photographs Used to gain visual evidence about a place.
–Charts, graphs, Organize information to learn about geographic or tables patterns and to understand changes over time.
Five themes These themes organize information about geography into five categories.
World Geography, Chapter 1 Sec 1
Theme: Location
How is location described?
Absolute location The exact place where a geographic feature is found.
--geographers use a grid system of imaginary lines.
--Each site on earth can have only one absolute location.
Relative location A place in relation to other places around it.
Hemisphere. Earth is divided into two equal halves, each called a hemisphere.
Equator The imaginary line that divides the north and south halves of the earth.
–Latitude lines Imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator.
Prime meridian The imaginary line that divides the earth east and west.
--Longitude lines Imaginary lines that go around the earth over the poles.
Theme: Place
What defines place?
Place The physical features and cultural
landscape of a location.
The description of place may also may change over time
–Physical features Examples are climate, landforms, and
vegetation.
--Culture Humans interacting or making contact with the environment.
For example, building roads or houses.
World Geography, Chapter 1 Sec 1
Theme: Region
What characteristics define a region?
Region An area of the earth’s surface that is
defined by shared characteristics. Usually have more than one element, that unifies them.
–Formal region May include physical, political,
economic, or cultural characteristics.
They are generally defined by continental area and similar cultural styles.
Examples of formal regions are Africa,
the United States and Canada, and Latin America
–Functional region Organized around a set of interactions and connections between places
Usually characterized by a hub:a central place with many links to outlying areas. --For example, a city and its suburbs.
--Perceptual region A region in which people perceive the characteristics of a region in the same way
.
Theme: Human-Environment Interaction
How do people relate to their environments?
Change People may change their environment to meet
their needs
Human beings actively work to change their
environments to make them a better place.
May want changes to provide needed goods
Live with People use what the environment offers them.
live with parts of the environment that they cannot control.
Problems Changes can cause problems, such as pollution.
World Geography Chapter 1 Sec 1
Theme: Movement
How do geographers analyze movement?
Types of distance
--Linear, How far across the earth an idea, a person, or a product travels
Physical geography, land or water barriers can change linear distance
–Time How long it takes a person, product, or idea to travel,
It takes less time because of inventions like airplanes or automobiles.
--Psychological We may think a place is closer than it actually is.
World Geography Chapter 1, Sec 2
Maps and Globes
What tools do cartographers use?
Maps To show locations of places on the earth.
--They show where places are in relation to other places
–Cartographers are people who make maps.
--two dimensional representations of selected parts of the
earth’s surface.
They are portable and can be drawn to any scale needed.
–Distortion This occurs when a three-dimensional image is converted to two
dimensions.
–Map projection A is a way of making a two dimensional drawing of the earth’s surface that reduces distortion.
Globes A way to view the earth as it sits in space: because the earth is round
They are not easily portable.
World Geography Chapter 1, Sec. 2
TYPES OF MAPS
What kinds of maps are available?
General reference Sometimes called a topographical map
Shows natural and man-made features on the earth.
Thematic Focus on specific kinds of information, such as climate or population density
Navigational Used by sailors and pilots to plot a course to sail or fly.
The Science of Mapmaking
/
How do satellites help geographers?
SURVEYING The first step in making a map is to complete a field survey.
Surveyors observe, measure, and record what they see in a specific area.
SATELLITES The observing, measuring, and recording are done by aerial photography or by satellites.
Cartographers use this information to construct map
Types of satellites--Landsat A series of satellites that can photograph the entire earth in 16 days.
–GOES Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite—is
a weather satellite.
Maintains a constant view of the same area
Useful in forecasting the weather.
GIS/GPS
How is a Geographic Information System used?
Geographic
Information Geographer’s newest tool This system
System (GIS) Uses digital map information
Provides specialized information to solve problems.
Global
Positioning
System (GPS) Uses a series of 24 satellites called Navstars.
Send the exact latitude, longitude, altitude, and time to a hand-held receiver.
