Introduction to Physical Geography. What is Geography? 5 Fundamental spatial concepts of Geography. Geography is holistic. Subdivisions of Geography. Systems science. Earth's 4 spheres. Review.

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Welcome toWelcome to
Physical GeographyPhysical Geography
Angela Orr, InstructorAngela Orr, Instructor
Topic: What is Geography?Topic: What is Geography?

2. What is Geography?What is Geography?

3. What is Geography?What is Geography?

4. What is Geography?What is Geography?

5. What is Geography?What is Geography?

6. What is Geography?What is Geography?

7. Geography is aboutGeography is about
EVERYTHING.EVERYTHING.

8. The most importantThe most important
question inquestion in GeographyGeography

9. Why is it there?

10. Where did “Geography” come from?Where did “Geography” come from?
Geo-Geo- comes from the Greekcomes from the Greek
“ge” = “Earth”“ge” = “Earth”
geoidgeoid
geologygeology
geometrygeometry
-graphy comes from Greek
“graphe” = “writing” or
“description”

11. Who were the first geographers?Who were the first geographers?
Mesopotamian landMesopotamian land
ownership map on aownership map on a
clay tabletclay tablet

12. Egyptian gold mine map on papyrusEgyptian gold mine map on papyrus

13. ► Expansion of the Chinese empireExpansion of the Chinese empire
 resources, cultures, wealth, areas of potential politicalresources, cultures, wealth, areas of potential political
threats or alliances, etc.threats or alliances, etc.
► In Asia, academic knowledge was highly-prizedIn Asia, academic knowledge was highly-prized
► Japan, Korea, and ChinaJapan, Korea, and China
 engaging in extensive trade long before Europeanengaging in extensive trade long before European
explorersexplorers
A Brief History of the EarlyA Brief History of the Early
Development of GeographyDevelopment of Geography

14. ► Greece and RomeGreece and Rome
 Development of geometric principlesDevelopment of geometric principles
 Eratosthenes, Hipparchus, Strabo andEratosthenes, Hipparchus, Strabo and
PtolemyPtolemy
► The 8 Pillars of IslamThe 8 Pillars of Islam
 Pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca (in whatPilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca (in what
is, today, Saudi Arabia) at least once in ais, today, Saudi Arabia) at least once in a
lifetimelifetime
 From Africa to Spain to India and throughoutFrom Africa to Spain to India and throughout
Southwest AsiaSouthwest Asia
A Brief History of the EarlyA Brief History of the Early
Development of GeographyDevelopment of Geography

15. Immanuel Kant—18th Century philosopherImmanuel Kant—18th Century philosopher

16. Immanuel Kant—18th Century philosopherImmanuel Kant—18th Century philosopher
Categories of Academic Disciplines:Categories of Academic Disciplines:
1. Systematic Sciences—orderly, methodical, subject1. Systematic Sciences—orderly, methodical, subject
matter is easily classifiedmatter is easily classified
(Physics, Geology, Botany, Zoology, etc.)(Physics, Geology, Botany, Zoology, etc.)
2. Temporal Sciences—the dimension of time2. Temporal Sciences—the dimension of time
(History, Archaeology, Paleontology)(History, Archaeology, Paleontology)
3. Spatial Sciences—the dimension of space3. Spatial Sciences—the dimension of space
(Geography, Geophysics, Astronomy)(Geography, Geophysics, Astronomy)
The map is a geographer’s primary spatial toolThe map is a geographer’s primary spatial tool

17. The FundamentalsThe Fundamentals
Every study of Geography incorporates one orEvery study of Geography incorporates one or
more of the following 5 Fundamentalmore of the following 5 Fundamental
Concepts in Geography:Concepts in Geography:
1.1.LocationLocation
2.2.PlacePlace
3.3.MovementMovement
4.4.Human-Environment InteractionsHuman-Environment Interactions
5.5.RegionRegion

18. The 5 Fundamental SpatialThe 5 Fundamental Spatial
Concepts of GeographyConcepts of Geography
1.1. Location—Location—study ofstudy of
wherewhere something is foundsomething is found
in Earth spacein Earth space

19. 2.2. PlacePlace—study of the—study of the site and situationsite and situation
characteristics of a particular portion of spacecharacteristics of a particular portion of space
The 5 Fundamental SpatialThe 5 Fundamental Spatial
Concepts of GeographyConcepts of Geography

