Many geographers use the six
essential elements to
organize their study.
 1. The World in Spatial Terms
 2. Places and Regions
 3. Physical Systems
 4. Human Systems
 5. Environment and Society
 6. Uses of Geography
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Geography is the study of the
special physical and human
characteristics of a place or region.
An important part of geography is
the relationship between humans
and their environment.
A geographer may study culture (or
a learned system of shared beliefs,
traits, and values).
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Geographers look at where
things are on the Earth’s
surface.
Changes in settlement
patterns over time are also
important.
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Geographers use many tools in
their studies, including maps,
charts, and graphs. They also use
field notes, interviews, photographs,
reference books, and videos
High-tech tools such as satellites
provide detailed images of the Earth
Computer databases, like
Geographic Information Systems,
(GIS) store huge amounts of data.
Satellite image of Texas,
Louisiana and the Gulf of
Mexico
It also tells us where this place is in
relation to other places?
Absolute Location:
The exact latitude and longitude or
address of a place. (1234 Huntington
Lane)
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Relative Location:
The location of a place in relationship to
other locations (around the corner
from Krogers)
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-measure distance north or
south of Equator
1. Equator = 0* (divides
earth into northern &
southern hemispheres)
2. Poles = 90* N or S
3. Tropics = 23 ½* N or S
4. Circles = 66 ½* N or S
-measure distance east or
west of the Prime
Meridian
1. Prime Meridian = 0*
-former site of Royal
Observatory in
Greenwich, England
2. International Date Line
= 180* E
-Earth takes 24 hours to rotate, & it is
divided into 24 parts for keeping time (time
zones)
*Each time zone = about 1,000 miles E to W at the
Equator.
*When you cross a time zone going east, then you
set your watch ahead one hour.
*When you cross a time zone going west, then you
set your watch back one hour.
*every map projection stretches or breaks the
curved surface of Earth in some way as it is
flattened
*distance, direction, shape, or area may be
distorted
*Describe the negative and positive attributes
of the following maps:
The acronym TODALSIGSs defines nine essential
elements to help map users get the most
information from a map.
-first thing you should look at
-refers to directions
-shown by compass rose (Or Star)
*cardinal directions = N, S, E, & W
*intermediate directions = NW, NE, SW, & SE
-date helps us judge accuracy of the map
-date usually
down here too
-list that explains symbols in the map
-shows relationship between map
measurements and actual distances
-alphabetical list of places shown on a
gridded map or set of maps (gives
addresses of places listed)
-set of intersecting lines (parallels and
meridians)
-used if information not obtained by direct
experience or observation
-identifies places or features that border the
area depicted on a map
 If you were looking at a map of the US, you
would see Canada and Mexico labeled, but
you may not see any detail at all.
1.
small scale maps
-large area with little/small detail
2. large scale maps
-small area with great/large detail
1.
2.
Physical Maps – show topography (shape) of
earth’s physical features
Political Maps – show boundaries between
countries
WE WILL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT DIFFERENT
GENERAL AND SPECIAL PURPOSE MAPS
LATER ON.
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A place has physical and
human characteristics that
make it special.
Physical characteristics
include animal and plant life,
sources of water, climate and
weather, landforms and soils.
Palo Duro Canyon
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Enchanted Rock State
Park
Landforms are the natural
shapes on the Earth’s surface,
such as mountains, hills, and
valleys.
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Human characteristics include
ethnicity, language, political
and economic systems,
population distribution,
religion and standard of living.
Regions in Texas
Places and Regions:
 Think of your favorite city,
state, or country.
 Describe it.
 How have the physical
characteristics of this place
influenced the people there?
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Downtown Dallas
A region is an area with
common characteristics that
make it different from
surrounding areas.
A formal region has one or
more share characteristic,
such as plant life or can be
cultural, economic or political.
Countries, states and cities
are examples of formal
political regions.
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A functional region is made up
of different places that
function together as a
unit…such as a metropolitan
area such as Dallas-Ft. Worth.
Perceptual regions are defined
by people’s shared attitudes,
culture and feelings about an
area. Central Texas and the
Panhandle have vague
borders.
The Cadillac Ranch
Amarillo, Texas
The Texas Panhandle
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Geographers study the
physical processes and
interactions among four
physical systems – Earth’s
atmosphere, land, water and
life.
Physical processes shape and
change Earth’s physical
features and environments.
Climate and weather affect
humans.
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An ecosystem is all of an area’s
plants and animals together with
the nonliving parts of their
environment.
Earth is the largest ecosystem.
Natural events and human activity
can change ecosystems.
Studying physical processes and
ecosystems because the
environment is the setting for all
life on Earth.
Physical Systems:
 How did Hurricane Katrina influence New
Orleans’ population and economy?
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Studying human systems such as
population distribution, growth and
movement helps in understanding
human events and geography.
Population growth is affected by a
population’s age, birthrate, death
rate, and life expectancy.
Changes in human activity such as
advances in medical care and food
production have led to population
growth.
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Houston, Texas traffic
Geographers look at where
people live and how crowded a
region or place is when they
study place population density.
They also study migration or
the movement of people.
One specific type of movement
is urbanization, which is an
increase in people living or
working in cities.
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Southwest Airlines Jet at
Dallas Love Field
Many geographers study the
features of cultural groups.
People often create groups
that separate, organize, or
unify areas.
Geographers also consider
human systems of
communication, trade and
transportation in the global
community.
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One of the most important
topics in geography is how
people interact with the
environment.
Human activities can have
positive and negative affects
on the environment.
Pollution in Houston, Texas on a
clear day.
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Padre Island, Texas
The environment affects
humans as well.
Physical features such as
landforms and rivers can
influence where people live,
and people depend on the
environment for survival.
Human life requires three
basic resources: air water
land.
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Oil Fields in West Texas
Other materials such as wood,
coal and oil are also important
resources.
As the world population
grows, demands on resources
increase.
Geographers study the
locations, quality and quantity
of Earth’s resources and the
effect of human activity on
these resources.
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Historians use geography to
understand history.
Not only do they look at when
things happened, but where
and why they happened.
Geography helps people
understand the present as well
as the past.
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Analyze the
following image
using the 6
Elements of
Geography.
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Hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico
Important information about
all the planet’s systems can
be provided by geographers.
This information can help
people plan for the future.