define aerial differentiation ?
Answers
Answer:
Introduction
Areal Differentiation is the study of the distribution of phenomena both human and
physical and how they are causally related to other phenomena in proximity, in a geographical
region or area expressed in the space. The concept of areal differentiation, which later on
translated into a regional approach, is considered one among the three significant approaches to
understand or study the discipline of human geography. The other two may be considered as
Spatial Analysis and Landscape approach. Both, the spatial analysis is also known as systematic
science approach and morphology of landscape approach were quite popular and claimed
themselves to be the science of the study of geography. An influential modern statement of
geography as areal differentiation, drawing from arguments of Hettner in particular, was made in
Richard Hartshorne’s ‘The Nature of Geography’ (1939). According to him the concept of areal
differentiation in geography is about showing how unique regions reveal the co-variance of
phenomena that can only be understood through identifying regions. A central concept of areal
ifferentiation is that the surface of the earth may be divided into regions, which may be
distinguished and categorized using various spatial criteria.
The areal differentiation, which is among the few significant classic approaches to study
Geography, traces its origin to the ancient period in the works of Strabo to Ptolemy. The idea of
variable characteristics of the surface of the earth found a more pronounced expression in the
works of Bernhard Varenius substantial work ‘Geography Generalis’. Varenius is credited with
the initiation of another debate/ dichotomy or controversy in geography related to the approach
or methodology of the subject. This debate between Regional Geography and Systematic
Geography continued for long and found new advocates in Richard Hartshorne and Prof.
Schaeffer for and against the regional approach, respectively. From Varenius to Richthofen and
Hettner the idea of uniqueness found fresh vent in the concept of chorological science. Hettner
who espoused and advocated the study of geography as a chorological science found some
resistance from his colleague Otto Schluter. Schluter departing from the popular Hettnerian view
claimed that geography should be considered as the science of morphology of the landscape. The
concept of landscape graduated from natural landscape concept to the Cultural Landscape of Carl
O Sauer, who argued that geography should confine all its field of enquiries to cultural
landscape, for it is an all-encompassing concept. Though morphology of landscape idea started
off as another form of regional study, it gradually drifted towards the systematic science as it
argued for generalized statements having universal applicability and reach, later in its academic
persuasion. The chorological outlook of the geography which transformed into regional approach
found its strongest champion in the writings of Richard Hartshorne. Regional geography in
America reached new heights during the period sandwiched between the First and Second World
War. The advent of Richard Hartshorne (1899-1992), who studied under the stalwarts like
Hettner and influenced by the Kantian school of thought, on the geographic academic horizon,
further contributed to the repository of geography in the form of areal differentiation. His ideas
saw the concept of areal differentiation and uniqueness of regions occupied the core or the
central position of enquiry in geography