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1.2 Course Introduction

GS100 course introduction

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25 views

1.2 Course Introduction

GS100 course introduction

Uploaded by

haroldtoa25
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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GS100

Geography Techniques
and Methods

Lecture 1.2
Geography

• We study Geography to gain a better


understanding of the world in which we live

• The discipline of Geography is used in this


course as a medium to develop your
quantitative and qualitative reasoning skills
Quantitative and Qualitative
Skills
• Quantitative skills are objective and comprised of numerical,
measurable data.
– Quantitative data analytics rely on mathematical and
statistical research methods and can be used to measure
long-term trends
– With quantitative data analysis skills, you'll be able to
understand and interpret data and findings
• Qualitative skills are subjective and based on observation and
interpretation.
– Qualitative analysis might focus on compiling and
interpreting information to draw conclusions
The Field of Geography
• Physical Geography (processes and patterns
in the natural environment like the
atmosphere etc)
• Human Geography (study of people and their
communities, cultures, economies and
interactions with the environment)
• Geographic Techniques & Methods
(quantitative and qualitative techniques and
methods)
Physical Geography
• Examines the natural • Meteorology,
processes occurring at the • Climatology,
Earth’s surface that • Geology,
provides the physical • Geomorphology
setting for human (landforms),
activities • Volcanism,
• Plate Tectonics,
• Ecology,
• Biogeography
• Environmental Studies
Human Geography
• Human processes
on the Earth’s
surface
that differentiates
places
in space and time
Geography Techniques
& Methods
Important tools for studying the 2 fields of Geography

• Field Data Collection and Sampling


• Mapping Techniques
• Cartography
• Remote Sensing
• Geographic Information System (GIS)
• Applied Statistical Techniques
• Qualitative research techniques
Geography?
• At a fundamental level, Geography is a spatial
science
• It is concerned with space, location and place
• Every science, every earthly phenomenon you
can think of from a physical and a human
standpoint, is concerned with space, location
and place
Space
• Space is the physical area that something
occupies
• For example, we are all occupying the physical
space defined by the walls of our classroom
• In this course, we will measure horizontal and
vertical space in terms of map scale, distance,
area and elevation
Location
Location is defined in two ways:

• absolute location defined by using a set of


coordinates to describe where something is
located exactly on the surface of the Earth
• relative location where you describe the
location of one place in relationship to
another (for example, Tonga is 450 km
southeast of Fiji)
• Relative Location
- a place in relation to
another

• Absolute location
- use geographic
coordinate system
- 18 S 178 E
Spatial Distribution
Geographers study the spatial distribution of
phenomenon on the Earth
• Why is something located where it is?
• What is the spatial pattern of a phenomenon
at a location?
• What is the time element associated with a
spatial phenomenon?
Why is something located where it
is?
For example:

• why are tropical rainforests located where


they are and why not in other locations?
• why do migrants move to certain cities or
neighborhoods in great numbers but not to
others?
What is the spatial pattern of a
phenomenon at a location?

Example:

• what explains clusters of violent crime in


certain neighborhoods?
• what accounts for this pattern?
What is the time element associated
with a spatial phenomenon?

For example

• Have tropical rainforests always been located


where they are today?
• If not, where did they used to be located and
why?
Geography as a temporal science
Geographers study the movement of
phenomenon between places.

Examples:
• the migration of people, cultures, languages,
religions, animals and plants from one
location to another
• the movement of tectonic plates and glaciers
over time
Geography and environment
Geographers study:

• the interaction between humans and their


environment
• what is the past, present and future impact humans
have on the Earth

Examples:

• impact that humans have on the tropical rainforests


• impact that the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide
or the pollution of the oceans
Activities 1 & 2

* Unit conversions
- distances, area, weight, speed,
angles
* Cartesian Coordinate systems (flat
earth) – appropriate system for
measuring and calculating
* Significant figures
* Accuracy & Precision

• You will need a calculator and protractor!

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