functional region definition geography

What happens to the defining characteristic as it moves outwards? Fig. An example of a formal region includes the borders of the US. The major forms of study within physical geography include the following: Some physical geographers study the earths place in the solar system. From these lines, the systems of longitude and latitude are formed, allowing you to locate yourself anywhere on the planet. You may notice that you have left the functional region of a cell phone tower if you no longer have any phone service. In this diagram, 75 W is the central meridian for the eastern standard time zone in the United States. Will you pass the quiz? Learn about the tools geographers use to study the earths surface. WebA nodal region refers to a subgroup (tree) of nodes polarized by an independent node (whose largest flow link connects a smaller node) and a number of subordinate nodes (whose largest flow link connects a larger node). The most obvious example is that of a city. It breaks areas of the globe down into smaller chunks with more defined and similar traits. The are surrounding the central node can be considered its sphere of influence. Physical geography involves all the planets physical systems. A regionis an area of land that has common features. This is also true of ports and harbors as employment centers. Spatial studies can play an important role in regional geography. Just as you were taught in geometry that there are 360 degrees in a circle or a sphere, the earth also has 360 degrees, and they are measured using a grid pattern called the graticule. All meridians (lines of longitude) east of the prime meridian (0 and 180) are numbered from 1 to 180 degrees east (E); the lines west of the prime meridian (0 and 180) are numbered from 1 to 180 degrees west (W). For example, a trade route, transportation hub, or a shopping center would all be considered functional regions. GIS also focuses on storing information about the earth (both cultural and natural) in computer databases that can be retrieved and displayed in the form of specialized maps for specific purposes or analyses. For instance, a bus depot might be created at the central hub of a transportation network, and more bus routes, stops, and supporting facilities will crop up around/spread out from the initial depot. The characteristic that is chosen to define a functional region. The one necessity to be considered a functional region is that an area must contain a central node around which the function is centered or focused. The influence weakens as distance increases, through distance decay. The earth is tilted on its axis 23.5 degrees. Cultural regions, such as language regions or dialect areas, which are defined by shared cultural characteristics such as language or customs. These regions reside in our "mental maps.". Areas containing a kind of service, such as cable television, or points on a map that are a terminal for an activity, such as travel or communication via telephone can also be named as functional regions. 4.2 United States: Early Development and Globalization, 4.3 United States: Population and Religion, 4.5 Regions of the United States and Canada, 8.3 North Africa and the African Transition Zone, 11.3 The Insular Region (Islands of Southeast Asia). WebGeographers usually use functional regions to display economic areas (i.e. It is a useful tool for understanding the unique characteristics and patterns of a specific region and for identifying opportunities and challenges in that region. The discipline of geography can be broken down into two main areas of focus: physical geography and human geography. Generally, formal regions have a central node that acts as the center of gravity. Other than a central node and a function, there are not any defining characteristics. Kentucky is not as large in physical area as the western states but is larger in physical area than many of the eastern states. Human geography is the study of human activity and its relationship to the earths surface. Likewise, between Canada and the United States, a major part of the eastern border is along the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. What are their lives like? Their boundaries vary with the type of region, whether it is formal, functional, or vernacular; each type has its own meaning and defined purpose. The attribute is often based in the center of the region as a type of focal point. For instance, Boston has a wide metropolitan area. Geography involves studies that are much broader than simply understanding the shape of the earths landforms. Formal regions are well-defined and established, functional regions are the areas of activity surrounding a node, and perceptual regions are ill-defined regions that are not based on geographic reality but are based on perceptions. Have a question? Unlike formal regions, functional regions do not have to be well-defined. WebA functional region consists of the area surrounding a central node where the function happens. A harbor can be thought of as the central hub of a coastal region. GIS programs are used in a wide range of applications, from determining the habitat range of a particular species of bird to mapping the hometowns of university students. Other countries address the problem differently. The continental United States has four main time zones (see Table 1.1 Four Main Time Zones in the Continental United States and Their Central Meridians and Figure 1.7 Major Time Zones of the World). They help us understand and organize the arrangements of people, places, and environments. 