Reading a Map
How can you interpret what a map shows?
Elements of a Map: -Title Explains the subject of the map.
-Symbols Icons that represent things like capital cities, economic activities,
or natural resources.
-Labels Words or phrases that explain features on the map, such as rivers or oceans.
-Colors Often used to show a variety of information on a map
- Legend Also called a map key,lists and explains the symbols and colors on the map.
-Lines of latitude Imaginary lines that measure distance north or south of the equator
-Lines of longitude Imaginary lines that measure the distance east and west of the prime meridian.
Make it possible to determine location.
-compass rose A starlike symbol that shows directions --north (N), south (S), east (E), and west(W)
-scale Shows the ratio between a unit of length on the map and a unit of
distance on the earth.
World Geography Chapter 1, Sec. 3
Scale:How is scale shown?
Detail A geographer decides what scale to use by determining
how much detail needs to be shown.
Ratio scale Shows the ratio of distance on the map compared to real earth measurements.
For example 1:30,000,000 means a ratio of one inch on the map is equal to 30,000,000 inches on Earth.
bar scale Shows the relationship of map distance to earth distance on a bar scale
Using the Geographic Grid
How does the grid work?
Grid system Used a to identify absolute location.
Absolute location is the spot where latitude and longitude lines cross.
Uses latitude lines called parallels and longitude lines called meridians
Degrees and minutes Absolute location is determined using measurements called degrees and minutes(‘)
Each degree is divided into 60 minutes.
Time Zones Lines are also used to mark the hours of the day as the earth’s time zones.
Projections
What causes distortion?
Projection A way of showing the curved surface of the earth on a flat map
A flat map will distort some aspect of the earth’s surface
-Planar projection Is a projection on a flat surface.One example is called azimuthal Distorts size and shape
-Conical projection A projection onto a cone.
-cylindrical projection A projection onto a cylinder. Mercator is an example of this it distorts landmasses at the poles.
Homolosine and Robinson Two other compromise projections
Worl d Geography Chapter 1 Sec. 3
Using Different Types of Maps
What do a physical map or a political map show?
Physical maps Show the types of landforms and bodies of water found in a specific area.
Color, shading,or contour lines are used to indicate
elevation or altitude. This is also called relief.
Political maps Show features on the earth’s surface that humans created,
Including cities, states, provinces, or countries.
Thematic Maps
What other information can maps show?
Theme maps Focus on a specific idea.
Title-- to determine the theme.
legend-- to determine what information is being presented.
-Qualitative maps Use color, symbols, dots, or lines.
-Cartograms Information about a country based on a set of data other than land area
The country is drawn in proportion to the data
rather than to its land size.
Flow line maps information is usually shown in a series of arrows.
They show location, direction, and scope of movement
World Geography
Chapter 2 Sec. 1 Notes
The Solar System
How far are we from the sun?
The sun Is a medium-sized star.
Milky Way It is on the edge of a galaxy called the Milky Way.
Earth The third planet out from the sun.
Its distance from the sun is 93 million miles.
Solar system Consists of the sun and the eight known planets.
Other celestial bodies Comets--spheres covered with ice and dust
that orbit the sun that leave trails of vapor.
Asteroids— large chunks of rocky material.
The Structure of the Earth
What is the lithosphere?
Circumference The distance around the earth is about 24,900 miles.
Diameter The distance straight through the earth is 7,900 miles.
Core The solid metallic center of the earth, Made up of iron and nickel.
Mantle Floats on the core .
A soft layer of molten rock that is about 1,800miles thick
Crust The thin layer of rock at the surface of the earth.
Magma Hot molten rock created when the mantle melts on the underside of the crust.
Atmosphere A layer of gases surrounding the earth.
Contains the oxygen we breathe.
Also protects the earth from radiation and space debris
It is where weather and climate take place.
Lithosphere The solid rock portion of the earth’s surface.
Some forms the floor of the ocean.
