Download Introduction to Geography

Introduction to Geography
Themes and Map Skills….Pay attention or you
will be lost all year!!!!!!!!!!!
Geography…What the heck is it?
 The word GEO is Greek in origin. What does it
mean?
Geo means Earth.
Graphien means graphing or drawing.
 Geography-
The study of the design of the Earth.
 GeographerA person who studies the Earth and it’s people.
How are WE going to study Geography?
 All year long, we are going to study 5 Themes of
geography.
Theme 1- Location
 Location asks the question “Where is it?”
 2 Types:
1) Absolute: Where is it exactly?

Answer makes reference to coordinates on a map
or grid system.
2) Relative: Where is it in relation to
something else?

Answer makes reference to surrounding cities or
geographical landmarks.
Theme 2- Place
 Place asks the question “What is it like
there?”
 Place includes the following
characteristics:
Physical features
Plant and Animal life (Flora and Fauna)
Human Features- language,
culture, etc.
Activities- Things to do there.
Theme 3- Human and Environmental
Interaction
 Human and Environmental Interaction asks
the question “What is the relationship
between people and their environment?”
 This theme answers the following
questions…
What are the desirable and undesirable
features?
How do people adapt to their environment?
How do people change their place?
What problems are created by man?
Theme 4- Movement
 Movement asks the question “How are people and
places connected?”
 Reasons people move:
Land
Religious freedom
Economics
Political freedom
 What else moves?
Goods (Products)
Ideas
Information
Theme 5- Region
 Region asks the question “Why do
geographers divide the world into regions?”
Dividing the world makes things easier to
understand.
 What kinds of regions are there?
Physical- mts., rivers, continents, and
hemispheres
Human- Language, customs, and region
Political- Borders and boundaries
Themes in a Nutshell
 Theme 1- Location
 Theme 2- Place
 Theme 3- Human and Environmental Interaction
 Theme 4- Movement
 Theme 5- Region
How do Geographers do their jobs?
 Geographers use tools such as…
Maps.
 Who makes maps?
Cartographers are mapmakers.
Lines on Maps!!!!!!
 Maps have 2 sets of lines.
Latitude- “Flat” lines
-They go East to West and separate North
from South.
-Each Latitude line has a degree.
-The Central Latitude line is called the
Equator. It is 0* Latitude.
-Anything above the Equator is known as
North Latitude. Below the Equator is
known as South Latitude.
More Lines on Maps!!!!!!
 Longitude- “Long” lines. These lines go North to
South, and separate East from West.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF
LATITUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-The central line of Longitude is called the
Prime Meridian. It measures 0* Longitude.
-This line runs directly through Greenwich,
England.
-Anything to the left of the Prime Meridian is
West Longitude.
-Anything to the right of the Prime Meridian is
East Longitude.
Hemispheres….What are they, and
why do we care?
 What does Hemi mean?
Hemi means half.
 What does Sphere
mean?
Sphere means a
3D circle.
Earth is a 3D circle!
 Knowing what the
words mean, we can
ascertain that a
hemisphere is 1 half of
a circle or sphere.
WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!
The Earth Itself
 Earth is made up of three things…
Water…
Land…
Air…
What is the water part of the Earth called?
Hydrosphere:
-70% of the Earth’s surface is oceans, rivers,
and lakes.
-Of this 70%, 97% is salt water, and 3% is fresh.
Land on Earth
 Land is part of the Earth
as well.
 What is the land portion
of the earth called?
Lithosphere:
Accounts for
30% of the
Earth’s surface…
Air on Earth
 Air is part of the Earth as well.
 What is the air part of the Earth called?
Atmosphere:
-The atmosphere starts at the ground and
goes up for 1000 miles.
-78% of air is Nitrogen, and 21% is
Oxygen.
-1% is other gases.
Life on Earth
 What do you call the part of the Earth where life
exists?
Biosphere:
This includes all life on earth.
Earth and it’s Landforms….
 There are naturally occurring land features on
the surface of the Earth.
 The largest of these features are continents.
Where are the continents located?
Continents are enormous chunks of rock
that float upon the earth’s mantle.
What is the largest and the smallest?
Australia is the smallest…The largest is
Asia.
 Major Land Formations:
Mountains
 Hills
 Plateaus
 Plains

 Mountains and hills are called highlands.
What is the difference between a mountain and
a hill?
A mountain has a summit or a peak, and
a
hill does not.
Other Land Forms
 Valley
 Canyon
 Peninsula
 Island
 Archipelago
What is an archipelago?
A group of islands.
Can anyone name one?
Hawaii
***Note- Even the ocean has “landforms” in it.
Water Features of the Earth
 Oceans-
-70% of the Earth is covered in water.
-There are four Oceans.
Can anyone name them?
Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, and Indian
 Within the Oceans are seas, bays, and gulfs.
Lakes, Streams, and Rivers
 Lake:
-Body of water completely surrounded by
land.
-most are formed by glaciers.
-Most are fresh water
 Stream:
-Body of water flowing through land.
 River:
-Begins in mountains; made up of streams.
-Empty into a large body of water.
Why are these water features
important?
 Drinking
 Farming
 Manufacturing
 How much of Earth’s water in in Lakes, Streams, and
Rivers?
These features make up 3% of the water on Earth.
 2% of Earth’s water is locked up in glaciers and ice
caps.
Where is the rest of the water?
 Groundwater-
-Found underground in wells and springs.
-These get filled up by rain and melted snow.
 Water Cycle-The regular movement of water from the oceans
to the air to the ground and then back to the ocean.
-People freak out because only 3% of the water is
fresh, but they shouldn’t….
Today’s Earth
 Earth today has as much water as there ever
was, and as much as there will ever
be….why?
-Stages of the water cycle
Evaporation: Changing of a liquid to gas as a
result of heat.
Precipitation: Clouds release moisture like
rain, snow, et cetera.
Forms bodies of water: rivers, lakes, and
streams that lead to the ocean.
*****This cycle repeats itself*****
The amount of water that evaporates is
approximately equal to the amount of water
that falls to the earth as rainfall or other
precipitation.
Earths water makeup!!!!!!!!!
Fresh Water 3%
Salt Water 97%
Earth’s Water Cycle
Precipitation
Forms Bodies of Water
Evaporation
Earth’s Resources
 Natural Resources:
Elements: of the Earth not made by people.
Minerals: Substances of the earth that are not
living. Examples are gold, silver, and salt.
Fuels: (Fossil) Formed from the remains of
plants and animals. Examples are coal, oil,
and natural gas.
Renewable and Non-Renewable
Resources
 Renewable: Replace themselves naturally.
Examples are plants, forests, and animal life.
 Non-Renewable: Resources that can never
be replaced. Examples are most minerals
and fossil fuels.