Chapters 1
Studying Geography
WHY are you
in this
room???
►Geography
– the study of
everything on earth.
►2
main branches of Geography
 Human geography – manmade
 Physical geography – natural
SECTION 1
Themes and Essential Elements
Human
Geography
• study of distribution
and characteristics of
the world’s people
(where people live
and what they do)
• examines how people
make and trade
things that they need
to survive
Physical
Geography
Both
• interaction of
people with
their
environments
• focuses on Earth’s
natural environments
including landforms,
water features,
plants, animals, and
other physical
features
• studies the processes
that shape physical
environment
The Six Essential Elements
• The world in spatial terms –
where (location)
• Places and regions – what
(place and how we define it)
• Physical Systems – natural
(mountains, oceans, etc..)
• Human systems – people (culture,
ethnic, religion)
• Environment and society - how
we interact with the environment
• Uses of geography – helps us to
understand relationships among
different peoples past and present
as well as the physical make up of
our planet.
►Grid
– Pattern of lines that circle
the globe in east-west and northsouth directions.
►Equator
– imaginary line that
circles the globe halfway between
the North and South Poles.
► Latitude
– lines
drawn in eastwest direction and
measure distance
north and south of
equator.
► Parallels
– another
name for lines of
latitude; parallel
to the equator
► Prime
Meridian – imaginary line drawn
from the North Pole through
Greenwich, England to the South Pole
► Longitude
– lines
drawn in northsouth direction and
measure distance
east and west of
the Prime Meridian
► Meridians
– another
name for lines of
longitude
►Degrees
– Measurement used
when using latitude and longitude.
 Symbol for degrees is ° .
 Degrees are further divided into
minutes, for which the symbol is ‘.
 There are 60 minutes in a degree.
20 N, 74 W
12.5 N, 81.7 W
►Hemispheres
– The world is divided
into 4 hemispheres.
 The equator divides the earth into a
northern and a southern hemisphere.
 The Prime Meridian divides the earth
into eastern and western hemispheres.
►Continents
– The earth’s land
surfaces are organized into 7
continents.
 North America, South America,
Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and
Antarctica.
►Oceans
– The largest division of
water surfaces. There are 5 major
oceans.
 Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian
Ocean, Southern, and Arctic Ocean.
►Atlas
– book of maps.
►Map
Projection – projecting round
earth on a flat map.
►Types
of Maps
 Physical – show natural features on
the land
 Political – show state and country
lines
 Special Purpose – show crops,
natural resources, tourist sites, etc.
►Map
Tools:
 Directional indicator – shows which
directions are north, south, east, and
west.
 Compass rose – A directional
indicator that has arrows that point
to all four principal directions.
 Scales – used to represent distances
between points on a map
 Legend or Key – explains what the
symbols on the map represent
Chapters 2
Earth In Space
Solar System
► Solar
system is the sun and the group
of bodies that revolve around it.
► Almost
all of Earth’s energy comes
from the sun
► Satellites
– A body that orbits a
larger body. Moons are natural
satellites.
► The
diameter of the Earth is about 8,000
miles.
► The
diameter of the Sun is about 865,000
miles.
► The
► The
moon is 240,000 miles from the Earth.
Earth’s orbit is about 93 million miles
from the Sun.
The Moon
The Earth
► Rotation
 One complete spin of the Earth on its axis.
 Takes 24 hours.
 Solar energy hits only the half of the earth
that is facing the sun.
► Revolution
 Earth’s movement around the sun. Takes
365 ¼ days to complete one revolution.
► Earth’s
Tilt
 Earth is tilted at 23 ½ degree angle.
 North polar axis always points towards
the North Star.
Earth – Sun Relationship
► Tropics
– low latitude areas near the
equator that receive great amounts
of solar energy year round
► Polar
Regions – high latitude areas
that are cold most of the year
because they do not receive great
amounts of solar energy
► Seasons
– northern and southern
hemispheres have opposite seasons
because they receive direct solar rays
at different times of the year because
of the tilt of earth
► Solstice
– occurs twice a year when Earth’s
poles point toward or away from the sun
more than at any other time; occur around
Dec. 21 & June 21
► Tropic
of Capricorn – latitude in southern
hemisphere that receives sun’s most direct
rays during the December Solstice.
► Tropic
of Cancer – latitude in northern
hemisphere that receives sun’s most direct
rays during the June Solstice
► Equinox
– occurs twice a year when Earth’s
poles are not pointed toward or away from
the sun; night and day are equal (12 hours
each); occurs around March 21 and Sept. 22
► Tropic
of Cancer – latitude in northern
hemisphere that receives sun’s most
direct rays during the June Solstice
► Equinox
– occurs twice a year when
Earth’s poles are not pointed toward or
away from the sun; night and day are
equal (12 hours each); occurs around
March 21 and Sept. 22
Seasons
SECTION 2
Earth-Sun Relationships
Solstice
Equinox
time when Earth’s poles point
at their greatest angle toward
or away from the Sun
occurs twice each year when
Earth’s poles are not pointed
toward or away from the Sun
Solstice
The Earth System
► Earth
System – interactions of elements
on and around our planet
► Broken
into 4 parts
 Atmosphere – layer of gases that surround
earth
 Lithosphere – surface of the planet
 Hydrosphere – all the water of the planet
 Biosphere – part of the earth where all
plant and animal life exists
The Earth System