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6 Elements
Many geographers use the
six essential elements to
organize their study.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The World in Spatial Terms
Physical Systems
Human Systems
Environment and Society
Places and Regions
Uses of Geography
The World in Spatial Terms


Geographers look
at where things
are on the Earth’s
surface.
Changes in
settlement
patterns over
time are also
important.
The World in Spatial Terms
It tells us where
this place is in
relation to other
places?
Or, its LOCATION
The World in Spatial Terms
“Where are we?”

Absolute Location:
•Latitude and longitude (global
location)
• Sugar Land is located at 29°N, 96°W
•Street address (local location)
Tropic of Cancer,
23 1/2ºN
Tropic of Capricorn,
23 1/2ºS
North Pole, 90ºN
South Pole, 90ºS
Arctic Circle,
66 1/2ºN
Antarctic Circle,
66 1/2ºS
Practice

What major city has the following coordinates?


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
41ºN, 73ºW (USA)
33ºN, 13ºE (Africa)
33ºS, 71ºW
34ºS, 150ºE
 Name the global address of:




Hanoi, Vietnam
Athens, Greece
Tehran, Iran
Sugar Land, TX
Practice
Using an atlas, select a city outside
of the United States and write
down its absolute location. Then,
describe its relative location.
The World in Spatial Terms

Relative Location:
•Described by landmarks, time,
distance from one place to
another, etc.
Sugar Land is southwest of Houston
 College Station is 1 hr 45 min away
 Israel is next to Lebanon & Jordan

Physical Systems



We study the 4 physical systems:
Earth’s atmosphere, land, water and
life…and the interaction b/w them all
Physical processes shape and change Earth’s
physical features and environments.
Climate and weather affect humans.
Physical Systems

Ecosystem: all of an area’s
plants and animals together
with the nonliving parts of
their environment.



Earth is the largest ecosystem.
Natural events and human
activity change ecosystems.
All of life depends on these
ecosystems…
Physical Systems:
 How did Hurricane Katrina influence New
Orleans’ population and economy?
Human Systems



Human systems include
population distribution,
growth and movement
Population growth is
affected by a population’s
age, birthrate, death rate,
and life expectancy.
What kinds of things lead
to population growth?
Human Systems



Houston traffic
Geographers look at where
people live and how
crowded a place is when
they study population
density.
They also study migration
or the movement of people.
One specific type of
movement is urbanization
MOVEMENT

Movement of people, goods, and
information & ideas

Through travel, trade, internet, political
events, etc.
Transportation of
humans
Immigration/Migration
What are some push factors?
What are some pull factors?
Environment and Society


One of the most impt.
topics is how people
interact with the
environment.
Human activities can
have positive and
negative affects on
the environment.
Pollution in Houston, Texas on a clear
day.
Environment and Society

Humans adapt to env.:


Humans modify env.:


Name 3 ways humans Δ for the
environment
Name 3 ways humans Δ the
environment
Humans depend on env.:

Name 3 ways humans need the
environment
Environment and Society

Resources are very
impt. to study in
relation to people.


Oil Fields in West Texas
Population , demands
on resources .
Study the locations,
quality, and quantity &
and the effect of
humans.
Places and Regions
A place has
physical and
human
characteristics
that make it
special.
Palo Duro Canyon
PLACE
“What is it like?”
 Physical
Characteristics:
 Mountains,
etc.
 Describe
rivers, wildlife, beaches,
Texas’
physical characteristics
PLACE

Human/Cultural Characteristics:

Buildings, roads, clothing, food, people,
language, religion, etc
 Describe
New York’s cultural
characteristics


People then develop an image of the
place based on experience
What do you imagine when you think
of China? Saudi Arabia?
What physical features of Sugar Land make it
a unique place?
What cultural/human characteristics are
unique to Sugar Land?
REGION
“How are places
similar or different?”

definition = area of earth’s surface with similar
characteristics

Geographers categorize regions in 3 ways:
A. formal regions
B. functional regions
C. perceptual/vernacular regions
REGION
Formal (uniform) regions:
Defined by govn’t. (USA, Brazil, Texas)
 Or physical features (Rockies, Great Lake
States)
 Or common
characteristic
(Corn Belt,
Rust Belt)

REGION

Functional regions: organized around
a set of interactions and connection
between places (usually characterized by a
hub, or central place, and links to the central place)
a newspaper’s
distribution route

REGION

Vernacular/Perceptual regions:
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
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people perceive the characteristics of the region in
the same way (loosely defined)
The Middle East (what countries are actually
included? Is it linked b/c of oil? Islam?)
Bible Belt – southeastern states in U.S. = strict
Protestants
Perceptual Region

The states in dark
red are almost
always included in
modern day
definitions of the
Southern United
States, while those in
medium red are
usually included.
Those cross-shaded
are sometimes
included due to their
historic connections
to the South.
Uses of Geography

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Historians use geography
to understand history.
Not only do they look at
when things happened,
but where and why they
happened.
Geography helps people
understand the present
as well as the past.
Uses of Geography


Geographers use many
tools including maps,
charts, and graphs.
High-tech tools such as
satellites provide detailed
images
Computer databases, like
Geographic Information
Systems, (GIS) store
huge amounts of data.
Satellite image of Texas,
Louisiana and the Gulf of
Mexico