Slide 1What is Geography?Slide 3Slide 4Slide 5Regional GeographyWhat is a RegionWorld RegionsTypes of RegionsFormal RegionsGlobal Rainfall & Climatic ZonesWorld EcosystemsBasque Language Region (Spain & France)Soda, Pop, or Coke?Functional RegionsSlide 16Slide 17Slide 18Perceptual RegionsSlide 20Slide 21Slide 22Regions as Dynamic EntitiesSlide 24Economic DevelopmentSocial Well-BeingDevelopment & Gender EqualityThe Triadic CoreWorld Regional GeographyWorld Regional GeographyJanuary 13, 2010January 13, 2010Reading: Marston Chapter 1 World Atlas vi-xiiWaitlisted Students:If you are still on the waitlist please leave your name, student #, recitation section, and e-mail on the yellow pad on the desk before leaving today.•The study of Earth as created by natural The study of Earth as created by natural forces and as modified by human action.forces and as modified by human action.•The interaction between humans and the The interaction between humans and the environment.environment.What is Geography?What is Geography?•Physical GeographyPhysical Geography•Examine how natural/physical forces shape the Examine how natural/physical forces shape the Earth.Earth.•What are Earth’s natural processes, and what are What are Earth’s natural processes, and what are their outcomes?their outcomes?What is Geography?What is Geography?•Physical Geographers Study Physical Geographers Study (including but not limited to):(including but not limited to):•Climate and weather patternsClimate and weather patterns•Landforms (e.g. mountains)Landforms (e.g. mountains)•Rivers and oceansRivers and oceans•SoilsSoils•Plant and animal ecologyPlant and animal ecology•Human GeographyHuman Geography•Examines the spatial organization of human Examines the spatial organization of human processes, and their relationship to the processes, and their relationship to the environment (physical and social/cultural).environment (physical and social/cultural).•How do humans organize themselves and function How do humans organize themselves and function in space? How do these patterns and process in space? How do these patterns and process affect the environment, and how does the affect the environment, and how does the environment affect them?environment affect them?What is Geography?What is Geography?•Human Geographers Study Human Geographers Study (including but not limited to):(including but not limited to):•Population and demographyPopulation and demography•Resource managementResource management•Agricultural production and food securityAgricultural production and food security•Regional/urban planningRegional/urban planning•Human and animal disease vectorsHuman and animal disease vectors•Cultural/symbolic meaning of placeCultural/symbolic meaning of place•ConflictConflictWhat is Geography?What is Geography?•Human geographers often categorize Human geographers often categorize themselves and quantitative or qualitative.themselves and quantitative or qualitative.•Combines physical and human geography.Combines physical and human geography.•How combinations of environmental and How combinations of environmental and human factors produce unique physical, human factors produce unique physical, social, and cultural landscapes.social, and cultural landscapes.•How do natural, social, economic, political, How do natural, social, economic, political, and cultural phenomena produce distinct and cultural phenomena produce distinct geographic areas?geographic areas?Regional GeographyRegional GeographyWhat is a RegionWhat is a Region•““Region” is a concept that is used to identify and Region” is a concept that is used to identify and organize areas of Earth’s surface for various organize areas of Earth’s surface for various purposes. purposes. •A region is a human construct whose boundaries A region is a human construct whose boundaries and characteristics are derived from sets of and characteristics are derived from sets of specific criteria. specific criteria. •Can vary in scale from global to local.Can vary in scale from global to local.•A region has certain characteristics that give it a A region has certain characteristics that give it a measure of cohesiveness and distinctiveness that measure of cohesiveness and distinctiveness that set it apart from other regions.set it apart from other regions.World RegionsWorld Regions““Extensive geographic divisions based on continental and Extensive geographic divisions based on continental and physiographic settings that contains major clusters of physiographic settings that contains major clusters of humankind with broadly similar cultural attributes.”humankind with broadly similar cultural attributes.”• FormalFormal• FunctionalFunctional• PerceptionalPerceptionalTypes of RegionsTypes of RegionsFormal RegionsFormal RegionsA formal region is comprised of a group of A formal region is comprised of a group of areal units that share a common areal units that share a common distinguishing feature (human or physical).distinguishing feature (human or physical).•Political entities (counties, states, countries)Political entities (counties, states, countries)•Climate/vegetation Climate/vegetation •LandformsLandforms•Language, religion, nationality, cultureLanguage, religion, nationality, culture•Specific measuresSpecific measures•Population densityPopulation density•Per capita incomePer capita income•TemperatureTemperature•RainfallRainfallGlobal Global Rainfall Rainfall & & Climatic Climatic ZonesZonesWorld EcosystemsWorld EcosystemsBasque Language Region Basque Language Region (Spain & France)(Spain & France)Soda, Pop, or Coke?Soda, Pop, or Coke?Functional RegionsFunctional RegionsA functional region is organized and defined by A functional region is organized and defined by patterns of spatial interaction or organization, patterns of spatial interaction or organization, and is often centered on a node.and is often centered on a node.•Metropolitan areasMetropolitan areas•Economic interactionEconomic interaction• TradeTrade• ProductionProduction•Transportation networks Transportation networks • Subway systemSubway system• Air travelAir travel•Communications networksCommunications networks• Newspaper readershipNewspaper readership• RadioRadioCoverage Area Map Coverage Area Map KBCO 97.3 FM – Boulder, COKBCO 97.3 FM – Boulder, COMetropolitan Statistical