Unit 1 Physical Geography

1
Unit 1Physical Geography

• Chapter 1

2
What is Physical Geography?

• Write 2 sentences about what YOU think physical
  geography is
• You have 3 minutes

3
Geography

• The study of the physical and human landscapes of
  Earth and the interaction between the two
• Physical Geography the study of Earths
  physical features
• Human (Cultural) Geography the study of human
  activities and their relationship to the cultural
  and physical environments
• Geographers specialize on the interaction between
  humans and the Earth

4
Physical Environment

• Consists of physical features that occur
  naturally
• 4 Major Components
• Water
• Natural Vegetation
• Landforms and rocks
• Weather and Climate

5
Rocky Mts.
Rio Grande
Carlsbad Caverns
Red Sands
White Sands
Elephant Butte
6
Exploring Geography

• The world is usually described in spatial terms
• Spatial relations- refer to the links that places
  and people have to one another because of their
  location
• You could use the terms-
• Absolute location
• Relative location

7
I. Absolute Location

• Absolute location - The exact spot at which the
  place is found on the globe
• To determine absolute location, geographers use
  imaginary lines around the earth
• What lines are they?

8
Imaginary Lines

• Equator divides the earth into Northern and
  Southern hemispheres
• Prime Meridian divides the earth into Eastern
  and Western hemispheres (Greenwich, England)
• Latitude degrees north or south of the equator
  (0-90)
• Longitude degrees east or west of the Prime
  Meridian (0-180)

9
Compass RoseActivity

• Do you know how to tell direction?
• In your notebook write down the saying you know
  in order to find out direction
• Do not share your answer with anyone

10
Equator Prime MeridianIn which
hemisphere do you live?
11
Grid System

• Grid System - Used to identify absolute location
  of any place on Earth
• Measured in degrees and direction
• What lines are measured with degrees?
• How is direction measured?

12
Grid System
13
World Map Activity

• Each person needs a blank world map
• Locate the following
• North Pole
• South Pole
• Equator
• Eastern Hemisphere
• Western Hemisphere
• Prime Meridian
• Northern Hemisphere
• Southern Hemisphere
• Tropic of Cancer
• Tropic of Capricorn
• Draw your Compass Rose and identify degrees

14
Grid System Activity

• You will have a partner
• Latitude is measured 0-90 North or South
• Longitude is measured 0-180 West or East
• When plotting it goes latitude then longitude Ex
  (5N, 125)
• Locate the following absolute locations
• (15S, 60W)
• (28S, 125E)
• (35N, 130E)

15
II. Relative Location

• Relative location - location of a place in
  relation to other places
• This is usually how we determine location
• Socorro High School is next to Churches Chicken
  or Vista
• Identify 5 different places using relative
  location

16
III. Places

• Place a particular space with physical and
  human meaning
• Every place has its own unique characteristics,
  determined by the surrounding environment and the
  people who live there
• What is the most important place to you in the
  world and why?

17
IV. Regions

• Region a group of places united by similar
  characteristics
• May be physical such as soil type, vegetation and
  climate
• Or by human factors such as language, religion,
  forms of government, etc
• Name 5 regions that you already know

18
Three types of Regions

• Formal (uniform) defined by a common
  characteristics such as a product produced there
  or climate experienced there
• The Corn Belt Iowa-Illinois area in the US
• Common Characteristic?
• Islamic World Middle East
• Common Characteristic?

19
Functional Region

• Functional - a central place and the surrounding
  area linked to it
• Group of places that help each other function
• Metropolitan areas such as LA or Tokyo
• What common characteristics do these areas have?

20
Perceptual Region

• Perceptual - defined by popular feelings and
  images rather than by objective data
• Heartland
• Its what YOU think an area is
• Hollywood!

21
Perceptual Region Activity
WEST SIDE LOWER VALLEY
EAST SIDE NORTHEAST
Write 10 characteristics about each area
22
V. Physical Systems

• Physical Systems-The physical processes that
  shape the patterns on Earths surface

El Paso Floods
Volcanoes
Hurricane Katrina
23
Ecosystems

• Ecosystems- Community of plants and animals that
  depend upon one another, and their surroundings
  for survival
• Geography look at how physical features interact
  with the ecosystems

24
ECOSYSTEMS! Name 5 different processes within
Ecosystems
25
VI. Human Systems

• Geographers study how people shape the Earth
• Theme in Geography MOVEMENT
• Movement ongoing movement of people, goods and
  ideas
• People compete or cooperate with each other to
  either change or control aspects of the Earth to
  meet their needs
• Write 2 sentences as to why you think movement is
  important..

26
VII. Human-Environment Interaction

• Another theme of Geography
• HEI- The study of the interrelationship between
  people and their physical environment
• Environment
• Mountains and deserts often pose barriers to
  human movement
• Humans
• Building a dam, alters the physical environment

27
Examples of Human-Environment Interaction

• How do people use their environment?
• How and why have they changed it?
• What consequences result from those changes?

28
Use of Geography

• Geography gives us insight into how physical
  features and living things develop in the past
• It is important to apply all these concepts with
  events that are going on in the world TODAY!!

29
Geographers Craft

• Geographers use tools to help them analyze
  information
• Population Pyramids
• Population Density Maps
• GPS (Global Positioning System)
• GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
• Cartography
• Direct Observation
• Interviewing
• Statistics
• Technology

30
Writing Journal

• What is the study of Geography?
• What tools do geographers use?