Chapter 1

Physical Geography

Looking at the Earth

Geography involves the study of places: their locations, their characteristics, and how humans use and move around them.

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SECTION 1 The Five Themes of Geography

SECTION 2 The Geographer’s Tools

Physical Geography

Looking at the Earth

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Section 1

The Five Themes of Geography• Geographers view the world in terms of the

use of space.

• Geographers study the world by looking at location, place, region, movement, and human-environment interaction.

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The Geographer’s Perspective

Geographers and Historians• Historians look at events over time• Geographers look at:

- use of space on Earth- interactions that take place there- patterns and connections between people and

land• Geography is the study of the distribution and

interaction of:- physical features on Earth- human features on Earth

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Continued . . .

The Five Themes of Geography

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Methods of Geography• Geographers use a variety of tools:

- maps - photographs- charts, graphs, tables- scale models- five themes of geography

continued The Geographer’s Perspective

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Theme: Location

Where is it?• Absolute location—exact place where a

geographic feature is found• Relative location—location of a place compared to

places around it

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Absolute Location• Earth is divided into two equal halves, vertically and

horizontally• Each vertical and horizontal half is called a

hemisphere• An imaginary line, the Equator, divides north and

south halves• Another imaginary line, the Prime Meridian, divides

east and west

continued Theme: Location

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Latitude Lines• Geographers use latitude lines to locate places

north and south• Latitude—imaginary lines that run parallel to the

equator

continued Theme: Location

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Longitude Lines• Geographers use longitude lines to mark positions

east and west• Longitude—imaginary lines that go over the poles• Where latitude and longitude lines cross is the

absolute location

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Relative Location• How a place is related to its surrounding

environment

continued Theme: Location

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Theme: Place

What is it Like?• Place includes physical features and cultural

characteristics:- physical features include climate, landforms,

vegetation- cultural characteristics include dams, highways,

houses

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Theme: Region

How are Places Similar or Different?• A region is an area united by similar characteristics• Unifying characteristics—physical, political,

economic, cultural• Three types of regions:

- formal- functional- perceptual

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Formal Regions• Defined by a limited number of related

characteristics• Formal regions of the world:

- The United States and Canada- Latin America- Europe- Russia and the Republics- Africa- Southwest Asia- South Asia- East Asia- Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica

continued Theme: Region

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Functional Regions• Organized around interactions and connections

between places• Example: a city and its suburbs are connected

through human movement

continued Theme: Region

Perceptual Regions• Region with characteristics people perceive in much

the same way• Example: the American Midwest • Sometimes perceptions differ: Does Midwest begin

in Ohio or Illinois?

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Theme: Human-Environment Interaction

How Do People Relate to the Physical World?

• A relationship exists between people and their environment

• People use and change the environment to meet their needs

• People adapt to environmental conditions they cannot change

• Often, people in similar environments adapt in different ways

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Theme: Movement

How Do People, Goods, and Ideas Get from One Place to Another?• Geographers use three types of distance to analyze

movement:- linear distance- time distance- psychological distance

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Linear Distance and Time Distance• Linear distance—how far a person, product, or idea

travels• Time distance—how long it takes for person,

product, idea to travel

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Psychological Distance• Refers to the way people perceive distance• Example: unfamiliar places may seem farther away

than familiar ones

continued Theme: Movement

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Section 2

The Geographer’s Tools• Geographers use two- and three-dimensional

tools to learn about the earth.

• Geographers use computer-assisted technology to study the use of the earth’s surface.

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Maps and Globes

Visualizing Earth• Oldest known map: Babylonian clay tablet, circa

500 B.C.• Maps show locations of places, landforms, bodies

of water

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Two or Three Dimensions• Globe—a three-dimensional representation (a

sphere) of Earth• Map—a two-dimensional graphic representation of

Earth’s surface • Cartographer (mapmaker) tries to accurately

reflect earth’s surface• Map projection—way of showing Earth’s curved

surface on a flat map

continued Maps and Globes

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Types of Maps• Three types of maps: general reference,

thematic, navigational• A topographic map is one kind of general

reference map• Topographic map—shows natural and man-made

features of earth• Thematic map—shows specific data such as

climate, population density• A navigation map is used by sailors, pilots

continued Maps and Globes

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The Science of Mapmaking

Surveying• Surveyors observe, measure, record what they see

in a specific area • Remote sensing, gathering geographic data from a

distance, includes:- aerial photography- satellite imaging

The Geographer’s ToolSECTION

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Satellites• Best known satellites are Landsat and GOES• Landsat is a series of satellites; can scan entire

planet in 16 days• Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite

(GOES):- orbits in sync with Earth’s rotation- gathers images of atmospheric conditions

continued The Science of Mapmaking

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Geographic Information Systems• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a

digital geographic database• Combines and displays information from many

sources

continued The Science of Mapmaking

Global Positioning System (GPS)• Uses series of 24 Navstar satellites to beam

information to Earth• Hand-held GPS receivers on Earth display exact

position• GPS used by explorers, sailors, drivers; also used

to track animals

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