Spatial and ecological dimensions

The spatial dimension

In the study of geography, the spatial dimension describes and compares patterns of where environmental factors are located. These patterns are determined by using quantitative and qualitative research to compare areas with one another in relation to a particular variable. The distribution of the population, availability of natural resources and levels of adult literacy are examples of variables that could be used in spatial analysis. Social injustice is often a cause of spatial inequality, however, disparities between geographical regions can also be a result of natural factors.

Studying geography from a spatial perspective could therefore involve looking at two different geographical areas (e.g. Australia and Angola) in relation to a certain variable (e.g. infant mortality). To identify factors which may explain why the rate of infant mortality in Australia (4.63 deaths per 1000 live births) is significantly lower than in Angola (185.36 per 1000 live births) we would use spatial analysis, which would help us identify spatial inequality. A factor in this example may be access to health care, or availability of food and fresh water. See image 1

The aim of this approach is to amend these factors and create more equity in relation to the variable being studied. Another common example is comparing the employment levels of different suburbs of a large city, such as Sydney. A key purpose of using the spatial dimension is to find ways of addressing the inequalities between geographical regions, thereby making distribution of resources and services more even between populations.

The ecological dimension

Put simply, ecology is the study of the relationship that exists between organisms and the physical environments which surround them. In the study of geography, the ecological dimension describes the relationship that exists between people and the natural elements of the environment and the impacts that they have upon one another.

When using the ecological dimension, areas are broken down into what are referred to as ecosystems. The biosphere, which is the total sum of land, water and air able to support life on Earth, is made up of millions of ecosystems. Ecosystems can be as small as a pond or as large as a coral reef. See image 2

Within every ecosystem all living organisms affect one another. Any changes to plant life, animal life or any other aspects of the physical environment will invariably have effects elsewhere in the ecosystem. If one species becomes extinct, for example, the entire food chain of that ecosystem will be upset. Humans are no exception to this rule. Our actions have a large impact on the ecosystems that we disrupt. Studying geography from an ecological perspective is extremely important because geography essentially is the study of the way humans interact with the environments that surround them. See animation 1