Continents Huge landmasses above water.
There are seven continents: North America, South America,Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.
Hydrosphere The water elements on the earth
Includes oceans, seas,rivers, lakes, and water in the atmosphere.
Biosphere The part of the earth where plants and animals live.
CONTINENTAL DRIFT
How do continents move?
Continental drift A theory first discovered by Alfred Wegener of Germany
The earth once had a single supercontinent.
It split into many pieces called plates.
They became the continents that are located in their current positions.
The continents continue to move today.
World Geography Chapter 2, Sec. 2
BODIES OF WATER
OCEANS AND SEAS
How does ocean water circulate?Water Supports plants and animals; Helps distribute heat on the earth.
Oceans Interconnected bodies of salt water that covers about 71 percent of our planet.
Four main parts: Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean,
the Indian Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean.
Ocean circulation Three basic motions: currents, waves, and tides
-Currents Act like rivers flowing through the ocean
-Waves Swells or ridges produced by winds.
-Tides The regular rise and fall of the ocean.
Caused by the gravitational pull of the moon or
the sun.
Distribution of heat Winds blow over the ocean and are either heated or cooled by the water.
The winds change the temperature of the air over the land.
HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
What is the hydrologic cycle?
The hydrologic cycle The continuous circulation of water between the atmosphere, the oceans, and the earth.
Water from bodies of water, and from plants
evaporates into the atmosphere.
The water then exists in the atmosphere as vapor.
When the vapor cools it condenses.
Then precipitation, either rain or snow, falls to the earth.
The rain or snow evaporates or flows into rivers
to be recycled.
World Geography Chapter 2 Sec. 2 (cont.)
LAKES, RIVERS, AND STREAMS
What is a drainage basin?
Lakes Hold more than 95 percent of all the earth’s fresh water.
There are freshwater lakes and some saltwater lakes.
Rivers and streams Move water to or from larger bodies of water.
Smaller streams are called tributaries.
Connect into drainage systems--an area drained by a
major river and its tributaries is called a drainage basin. Ground water Water held in the pores of rock below the soil.
Underground rock layers that store water are called aquifers.
LANDFORMS
OCEANIC LANDFORMS
What is the continental shelf ?
Landforms Naturally formed features on the surface of the earth.
These include: mountains, valleys, plateaus, mesas, plains bays,peninsulas, islands, and volcanoes.
-sea floor Has landforms similar to those above water.
It has ridges, valleys, canyons, and plains.
The longest continuous mountain range in the ocean is the Mid-Atlantic Range.
Continental shelf The earth’s surface from the edge of a continent to the
edge of the deep part of the ocean.
Islands Land surrounded by water on all sides. They dot the ocean surface.
Formed by volcanic action, deposits of sand, or by
deposits of coral skeletons.
World Geography Chapter 2 Sec. 2 (cont.)
CONTINENTAL LANDFORMS
What is relief?
Relief The difference in elevation of a landform from the lowest point to the highest point
There are four categories of relief: mountains, hills, plains, and plateaus.
A mountain has great relief.
Topography Characteristics of landforms and their distribution
in a region.
A topographic map shows the landforms with their vertical dimensions and in relationship to other landforms.
World Geography Chapter 2 Sec. 3
Internal Forces Shaping the Earth
PLATE TECTONICS
What are tectonic plates?
Internal forces Begin immediately beneath the crust.
-Magma Hot molten rock beneath the crust that circulates like a conveyer belt. Moves up toward the crust, cools, and circulates downward.
-Tectonic plates Enormous moving pieces that form the earth’s crust.
PLATE MOVEMENT
How do plates move?
Four ways tectonic 1) sliding past each other in a shearing motion;
plates move 2) subduction, or diving under another plate;
3) convergence, or crashing into one another;
4) spreading, or moving apart.
Three types of • Divergent boundary Plates move apart.
boundaries • Convergent boundary Plates collide with each other. • Transform boundary Plates slide past one another.
