what is geography
TRANSCRIPT
What is Human Geography – Key Questions
1. What is human geography? 2. What are geographic questions? 3. Why do geographers use maps, and what
do maps tell us? 4. Why are geographers concerned with scale
and connectedness? 5. What are geographic concepts, and how
are they used in answering geographic questions?
What is Geography?Geography is a representation of the whole known world together with the phenomena which are contained therein.
Ptolemy, Geographia 2nd Century A.D.
Geography is the science of place. Its vision is grand, i ts view panoramic. It sweeps the surface of the Earth, charting the physical, organic and cultural terrain, their areal differentiation, and their ecological dynamics with humankind. Its foremost tool is the map.
Leonard Krishtalka, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 20th Century A.D.
Divisions of GeographyPhysical Geography Human/Cultural Geography Rocks and Minerals Population Landforms Settlements Soils Economic Activities Animals Transportation Plants Recreational Activities Water Religion Atmosphere Political Systems Rivers and Other Water Bodies Social Traditions Environment Human Migration Climate and Weather Agricultural Systems
GeotechniquesGIS, GPS, Remote-Sensing, Cartography
Geography is a bridge between the natural and social sciences. Geography is a holistic or synthesizing science.
The Five Themes of Geography
Human features
Physical featuresRegion united by similar physical conditions
United by common cultural traits
People adapt to the environment
People change the environment
Absolute location (latitude and longitude)
Relative location (in relation to another place)
Travel from place to place
Exchange of goods and ideas
Location
Movement
Place
Region
Human-Earth Interaction
Geography of FoodFood Place of Invention Current Production
coffee Ethiopia Tropics
oranges South Asia, India US, Mediterranean
pork China, South Asia Worldwide
wheat Near East US, Russia, Argentina
tea China Asia
oats Near East Temperate Climates
pepper South America S. America, Worldwide
The effects of the global food price changes detailed in this graph must be understood in geographic context.
Coffee Consumption (per capita)
#1 Norway: 10.7 kgs
#2 Finland: 10.1 kgs
#3 Denmark: 9.7 kgs
#4 Sweden: 7.8 kgs
#5 Netherlands: 7.1 kgs
#6 Switzerland: 7 kgs
#7 Germany: 5.7 kgs
#8 Austria: 5.5 kgs
#9 Belgium: 5 kgs
#10 France: 3.9 kgs
#11 Italy: 3.2 kgs
#12 United States: 3 kgs
Top Ten Coffee Growing Countries (Yellow)
First domesticated in Ethiopia, coffee has come to be a major export crop for colonial countries and continues to provide much of the export income in these less developed countries. In Uganda, 70-80% of export revenue is generated by coffee. Many issues are raised by the continuation of such colonial economics.
COFFEE PRODUCTION
Tilt of the earth on its axis. The earth is tilted 23.5º from perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.
Tilt is currently constantly toward Polaris
Animation
Geographic Information Science (GIS) GIS is "an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data,
and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze,
and display all forms of geographically referenced information."
Click on the map above to use the National Atlas of the United States.
A suburb of Algiers, Algeria
What do the patterns, textures, and shapes visible in this image tell us about this place?
Jobs in GeographyAerial Photo Interpreter Facilities Planner Land Developer
Site Researcher Agricultural Extension Agent Forestry Technician
Land Economist Soil Conservationist Air/Water Quality Control Manager
Geographer Land-Use Analyst Surveyor
Cartographer Geographic Area Specialist Location Expert
Systems Analyst Cartography Compiler Geographic Attache'
Map Analyst Teacher Climatologist
Geographic Information Systems Map Curator/Librarian Traffic Manager
Coastal Zone Manager Geophysics Assistant Map Editor
Transportation Analyst Community Developer Hazardous Waste Planner
Market Research Analyst Transportation Manager Computer Mapper
Health Services Planner Natural Resources Spec. Travel Agent/Specialist
Computer Programmer Health Services Organization Manager Outdoor Guide
Urban/Regional Planner Demographer Hydrologist
Park Ranger Weather Forecaster Earth Scientist
Industrial Developer Peace Corp Volunteer Wildlife Manager
Ecologist Industrial Planner Property Manager
Writer/Author Editor Intelligence Agent
Public Utilities Specialist Zoning Investigator Env. Impact Analyst
International Business Rep Real Estate Agent/Broker/Appraiser Environmental Quality Specialist
International Investment Analyst Remote Sensing Analyst College/University Professor
International Investment Analyst Remote Sensing Analyst College/University Professor
Famous Geography Students
Mother Teresa - Taught Geography and History in Calcutta for 15 Years
Prince William of Wales – Majored in Geography at University of Saint Andrews, Scotland
Michael Jordan – Majored in Cultural Geography at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Immanuel Kant – the famous philosopher also taught everything from geography to physics.