Geography is…
The study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth.
5 Themes of Geography
Location (#1 Theme) “Where is it?” Relative Location
Around the corner, take a left I live next to the Kroger on 518.
Absolute Location Coordinates – 29° 59' N, 95° 22' W 1324 Illinois Street
• Latitude – run parallel to the equator• Longitude – go around the earth over the poles
The grid system
1.Latitude – run parallel to the equator, measure distances north and south, called parallels
2.Longitude – go around the earth over the poles, measure distances east and west, 24 imaginary lines X 15° apart = 360°, called meridians
Place (#2 Theme)
“What is it like?” All the physical and cultural
characteristics of a place
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Fuji
http://www.coara.or.jp/~mieko/39gold.htm
Human Environment Interaction
“How do people relate to the physical world?”
Learn to use what the environment offers
Change the environment to meet our needs
http://www.skagitriverhistory.com/Photo_Gallery/Flood%20Fight%2011-6-06%20(10).JPG
Movement
“How do people, goods, and ideas move from one location to another?”
Linear distance Time distance Email – instantaneous
Geographer’s Tools
Globe – 3-D representation of earth Map – 2-D representation of earth
• Political map Defines borders Human-created features
• Physical map Shows landforms/bodies of water Nature-created features
http://www.mapsofworld.com/usa-map.html
Relief
The difference in elevation of a landform from its lowest point to its highest point• Mountains• Hills• Plains• Plateaus
As elevation increases, temperatures decrease
Contour Lines
• Lines on a map that show elevation above sea level
http://raider.muc.edu/~mcnaugma/Topographic%20Maps/contour.htm
Topography
The physical features of the earth’s surface
http://www.compassdude.com/topographic-maps.shtml
Topographic map with Contour lines
Structure of the Earth
Atmosphere – layer of gases surrounding the earth
Hydrosphere – all the water elements on the earth
Lithosphere – solid rock portion of the earth’s surface including crust and uppermost mantle
Biosphere – atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere combine to create habitat where animals and plants live
Ocean Currents
Ocean currents help determine• Temperatures in a climate• Precipitation in a climate
Ocean currents are caused by• Rotation of the earth• Wind/air currents• Differences in water temperature
Pangaea – the Supercontinent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangaea
http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_7.asp
Pacific Ring of Fire – about 80% of all earthquakes happen HERE
http://www.wnet.org/savageearth/hellscrust/html/sb3-ringfire.html
Plate Movement
Type
What it means
Example
Divergent
Plates move apart, spread horizontally
Between Saudi Arabia and Egypt
Convergent -subduction
Plates bump, one moves under the other
Coast of South America
Convergent –collision
Plates collide, crumble and build
Himalayas - mountain range connecting India to Asia
Transform Plates slide past each other
San Andreas Fault in Calif.
PrecipitationType What it does Where it
occursFrontal 2 air masses of
different temps or density meet
Middle latitudes
Orographic Falls on the windward side of hills or mountains, bypasses leeward side
Mountain ranges or large hills
Convectional Sun heats air, hot air rises, afternoon clouds form, rain falls
Tropical hot, moist climates
Typhoons
Extreme weather
Happen in Asia
Equal to American hurricanes
http://www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/Gif/nwp.latest.gif
SeasonsSeasons are caused by the way Earth is tilted and how it revolves around the sun. Seasons are opposite in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Season Day Associated with
features
Winter Winter Solstice Shortest day
Spring Vernal Equinox Days/nights =
Summer Summer Solstice Longest day
Fall (Autumn) Autumnal Equinox Days/nights =
Southern Hemisphere
While the northern hemisphere celebrates summer, it is winter in the southern hemisphere.
In December (summer at the South Pole) in Antarctica, the days are very long.
It is still very cold, despite the long hours of sunlight.
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