1. Physical Geography

2. What is Physical Geography?
Examines the relationships among patterns and processes within the physical environment
Study of earth’s physical processes
Geology – rocks and earth formations
Environmental science – human interaction with the environment
Topography – earth’s features
Cartography – map making.

3. How are Physical Factors spatially defined?
Location: The location of a place or thing on the earth’s surface
Absolute Location: The exact spot of a place on the earth’s surface
-Use Latitude and Longitude to define it
Ex. - Toyko, Japan is at 36° N Latitude and 140° E Longitude
Relative Location: The location of a place in relation to another place or thing
Ex.) Sonic is across the street from Kroger
Globe: Scale model of the earth

4. Latitude AKA: Parallels
Numbers get higher the further North or South you move away from the Equator
Latitude lines measure North or South of the Equator
Zero Degrees Latitude is the Equator
90 Degree North (North Pole)
90 Degrees South (South Pole)

5. KNOW THESE LINES and their latitude measurements!!
Equator
2 Tropics
2 Circles
2 Poles

6. Zero Degrees longitude is the Prime Meridian
Zero Degrees longitude is the Prime Meridian degrees East or West is the International Date Line
By international agreement - 0 degrees longitude runs through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England
Numbers get higher the farther you move either East of West
Longitude lines measure East or West of the Prime Meridian
Longitude
AKA- Meridians

7. Each degree of the earth is equal to 1/360 of the earth.
Where lines of latitude and longitude cross they form a pattern known as:
A Grid System
(a global address)
Each degree of the earth is equal to 1/360 of the earth.
Each degree is divided into 60 minutes (‘). Each minute = 60 seconds (“)

8. The US is in the Western Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere
Hemispheres
If you cut the Earth through the Equator you would get two halves, the Northern and Southern Hemisphere
If you cut the Earth through the Prime Meridian you would get two halves, the Western and Eastern Hemisphere
The US is in the Western Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere

9. Absolute Location
30°03' 39.60" N
95°09' 19.26" W

10. Absolute Location

11. Absolute Location
Basic Geography

12. Absolute Location

13. Relative Location

14. 0 0 latitude – Equator 0 longitude –Prime Meridian
(Distance from it has large effect on climate)
0 longitude –Prime Meridian
(Distance from it has no effect on climate)

15. Rotation The spinning of the earth on its axis Takes 24 hours
Creates night & day

16. Revolution The orbit of the earth around the sun Takes 365 ¼ days
Creates the seasons

17. Polar Night
When the polar region is tilted away from the sun – the polar area receives 24 hours of darkness. When it is pointed toward the sun the area receives 24 hours of daylight.

18. EQUINOX Direct rays of the sun are located on the EQUATOR
Days and nights are equal in length
Spring (Vernal) and Fall (Autumnal)
When it is Spring in the northern hemisphere it is Fall in the southern hemisphere (the opposite is also true)

19. SOLSTICE
Direct rays of the sun are located on the TROPIC OF CANCER OR CAPRICORN
Days and nights are not equal in length – summer days are longer – winters nights are longer
Summer and Winter
When it is Winter in the northern hemisphere it is Summer in the southern hemisphere (the opposite is also true)

21. Red – LOW LATITUDES
0 – 23 ½  North & South
Tropics
Hot and Humid
Green – MID LATITUDES
23 ½ - 66 ½  North & South
Temperate
Mild
THE MAJORITY OF THE WORLD’S PEOPLE LIVE IN THE TEMPERATE ZONE!!
Blue – HIGH LATITUDES
66 ½ - 90 North & South
Polar
Cold and Dry