4th Grade. WebGeographers usually use functional regions to display economic areas (i.e. This central hub or focal point is frequently what defines the nature of the functional region, with other buildings and locations popping up in association with the central hub. Vernacular regions often have a strong sense of regional identity and may be marked by distinctive cultural traditions, customs, and ways of life. If it is 4 p.m. in San Francisco, what time is it in London, England? What dominates a functional region at a central focus? It can include both the physical characteristics of a place, such as its topography, climate, and natural resources, as well as the cultural, social, and economic factors that shape and are shaped by its location. School districts are examples of functional regions because they are regions designed for a function surrounding a node. The colors, sizes, and shapes of the cultural landscape usually symbolize some level of significance regarding societal norms. For example, the circulation area for a major city area is the functional region of that paper. For example, the circulation area for a major city area is the functional region of that paper. The Arctic Circle is a line of latitude at 66.5 degrees north. Regional geography is an important branch of geography as a whole. Political regions, such as countries, states, and provinces, which are defined by administrative boundaries, Statistical regions, such as census tracts, which are defined by specific demographic or economic data, Climatic regions, such as the Kppen climate classification system, which are defined by temperature and precipitation patterns, Vegetation regions, such as ecoregions, which are defined by the type and distribution of plant life. The access to a road network is also important for transporting materials and equipment to the site. Also, in the United States, the terms Midwest or South have many variations. The are surrounding the central node can be considered its sphere of influence. Physical geography focuses on geography as a form of earth science. A vernacular region, also known as a perceptual region or a folk region, is a geographical area that is defined by the common perceptions, experiences, and cultural identity of the people who live within the region. Show All. The attribute is often based in the center of the region as a type of focal point. This ill-defined region does not exist in actuality, but instead is based on myth. If the newspaper goes bankrupt, the functional region no longer exists. GPS units are standard equipment for many transportation systems and have found their way into products such as cell phones, handheld computers, fish finders, and other mobile equipment. The state of Kentucky can be used as a comparison guide for understanding other formal political regions around the world. Natural physical geographic features have a huge influence on where political boundaries of formal regions are set. Fig. What happens to the defining characteristic as it moves outwards? During the Northern Hemispheres summer, the North Pole faces more toward the sun and may receive sunlight for longer portions of the twenty-four-hour day. A GPS unit can receive signals from orbiting satellites and calculate an exact location in latitude and longitude, which is helpful for determining where one is located on the earth or for verifying a point on a map. A grid system called the graticule divides the earth by lines of latitude and longitude that allow for the identification of absolute location on the earths surface through geometric coordinates measured in degrees. Youre now ready to go on and explore the rest of the course! For instance, the local bank branches act as the central hub of that subregion, even though they are part of a larger functional region that includes the entire banking company. What is a functional region in human geography? Cultural forces unique to a given placesuch as religion, language, ethnicity, customs, or heritageinfluence the cultural landscape of that place at a given time. It tends to emphasize the main physical parts of the earththe lithosphere (surface layer), the atmosphere (air), the hydrosphere (water), and the biosphere (living organisms)and the relationships between these parts. Functional regions is important tool for human geographers to analyze human interactions with their surrounding environment. This Show All. The function in the functional region can be commercial, social, political, or something else. A functional region in human geography is a region that includes a node and the surrounding area of activity for a related function. What is the central node of a school district? This might mean that that the region must be redrawn from time to time as the demographics change. It is important to know the difference between the various types of regions because this is a common topic on the AP Human Geography exam. Realms are large areas of the planet, usually with multiple regions, that share the same general geographic location. A functional region is distinguished by a centralized hub with surrounding areas and structures that relate to a common activity. What do they do for a living? He aims to create content that educates, persuades, entertains and inspires. Additionally, there is a functional region surrounding a fire station in which the firefighters will be responsible for preventing fires. A functional region is a geographical area that is defined by the flow of goods, services, information, or other resources between the places within the region. Vernacular regions: These include perceived regions, such as "The South," "The Midwest," or the "Middle East"; they have no formal boundaries but are understood in mental maps of the How does the discipline of geography provide a bridge between the social sciences and the physical sciences? The focal point of the functional region is where the greatest amount of activity in the region will occur, falling off as one increases in distance from the focal point. The Eastern Hemisphere includes the continents of Europe, Asia, and Australia, while the Western Hemisphere includes North and South America. During winter, the North Pole is away from the sun and does not receive much sunlight. For example, if it is noon in London, then it is 7 a.m. in New York. He devised one of the first systems of longitude and latitude and calculated the earths circumference. Geographers use the regional unit to map features of particular interest, and data can be compared between regions to help understand trends, identify patterns, or assist in explaining a particular phenomenon. Fig. The situation of a small village might be in a remote, mountainous region with limited access to transportation and few natural resources. The surrounding area influenced by this central location is the functional region. Metropolitan areas in the US have extensive urban sprawl. Human geographers examine the spatial distribution of human populations, religions, languages, ethnicities, political systems, economics, urban dynamics, and other components of human activity. A functional region in geography is an area centered on a node, focal point, or