What is Geography?
A Close Look at Geography as a Social Science Discipline
Geography is the scientific and systematic study of
both the physical and cultural features of the earth’s
surface. It is a spatial perspective looking at patterns
and distributions on the earth’s surface.
Questions that “Geography”
addresses





Where are things located?
Why are they important?
How are places related?
How are places connected?
How are humans affected by these
locations?
Difference between
Physical Geography and Human or Cultural Geography
Geomorphology-studies the form and structure
of the surface of the earth
 Climatology-involves the study of long term
weather conditions on the earth
 Hydrography-concerns the distribution of water
(oceans, rivers, lakes, and their uses)
 Biogeography-studies the flora (plant life) and
the fauna (animal life)
 Pedology-study the soils
 Ecology-studies the interactions between life
forms and the environment
 Geoglogy- study of rocks and the earth’s interior

Physical Geography is the study of the four
spheres (Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, and
Biosphere)
Historical Geography
Demography and Population Geography
Political Geography-nations, boundaries,
geopolitics, military movements, treaties,
devolution, choke points and imperialism
 Geography of Religion
 Geography of Languages
 Urban Geography-settlements, cities and
transportation systems
 Economic Geography-Industries, economic
development and manufacturing regions
 Agricultural Geography
 Medical Geography
 Social Geography
 Environmental Geography



Human Geography is the study of the spatial
differentiation and organization of human activity on the earth’s
surface.
History of Geography
“Four Traditions of Geography”
 Earth Science Tradition (physical
geography approach)
 Locational Tradition (use of satellite
imaging-mapping)
 Cultural-Environment Tradition (impact of
deforestation)
 Area-Analysis Tradition (regional patterns
of development)
Development of Geographic
Thought
“Why Geography Matters” (DeBlij)
 Age of Exploration (China, European, Islamic)
 Globalization(expansion of economic and political
activities aided by information technology and
transportation)

Devolution(regions within countries demanding



Supranationalism(E.E.C., A.P.E.C., N.A.T.O.)
Environmental Degradation
Remote Sensing(spy satellites-used in Iraq and
autonomy)
Afghanistan)
Development of Geographic
Thought

Regional(Latin America, Subsaharan Africa, Southeast
Asia)

Systematic(Human Geography, Physical Geography,
Historical Geography)
Approaches to the Study of
Geography
The Importance of Physical Geography
to Human Geography






Humid Equatorial Climates-no dry season,
short dry season, and dry winters
Dry Climates-semiarid and arid
Humid Temperate Climates-no dry season,
dry winter, dry summer
Humid Cold Climates-no dry season, dry
winter
Cold Polar Climate (tundra and ice)
Highland Climate (vertical)
Koppen Classification System of
Climates (based on rainfall and temperatures)
Greenhouse Effects- “Global Warming”
 El Nino-areas of regional warming
 Soils (fertility and degradation)
 Global Distribution of Precipitation

◦ Monsoons
◦ Intensity-Regularity
Koppen Classification System

Ecosystems are living communities of plants
and animals that share common
characteristics—primarily related to climate,
soil, and vegetation.
◦ Abiotic Elements-those that are non-living but that
affect systems (water, heat, relief, nutrients, rocks,
atmosphere)
◦ Biotic Elements-those living elements of the
ecosystem (plants and animals)


Food Chains (sequences of consumption)
Biomes (large subdivisions of terrestrial ecosystems
found in the world)
Ecosystems or Ecological Systems
Major Global Biomes
 Desertification and the Sahel
 The Management of Global Ecosystems

◦ Sustainability-main method of management
Other physical interactions


Tropical Rainforests-removal of trees results
in removal of nutrients for soil, less oxygen
produced and more CO-2 remains in the
atmosphere
Acid Rain-sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides
emitted from power pollutes lakes and rivers
(pollution from Britain and Western Europe
has damaged Scandanavia and Eastern
European countries: also, pollution from the
midwestern states had damaged the Great
Lakes and Eastern Canada)
Major Physical Problems

Collecting Data
◦ Field Studies
◦ Secondary Sources (censuses, surveys, maps, and
photographs)
◦ Since WWII (aerial photography, radar, underwater
crafts (bathyspheres) and “Remote Sensing” with
satellites. Information obtained from the Landsat
satellite is used to map land use, manage forested
land, estimate crop prodution, monitoring grazing
conditions, access to quality water and protect
wildlife
◦ Global Positioning System-a series of satellites that
provide precise information on location, altitude,
and time
Tools and Methods of Geographers

Cartography-the art and science of
creating, using and study of mapping
◦ The map is the most important tool of
geography
◦ Maps provide a wealth of factual information
such as visual comparisons between areas and
geographic features of an area
Tools and Methods of Geographers

Analyzing Geographic Information
◦ Since the 1950’s geographers have made
increasing use of quantitative methods and
techniques to analyze data
◦ Quantitative methods have been particularly
useful in location theory and population
distribution
Tools and Methods of Geographers

Geographic Information Systems
◦ GIS is a computer technology that manages
georeferenced information
◦ GIS allows the analysis of mass amounts of
data in a two or three dimensional imaging
systems
Tools and Methods of Geographers
Types of Maps
Topographic
Tools and Methods of Geographers
Types of Maps
Thematic
◦ Dot maps
◦ Choropleth maps
◦ Isoline maps
Tools and Methods of Geographers
Types of Maps
Physical
Tools and Methods of Geographers
Types of Maps
Political
Tools and Methods of Geographers