20. The 5 Fundamental SpatialThe 5 Fundamental Spatial
Concepts of GeographyConcepts of Geography
2.2. PlacePlace—study of the—study of the site and situationsite and situation
characteristics of a particular portion of spacecharacteristics of a particular portion of space
 ““Sense of Place” is an important geographicalSense of Place” is an important geographical
conceptconcept

25. sense of place
an artist’s interpretation

26. Sense of Place
some “imaginary” places
GLADIATOR
JIMMY BUFFETT
THE PERFECT VACATION
“MARGARITAVILLE”
?

27. The 5 Fundamental SpatialThe 5 Fundamental Spatial
Concepts of GeographyConcepts of Geography
3.3. MovementMovement—study of—study of
thethe circulationcirculation ofof
objects, people, andobjects, people, and
ideas, and theirideas, and their
distributiondistribution (spatial(spatial
patterning) on Earth’spatterning) on Earth’s
surfacesurface

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The 5 Fundamental SpatialThe 5 Fundamental Spatial
Concepts of GeographyConcepts of Geography
4.4. Human-EarthHuman-Earth
InteractionsInteractions—study—study
of how humansof how humans
perceive, use, andperceive, use, and
alter the planet, andalter the planet, and
how the environmenthow the environment
affects and changesaffects and changes
humans, in returnhumans, in return

29. 5.5. Region—Region—
study of an area on Earth’s surface that exhibitsstudy of an area on Earth’s surface that exhibits
some form of spatial cohesion reflected by asome form of spatial cohesion reflected by a
homogeneityhomogeneity of specific features or functionalof specific features or functional
linkages to a central nodelinkages to a central node
(WHAAAA???)(WHAAAA???)
The 5 Fundamental SpatialThe 5 Fundamental Spatial
Concepts of GeographyConcepts of Geography

30. Homogeneity of specific features
Functional linkages to a
central node

31. Geography is holisticGeography is holistic
► Interested inInterested in
interrelationshipsinterrelationships
► Informed by manyInformed by many
other sciencesother sciences
 Geography is actuallyGeography is actually
the Mother of manythe Mother of many
other fields of scienceother fields of science
► Test your professor:Test your professor:
 Name a field whichName a field which
cannot in some way becannot in some way be
studied by a geographerstudied by a geographer

32. The Subdivisions of GeographyThe Subdivisions of Geography
Geography can be divided into any number ofGeography can be divided into any number of
subfields. The main divisions are:subfields. The main divisions are:
 Physical GeographyPhysical Geography
►Biogeography is sometimes considered a part ofBiogeography is sometimes considered a part of
physical geographyphysical geography
 Human GeographyHuman Geography
 Geomatics (Technical Geography)Geomatics (Technical Geography)

33. Physical GeographyPhysical Geography
Physical geographyPhysical geography is the study of Earth’sis the study of Earth’s
natural systems, their spatial distributions, andnatural systems, their spatial distributions, and
interactions. It is the study of the natural andinteractions. It is the study of the natural and
human-induced processes that shape thehuman-induced processes that shape the
surface of our planet.surface of our planet.
 Subfields include geomorphology, climatology,Subfields include geomorphology, climatology,
hydrogeography, etc.hydrogeography, etc.
 Maintains connections with other physicalMaintains connections with other physical
sciencessciences

34. BiogeographyBiogeography
►The study of the spatial distribution of plantsThe study of the spatial distribution of plants
and animals.and animals.
 Subfields include phytogeography,Subfields include phytogeography,
zoogeography, pedology (cross-over withzoogeography, pedology (cross-over with
physical geography), etc.physical geography), etc.
 Often considered a subfield of PhysicalOften considered a subfield of Physical
GeographyGeography

35. ►The study of how people use the land, howThe study of how people use the land, how
they perceive it and relate to it; the spatialthey perceive it and relate to it; the spatial
variations between human groupsvariations between human groups
 Subfields include: cultural geography, economicSubfields include: cultural geography, economic
geography, urban geography, political geography,geography, urban geography, political geography,
ethnic geography, geodemography, religiousethnic geography, geodemography, religious
geography, geolinguistics, proxemics, etc.geography, geolinguistics, proxemics, etc.
 Maintains connections with all other socialMaintains connections with all other social
sciencessciences
Human GeographyHuman Geography

36. Geomatics/Technical GeographyGeomatics/Technical Geography
►All of the technical specialties within the fieldAll of the technical specialties within the field
which assist geographic studies.which assist geographic studies.
 Cartography (GIS)Cartography (GIS)
 Remote sensingRemote sensing
 Statistical studiesStatistical studies
 Maintains connections with informationMaintains connections with information
technologies, mathematics, computer sciences,technologies, mathematics, computer sciences,
etc.etc.

