“THERE CAN BE NO GEOGRAPHY WITHOUT PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY!” “GEOGRAPHY IS A LIGHT IN THE MIND NOT A LOAD ON THE MEMORY!”

The following has been used to describe PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: the basis the basis the groundwork the groundwork the background the background As you read the next few slides think of how each point comes into your life from time to time (eg., history, travel, leisure, work, etc.) What is Physical Geography

“Everything relates to Geography. Read the list below and connect the item to Physical Geography: construction of a building construction of a building growing of crops growing of crops a ski trip a ski trip a vacation in the sun a vacation in the sun a boating trip a boating trip the location of a city the location of a city the location of a factory the location of a factory flying in an air plane flying in an air plane star exploration star exploration your health your health

Geography comes from the Greek word geo - meaning earth and the word graphen - meaning to write. It is essential that Geographers understand: Spatial thinking The earth’s systems Location and time on earth Maps, scale and projections GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing

Geography (or the Science of Geography) is studied using five basic themes: 1.Location 2.Place 3.Movement 4.Region 5.Human-Earth Relationships

Physical Geography concerns itself with: The Shape and Form of the Earth The Shape and Form of the Earth erosion erosion rivers, glaciers rivers, glaciers mountains, plains mountains, plains natural disasters natural disasters The Make - Up of the Earth The Make - Up of the Earth rocks and minerals rocks and minerals The Seas & Oceans The Seas & Oceans water and fish water and fish

The Atmosphere The Atmosphere climate and weather climate and weather Soils and Vegetation Soils and Vegetation plant life, farming plant life, farming The Role of the Earth in the The Role of the Earth in the Solar System Solar System Earth’s energy balance, planets, stars Earth’s energy balance, planets, stars The Role of Humans in all of the above The Role of Humans in all of the above how humans interact with all of the above how humans interact with all of the above

Physical Geography is broken up into what we call THE EARTH SCIENCES: ASTRONOMY study of heavenly bodies solar system earth’s role GEOLOGY composition and structure of the earth study of rocks and minerals GEOMORPHOLOGY shapes of the earth earthquakes, volcanoes, rivers, glaciers etc. plate tectonics erosion

ECOLOGY study of life and the environment (interactions) pollution ecozones, biomes, or biosphere OCEANOGRAPHY oceans and shorelines marine biology CLIMATOLOGY types of world climate the climate of the earth METEOROLOGY study of weather mapping weather study of storms

PEDOLOGY study of soils BOTANY (flora) plant life - vegetation agriculture biology ZOOLOGY (fauna) study of animal life animals and their environment MINERALOGY (Minerals), PALAEONTOLOGY (Fossils), PETROLOGY (Rocks), and BIOLOGY (Living Things) are some others.

How humans interact with their Physical and Natural Environment is a key topic that will appear throughout the course. Humans interact with things that are not alive like rocks and minerals and mountains - abiotic. Humans interact with the living things on the earth like other humans, animals and plants - biotic. Humans interact with the living things on the earth like other humans, animals and plants - biotic. There has never really been a balance in these interactions. They have always favoured humans. We are now beginning to pay for this imbalance.

Physical Geography can be broadly defined as the study of the make up of the earth and its relationship to the life and needs of humans. In order to understand the place of humans on earth we must know something about our surroundings (where one lives -- one’s environment). In order to understand the place of humans on earth we must know something about our surroundings (where one lives -- one’s environment).

Before we can study humans themselves -- (that is their culture, their languages, their religions, their economies, their history) -- we must look at how humans ADAPT to the earth’s conditions or how humans try to CONTROL and take advantage of these conditions. These earth conditions are also studied in this course. Let us first investigate the various spheres that make up the earth. Let us first investigate the various spheres that make up the earth.

Try and explain the processes that helped create the following images (one image per slide):

The End - move on to the slide show on the Earth’s Spheres