Effects of plate May cause folding and cracking of the rock
movement The are under great pressure.
Sometimes they are flexible and will bend or fold.
-Fault A fracture in the earth’s crust.
Sometimes the rock is not flexible and will crack.
The fault line is the place where the plates move past each other.
EARTHQUAKES
EARTHQUAKE LOCATIONS
Where do earthquakes occur?
Earthquake Happens when the plates grind or slip past one another at a
fault, the earth shakes or trembles.
A seismograph is a device that can detect them.
Focus: the location in the earth where an earthquake
begins.
The epicenter The point directly above, on the earth’s surface.
Nearly 95 percent of all recorded earthquakes occur
around the boundaries of the major tectonic plates.
EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE
What is a tsunami?
Earthquake damage Earthquakes cause motions in the earth’s crust that damage
land and structures.
Examples of damage are: landslides, displacement of land, fires, and collapsed buildings.
-Aftershocks Smaller-scale quakes that occur after the initial shock
-The Richter scale Is used to determine the relative strength of an earthquake.
Tsunami A giant wave in the ocean, caused by an earthquake.
Travels at speeds of up to 450 miles per hour.
Produces waves of 50 to 100 feet or higher.
Can cause great damage and loss of life.
World Geography Chapter 2 Sec. 3 (cont.)
Volcanoes
What is a volcano?
Volcano Occurs when magma, gases, and water from the lower part of the crust or mantle pour out of cracks in the earth’s surface.
Most are found along the tectonic plate boundaries.
Lava Magma that has reached the earth’s surface.
Eruption Occurs when which hot lava, gases, ash, dust, and rocks explode out of vents in the earth’s crust.
Volcanoes do not erupt on a predictable schedule.
RING OF FIRE
What is the Ring of Fire?
Ring of Fire A zone around the rim of the Pacific Ocean.
The location of the vast majority of active volcanoes and earthquakes.
Hot springs and geysers also are indicators of
“hot spots” in the earth’s crust.
Volcanic ash produces fertile soil.
Geothermal energy Steam and heat generated by the magma is tapped for energy.
World Geography Chapter 2, Sec. 4
External Forces Shaping the Earth
WEATHERING
MECHANICAL WEATHERING
What is weathering?
Weathering Physical and chemical processes that change the characteristics of rock on or near the earth’s surface.
Sediment Smaller and smaller pieces of rock created by weathering.
Examples: mud, sand, or silt (very fine particles of rock)
Mechanical weathering Processes that break rock into smaller pieces.
Examples are ice or frost and plant growth. Also Human activities such as drilling and blasting.
World Geography Chapter 2 Sec. 4 (cont.)
CHEMICAL WEATHERING
How do rocks decompose?
Chemical weathering Occurs when rock is changed into a new substance. Elements in the air or water and the minerals in the rock interact.
Decomposition Some minerals react to oxygen in the air and begin to crumble
Sometimes minerals are combined with water or carbon dioxide to form weak acids, that break down the rock.
Climates that are warm and moist will produce
more chemical weathering than cool or dry climates.
EROSION
WATER EROSION
What is erosion?
Erosion Is when material is moved by wind, water, ice, or gravity.
Erosion is caused by: glaciers, waves, stream flow, or blowing winds.
Erosion reshapes landforms.
-Water erosion Happens when water flows in a stream or river. Abrasion is the grinding away of rock by transported
particles in the water.
Water also can dissolve chemical elements in the rock.
Wave action along coastlines also changes the land.
Sediment deposited by waves may build up
Delta Sediment is deposited into a fan-like landform where a river enters the ocean.
WIND EROSION
How does wind erosion change the land?
Wind erosion Wind transports sediment and deposits it in other locations.
New landforms may be produced
-Loess Deposits of, wind-blown silt and clay sediment that produce very fertile soil.
World Geography Chapter 2, Sec. 4 (cont.)
GLACIAL EROSION
What is glaciation?
