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Introduction of Geography

This document provides an overview of the key concepts in geography including spatial analysis, physical geography, and the different subfields. It discusses how [1] geographers use tools like GIS and maps to analyze spatial patterns and relationships on Earth's surface. It also outlines [2] the major spheres (atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere) that physical geography examines natural processes within, and [3] the subfields of geomorphology, climatology, and biogeography that investigate landforms, weather systems, and species distributions respectively.

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33 views

Introduction of Geography

This document provides an overview of the key concepts in geography including spatial analysis, physical geography, and the different subfields. It discusses how [1] geographers use tools like GIS and maps to analyze spatial patterns and relationships on Earth's surface. It also outlines [2] the major spheres (atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere) that physical geography examines natural processes within, and [3] the subfields of geomorphology, climatology, and biogeography that investigate landforms, weather systems, and species distributions respectively.

Uploaded by

Sachio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Geography

The Science of Spatial and


Descriptive Analysis
Spatial Analysis
• Space
– Different than raw numbers, statistics
– Distribution, distance, density, area,
autocorrelation, topography, topology, and more.
– Theories and techniques for Spatial Analysis
have been present for centuries, but only lately
have they been available (computers, GIS,
remote sensing).
– Output/Results: MAPS
Spatial Analysis
Geographers
use specialized
tools including
maps,
geographical
information
systems (GIS),
remote sensing,
mathematical
modeling and
statistics to
allow them to
portray
information that
varies spatially
on the Earth’s
surface
Spatial Analysis
Spatial Analysis
• The Visual Nature of Spatial Analysis
– Viewing maps is a integrative action
– Compare to reading (linear)
– Information is absorbed as a whole
– Spatial information shown differently
– Spatial information is processed differently by
your brain
Graphic vs. Visual/Map Display
Text/Graphic vs. Visual/Map
Display
Place
Scale
Geography

Geography looks at
the world from the
viewpoint of
geographic space by
synthesizing ideas
from different
disciplines and
developing special
techniques to
represent and
manipulate spatial
information
Introducing Geography

Geography can be subdivided into human


geography and physical geography

human geography examines economic, social and


behavioral processes

physical geography examines natural processes,


and is generally composed of biogeography,
climatology and geomorphology.
Introducing Geography
Introducing Physical Geography

• Introducing Geography

• Spheres, Systems and Cycles

• Physical Geography, Environment, and


Global Change
Introducing Physical Geography

• Introducing Geography

• Spheres, Systems and Cycles

• Physical Geography, Environment, and


Global Change
Physical Geography

• Spheres, Systems and Cycles

• Physical Geography, Environment, and


Global Change
Introducing Physical Geography

• Introducing Geography

• Spheres, Systems and Cycles

• Physical Geography, Environment, and


Global Change
Spheres, Systems and Cycles
The natural
systems and
processes involved
in physical
geography are
considered to
operate within four
great spheres (or
realms): the
atmosphere, the
lithosphere, the
hydrosphere, and
the biosphere
Spheres, Systems and Cycles

The life layer is the shallow Earth surface layer where the
four realms (or spheres) interact and where most life forms
are found
Spheres, Systems and Cycles
Scale, pattern and process are three interrelated
geographic themes

Scale: the level of structure or organization at which a


phenomenon is studied

Pattern: variation in phenomenon observed at a particular


scale

Process: how the factors that affect a phenomenon act to


produce a pattern at a particular scale
Spheres, Systems and Cycles

processes operating in the four spheres are


studied at different spatial scales or levels of
detail (global, continental, regional, local,
individual)
Spheres, Systems and Cycles
a system is a collection of physical
processes that are linked and act together in
an organized way

a systems approach to physical geography


looks for linkages and interactions between
processes
Spheres, Systems and Cycles

Time cycles are periodic changes in system


flow rates that occur over periods ranging
from hours to millions of years
Physical Geography, Environment, and
Global Change
Physical geography is also concerned with the
relationships between humans and their
environments

Environmental change is caused by both natural


processes and human interference

Some important topics of global change that


physical geographers are investigating are global
climate change, the carbon cycle, biodiversity,
pollution, and extreme events
Why Physical Geography?
• Non-human processes that formed
landscape fall into this realm
• Understanding of how life forms developed
and arrived in our landscape
Three areas of Physical
Geography
• Geomorphology
• Climatology
• Biogeography
Spheres of Interest:

Pedosphere

Atmosphere Hydrosphere

Biosphere global oceanic and terrestrial photoautotroph abundance Lithosphere


Geomorphology
• Study of the structure and formation of
landforms (think patterns and processes)
• Important in understanding internal earth
processes and structures, how the surface
arrived at present and former states
• Sub areas of interest to us:
– Plate Tectonics
– Orogeny
– Volcanism
– Erosion and Mass Wasting
– Glacial landforms
– Deposition
Coastal and Oceanic Landforms
Why do we have barrier islands on the Atlantic
but not he Pacific Coast of N. America?

Pattern

Process

Landforms
Climatology
• The Study of the Earth’s Weather Systems and
the Weather Patterns they create
• “Climate is what you expect, weather is what you
get”
– Regional Climates (deserts, polar, alpine)
– Swing Climates (Hot dry then cold dry then cold
wet…)
– Glaciation
– Erosion events/floods
– Storms
Climatology and Scale
• Climatology was one of the first sciences
to struggle with scale
• Weather is affected by many variables at
multiple spatial scales
• E.g. Lifting by Pressure systems, Frontal,
Convective, Orographic
Where does the weather come from?
Which way is the Wind blowing?
Climatic variables
• Some climatic variables affecting climate
and weather operating at multiple spatio-
temporal scales
– Continental Arrangement
– Air Currents/Jet Stream
– Ocean Currents
– Landforms
– Water bodies
Continental Arrangement
Air Currents/Jet Stream
Ocean Currents
Biogeography
• Biogeography is the science which deals
with patterns of species distribution and
the processes that result in such patterns
– Speciation
– Extinction
– Continental Drift
– Glaciation
Biogeography and Continents

Permian 225mya Triassic 200mya

Jurassic 135mya Cretaceous 65mya

Present
Extra Questions for All Geographers

• How do things work (differently) at different


scales?
• What are the important patterns?
• What are the important processes?
• What patterns will I see at different scales?
• How do living things respond to these patterns?
• How do people respond to these patterns?

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