Final answer:
The synthesis of variables in a map is the process of combining different data layers to produce new insights, commonly used in environmental sciences and geography to understand complex ecological and geographical patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The synthesis of two or more variables in a map refers to the process of combining different data sets or information layers to create a new, integrated representation of knowledge. This can involve a variety of analytical techniques, such as overlaying spatial data to identify patterns and relationships that wouldn't be obvious from a single variable. By synthesizing data, researchers can make claims about ecological patterns, distributions of species diversity, and many other multidimensional phenomena.
Such a synthesis is essential across different fields, especially in environmental sciences, where it enables conservation biologists to understand biological patterns and mechanisms. This integrative approach requires complex reading and thinking skills as it involves interpreting content from different sources and connecting them to draw meaningful conclusions about geographical or ecological topics. The disadvantages include the inability to test hypotheses definitively without additional experiments and the risk of identifying false patterns due to random noise or data artifacts.