The document provides an introduction to a physical geography course, explaining what physical geography is, the different branches of geography, and how physical geography examines human impacts on the environment and natural hazards. It gives an overview of the course topics, assignments, and resources for students to use for studying.

1. Welcome to Physical Geography
Rita Haberlin

2. While You Wait …..
 Introduce yourself to a student that you do not
already know
 Discuss with that student some answers to the
following questions
– Why are you taking this class?
– Have you taken any other geography classes?
– What else takes up your time?
– Are you hoping to transfer?
– What is your major?

3. Purpose of Today’s Class:
 Introduce physical geography
 Providebasic information about A
the course

4. What is Geography?
Discussion

5. Some Myths About Geography
Myth #1: Geographers memorize
pointless facts about the world.
What’s the longest river in the
world?
How high is Mount
Everest?

6. Myth #2. Geography is all about
maps and globes

7. Myth #3: With a degree in geography,
all you can do is----
Most geography
Teach
graduates (90%)
don’t go into
education - they
work for business
and government

8. The Reality about Geography
Geography studies the physical world, human
interactions, and environmental issues.
It is a spatial discipline. It uses the scientific method to
understand the world.
California-Mexico border

9. What is Geography? (continued)
 Geography asks the questions; Where,
Why, and Why Should I care?

10. Why Study Geography?
 Geography has been neglected in
U.S. Education leaving citizens
geographically illiterate
– Yet the United States is linked
to the whole world
 Discuss how?
– economically
– environmentally
– politically

11. The Branches of Geography
 Physical geography
studies how the physical
Human
environment works
Geography
 Human geography includes,
cultural, economic, political,
Regional
and historical aspects of place Geography
 Regional geography studies
all aspects of a region Physical Geography

12. What is Geography? (continued)
Cultural geography focuses on people
Physical geography focuses on the
physical environment

13. What is Physical Geography?
 Physical geography studies the processes at
work in the physical environment in order to
understand the earth as the home of people

14. Physical Geography and Other
Natural Sciences
 Why physical science credit?
 Geography is the mother of the sciences.
 What are the sciences which have
evolved from study of the natural
environment

15. Physical Geography and the
Natural Sciences
 Rocks and Landforms  Geology
 Clouds and fog - weather  Meteorology
 Grass and trees -vegetation  Botany
 Oceans and waves  Oceanography
 Water resources  Hydrology
 Sun  Astronomy
 Soils  Pedology
 Ecosystems  Ecology

16. Physical Geography examines the impact of
people upon the environment.

17. How do people impact the environment?
Agriculture
Urbanization
Deforestation
Dam building
River diversion
Air Pollution
Global warming
Loss of habitat

20. Physical Geography Examines
the Impact of Natural Hazards

24. 2005
1995

27. Where is the safest place to live?

28. What Natural Hazards Occur in
California?
 Earthquakes and Tsunami
 Volcanoes
 Coastal Erosion
 Flooding
 Landslides and Mudflows
 Wildfires
 Subsidence
 Hurricanes and Tornadoes
 Winter Storms

29. Course Information
 How are you evaluated?
– Frequent quizzes or in-class exercises
– Assignments – in class and homework
– Two midterms and a final
– Class participation

30. What Do You Need?
Textbook: "Elemental Geosystems by
Robert Christopherson
Thick Binder
Access to the Web
Study Guide
#2 Pencil for Scantron
Scantron Quizzstrips and Long 882 Scantrons

31. Online Study Aids
 www.mygeoscienceplace.com
Use Access code from textbook
– Choose text: Elemental Geosystems
 Web Learning Modules and Practice Quizzes
 Moodle – www.eperalta.org/fall2010
 Login using Passport User ID, e.g.12345678
 Password – Login password. e.g. John Dart =
joda5678

32. Learning Modules
berkeleycitycollege.edu/faculty/rhaberlin/pg4.
htm
Assignment. Please go to this address and
explore the learning modules.
Read the course information and expect to
answer questions about the way the course
works in the next class

33. Study groups or study buddy
 Study techniques - classroom research
 Repetition-repetition-repetition