1. Core Concepts Part 1: Tools of Geography

2. Core Concepts 1.1 The Study of Earth
Geography: Study of human and nonhuman features of Earth, our home
Geographers try to answer two basic questions: Where are things located and what are they there?

3. Directions
In order to study Earth, geographers need to measure it and locate points on its surface
Geographers use cardinal directions and intermediate directions
The cardinal directions are north, east, south, and west
Intermediate directions are between the cardinal directions: Southwest and Northeast

4. Latitude
Earth is almost a perfect sphere, which is a round-shaped body
Geographers use imaginary lines around Earth to help locate places on the surface
The Equator is an imaginary line drawn around Earth between the north and south poles
The Equator is at the 0 degree latitude line
Latitude: Distance north and south of the equator
Degrees: Units that measure angles

5. Lines of latitude form east-west circles around the globe
They are also called parallels, because they never cross each other
The equator divides Earth in half
Hemisphere: Each half of Earth
The half of Earth north of the equator is known as the Northern Hemisphere while the half of Earth south of the Equator is the Southern Hemisphere

6. Longitude
The Prime Meridian runs north and south between the North and South poles
Prime Meridian and other north-south lines measure longitude, which is the distance in degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian
The half of Earth east of the Prime Meridian is known as the Eastern Hemisphere while the half of Earth west of the Prime Meridian is the Western Hemisphere

7. Core Concepts 1.2 Geography’s Five Themes
Geographers use five different themes, or ways of thinking: Location, Place, Human-Environment Interaction, Region, and Movement

8. Location
Geographers begin to study a place by finding where it is, or its location
Absolute location: Describes a place’s exact position on Earth and in terms of longitude and latitude
Relative location: Location of a place relative to another place

9. Place
Place: Refers to the mix of human and nonhuman features at a given location

10. Region
Geographers use region to group places that have something in common
Region: An area with at least one unifying physical or human feature such as climate, landforms, population, or history

11. Movement
Movement: Explores how people, goods, and ideas get from one place to another

12. Human-Environment Interaction
Human-Environment Interaction: Considers how people affect their environment, or their natural surroundings, and how the environment affects them

13. Core Concepts 1.3 Ways to Show Earth’s Surface

14. Geographers Use Multiple Ways to Represent Earth’s Surface
Globes
Model of Earth with the same round shape
Can show continents and oceans, much as they really are
The scale is the only thing different
Cannot show many towns and streets
Photographs
Aerial Photographs: Photographic images of Earth’s surface taken from the air
Satellite Images: Pictures of Earth’s surface taken from a satellite in orbit
Show Earth in great detail
Still hard to show specific features like roads

15. Geographic Information Systems
GIS: Computer-based systems that store and use information linked to geographic locations
Useful to mapmakers and geographers, along with government agencies and businesses
Map Projections
Flat maps and photos are flat, Earth is round
Showing Earth on a flat surface always brings distortion, which is the loss of accuracy in the size or position of objects on a map
Projections: Ways to map Earth on a flat surface

16. Examples of Different Projections
Equal-Area Projection: Shows the correct size of landmasses but the shapes are distorted
Robinson Projection: Shows nearly the correct size and shape of most land areas, but the edges have distortions
Mercator Projection: Shows correct shape and directions, but not true distance or size

17. Core Concepts 1.4 Understanding Maps
Maps show many different kinds of information
A map’s key, compass rose, locator map, and scale bar are all vital in reading a map

18. Parts of Map Key: Explains the symbols and shading on a map
Compass Rose: Shows directions
Scale Bar: How much space on the map represents a give distance on the land
Locator Map: Shows a larger area than the main map. It shows where the area on the map is located within this larger area

19. Check Yourself…!
Look at and study the highway map of Colorado on page 11 and then answer the following questions…..
About how many miles is it from Grand Junction to Denver?
It is about miles!
Which interstate highway connects Denver and Fort Collins?
Interstate Highway 25 connects them!

20. Core Concepts 1.5 Types of Maps
There are three main types of maps:
Physical Maps
Political Maps
Special-Purpose Maps

21. Types of maps Physical Maps: Show physical, or natural, features
Political Maps: Show political units, such as countries or states
Special-Purpose Maps: Show the location or distribution of human or physical features
Types of maps