central hub surrounded by interconnecting linkages. Some of the criteria a governmental entity might use to create a formal region include nationality, common languages, political affiliation, religion, culture, and geographical features. Physical characteristics of an area are frequently used to create formal regions, with natural boundaries like canyons, lakes, mountains, and rivers being used as a basis for a regions boundaries. Cartography is the art and science of making maps, which illustrate data in a spatial form and are invaluable in understanding what is going on at a given place at a given time. While geographic features can serve as convenient formal borders, political disputes will often flare up in adjacent areas, particularly if valuable natural or cultural resources are found within the geographic features. On the other hand, the village's situation in a mountainous region might also offer opportunities for tourism and outdoor recreation. Solstices are the extreme ends of the seasons, when the line of direct sunlight is either the farthest north or the farthest south that it ever goes. WebPhysical geography is the spatial study of natural phenomena that make up the environment, such as rivers, mountains, landforms, weather, climate, soils, plants, and any other physical aspects of the earths surface. Also know as Uniform, Nodal, and Vernacular regions! Geography also examines the relationships between and the processes of humans and their physical and cultural environments. The non-English portion is in Hungarian because of the European participants in the race. The different schools and the school district will serve children from the surrounding neighborhoods, based on factors like population and geographical location. The twenty-four times zones are based on the prime meridian in regard to Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), or Zulu Time (Z), which all operate on the twenty-four-hour time clock. Examples of perceptual regions include the Northeast, SoCal and NorCal in California, and the Midwest. A functional region is made up of a specific location and area surrounding it. WebPhysical geography is the spatial study of natural phenomena that make up the environment, such as rivers, mountains, landforms, weather, climate, soils, plants, and any other physical aspects of the earths surface. Sign up to highlight and take notes. Determine the basic geographic realms and their locations. 4th Grade. They use computer programs to take raw data to develop the information these organizations need for making vital decisions. While cartography continues to be an extremely important part of geography, geographers also look at spatial (space) and temporal (time) relationships between many types of data, including physical landscape types, economies, and human activity. WebRegions are human creations used to manage and interpret the complexity of Earths surface. Figure 1.2 Illustration of Layers in a GIS Process. When identifying a region or location on the earth, the first step is to understand its relative and absolute locations. The natural forces of erosion, weather, tectonic plate action, and water have formed the earths physical features. Formal regions may be easier or harder to define depending on the criteria chosen. of the users don't pass the Functional Regions quiz! Meanwhile, perceptual regions are regions that are based around cultural factors and attributes. 2 - Burgess' Concentric City Model features the activities of a city surrounding the Central Business District in a pattern of concentric rings. GIS specialists often create and analyze geographical information for government agencies or private businesses. The primary node in a functional region features surrounding areas with common social, political, or economic purposes that relate to trade, communications, or transportation. Understand the spatial nature of geography and how each place or region is examined, analyzed, and compared with other places or regions. The function in the functional region can be commercial, social, political, or something else. The 0 and 180 lines do not have a letter attached to them. The school is the node and the district around the school is the functional region. The GIS computer program can sort or analyze layers of data to illustrate a specific feature or activity. When it is winter in the north, it is summer in the south. Stop procrastinating with our study reminders. The other lines of latitude are numbered from 0 to 90 degrees going toward each of the poles. All Rights Reserved. As it rotates around the sun, the tilt of the earths axis provides different climatic seasons because of the variations in the angle of direct sunlight on the planet. This information is transmitted from cell phone towers. They exist because it is functional for them to be there. Unlike a formal region, which is defined by a specific characteristic that is uniform across the region, a functional region is defined by the relationships and connections between the places within the region. A formal region has a governmental, administrative, or political boundary and can have political as well as geographic boundaries that are not open to dispute or debate. Formal regions are usually well-defined and established. Formal regions are often based on physical or cultural features that are easily identifiable and can be clearly defined. Students interested in a career in geography would be well served to learn geospatial techniques and gain skills and experience in GIS and remote sensing, as they are the areas within geography where employment opportunities have grown the most over the past few decades. Upload unlimited documents and save them online. A number of alterations have been made to the International Date Line to accommodate political agreements to include an island or country on one side of the line or another. The concept of a functional region is often used in economic and transportation planning, as well as in the study of social and cultural phenomena. Also know as Uniform, Nodal, and Vernacular regions! The rural peripheral regions of the state are home to agriculture and mining. New York City - named after the Duke of York, who later became King James II of England, Mount Everest - named after Sir George Everest, the British Surveyor General of India, Rio de Janeiro - Portuguese for "River of January," named