GEOGRAPHY 1

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
LESSON1 AND LESSON 2

Lesson 1:Basic Concepts of Geography

Lesson 2: Major Perspectives in Physical Geography

Petersen et.al define Geography refers to the examination, description and explanation of
earth---its variability from place to place, how places and features change overtime and the
processes responsible for these variations and changes. The word “Geography” is derived from the
Greek word “geo” which means earth and “graphe” which means picture or description. Putting
them together, “the earth’s description”.
It’s subject matter is the earth’s surface and the processes that shape it, the relationship
between people and environment and the connections between people and places.
The focus of study of physical geography is on the processes and features of earth including
human activities where they interface with the environment meaning that we often consider both
human and natural phenomena relevant to understanding aspects of our planet.

Other studies related to Physical Geography:

1. Climatology is the study that deals with regional climates, the averages and extremes of
weather data, understanding climatic hazards and the impact of climate on human activities.

2.Geomorphology-is the study of the characteristics of landforms and how interactions between
earth processes and surface materials contribute to their development and modification.

3.Biogeography-involves studying the geographic ranges and patterns of vegetation or animal

species seeking to discover the environmental factors that limit or facilitate their distributions.

MAJOR PERSPECTIVES IN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

1. Spatial Perspective-physical geographers have varied interests but they share the common goals
of understanding and explaining partial variations on earth’s surface. The following five examples
illustrate spatial factors that geographers typically consider and the problems they address. In
keeping with the quote from “Geography Life” that geography is about asking question and solving
problems, some questions have been included for each topic:

a.) Location-Geographic knowledge and studies often begin with locational information-Describing
a location usually uses one of the two methods: absolute location-which is expressed by a
coordinate system (or address) and relative location-which identifies where a feature is in relation
to something else, usually a fairly well-known location.

b.) Characteristics of Places-Physical geographers are interested in the environmental features

and processes that make a place unique and in the shared characteristics between places.

c.) Spatial Distribution-a locational characteristic that refers to the extent of the area or areas
where a feature exists. Ex. where on earth do we find the tropical rainforests? What is the
distribution of the rainfall in USA or any particular area?

d.) Spatial Pattern-refers to the arrangement of features in space; are they regular or random?
clustered together or widely spaced? The distribution of population can be either dense or sparse?

e. Spatial Interaction-few process on earth operate in isolation because area on our planet are
interconnected (linked to conditions elsewhere on earth), a condition, an occurrence or a process
in one place generally has an impact on other places.

2. Physical Science Perspective-Physical geographers observe phenomena and compile and

compile data to find solution to problems and answers to questions that are also of interest to
researchers in other physical sciences. Ex. Physical geographers who specialize in climatology share
many ideas and information with atmospheric physicists. Soil geographers’ study some of the same
elements and compounds analyzed by chemists. Bio geographers are concerned about environments
that support the same plants and animals that are classified by biologists.

A. Earth System-the analysis of systems provides physical geographers with an ideal method for
studying relationships that affect Earth’s features and environments. The important concepts of
earth system are:

1.A System-is any entity that consists of interrelated parts or components.

2.Earth System (Our Planetary Environment)-relies on the interactions among a vast combination
of factors that enable it to support life.
3.The individual component of a system is termed as variables, change by interacting with one
another as parts of a functioning unit. A change in one aspect of the Earth System affects certain
other parts.
4.System can be divided into subsystems, which are functioning units of a major system that
demonstrate strong internal connections.

B. Earth’s Major Subsystems-Earth has four major subsystems:

1.Hydrosphere-includes the waters of the earth, oceans, lakes, rivers and glaciers.
2.Lithosphere-makes up the solid earth; the landforms, rocks, soils and minerals.
3.Biosphere-is composed of all living things people, other animals and plants.
4.Atmosphere or Geosphere-this includes the climate and the weather.

Earth Impacts-the earth system is dynamic continually responding to changes-----the seasons, the
ocean tides, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions. Other environmental changes may take years
or more than a lifetime, to accumulate enough modification so that humans can recognize their
impact. Changes of this include shifts in world climates, drought cycles, the spread of deserts,
worldwide rise or fall in sea level, erosion of coastlines and major changes in river systems.
Changes on earth may be naturally caused or human induced or may be result from a combination
of these factors.

3.Environmental Perspective-concerned about how the environment and ecology are affected by
human activities.

Environment can be defined as our surroundings including all physical, social and cultural aspects
of our world that affect our growth, our health and our way of living. Environments are systems
composed of a wide variety of elements and processes that involve interconnections among
weather, climate, soils, rocks, terrain, plants, animals, water, and humans. The following are the
integral parts of an environmental system:

1.Ecosytems-The study of relationships between organisms and their environments is the science
of ecology. An ecosystem is dynamic in that it’s various parts are always changing. For instance,
plants grow, rain falls, animals eat and soils develop---all affecting the environment of a particular
ecosystem.

2.A Life Support System-earth’s most critical characteristic is that it is a life-support system. On
earth, natural processes produce an adequate supply of oxygen; the sun interacts with the
atmosphere, oceans and land to maintain tolerable temperatures and photosynthesis or other
processes provide food supplies for living things.

3.Sustainable Living-today we realize that critical parts our planet’s life support system, natural
resources can be abused, wasted or exhausted potentially threatening the earth’s ability to support
human life. We are rapidly depleting nonrenewable natural resources like coal and oil which once
exhausted will not be replaced. The reason behind it’s because of man’s exceeding the natural
productivity of earth’s environments. These overtaxed resources include forests, agricultural soils,
water resources and food resources from the oceans. This problem of using more resources in a
year than their annual renewal, growth or replacement is called environmental overshoot.