Six core concepts relate the spatial structure and transportation:
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Site and Situation
The concepts of site and situation can be articulated over two core dimensions:
The Great Circle Distance
Since the earth is a sphere, the shortest path between two points is expressed by the great circle distance, corresponding to an arc linking two points on a sphere. The circumference inferred from these two points divides the earth into two equal parts, thus the great circle. The great circle
Volcanic Ash Plume across the North Atlantic, 2010
Source: NASA’s Earth Observatory. Image acquired April 15, 2010. In April 2010, a volcanic eruption in Iceland released a large volume of ashes that spread toward Western Europe due to dominant wind patterns (see the above photo). Volcanic ash is composed of tiny jagged particles of rock, mostly silicates, which
Seasonal Variations of Major Global Wind Patterns
Global wind patterns have both a historical and contemporary significance for transportation. Historically, wind patterns were linked with the trade routes of sailships. For instance, a relatively stable wind pattern over the North Atlantic enabled ships to set sail from Europe using the westbound dominant wind on the southern part
Global Wind Patterns
Wind is mainly the outcome of a thermodynamic principle and the Coriolis effect due to the counterclockwise rotation of the earth. Warm air around the equator is lifted, which creates a suction effect for air masses coming from higher (or lower) latitudes. The high-altitude air mass moves either north or
The Geographical Space of Maritime Transportation
The geographical space of maritime transportation is primarily defined by its absolute barriers. 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, dominantly oceanic masses, but the profile of continental masses seriously constrains maritime access to different parts of the world. The maritime system can be summarized by four major
Major Oceanic Gyres and Sea Currents
The global oceanic system has five major sea current gyres that act as large conveyor belts. These gyres are also correlated with dominant wind flows where they rotate clockwise north of the equator and counterclockwise south of the equator. During the era of sailship navigation, these gyres had a strong
Absolute, Relative and Arbitrary Barriers
A barrier is a feature that can impede mobility and comes in three forms:
Polar Shipping Routes
Note: Ice extent is the average from the 1981-2010 period. Since then, the average ice extent has receded. Global climate change is offering new opportunities for international transportation networks, notably with a trend of receding ice around the North Pole. If this trend continues, parts of the Arctic could be