HawaiiGame112_PhysicalGeographyFeb24.pdf 57 Helpful 32 Unhelpful Arizona State University GPH 112
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Course
GPH 112
Institution
GPH 112
Physical Geography of the Big island of Hawai’i
What is this lab
all about?
You explore the volcanoes, landforms, climate, and vegetation of
Hawai’i in a geovisualization.
Prerequisite
knowledge from
GPH 111
The prerequisite knowledge is summarized in section 3 below, but if
you would ...
Lab Title Physical Geography of the Big island of Hawai’i
What is this lab You explore the volcanoes, landforms, climate, and vegetation of
all about? Hawai’i in a geovisualization.
Prerequisite The prerequisite knowledge is summarized in section 3 below, but if
knowledge from you would like refreshers, click on these links. You will need a logon
GPH 111 (gph111) and password (gaia) to access the lectures.
Volcano lecture (focused on basalt volcanic features starting slide 5)
https://www.asu.edu/courses/gph111/html5lectures/18Volcanoes/18PublishVolcanoes/
General Circulation of the Atmosphere (as it pertains to the Hadley
Cell and the Trade Winds)
https://www.asu.edu/courses/gph111/html5lectures/11PublishCenCirAtmo/
Thunderstorm lecture (focused on rainshadow effect and adiabatic
processes – you can stop at slide 31)
https://www.asu.edu/courses/gph111/html5lectures/14PublishTStorms/
Computer You will be given instructions later on how to download the
program used in geovisualization of the Big Island in a page in Canvas in the
this lab Welcome module. In this program, you are a virtual character able to
wander around the Big Island.
Introductory The canvas page where you downloaded this file also has a link to an
video introductory video. The material in that video is a brief synopsis of
what is in this PDF document.
SQ general Students analyze geographical data using the scientific method,
studies criteria keeping in mind scientific uncertainty. Students also use mathematics
in analyzing rates to change in the landscape.
Table of Contents for this PDF File
1. Preface: What makes the Big Island so special in physical geography? Page 2
2. Overview of lab activities 4
3. Extra background material related to the lab 6
[Not necessary to complete the lab, but quite helpful in appreciating the Big
Island the activities you will complete.]
Lab Stage A Exploration: Making some basic observations related to the 26
physical geography of the Big Island
Lab Stage B more detailed analysis of the physical geography of the Big 44
Island
Lab Stage C synthesis: A short essay whose goal rests in you bringing 66
together your thoughts on the physical geography of the Big Island of
Hawai’i.
, 2
1. Preface: Physical Geography of the Big island of Hawai’i
The Big Island of Hawai’i is a special place for physical geographers to study.
There exists such a wide range of climates, all while the geology of basalt lava rock type
remains pretty constant. For example, warm desert conditions exist on the western sides
of the Hualalai, Mauna Kea, and Kohala shield volcanoes, and cold desert conditions on
top of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Physical geographers have studied
everything from coastal erosion to incision of stream valleys using the variety of
conditions on the Big Island. Since physical geographers typically love field work, a plus
is the lack of poisonous snakes.
Unlike other sciences that task you with analyzing one focused field such as
cellular biology, inorganic chemistry, or physics – physical geography concentrates on
six general areas of science to try to understand better the great variety of environmental
conditions that exist at Earth’s surface. Physical Geography was the world’s first
environmental science field, well before everything split off, and it remains focused on
interconnections as displayed in the following diagram.
, 3
Components of the science of Physical Geography
The designers of this laboratory hope that you will be able to explore the physical
geography of the Big Island in person in the near future. However, in the meantime, this
lab transports you to a virtual simulation to analyze three questions that we hope will
enhance your in person exploration. In the meantime, the geovisualization of the Big
Island is a great way to study its physical geography. The geovisualization looks and
plays like a videogame, but one where you explore connections between topography,
landforms, climate, and vegetation
There is a caveat about the lab: There is no doubt that an online lab about the the
Big Island is missing out on our five traditional sense of sight (and the changes in
lighting), smell and feel the trade winds on your face, the taste of trail and camping food,
the smell of plants, and touching of different volcanic rock textures. In the end, you will
just have to experience these in Hawai’i for yourself.
, 4
2. Overview of lab activities
The purpose of this section is to provide you an overview of the activities you will
complete. Before you dig into the lab, you are also welcome to learn extra background
information about the Big Island of Hawai’i in the next section. You certainly do not
have to read the third section in detail to do this lab, but you will probably find that this
enrichment material will help you get more out of the other lab activities.
2.1 Parts of this lab: Exploration (stage A), detailed analysis (stage B), and essay
synthesis (stage C)
In the exploration of this lab (Stage A), you will get a chance to enhance your
grade by learning a bit about the Big Island and the sorts of activities you will engage in
if you decide to move onto Stage B.
In the detailed analysis part of the lab (Stage B), you will use the video game
geovisualization to explore in greater detail the connection between the topography,
landforms, climate, and also vegetation of the Big Island.
Then, Stage C of the lab encourages you to synthesize what you have learned in
writing a short four-paragraph essay on the physical geography of the Big Island. Most
of this essay tasks you with covering what you learned in lab activities, but you are also
encouraged to explain your own personal perspective on the lab question.
2.2. The study area and the scale of study
The entirely of the Big Island is too much to analyze at a scale where you can see
the sorts of features that would be of interest to you on the ground. It just is not possible
to include everything in a videogame at a large scale of even 1:100 (1 length on the
ground to 100 lengths on the map). There is just too much detail. Besides, sometimes its
possible to lose sight of the forest if you are too buried in the roots of the trees. The big-
area (small scale) patterns in physical geography would get lost.
Thus, all of the laboratory activities will be at a scale where you can only zoom in
just so close. High spatial resolution is not what this laboratory covers, but rather bigger-
sized features and processes.
The two graphics below show a wonderful map designed and produced by the
National Park Service and a famous Landsat 7 mosaic produced by NOAA. Both of them
show the study area of this lab.
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