A Geographer’s World Chapter 1

Studying Geography Section 1

What is Geography? Geography is the study of the world, its people, and the landscapes they create. The landscape is all the human and physical features that make a place unique. Geographers must think like scientists by gathering and examining data Sometimes geographers study people and their lives Geography is sometimes called a social science

Looking at the World Geographers look at the world at 3 levels. Local, regional, and global level Local level Try to figure out why people live and work the way they do Can help people improve their lives

Regional level A region is a part of the world that has one or more common features that distinguish it from surrounding areas. Some regions are defined by physical characteristics (ex: mountains, climate, or plants) Other regions are based on human characteristics of a place (ex: language, religion, or history) Regions can be small or large. Divide the world into regions to make it easier to study.

Global Level Geographers may want to learn how people interact globally How do events or ideas from one region affect other regions? Globalization, or worldwide trade and communication, has increased the need for information on how to live in a rapidly changing world.

The Geographer’s Tools Geographers have tools to help them study the world. Map Flat drawing that shows all or part of the Earth’s surface. Maps are distorted some of the details when making it flat (some places may look farther apart than they really are). Maps are usually more detailed than globes Maps can also show more information

Globes A spherical model of the entire planet Satellite images Geographers study satellite images to see what an area looks like from above Earth. Other tools Computer programs – create, update, and compare maps Notebook & tape recorder – take notes

Geography Themes and Essential Elements Section 2

The Five Themes of Geography Five major themes of geography are Location, Place, Human-Environment Interaction, Movement, and Regions. Location Absolute location gives a specific location of a place (ex: address) Relative location is expressed in general terms (ex: Canada is north of the U.S.) Place Refers to an area’s landscape. Can include land, climate, and people.

Human-Environment Interaction How do people interact with their environment (land, water, climate, plants, and animals) Movement Why and how do people move Regions Help study geography Creating regions also makes it easier to compare places

The Six Essential Elements A system of standards and essential elements identify most important ideas in the study of geography. The essential elements are based on a geography standard. They are big ideas that link several standards together Pg. 13

The Branches of Geography Section 3

Physical Geography Two branches of geography – physical and human In physical geography geographers study the world’s physical features. Look for the causes of different shapes on Earth Why mountain ranges form? Studying the changes that take place on Earth can help us prepare for the future.

Human Geography The study of the world’s people past and present Look at where people live and why Many human geographers specialize because there are so many people in the world. Others examine only one aspect of people’s lives (ex: economics) Human geographers help us understand people’s cultures.

Other Fields of Geography Cartography – science of making maps. Computers and satellite images have made maps more reliable. Hydrology – study of water on Earth Study the world’s river systems and rainfall patterns Meteorology – study of weather and what causes it. Study weather patterns in a particular area and use the information to predict future weather.