Introduction to GeographyIntroduction to Geography

Themes and Map Skills….Pay attention or you Themes and Map Skills….Pay attention or you will be lost all year!!!!!!!!!!!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. Geographer-

A 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 featuresPlant 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:LandReligious freedomEconomicsPolitical freedom

What else moves?Goods (Products)IdeasInformation

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!!!!!!!!!!!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

Forms Bodies of Water

Evaporation

Precipitation

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.