by Portuguese explorers who discovered the bay on New Year's Day in 1502, Tokyo - derived from the Japanese words "t" (meaning "east") and "ky" (meaning "capital"), Istanbul - formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, named after Emperor Constantine the Great, Afghanistan - derived from the Sanskrit word "avagna," meaning "land of the Afghans". They can be the names of countries, states, cities, streets, and other geographical locations. A functional region is made up of a specific location and area surrounding it. The site of a factory or other industrial facility might be influenced by its proximity to raw materials, transportation, and labor. Functional regions are one of the three types of regions in human geography (the others being formal and perceptual regions ). These technologies provide the means to examine and analyze changes on the earths surface caused by natural or human forces. Physical regions can be included within formal boundaries, such as the Rocky Mountains or New England. Fig. WebA functional region is an area organized around a central hub or focal point. Figure 1.8 Diagram Illustrating the Width of a Time Zone. North of the Arctic Circle, the sun is above the horizon for twenty-four continuous hours at least once per year and below the horizon for twenty-four continuous hours at least once per year. Time zones are established roughly every 15 degrees longitude so that local times correspond to similar hours of day and night. Regions, large or small, are the basic units of geography. The Tropic of Capricorn is the parallel at 23.5 degrees south of the equator and is the most southerly location on Earth, receiving direct sunlight during the Southern Hemispheres summer. Functional regions are important to geographers because they involve specific areas of human activity. The equator divides the earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and is called 0 degrees latitude. An example of a perpetual/vernacular region includes the Bermuda Triangle. GIS specialists require knowledge about computer and database systems. The village might be isolated from major urban centers and have a limited economy based on subsistence farming and forestry. Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes. Are numbered from 0 to 90 degrees going toward each of the landscape. Also offer opportunities for tourism and outdoor recreation and explore the rest of the area a! 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A type of focal point village might be isolated from major urban centers and have a letter to. Ports and harbors as employment centers fire station in which the firefighters will responsible... Also offer opportunities for tourism and outdoor recreation the site of a Zone! Human activity and its relationship to the site may be easier or harder to define a region. Might also offer opportunities for tourism and outdoor recreation relate to a road is! Analyze geographical information for government agencies or private businesses Rocky Mountains or New England considered its of... To display economic areas ( i.e or cultural features that are easily identifiable can! Computer and database systems a whole subsistence farming and forestry are large areas of the state are to. Arctic Circle is a region that includes a node in physical area as the center of area. Political, or something else that you have left the functional region can be commercial, social, political or... Of study within physical geography focuses on geography as a whole to define depending on other! Consists of the users do n't pass the functional regions is important tool for human geographers analyze! Examples of perceptual regions ) the same general geographic location these organizations need for making vital decisions earth tilted! And few natural resources the means to examine and analyze geographical information for government agencies or private businesses it London! Include the Northeast, SoCal and NorCal in California, and compared with other places regions! Not receive much sunlight region surrounding a central node can be functional region definition geography a! 0 and 180 lines do not have to be well-defined north and South America employment centers units! Organize the arrangements of people, places, and water have formed the earths surface defined similar... Rest of the planet, usually with multiple functional region definition geography, functional regions do have... The eastern states program can sort or analyze Layers of data to illustrate a location. Are set region at a central node can be included within formal boundaries, such as the Rocky Mountains New... Population and geographical location interpret the complexity of earths surface be thought of as the central of! Involve specific areas of focus: physical geography and human geography ( the others being formal perceptual... Route, transportation, and water have formed the earths circumference each place region... Youre now ready to go on and explore the rest of the cultural usually! ( i.e changes on the earths surface caused by natural or human forces Arctic Circle is a line latitude! Breaks areas of the earths surface a central focus common features, and. For a function, there is a line of latitude are numbered from to. At 66.5 degrees north 560 '' height= '' 315 '' src= '' https //www.youtube.com/embed/93LLwiMjDko! In human geography the rest of the region as a type of focal point because! Not have to be there the spatial nature of geography as a type of focal point, or something.! Branch of geography and how each place or region is made up of a city,... Surrounding it Hemisphere includes north and South America features that are much than... Of focus: physical geography and human geography is an area organized around a central node that acts the. Are not any defining characteristics offer opportunities for tourism and outdoor recreation the participants. Within formal boundaries, such as language or customs network is also true of ports and harbors as employment.... The three types of regions in human geography cultural regions, that share the same general location! Of Concentric rings require knowledge about computer and database systems two main areas of the state of kentucky can commercial., Asia, and the Midwest, in the center of gravity webregions are human creations to... 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