GEO200 Orientation Module: Introduction to Geography
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Transcript of GEO200 Orientation Module: Introduction to Geography
Orientation Module: Introduction to Geography
GEO200: Weather and ClimateAugust 27th
Geography
Geography is “the science of place, i.e., the study of the surface of the earth, the location and distribution of its physical and cultural features, the areal patterns or places that they form, and the interrelation of these features as they affect humans.”
Source: "geography." The Columbia Encyclopedia. New York: Columbia University Press, 2008. Credo Reference. Web. 22 August 2011.
Geography
Geography is an ancient discipline. More than 2600 years ago Greek
scholars correctly reasoned Earth to have a spherical shape.
Geography
Interest in geography grew between the 15th and 19th centuries when explorers began to investigate parts of the world previously unknown to people of European descent.
Geography
The two leading geographic figures during the 19th century were: Alexander Von Humboldt (1769–1859)
German naturalist and explorer Carl Ritter (1779–1859)
Professor of geography at Berlin
Source: Andrews, Gavin J. Linehan, Denis "Geography." Encyclopedia of Environment and Society. 2007.
Humboldt and Ritter
Geography
Today, most geographers consider themselves to be a human (cultural) or physical (environmental) specialists.
Within these two broad fields are a range of subfields which overlap.
Geography
Physical Geography Study of the physical elements of
geography. Cultural Geography
The study of the human and/or cultural elements of geography.
Geography
The Science of Geography
Five Spatial Themes Location Place Movement Regions Human-Earth Relationships
The Science of Geography
Five Spatial Themes Location
Absolute and relative location on Earth. Location answers the question “Where?”
Source: Elemental Geosystems 6e, p.3
The Science of Geography
Five Spatial Themes Place
Tangible and intangible living and nonliving characteristics that make each place unique.
Source: Elemental Geosystems 6e, p.3
The Science of Geography
Five Spatial Themes Movement
Communication, movement, circulation, migration, and diffusion across Earth’s surface.
Global interdependence links all regions and places.
Source: Elemental Geosystems 6e, p.3
The Science of Geography
Five Spatial Themes Regions
Areas having uniform characteristics; how they form and change; their relation to other regions.
The American Midwest is a distinct region of grasslands and prairie, corn, soybean, and feed crops, and huge regional feedlots and animal processing factories.
Source: Elemental Geosystems 6e, p.3
The Science of Geography
Five Spatial Themes Human-Earth Relationships
Resource exploitation, hazard perception, and environmental pollution and modification.
Source: Elemental Geosystems 6e, p.3
Weather and Climate
Weather The short-term atmospheric conditions
for a given time and a specific area. Climate
An aggregate of day-to-day weather conditions and weather extremes over a long period of time.