convergence moderates equatorial latitudes. The warmest places on the planet are
associated with the land areas of the subtropics. The combination of relatively
high solar angle and cloud-free conditionsgenerated by the subtropical highs
make the region of 20°to 30°north and south of the equator the hottest latitudes.
Considering daily and seasonal cycles, temperatures are quite variable over the
planet. However, Earth temperatures (except near volcanism or fires) are far below
boiling and, in most latitudes, above freezing, thus allowing photosynthesis and a
plentiful chain of life.
Territoriality
The claiming and controlling of space by animal species, including humans. The
space is defined byboundaries, and such delimitations may be clearly indicated,
or may be indistinct and alter with changing circumstances. The dimension of
territorial space ranges from personal space claimed by most individuals to sovereign
political space represented by thenation-stateor even supranational organizations.
The dominance of territoriality in the organization of human political space is clear
from the fact that almost all of theEarth’s land surface, and at least a portion of
theoceansand seas, are separated by legal borders into territorial states, all of which
claim complete sovereign authority over the space contained within those limits.
People encounter the concept of territoriality on a daily basis in the form of
personal space. Everyone possesses what political geographer Martin Glassner
labels an “envelope” of territory immediately around his or her person, which varies
in size according to culture. Latin Americans, for example, tend to have smaller per-
sonal spaces and stand much closer to one another when communicating than North
Americans typically do, and females in most societies generally establish smaller
personal spaces than males, especially when interacting with other females. This
personal territory may be violated only by friends, relatives, and lovers, and strang-
ers who intrude into an individual’s personal domain will be judged to be aggressive
and possibly threatening, often resulting in either flight or a hostile response on the
part of the “owner” of the space. The concept of “private property” extends
territorial space further, and this form of territorial claim is supported by law in most
societies. Unlike personal space, the boundaries of our claims to private ownership
of space are supported by clearly demarked divisions shown on property deeds, and
often reinforced by structures that signal the limits of the space and inhibit violation
of the territory, such as fences or walls. Unauthorized and deliberate trespassing into
this territory is considered a criminal act in many countries, another indication of
the serious nature of territorial control in human culture.
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