Glacier A large, long-lasting mass of ice.
They form in mountainous areas and in regions that are
regularly covered with heavy snowfall and ice.
Glaciation The changing of landforms by slowly moving glaciers.
They cut U-shaped valleys in the land.
Rocks left behind by a glacier may form a ridge or a hill called a moraine.
Building Soil
What is soil?
Soil The loose mixture of weathered rock, organic matter,
air, and water that supports plant growth.
It provides needed plant food to help plants grow.
When it rains, pore-like spaces in the soil fill with water.
Soil’s fertility Is affected by the amount of organic material (called
humus), and the amount of air and water in the soil.
Factors that affect soil • Parent material: The chemical composition
affects fertility.
• Relief: Steeper slopes erode soil easily and produce
soil slowly.
• Organisms: Small animals such as worms and ants help loosen soil. Bacteria helps material decompose; this supplies food for plants
• Climate: Hot and cold, wet and dry climates produce different soils.
• Time: The amount of time it takes to produce soil varies.
World Geography
Chapter 3 Sec.1 notes
Climate and Vegetation Seasons and Weather
Summer solstice In the Northern Hemisphere, the beginning of summer, is the longest day of the year.
Winter solstice The beginning of winter, is the shortest day of the year.
Equinox The days and nights all over the world are equal in length.
They mark the beginning of spring and autumn.
Weather The condition of the atmosphere at a particular location
and time.
Climate Weather conditions at a particular location over a long period of time.
What causes Earth’s tilt–The earth goes through a 23.5̊ tilt
the seasons ? This causes parts of the earth to tilt toward and away from
the sun, affecting where the direct rays of the sun fall.
Earth’s revolution--Because the earth revolves around the sun, different parts of the earth are facing the sun at different times of the year.
Different types of
weather conditions:
Precipitation Falling water droplets in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail.
- Types of
precipitation Convectional precipitation occurs in hot, moist
climates and brings afternoon clouds and rain.
Orographic precipitation falls on the windward side of
hills or mountains and creates a rain shadow on the leeward side (The side the wind is coming from).
Frontal precipitation results from fronts,
or boundaries between different kinds of air masses.
World Geography Ch 3 Sec. 1 notes
Hurricanes or Storms that form over warm, tropical waters that bring
typhoons high winds, heavy rains, and, sometimes, storm surges.
Tornadoes Funnel-shaped columns of air that form over land quickly and
can do immense damage.
Blizzards Heavy snowstorms with winds of more than 32 miles
per hour.
Droughts Long periods without rain or with very minimal rainfall.
Floods Huge amounts of water that result when water accumulates faster than it can return to the air, often because of melting snow or rain.
Tornado Alley An area that has a lot of tornadoes between Texas and Nebraska in the central United States (p.52)
–Other areas West central Florida and central Indiana have high frequencies of tornadoes.
World geography Ch. 3 Sec 2 notes
CLIMATE
Factors Affecting Climate
Convection The transfer of heat by the upward motion of air in the atmosphere.
Wind currents Help distribute heat throughout the world and transfer
it from one part of the world to another
Ocean currents Transfer heat from the oceans and affect precipitation.
Zones of latitude Help determine how hot or cold it is
--tropical zones are hot
--polar zones are cold; are found in high-latitudes
--middle latitudes are temperate; climates ther can vary
greatly.
Altitude Affects temperature; higher altitudes = colder temperatures
World Geography Ch. 3, Sec 2 Notes (cont.)
Topography Landforms can affect precipitation.
El Niño The warming of waters off the west coast of South America, every 2-7 years. Can cause heavy rains, floods, mudslides, and droughts.
Greenhouse effect An accumulation of gases in the atmosphere caused by pollution from burning coal and petroleum products
Creates global warming/causes temperatures to rise.
