WGU D199:
INTRODUCTIO
N TO PHYSICAL
AND HUMAN
GEOGRAPHY –
COMPLETE
SUMMARY &
TEST BANK
, PART ONE: COMPLETE COURSE SUMMARY
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY
Lesson 1: Messages of Visual Representation
What are maps used for?
Show an area larger than a person can see
Present information concisely, especially features of most interest to the user
Demonstrate spatial relationships
Show things people cannot see directly (minerals below ground, daily temperatures)
Types of Maps
Map Type Description Purpose
Reference Stores data and shows a variety of
General storehouse of information
Map features/various uses
Thematic Focuses user's attention on specific
Highlights specific themes
Map features or characteristics
Literal
Shows actual things and places Navigational and educational use
Map
Figurative Shows conceptual or imagined
Theoretical or artistic representation
Map places
Analytical Mapping
Used to explore the role of location and space to answer questions
Example: Dr. John Snow's cholera outbreak map (1854 London)
, Geographic Information Science (GIS)
Use of computers in mapping
Excels at bringing together many layers of data for a location
Allows investigators to store, manipulate, and analyze data on a large variety of
phenomena
Map Scale & Projections
Term Definition
How map units relate to real-world units; shows proportion of distance
Map Scale
on map to corresponding distance on ground
Representative Scale shown as a ratio (numerator always 1); denominator represents
Fraction how much greater distance is in the world
Projections Methods and challenges of turning a 3D Earth into a 2D map
Grid pattern specifying positions on the globe with latitude/longitude
Graticule
coordinates
Types of Map Projections
Projection What It
What It Preserves Best Used For
Type Distorts
Navigation, topography,
Conformal Shape and angle Area
weather maps
Size of areas in true Comparing density
Equal Area Shape
proportion (refugees, cropland)
, Projection What It
What It Preserves Best Used For
Type Distorts
Equidistant Distance Size and shape Measuring true distances
Some of
Compromise Blends characteristics General reference maps
everything
Geographic Coordinate System
Term Definition
Imaginary north/south line (runs east to west), divides Earth into N/S
Latitude
hemispheres
Equator 0° latitude; divides Earth into equal N/S hemispheres
Imaginary east/west line (runs north to south), divides Earth into E/W
Longitude
hemispheres
Prime Meridian 0° longitude; passes through Greenwich, UK
International Date
180° longitude; halfway around world from Prime Meridian
Line
Lesson 2: Purposes and Significance of Visual Representations
Data Visualization Types
INTRODUCTIO
N TO PHYSICAL
AND HUMAN
GEOGRAPHY –
COMPLETE
SUMMARY &
TEST BANK
, PART ONE: COMPLETE COURSE SUMMARY
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY
Lesson 1: Messages of Visual Representation
What are maps used for?
Show an area larger than a person can see
Present information concisely, especially features of most interest to the user
Demonstrate spatial relationships
Show things people cannot see directly (minerals below ground, daily temperatures)
Types of Maps
Map Type Description Purpose
Reference Stores data and shows a variety of
General storehouse of information
Map features/various uses
Thematic Focuses user's attention on specific
Highlights specific themes
Map features or characteristics
Literal
Shows actual things and places Navigational and educational use
Map
Figurative Shows conceptual or imagined
Theoretical or artistic representation
Map places
Analytical Mapping
Used to explore the role of location and space to answer questions
Example: Dr. John Snow's cholera outbreak map (1854 London)
, Geographic Information Science (GIS)
Use of computers in mapping
Excels at bringing together many layers of data for a location
Allows investigators to store, manipulate, and analyze data on a large variety of
phenomena
Map Scale & Projections
Term Definition
How map units relate to real-world units; shows proportion of distance
Map Scale
on map to corresponding distance on ground
Representative Scale shown as a ratio (numerator always 1); denominator represents
Fraction how much greater distance is in the world
Projections Methods and challenges of turning a 3D Earth into a 2D map
Grid pattern specifying positions on the globe with latitude/longitude
Graticule
coordinates
Types of Map Projections
Projection What It
What It Preserves Best Used For
Type Distorts
Navigation, topography,
Conformal Shape and angle Area
weather maps
Size of areas in true Comparing density
Equal Area Shape
proportion (refugees, cropland)
, Projection What It
What It Preserves Best Used For
Type Distorts
Equidistant Distance Size and shape Measuring true distances
Some of
Compromise Blends characteristics General reference maps
everything
Geographic Coordinate System
Term Definition
Imaginary north/south line (runs east to west), divides Earth into N/S
Latitude
hemispheres
Equator 0° latitude; divides Earth into equal N/S hemispheres
Imaginary east/west line (runs north to south), divides Earth into E/W
Longitude
hemispheres
Prime Meridian 0° longitude; passes through Greenwich, UK
International Date
180° longitude; halfway around world from Prime Meridian
Line
Lesson 2: Purposes and Significance of Visual Representations
Data Visualization Types