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Systems ScienceSystems Science
What is a “system”?What is a “system”?
AA systemsystem is “a set of things, structures,is “a set of things, structures,
processes, [or] activities…[that are] associatedprocesses, [or] activities…[that are] associated
and interconnected, forming and functioning as aand interconnected, forming and functioning as a
complex whole through a regular set ofcomplex whole through a regular set of
relations….”relations….”
--Audrey N. Clark’s--Audrey N. Clark’s Dictionary of GeographyDictionary of Geography

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Systems ScienceSystems Science

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Systems ScienceSystems Science
► Flow system—matter and/or energy moving aroundFlow system—matter and/or energy moving around
 Open system—has inputs and outputsOpen system—has inputs and outputs
 Closed system (also called aClosed system (also called a cyclecycle)—constantly transforming and)—constantly transforming and
reusing what’s already there; nothing ever leavesreusing what’s already there; nothing ever leaves

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Systems ScienceSystems Science
►FeedbackFeedback
 Positive feedbackPositive feedback
►When the result of a process causes conditionsWhen the result of a process causes conditions
which strengthen that process and increasinglywhich strengthen that process and increasingly
amplify its resultsamplify its results
 Feedback from an amplifierFeedback from an amplifier
 Arctic ice meltingArctic ice melting
 Negative feedbackNegative feedback
►When the result of a process causes conditionsWhen the result of a process causes conditions
which weaken the process and reduce its effectswhich weaken the process and reduce its effects
 An air conditioning systemAn air conditioning system
 More water in Earth’s atmosphere creating more cloudsMore water in Earth’s atmosphere creating more clouds
that reflect and scatter sunlightthat reflect and scatter sunlight

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Systems ScienceSystems Science
►Time cyclesTime cycles--systems operate on all--systems operate on all
different scales, including time scales, largedifferent scales, including time scales, large
and smalland small
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Systems ScienceSystems Science
►Earth’s systems areEarth’s systems are
always attempting toalways attempting to
achieveachieve equilibriumequilibrium, in, in
which exchanges ofwhich exchanges of
matter and/or energymatter and/or energy
are equal, in and outare equal, in and out
►Equilibrium is difficult toEquilibrium is difficult to
attain and even moreattain and even more
difficult to maintain overdifficult to maintain over
long time cycleslong time cycles 43

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Systems ScienceSystems Science
►Sometimes a series of slight changes mightSometimes a series of slight changes might
result in a larger change that pushes theresult in a larger change that pushes the
system over asystem over a thresholdthreshold, a point at which, a point at which
the same state can no longer be maintainedthe same state can no longer be maintained
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Earth’s 4 SpheresEarth’s 4 Spheres
Biosphere
Lithosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere

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AtmosphereAtmosphere

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LithosphereLithosphere

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HydrosphereHydrosphere

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The Lone Cypress
Pebble Beach, CA
Biosphere

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Congratulations!Congratulations!
You just finished Lesson #1….
Are you ready for some review questions to
test how well you’ve understood everything
we’ve covered so far?

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Quick ReviewQuick Review
1.1. What is the most important question inWhat is the most important question in
Geography?Geography?
2.2. Who were the first geographers in theWho were the first geographers in the
Western tradition? Was theirs the onlyWestern tradition? Was theirs the only
culture to produce good geographicculture to produce good geographic
studies?studies?
3.3. Which of the Categories of AcademicWhich of the Categories of Academic
Disciplines does Geography fit into?Disciplines does Geography fit into?
4.4. Name the 5 fundamental spatialName the 5 fundamental spatial
concepts of geography. What one wordconcepts of geography. What one word
or phrase defines each of these?or phrase defines each of these?

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Quick ReviewQuick Review
5.5. What does it mean when we describeWhat does it mean when we describe
Geography as being holistic?Geography as being holistic?
6.6. What is a system?What is a system?
7.7. What is the difference between an openWhat is the difference between an open
system and a closed system?system and a closed system?
8.8. What is the difference between positiveWhat is the difference between positive
feedback and negative feedback?feedback and negative feedback?
9.9. Name Earth’s four “spheres”.Name Earth’s four “spheres”.

52. Mission Accomplished!