Human Geography Essay

Geography Assignment #1

Wenqing Zhao

Dec 16th 2020.

Question1:

1: Location: Location is explained as being either relative or absolute. A specific location has a specified set of both latitude and longitude based on the cartesian coordinate grid. For example, the absolute location of Vancouver with regards to the global Geodetic coordinate system is 49.250N and 123.10W, the former being the latitude while the latter is the longitude.

2: Place: This term describes an area with a boundary that has been determined with regards to outstanding features to outstanding features most of which define specific roles of the identified region in the local culture. For instance, in Vancouver, there is a street by the name Granville, an area specifically known for being an entertainment spot during the weekends.

3: Space: this term is used to describe an extended surface area or a 3-diamensional area which has been set aside for a specific purpose. For example, the UEL i the west of Vancouver is an area that has been specifically set aside for the 1st national community for the purpose of holding political events.

4: Scale: The term scale is used to describe an extent of a surface or rather a 3D area that has been set aside for a specific purpose. This type of standard measure is based on the time period together with the population based on the encapsulated human geographic research. For example, the standard figure 1:50,000 has been assigned as a scale for the standard world map.

5: Map Projection: This term describes a technique that is used to flatten the earth surface into a plane with the objective of making a map. To make this possible, it requires a systematic transformation of both the longitudes and the latitudes of the identified locations from the surface to the globe into locations on a plane. For instance, Albers Equal Area Conic is identified as as one of the many conic projections.

Question 2:

Differentiate between determinist and possibilist paradigms, and briefly indicate why there has been a shift from one to the other in human geography. 

To begin with, determinist paradigms are based on the concept of determinism where every event inclusive of human actions are assumed as being predetermined. On the other hand, possibility paradigm is based on the idea of possibilism where every individual is in a position to act based on free will. One example of determinist paradigm is the environmental determinism, a concept that is focused on the benefits of the physical environment and the role it plays in the influence on both human and physical landscapes. The latter means that individuals are in the capacity to make entirely different decisions with regards to both physical and environmental factors. With respect to environmental determinism, the characteristics of a specific culture is determined more by the conditions of the surrounding environment rather than the conditions of the social environment. For example, the North American region experiences a seasonal climate, one that allows individuals living in this region to alter their attires based on seasons. On the other hand, individuals living in regions with tropical climates end up wearing the same attires throughout the year because the climate is constant in such regions. According to linguistic determinism, language is the main factor that determines the difference in the way people think, act, say, or know. The hypothesis by Sapir-Whorf points out that people have different experiences of the world owing to their differences in grammatical structures that they often use. Furthermore, genetic determinism is based on the concept that, the existence of variance in the genetic nature of human beings plays a major role in the uniqueness of the behavior, desires, and beliefs of every person. Similarly, the nature of a person can be predicted base d on their genetic sequence that has been inherited from their forefathers. Therefore, determinists have come to a conclusion that the cause-and-effect relationship enables individuals to predict the behavior and mindsets of other individuals for different causes or reasons. Lastly, possibilism is considered t be a cultural landscape which emphasizes on complete exclusion of factors related to the physical environment in all human matters, an idea that depict the ideal that almost every decision-making aspect is basically contributed by a person’s choices, one that afterward creates a wide range of possible outcomes. Owing to this, every person has the power to make their own decisions or choices with regards to their social, physical, mental, and preferred choices. Noteworthy, every choice that is made by a person is a reflection of their state of mind and should barely, if not, be influenced by the existing external factors.

Question 3:

A: Environmental or Physical Determinism: “Man is a product of the earth’s surface. This means not merely that he is a child of the earth…but that the earth has mothered him, fed him, set him tasks, confronted him with difficulties…and at the same time whispered hints for their solution.”

The physical or environmental determinism is based on the idea that the current existing race of human’s dependent upon eh external elements. This approach suggests that the human nature is predetermined by the surface of the earth. It means that the external environment exhibits primary control over humanity because decisions made by humans are determined by the external environment.

B: Possibilism: “Even though the desert region does not naturally produce enough water for humans and domesticated livestock, people have used technology and created ways to pipe water to dry areas.”

Possibilism paves way for unexpected advances including new findings all which are structured to promote the well-being of the huma race and to help the human race to effectively deal with the day-to-day problems most of which are brough about by the mental, social, and physical constraints. For instance, communities living in desert regions have problems accessing water. However, they have found solutions for this problem through innovation and the use of existing technology.

C: Cultural Landscape: “ Under the influence of a given culture, itself changing through time, the landscape undergoes development, passing through phases and probably reaching ultimately the end of its cycle of development.”

The term culture described a set of behaviors and ideas that often transform with both time and landscape. Noteworthy, there are ups ad downs throughout the course of a specific culture prior to the prevalence of a new culture. Owing to the latter statement, cultures assume different phases at different points in time as a result creating a representation of different points of timeframe and cultural landscape throughout its development.

D: Cognitive Behaviorism: “The map she drew me provided directions between her school and home, and it was clear from the buildings she drew which stores where the most interesting to her.”

Through cognitive behaviorism, individuals are able to recognize and remember things that seem to be not only noticeable, but appealing to their senses. Based on the statement above, the map was designed with regards to an individual’s cognitive memory rather than basing it on a standardized road signs or directions.

Question 4:

Could geography exist as a discipline without maps? Why or why not? 

Based on my opinion, I do not think that geography could exist as a discipline without the existence of maps. This is owed to the fact that geography is made up of a wide range of knowledge that is based on concrete scientific proofs and philosophical theories. For instance, the classical human geography is based on free will and determinism while on the other hand, the contemporary human geography is based on humanism, empiricism, and positivism. Some of the existing philosophical options including free will and determinism have already established a groundwork, one that can be used to carry out mapping and exploration of the physical landscapes.

Noteworthy, the application of various geographical approaches pave way for geographers to create a comparison and contrast based on the results obtained from different approaches and outcomes. Owing to this, they all came to a rather precise and accurate conclusion based on the different cultural landscapes in different regions across the globe. The latter statement suggests that different ideas and practices come forth and different with regards to different geographical positions that exist across the world. Owing to the existence of globalization, the relative mobility of individuals has increased in an unprecedented rate eventually leading to assimilation and cultural exchange among different people from different backgrounds.

Question Five

On the Prince George image, identify the following features:

1. Lumber yard: It has an elongated shape. Also, there is a cylindrical lining up in a smooth pattern, one that appears like logs along the railway track.

2. Track: From the image, there appears to be cargo containers on both sides of the railway. These containers are comparable to tracks for the railway station.

3. Soccer fields: The soccer field appears in a rectangle shape. As observed from the satellite image, the soccer field appears to be filled with green grass.

4. Industrial area: From the image, the industrial area appears to be three times larger than the normal residential structures. Some of these buildings appear to be L-shaped and others appear to have been painted with white color.

5. Flood zone: The flood zone seems to have a dark color, a part that represent the river overflowing over the vegetation. However, other parts seem to be elevated higher because they are in the middle of the flood zone.

6. Shopping plaza: The building is located amidst the residential area and have a lot cars parking around it, resembling the customers’ parkade for the shopping plaza.

7. Golf course: The contour of the golf field is obvious with numerous golf hole areas located throughout the entire golf course.

8. City park: It is a piece of land resembling a mini forest located strategically in the midst of the residential areas and close to the school and shopping plaza.

9. Greenbelt: It is a piece of untouched land surrounding the urban areas with no buildings on it, sometimes resembling a belt encircle the city.

10. Tennis courts: It is usually next to the soccer field with a piece of long, grey net in the mid of the field, resembling the tennis net.