Earth Science Tradition

THE FOUR TH TR ADI TI ON OF G EOG R A PHY

History
Ancient Greece: Aristotle - started a wide-ranging study of natural processes in and near the surface of the earth Varenius - rejuvenated this study in the 17th century as Geographia Generalis. This is the tradition that has been subjected to subdivision as the development of science has approached the present day yielding mineralogy, paleontology, glaciology, meterology and other specialized fields of learning.

1930: EST declining in the US 1950: EST weak

Physical geography is often included in studying geography and even omitted 1960s: earth science pendulum began to swing back

Earth Science (Physical Geography): deals with real world, more scientific, exact

William D. Pattison

EARTH SCIENCE TRADITION

The study of the earth as the environment and

habitat of humans.

The primary concern of physical geographers, acting within the earth science tradition, is the

interplay between the encompassing physical world and the activities of humans.
The earth science tradition, embracing study of the earth, the waters of the earth, the atmosphere surrounding the earth and the association between earth and sun.

The spatial tradition abstracts certain aspects of reality;

The area studies is distinguished by a point of view;

The man-land tradition dwells upon relationships; The earth science tradition, on the other hand, is identifiable through concrete objects.

FIELDS:
Physical geography The lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere
Earth-sun interaction

The study of the earth as the home to humans Matt Rosenberg

EARTH SCIENCE TRADITION

The study of planet earth as the home of humanity
Acknowledges the human impact on the planet to an extent not seen in most other natural sciences, but the focus remains on the planet itself and its

physical processes

Sources:
Pattison, William D. (1963.) The Four Traditions of Geography. Journal of Geography, 1964, pp 211 216.