Chapter 1 : The Geographer’s World

Section 1 : Geographers Look at the World

The Five Themes of Geography Location Absolute Location: the exact spot on Earth where something is found. Ex. 31* north latitude and 2*east longitude. Absolute Location: the exact spot on Earth where something is found. Ex. 31* north latitude and 2*east longitude. Relative Location: the position of a place in relation to other places. Ex. My house is north of the grocery store, but it is west of the sports park. Relative Location: the position of a place in relation to other places. Ex. My house is north of the grocery store, but it is west of the sports park.

The Five Themes of Geography Place A place is somewhere where you can describe it by using its human features like its culture, ideas, accommodations, or by its physical characteristics like weather, plants, or animals. A place is somewhere where you can describe it by using its human features like its culture, ideas, accommodations, or by its physical characteristics like weather, plants, or animals.Region Regions can be defined by more than one characteristic. Regions can be defined by more than one characteristic. They can be defined by their language, physical characteristics, religion, or buildings They can be defined by their language, physical characteristics, religion, or buildings

The Five Themes of Geography Human-Environment Interaction There are two different ways people can interact with their environment. There are two different ways people can interact with their environment. People adapt to their environment. Example: people have to change their clothing depending on what the weather is. People adapt to their environment. Example: people have to change their clothing depending on what the weather is. People change their environment. Example: people level the natural land surfaces to build things. People change their environment. Example: people level the natural land surfaces to build things.

The Five Themes of Geography Movement The movement of people, goods, or ideas is called spatial interaction. The movement of people, goods, or ideas is called spatial interaction. People meet their needs either by traveling to other places or by trading with people in other places. People meet their needs either by traveling to other places or by trading with people in other places. Also as the amount of movement and kinds of transportation change, so do other geographic features. Also as the amount of movement and kinds of transportation change, so do other geographic features.

Section 2 : The Wide World of Geography

Branches of Geography Human Geography Human Geography is the study of how people and their activities vary from place to place. Human Geography is the study of how people and their activities vary from place to place. It includes political, economic, and cultural factors such as cities and countries, farms and factories, and ways of life. It includes political, economic, and cultural factors such as cities and countries, farms and factories, and ways of life. The interactions of people with water, the weather, soil and minerals, and plants and animals are links between human and physical geography. The interactions of people with water, the weather, soil and minerals, and plants and animals are links between human and physical geography. Physical Geography Physical Geography is the study of how the earth’s natural features vary from place to place. Physical Geography is the study of how the earth’s natural features vary from place to place. It includes the study of mountains, plains, weather and climates, and plants and animals. It includes the study of mountains, plains, weather and climates, and plants and animals. Specialty areas are water resources, earth’s surface, and the distribution of plants and animals Specialty areas are water resources, earth’s surface, and the distribution of plants and animals

Geography as a profession Cartography: is the branch of geography that studies maps and mapmaking. The largest employer of cartographers in the U.S. is the USGS, which produces all the topographic, surface feature, maps for the U.S. Cartography: is the branch of geography that studies maps and mapmaking. The largest employer of cartographers in the U.S. is the USGS, which produces all the topographic, surface feature, maps for the U.S. Meteorology: is the field of geography that specializes in weather and weather forecasting. Meteorology: is the field of geography that specializes in weather and weather forecasting. Geographers also make decisions about managing places and they study the environment so they can inform us on water quality, air pollution, and hazardous waste. Geographers also make decisions about managing places and they study the environment so they can inform us on water quality, air pollution, and hazardous waste.

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