PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY:

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PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY CONCEPTS AND PERSPECTIVES
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• Geography Study of locations and distributions
  of phenomena, and their interrelationships on
  earth.
• Where (Locations / Distributions) Descriptive
  Geography,
• Why and How (Explanations, Generalizations,
  Theory) Analytic Geography
• What Implications/Consequences
• (Finding Solutions) Applied Geography

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• Physical geography is the study of the
  geographic patterns of the earths physical
  environment.
• The environment we live in affects our daily
  lives
• from what we wear, to how we get around,
• to the type of jobs we may have, and how our
  homes may be built.
• It affects the quality of the air we breathe and
  the water we drink.
• It affects what we can grow in our gardens, and
  thus the food we eat.
• the environment is critical to evaluating the
  impacts of these policy decisions.
• It emphasizes the man and environment
  interrelationship

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Geographers study all kinds of phenomena, both
Physical and Human
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• Physical Geography Physical Sciences
• Human Geography Social Sciences
• Mother of all Sciences- Encompasses both
  Physical and Human aspects
• Not defined by phenomena studied, but by the
  Spatial Approach
• (A meta discipline like History, which is
  defined by its temporal approach)
• Known as a holistic/integrative discipline

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• Major Perspectives and Concepts
• Spatial Science Perspective
• Location
• Absolute Location,
• Relative Location
• Region Place, (Single-feature,
  Multiple-feature) vs. Functional Regions
• Spatial Distributions Spatial Patterns
• (Arrangements of features in space)
• regular, random, clustered, dispersed?
• Spatial Interactions Spatial Links among
  features, Interconnectedness, Mutual Impacts
• Changes Spatial and Temporal

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• 2. Physical Science Perspective
• Science is the systematic and organized inquiry
  into the natural world and its phenomena.
  Science is about gaining a deeper and often
  useful understanding of the world.
• Views earth as a dynamic System that interact
  as a functioning unit Feedbacks between the 4
  subsystems
• . The Earth System 4 Subsystems Atmosphere,
  Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere
• Emphasizes the Scientific Method Observation
• Hypothesis
• Explanation Theory

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Geographers also apply Systems Theory and
Systems Analysis
Equilibrium in the Earth System
(The Hydrologic Cycle)
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The earths physical environment its
atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and
lithosphere change from place to place, and
because these characteristics affects our
every-day lives, it is important to know what the
physical environment is like in different places
and why. The earth is our home. We have no
place else to go. As a result, we should know
something about how our home works, about why
earth is the way it is. Why are places the way
they are?
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• 3. Environmental Science Perspective
• Views earth as an Ecosystem
• Everything in the natural world is connected. An
  ecosystem is a community of living and non-living
  things that work together.
• Human-Environment Interactions (Earth Impacts,
  Human Impacts)
• Combines Environmental Science and Systems
  Perspectives
• Natural Events System vs. Human Use System
  (Hazards, Disasters)

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• A Life-support System Human Use (natural
  resources) and Abuse (pollution, etc.) of the
  environment

Need for Sustainable Development
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Tools of the Physical Geographer

• Maps and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Data Gathering aerial photos, GPS, Remote
  Sensing (Satellite and Radar Imagery) surveying,
  fieldwork
• Mathematical/Statistical/Conceptual Models

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• Geographers use Models Physical,
  Pictorial/Graphic, Mathematical/Statistical,
  Conceptual Models to study and analyze Systems

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Physical Geography and YOU

• Characteristics of the Physical Environment
  Affect Our Lives Every Day
• Physical Geography Knowledge Helps Us Make
  Informed Choices and Decisions
• in our personal situations, e.g., adjusting to
  anticipated weather conditions, and
• in job situations where maps and spatial
  analytical skills are prized

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The Blue Planet

• Earths incredible environmental diversity an
  oasis of life in the vastness of space