Lab 1_ Observation of the Natural Environment

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Pikes Peak Community College *

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101

Subject

Geography

Date

Apr 3, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by CoachThunder13882

Lab 1: Observation of the Natural Environment Learning Objectives ● Become familiar with local geography ● Create a field sketch (hand-drawn map) ● Identify local characteristics of earth’s four spheres, including anthropogenic impacts. Introduction In this introductory geography lab, you will become familiar with the local geography and begin to think like a geographer. Part of thinking like a geographer is observing the natural environment and being able to draw bigger concepts or ideas based on what you see. Begin by visiting a site or using an image from a recently visited location. From this location, you will create a field sketch (a bird’s-eye view map) of the area and take note of the characteristics of the earth’s four spheres you notice, including any anthropogenic (human) impacts. Parts A and B are mostly field-based, whereas Parts C and D are office- based. This lab includes four exercises (A-D) that result in an assignment to be submitted as a single report. Please follow the instructions included below. The entire lab will take approximately 1-2 hours to complete. Creating a Lab Report Open a Word document on your computer and create a title page for your lab report that includes the title of this lab assignment, your name, lab section, and date. Each section (Parts A, B, C, and D) of this lab should be labeled as its own section. ● Title Page ● Part A: Field Sketch ○ Figure 1.1. The frame of your field sketch. Insert the photo as a picture and add a rectangle to indicate the boundary of your field sketch ○ Figure 1.2. Field sketch (map). Insert the photo of your field sketch. ○ Figure 1.3. Documentation of fieldwork. Insert your selfie. ● Part B: Earth’s Spheres ○ Table 1.1 ● Part C: Systematic Change ● Part D: Reflection Questions

Instructions Part A: Field Sketch Step 1: Select Your Location Start by opening Google Maps on your phone or computer. Zoom into the area you will be viewing in the field. Examples of viewpoints (overlooks) include a hillside, bridge, or tall building. ● Option 1: Select a photo of a viewpoint location that you have recently visited. ● Option 2: Identify a safe and easily accessible place where you can view the landscape from above to make and record your observations. Step 2: Orient Your Map Once you have your chosen viewpoint, you will need to orient your map to your location. Open the map of your phone or use a printed map. ● Find your location on the map. Zoom in or out to view the map at a scale that reflects what you can see in the landscape. ● Find features on the map that are evident in the surrounding terrain. ● Turn your map (phone) so that the features in front of your view match the features of your map. ● Assuming north is at the top of your map, determine where north is relative to the direction you are facing. Step 3: Frame your field sketch You may be new to the area, or you have lived here your entire life; regardless, you can build your geographic literacy by being able to name and describe the natural and built features of the landscape. Find a suitable viewpoint and spend a moment observing the landscape. Decide on an area that is appropriate to capture in your sketch. It may be a valley bottom with a river running through it, or you can narrow in on a smaller area, such as your neighborhood. The sketch will be from above, a bird’s eye view or a map view. Photograph the landscape from your position. With annotation , this photograph will become Figure 1.1 in your lab report. Provide a descriptive caption.

(Example) Figure 1.1. Looking south over Castlegar Valley from Brilliant Terraces. The area for the sketch map is identified with a rectangle. Step 4: Create your Field Sketch Sketch a map of the area you identified. You do not need to be an artist to complete a field sketch. The best maps are simple with clearly defined lines. Photograph your sketch map before leaving the field. The following are important elements to consider as you draw your map. ● Clearly define the boundaries or edges of your map . Mountains, watersheds, shorelines, roads, and railways tend to define our vision and are commonly used as edges. The scale of a sketch is determined by the objects in view and the amount of detail required to be shown. Determine how much area you want to draw. From the viewpoint, the area in the rectangle in Figure 1.1. was selected for the sketch map. ● Identify pathways or routes that dissect your selected area , such as roads, trails, rivers, streams, and power lines. We generally experience our surroundings as we move along these routes. Show the direction of travel of rivers with an arrow. ● Identify any significant junction points where important pathways come together . The confluence (meeting) of two streams, the intersection of two roads. ● Identify polygons or districts. These are small areas with a common feature, such as urban areas, single-family housing, parks, open fields, changes in vegetation type (from leaf-bearing/deciduous to needle-bearing/coniferous), etc. ● Identify any significant landmarks that are distinctive because of their height, shape, or historical significance. An example might be a well-known mountain peak, a waterfall, a statue, a mall. (Lynch,1960) ● On your map, you must also include ○ title/location, ○ date, ○ your name, ○ legend (symbols that indicate vegetation type, mountains, urban areas), ○ north arrow, and

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