North Equatorial Pacific ocean currents that have a circular flow
Current and
South Equatorial (See map p. 55)
Current
The Gulf Stream Another ocean current flows from the Caribbean Sea along the coast of eastern North America as far north as southern Canada
World Geography Ch. 3, Sec. 3 Notes
WORLD CLIMATE REGIONS
Causes of climate The two most important factors that cause different climate Regions regions around the world are temperature and precipitation.
Types of Climate Regions
Tropical wet Always hot; little variation in temperature; average
temperature 79̊F; rainfall daily. Mostly found between the latitudes of 30̊N and 30̊S.
Tropical wet and dry Rainy season with cooler temperatures in summer and a
dryer season with warmer temperatures in winter.
Semiarid Hot summers, mild to cold winters, not much rainfall
Desert Less than ten inches of rainfall per year; drop in
temperatures at night.
Mediterranean Dry, hot summers; cool, rainy winters
World Geography Ch. 3, Sec. 3 Notes (cont.)
Marine west coast Cloudy, foggy, damp; even distribution of precipitation
throughout the year
Humid subtropical Long periods of summer heat and humidity; mild to
cool winters.
Humid continental Variety in temperature and precipitation; four seasons;
changing weather conditions.
Subarctic Huge temperature variations between summer and
winter; short, cool summers; long, very cold winters.
Tundra Very little precipitation; subsoil always frozen; very
short, cool summers. Found above 60̊N and below 60̊S latitude
Highland Variable climate, depending on altitude, latitude,
topography, and continental location
World Geography Ch. 3, Sec. 4 Notes
SOILS AND VEGETATION
Soil Regions (Chart p. 65)
Soil Is a thin layer of weathered rock, organic humus, air, and
water. It shapes human existence in many ways.
Cold Climates Have the highest humus content in the soil.
Dry climate Is not likely to produce the best soil because the humus content is low and the depth of the soil is shallow.
Vegetation Regions
Ecosystem An interdependent community of plants and animals.
Biome The ecosystem of particular region.
Forestlands Forest regions are categorized by the types of trees they
support:
--Broadleaf (or deciduous-big leaves that fall off in autumn.)
–Needleleaf (or coniferous-have needles and cones.)
--Rain forest A forest region in the Tropical Zone covered with a
heavy concentration of broadleaf trees– a jungle.
World Geography Ch. 3, Sec. 4 Notes (cont.)
--Chaparral A forestlands biome of smaller drought-resistant trees and
shrubs
Grasslands Flat regions with mostly grasses and dotted with a few trees.
--Savanna Flat, grassy, mostly treeless plains of the grasslands region.
--Steppe Flat, grassy, treeless plains or prairie in the Northern Hemisphere
Desert and Tundra Extreme climates with dry and/or cold conditions.
World Geography
Chapter 4, Sec. 1 Notes
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY: PEOPLE AND PLACES
THE ELEMENTS OF CULTURE
Culture Is the total knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors shared by
and passed on by the members of a specific group.
--Society A group that shares a common language, a sense of identity, and its culture.
--Ethnic group Has an identity as a separate group of people within
the region where they live.
Culture Change and Exchange
Innovation Taking existing elements of society and creating something new;
occurs to meet a need or may be accidental.
Diffusion The spread of ideas, inventions, or patterns of behavior,
which can be greatly speeded up by technology.
Acculturation Occurs when individuals in a society accept or adopt an innovation,
such as substituting new ideas from other cultures for traditions.
Language
Language Is one of the most important aspects of culture because it allows the
people within a culture to communicate.
Geographers estimate that between 3,000 and 6,500 languages are spoken across the world today
Eight of those languages are spoken by more than half the world’s population
Language Tree Does not include all languages--only those that came from Proto-
(p. 74) Indo-European ; there are, for example, no Japanese/Korean
Chinese(Sino)-Tibetan, or Niger-Congo languages represented
English is a Proto-Indo-European language , which came from Balto-Slavo-Germanic, which led to Western Germanic,
which led to English.
World Geography, Ch. 4, Sec. 1 Notes (cont.)
