1. Physical Geography
Location & Effects

2. What is Physical Geography?
Examines the relationships among patterns & processes within the 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 & their latitude measurements!!
Equator
2 Tropics
2 Circles
2 Poles

6. Longitude Zero Degrees longitude is the Prime Meridian
180 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. Where lines of latitude & 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 & the Northern Hemisphere
Hemispheres-
If you cut the Earth through the Equator, you get two halves: Northern & Southern Hemisphere
If you cut the Earth through the Prime Meridian, you get two halves: Western & Eastern Hemisphere
The US is in the Western Hemisphere & 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 4 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 & nights are equal in length
Spring (Vernal) & 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 & nights are not equal in length – summer days are longer – winters nights are longer
Summer & 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 – 23.5 N & S
Tropics
Hot & Humid
Green – MID LATITUDES
*  N & S
Temperate & Mild
THE MAJORITY OF THE WORLD’S PEOPLE LIVE IN THE TEMPERATE ZONE
Blue – HIGH LATITUDES
*  N & S
Polar
Cold & Dry