Chapters 1

Studying Geography

WHY are you in this

room???

►Geography – the study of everything on earth.

►2 main branches of Geography

Human geography – manmade

Physical geography – natural

SECTION 1

• study of distribution and characteristics of the world’s people (where people live and what they do)

• examines how people make and trade things that they need to survive

• focuses on Earth’s natural environments including landforms, water features, plants, animals, and other physical features

• studies the processes that shape physical environment

• interaction of people with their

environments

Human Geography

Physical Geography

Both

Themes and Essential Elements

The Six Essential Elements

• The world in spatial terms – where (location)

• Places and regions – what (place and how we define it)

• Physical Systems – natural (mountains, oceans, etc..)

• Human systems – people (culture, ethnic, religion)

• Environment and society - how we interact with the environment

• Uses of geography – helps us to understand relationships among different peoples past and present as well as the physical make up of our planet.

►Grid – Pattern of lines that circle the globe Grid – Pattern of lines that circle the globe in east-west and north-south directions.in east-west and north-south directions.

►Equator – imaginary line that circles the globe halfway between the North and South Poles.

►Latitude – lines drawn in east-west direction and measure distance north and south of equator.

►Parallels – another name for lines of latitude; parallel to the equator

►Prime Meridian – imaginary line drawn from the North Pole through Greenwich, England to the South Pole

►Longitude – lines drawn in north-south direction and measure distance east and west of the Prime Meridian

►Meridians – another name for lines of longitude

►Degrees – Measurement used when using latitude and longitude.

Symbol for degrees is ° .

Degrees are further divided into minutes, for which the symbol is ‘.

There are 60 minutes in a degree.

20 N, 74 W12.5 N, 81.7

W

►Hemispheres – The world is divided into 4 hemispheres.

The equator divides the earth into a northern and a southern hemisphere. The Prime Meridian divides the earth into eastern and western hemispheres.

►Continents – The earth’s land surfaces are organized into 7 continents.

North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica.

►Oceans – The largest division of water surfaces. There are 5 major oceans. Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean,

Indian Ocean, Southern, and Arctic Ocean.

►Atlas – book of maps.

►Map Projection – projecting round earth on a flat map.

►Types of Maps Physical – show natural features on

the land Political – show state and country

lines Special Purpose – show crops,

natural resources, tourist sites, etc.

►Map Tools:

Directional indicator – shows which directions are north, south, east, and west.

Compass rose – A directional indicator that has arrows that point to all four principal directions.

Scales – used to represent distances between points on a map

Legend or Key – explains what the symbols on the map represent

Chapters 2

Earth In Space

Solar System

►Solar system is the sun and the group of bodies that revolve around it.

►Almost all of Earth’s energy comes from the sun

►Satellites – A body that orbits a larger body. Moons are natural satellites.

►The diameter of the Earth is about 8,000 miles.

►The diameter of the Sun is about 865,000 miles.

►The moon is 240,000 miles from the Earth.

►The Earth’s orbit is about 93 million miles from the Sun.

The Moon The Earth

►Rotation One complete spin of the Earth on its axis. Takes 24 hours. Solar energy hits only the half of the earth

that is facing the sun.

►Revolution Earth’s movement around the sun. Takes

365 ¼ days to complete one revolution.

►Earth’s Tilt Earth is tilted at 23 ½ degree angle. North polar axis always points towards the

North Star.

Earth – Sun Relationship►Tropics – low latitude areas near the

equator that receive great amounts of solar energy year round

►Polar Regions – high latitude areas that are cold most of the year because they do not receive great amounts of solar energy

►Seasons – northern and southern hemispheres have opposite seasons because they receive direct solar rays at different times of the year because of the tilt of earth

►Solstice – occurs twice a year when Earth’s poles point toward or away from the sun more than at any other time; occur around Dec. 21 & June 21

►Tropic of Capricorn – latitude in southern hemisphere that receives sun’s most direct rays during the December Solstice.

►Tropic of Cancer – latitude in northern hemisphere that receives sun’s most direct rays during the June Solstice

►Equinox – occurs twice a year when Earth’s poles are not pointed toward or away from the sun; night and day are equal (12 hours each); occurs around March 21 and Sept. 22

►Tropic of Cancer – latitude in northern hemisphere that receives sun’s most direct rays during the June Solstice

►Equinox – occurs twice a year when Earth’s poles are not pointed toward or away from the sun; night and day are equal (12 hours each); occurs around March 21 and Sept. 22

SeasonsSeasons

SECTION 2

Earth-Sun Relationships

Solstice

time when Earth’s poles point at their greatest angle toward or away from the Sun

Equinox

occurs twice each year when Earth’s poles are not pointed toward or away from the Sun

SolsticeSolstice

The Earth System

►Earth System – interactions of elements on and around our planet

►Broken into 4 parts Atmosphere – layer of gases that

surround earth Lithosphere – surface of the planet Hydrosphere – all the water of the

planet Biosphere – part of the earth where all

plant and animal life exists

The Earth SystemThe Earth System