Religion
Religion Establishes beliefs and values that define how people worship and how they behave towards each other. It has a great deal of influence on people’s lives.
Three main types
of religion Monotheistic: a belief in one god
Polytheistic: a belief in many gods
Animistic: a tradional religion often having a belief in divine forces in nature.
Major ReligionsJudaism Is the oldest of the Southwest Asian religions; concentrated
in Israel; oldest monotheistic religion; Torah is the
holy book; believe God gave Moses the Ten Commandments; Sabbath day is Saturday; worship in Synagogues
Christianity Evolved from Judaism; monotheistic; based on the teachings
of Jesus Christ; largest of all religions; three major groups:
--Roman Catholic,
-- Protestant
--Eastern Orthodox
Islam Based on the teachings of Muhammad; followers are called
Muslims; monotheistic; Qur’an is the holy book;pray five times a day; fast during the month of Ramadan; major divisions:
--Sunni
--Shi’ite
Hinduism World’s oldest religion-about 5000 years old; concentrated in India; belief in one Supreme Being or God, but worship many gods; practice yoga and meditation; believe in Karma and Reincarnation.
World Geography Ch 4, Sec. 1 Notes (cont.)
Buddhism Offshoot of Hinduism; don’t believe in a god, Buddha ia an awakened human being; teaches a correct way of living in order to reach nirvana; practice meditation to attain enlightenment; major groups— Theraveda, Mahayana (including Zen ), Vajrayana (Tibetan Lamaism).
Other Asian practices Include Confucianism and Taoism from China; Shinto from Japan; all in East Asia.
World Geography, Ch 4, Sec. 2 Notes
Population Geography
Worldwide Population Growth
Factors that Affect
Population Growth
--Birthrate Number of live births per thousand population
–Fertility rate The average number of children per woman in her lifetime,
assuming she bears children at the current rate for
the country in which she lives.
–Mortality rate Death rate, or number of deaths per thousand
–Infant mortality rate Number of deaths under age one per thousand live
births.
Rate of natural The mortality rate subtracted from the birthrate; the rate
increase at which population is growing.
Population pyramid A graphic device showing gender and age distribution
of a population; shows how events affect populations.
Population density The average number of people who live in a measurable
area, such as a square mile; this number helps
geographers understand how heavily populated an
area is
Carrying capacity The number of organisms a piece of land can support;
often varies with the fertility of the land
s World geography, Ch 4, Sec. 2 Notes (cont.)
Poulation Density
South America’s megacities are Sa~o Paolo and Buenos Aires
Map (p. A10) Habitable lands--The text says almost two-thirds of
the world’s population lives in the zone between 20̊
N and 60̊N; this appears to include every megacity
on the map with the exception of Sao Paolo, Buenos
Aires, and Lagos.
Migration Push-pull factors--The reasons why people migrate
Push factors: Examples are environmental conditions such as drought and other natural
Pull factors: Examples are economic opportunity and high salaries
World Geography, Ch. 4. Sec. 3 Notes
Political Geography
Nations of the World
State A political term describing an independent unit that occupies a
specific territory and has full control of its internal and external
affairs.
Nation A group of people with a common culture living in a territory and
having a strong sense of unity.
How Geographic Characteristics Affect Nations
Size Small size is not always a barrier that keeps a nation from being strong; large size usually means more resources and may mean more power.
Shape Can affect ease of governing, movement of goods, and relationships
with neighboring countries.
Location Relative location, especially in relation to the sea, can
be important; being surrounded by hostile or friendly neighbors
can also affect a nation.
World Geography Ch 4, Sec. 3 Notes (cont.)
Natural Can cause arguments between bordering nations,
Boundaries especially if the boundaries shift.
Artificial Can cause difficulties when groups of people are
Boundaries divided or put together in artificial ways.
Types of Government
Nation-state A nation that occupies a specific territory
Stateless nation A nation without a territory
Democracy A type of government in which the people (citizens) hold political
power either directly or through elected representatives
Monarchy A type of government in which a ruling family or royalty
(such as a king and queen) holds political power and
may or may not share power with citizen bodies.
