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Do Now. Define Physical and Human Geography. The Branches of Geography. Page 18-22. Branches of Geography. Geography is like a puzzle because it is made up of many branches or division Two main branches:
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Do Now • Define Physical and Human Geography.
The Branches of Geography Page 18-22
Branches of Geography • Geography is like a puzzle because it is made up of many branches or division • Two main branches: • Physical Geography: Study of the world’s physical features- its landforms, bodies of water, climates, soils, and plants. • Human Geography: Study of the world’s people, communities, and landscapes
Physical Geography • Physical geographers want to know about all of the physical features on our planet. • What are some examples of physical features? • Most importantly, they want to know what causes the shapes on the Earth – why do mountains rise where they do? Why do rivers flow in certain directions? Etc. • To find these answers, physical geographers take detailed measurements and track changes over time.
Physical Geography Cont’d • The major reason geographers study the physical world is to learn how it works. • This branch of geography can also help us prepare for changes on our planet. • For example – knowing what causes volcanoes to erupt helps us predict eruptions.
Human Geography • Human geographers study the past and present people of the world. • They study populations of areas, what people do, what people have, what makes them move from place to place, etc. • Because this is such a broad term, human geographers usually specialize in a small area of study for example: lives in a certain region or comparing economic patterns around the world.
Uses of Human Geography • Human geographers study how people in various places address their needs. • Their knowledge helps us understand people in other cultures. • Human geographers can help design cities/towns because they understand what people need.
Other Fields of Geo. • Cartography: The science of map making. • Today maps are made by computers, but they used to be hand drawn. Hydrology: The study of water on Earth. They study the world’s rainfall patters and river systems – what causes floods, etc. Meteorology: The study of weather and what causes it.