Physical Geography
The Earth as a Rotating Planet.
What is Geography- writing about the earth.
1. Much more than place names and locations.
2. The study of spatial variation.
3. How and Why things differ from place to place. On the surface of the earth.
4. How observable spatial patterns evolved through time.
5. Focus on the interaction of people and social groups with their environment
6. Geography is about space and the content of space.
Geographers try to answer three questions. Where? Why there? Why do we care? Physical Geography Focus is on the natural environment.
Some Core Geographic Concepts
Spatial- is an essential modifier in forming questions and framing concepts. Geography is a spatial science The geographer’s space is the earth space The way things are distributed. The way movements occur
Basic observations regarding places: They have location, direction, and distance with respect to other places. They have size. They have both physical structure and cultural content. Their attributes develop and change over time. Their elements interrelate with other places. They may be generalized into regions of similarities and differences.
Absolute Location Based on a precise and accepted system of coordinates mathematical location Latittude and longitude Other grid systems, UTM, SPC Suny Rockland Community College . 41.13208 North . -74.08404 West
Relative Location- is the position of one place with respect to another place or set of places.(e.g-Central Valley is north of Suffern, NY)
Direction
Absolute Direction- Based on the cardinal points(N-S-E_W)
Relative Direction Culturally based and locationally variable
What is Geography- writing about the earth.
1. Much more than place names and locations.
2. The study of spatial variation.
3. How and Why things differ from place to place. On the surface of the earth.
4. How observable spatial patterns evolved through time.
5. Focus on the interaction of people and social groups with their environment
6. Geography is about space and the content of space.
Geographers try to answer three questions. Where? Why there? Why do we care? Physical Geography Focus is on the natural environment.
Some Core Geographic Concepts
Spatial- is an essential modifier in forming questions and framing concepts. Geography is a spatial science The geographer’s space is the earth space The way things are distributed. The way movements occur
Basic observations regarding places: They have location, direction, and distance with respect to other places. They have size. They have both physical structure and cultural content. Their attributes develop and change over time. Their elements interrelate with other places. They may be generalized into regions of similarities and differences.
Absolute Location Based on a precise and accepted system of coordinates mathematical location Latittude and longitude Other grid systems, UTM, SPC Suny Rockland Community College . 41.13208 North . -74.08404 West
Relative Location- is the position of one place with respect to another place or set of places.(e.g-Central Valley is north of Suffern, NY)
Direction
Absolute Direction- Based on the cardinal points(N-S-E_W)
Relative Direction Culturally based and locationally variable