Dictatorship A type of government in which an individual or group
holds complete political power
Communism A type of government in which nearly all political power
and means of production are held by the government.
The Political The natural boundaries of North Korea are the Pacific Ocean, the Geography of Yellow Sea, the Yalu River
the Korean Geographic factors that favor the movement of ideas and people
Peninsula between China and North Korea are that China and North Korea (Map p. 84) border each other; one has only to cross the Yalu River to reach
the other.
Local governments The three most common local units of government are cities, towns, and villages.
World Geography Ch. 4 Sec. 4
URBAN GEOGRAPHY
Urban Geography The study of how people use space in cities.
Metropolitan Area An area that includes a city, its suburbs, and exurbs all working together.
Megalopolis When several cities or metropolitan areas are all linked together.
Urbanization The growth of cities. When people move from other areas into cities. In the last two centuries more and more people have been moving into cities to find work.
Land use patterns Types of land use in cities:
in cities --Residential- Includes single family houses and apartments.
--Industrial- Areas with factories, where goods are manufactured.
--Commercial- The area where large private businesses are located; where the buying and selling of retail products takes place.
Central Business Where corporate offices and large stores are found
District (CBD) The value of land and the price of housing is highest here.
Function of cities Cities provide a central location for shopping, entertainment, cultural activities like museums, religious activities, housing, large businesses and manufacturing.
World Geography Ch. 4 Sec. 5
Economic Geography
91–95)
Economic Systems
An Economy The production and exchange of goods and services among a group of people.
Economic system Basic types of economic systems:
• Traditional Economy: Goods and services are traded. Money is not used.
• Command Economy: Production of goods and
services is decided by a central government.
The government often owns the means of
production. (Communism)
• Market Economy: Production of goods and
services is decided by private business people and the demand from consumers.
• Mixed Economy: A combination of command
and market economies. It is set up to help the economy benefit all people.
Economic Activities
Subsistence People who raise just enough food or animals to
agriculture meet the needs of their own family.
Commercial People who raise crops or animals to sell agriculture for profit to a larger group of buyers.
Commercial Sell to many people over a very large area.
industries
Family-run industries Make goods to be sold locally.
World Geography Ch. 4, Sec. 5 (cont.)
Economic levels The four levels of economic activity
• Primary Activities: involve gathering raw materials like coal or oil.
• Secondary Activities involve adding value to
materials by changing their form (Such as refining oil).
• Tertiary Activities: furnish personal or
professional services (Such as a car mechanic or a lawyer.
• Quaternary Activities: provide information,
management, and research services (Software consultant).
The Economics of Natural Resources
Natural resources Materials on or in the earth that have economic value. Natural resources are not distributed equally around the world. An important part of economic geography is knowing which resources a nation has.
Types of natural Three basic types of natural resources:
resources
• Renewable: These resources, such as trees, can be replaced through natural processes.
• Nonrenewable These resources cannot be
replaced once they have been removed from the ground—metals and fossil fuels (Coal and oil).
• Inexhaustible energy sources: These power producing resources are the result of solar or Earth processes. They include sunlight, geothermal heat, winds, and tides.
Economic Support Systems
Infrastructure The basic support system needed to keep an economy going. Includes: power and cable lines, water, and sewer systems.
Transportation: roads and highways, ports, and
airports. How accessible an area is.
Communications systems: how a country is linked internally and how it is connected to the outside world.
Technology
The education system
Measuring Economic Development
Standards used to make comparisons among economies.
Per capita income The average amount of money earned by each person in a country, in a state, or other political unit
Standard of living How good a life do people have in a given country? How is their education or healthcare?
Gross National The total value of all goods and services produced by a Product (GNP) country over a specified period of time.
Gross Domestic The value of only the goods and services produced within Product (GDP) a country in a period of time.
