There has been no more influential technology in studying spatial (definition:relating to locations or regions on the earth's surface) and temporal (definition:relating to observations over time) changes to the Earth’s surface than that of Remote Sensing satellites. These “eyes in the sky” continuously scan the Earth’s surface, observing and recording the smallest changes.

Geographers interpret the images produced by satellites, alter their properties to amplify or reveal patterns, and eventually use this data to better understand how the Earth is changing for better or worse. 

Using our powerful pattern recognition abilities, we will study a series of before and after satellite images of both human events and natural hazards affecting our planet.

When viewing these images, use the concept of spatial significance and the questioning tools you learned in Activity 1 to understand the study area. Once you are confident that you know what you’re looking at, attempt to identify:

• How the landscape has changed spatially and temporally.
• Why that location is changing/what caused the change.

Keep a record of what you observe in a way that you see fit.

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Part 1:

While interpreting the satellite images in the Minds On, you compared one image to the next, making sense of observable changes. When you looked through each, how did you organize the information you found?

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No matter which method you chose, you were gathering and organizing information in the hope of understanding these images. This process of organization is the second stage of the geographic inquiry model we were introduced to in Activity 1.

When gathering and organizing information it is important to use an effective way to keep track of what you find. Balancing this information in your head is easiest and requires the least amount of work. However, it is not the best method for keeping track of information that you might need later. You could use this Two-Column Note Template to better gather and organize information. Refer to this Sample Two Column Note for Image 1 of the Minds On section for an example of how to use this note template.

Part 2:

Now that you have the ability to organize information, it is time to introduce “Patterns and Trends” - the second concept of geographic thinking. Patterns and Trends involves identifying regions with similar or repeating characteristics.

A pattern is a spatial observation that one place/situation proves to be part of a larger system containing the same observation. For instance, most avalanches in Canada occur on the West Coast, where a mountainous landscape exists. The similar landscape as well as the cluster of avalanches occurring there form a pattern.

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Trends are temporal observations that allow you to study a pattern over time. Not all patterns show trends but many do. To return to our above example, the majority of avalanches in Canada occur from late fall to early spring. The fact that avalanches have an observable “timing” pattern proves the existence of a trend.

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We break patterns and trends up into manageable pieces in order to understand them.

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