Geography Maps and Earth's Grid

Map Types

• Choropleth maps use color to represent data.
• Proportional symbol maps use the size of symbols to represent data.
• Cartograms distort area to represent the size of an indicator.

Geographic Grid & Earth's Seasons

• Latitude lines (parallels) and longitude lines (meridians) form the geographic grid.
• Key latitude lines include the Equator (0°), Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N), Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S), Arctic Circle (66.5° N), and Antarctic Circle (66.5° S).
• The grid helps determine absolute location and understand the Earth's relationship with the sun, explaining temperature and daylight variations (seasons).
• The Equator divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
• The Prime Meridian divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
• Latitude lines organize the world into climate and life regions: Tropics (0-23.5° N & S), Subtropics (23.5-38° N & S), Mid-latitude (38-50° N & S), High-latitude (50-66.5° N & S), and Polar (66.5-90° N & S).
• The subsolar point is where the sun is directly overhead; it migrates between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn throughout the year.
• The angle of incidence is the angle at which the sun's rays strike the Earth's surface; it impacts temperature.

Weather, Climate & Climate Change

• Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions.
• Climate is the long-term average weather pattern.
• Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
• Atmospheric gradients in temperature, density, and pressure cause air movement (wind).
• Wind is modified by Earth's rotation, land, and water.
• Air moves vertically (convection) due to heating and horizontally due to pressure differences.

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

• The ITCZ, or thermal equator, is a dynamic zone of rising air and heavy rainfall, migrating through 47 degrees of latitude in the tropics.
• It's characterized by extensive cloud cover and heavy rainfall, supporting tropical rainforests.

Climate Types (Köppen Classification)

• A: Humid, tropical
• B: Dry
• C: Humid, temperate (mild winters)
• D: Humid, cold (severe winters)
• E: Polar
• H: Highland

Convection & Atmospheric Circulation

• Convection is the process of heat transfer through fluid motion, driven by ground surface heating.
• In the tropics, heating and evaporation cause air to rise (low pressure), creating the ITCZ.
• Air converges towards the ITCZ, replacing rising air, creating convergent winds.
• At the tropopause (top of the troposphere), air diverges (divergent winds), subsiding in the subtropics (high pressure).
• This creates Hadley cells, explaining the distribution of rainforests and deserts. Climate change is expanding the sub-tropical high pressure zones.

Indigenous and Western Knowledge of Weather and Climate

• Indigenous peoples have a rich history of weather prediction using oral traditions and observations of natural phenomena (moon phases, animals, clouds, birds, sky color).
• Western societies increasingly rely on technological tools.
• Traditional weather sayings still persist (e.g., "Red sky at night, sailor's delight").

Global Surface Winds

• Hadley cells create tropical easterlies (NE and SE trades) and westerlies.
• Polar easterlies move from the poles towards mid-latitudes.
• The Coriolis effect deflects moving air to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere.
• In mid and high latitudes, warmer air rises over colder air (frontal uplift), influencing weather patterns.
• Maritime climates (influenced by oceans) tend to be moderate, while continental interiors experience more extreme temperatures.

Climate Patterns & Climate Change

• Climate patterns are described using monthly and annual temperature and precipitation data, categorized using the Köppen classification system (A-E, with sub-categories).
• Hadley cell expansion (leading to drier conditions in subtropical high-pressure zones) and shifts in the polar front (jet stream) are significant impacts of climate change.
• Climate change is a "wicked problem," complex and multifaceted, requiring collaboration across various sectors.

Biomes & Biodiversity

• Tropical rainforests are adapted to year-round warmth and humidity.
• Temperate deciduous forests adapt to seasonal changes, losing leaves in winter.
• Human activities have significantly impacted global biomes and biodiversity.
• Biodiversity refers to the variety and abundance of species; at least 50% of land and ocean areas need protection to restore biodiversity and build resilience.
• Ecosystems depend on complex interactions; high biodiversity is key for ecosystem resilience.
• Human interaction through habitat destruction, overharvesting, pollution, and introduction of exotic species negatively affects biodiversity.

Biome Importance: Food and Materials

• Tropical rainforests provide bananas, coffee, cocoa, and rubber.
• Temperate forests provide apples, pears, nuts, wood, and other resources.
• Deserts offer dates, figs, melons, and building materials.
• Grasslands provide essential food crops for billions of people.

This quiz covers the various types of maps used in geography, including choropleth, proportional symbol, and cartograms. It also explores the geographic grid formed by latitude and longitude, key latitude lines, and their significance in understanding Earth's seasons and climate zones.