What is Geography? SOL WG.1a

1. What is Geography?SOL WG.1a

2. Geography • Geography is the study of the distribution and interaction of physical and human features on the earth’s surface

3. Tools that Geographers Use • Geographers use many different types of tools in order to understand the earth and how people interact with the earth

4. Maps and Globes • The two most important tools geographers use are maps and globes. Maps are two dimensional representations of the earth’s surface and globes are three dimensional representations of the earth’s surface.

5. Other Tools • GIS • Field Work • Satellite Images • Photographs • Databases • Primary Sources • Diagrams

6. GIS • GIS stands for Geographic Information System (Page 12) • A GIS combines information about a place from several sources such as databases, maps, and satellite images in order to solve a problem

7. Field Work • Field work is when a geographer travels to a location in order to study it. The geographer may interview people, take pictures, use surveying equipment, or make personal observations.

8. Satellite Images • Satellites are human made objects that orbit the earth. • Landsat - A series of satellites that orbit more than 100 miles above the earth. • Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite (GOES) http://www.oso.noaa.gov/goes/ http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/about/

9. Photographs • Geographers can take aerial photographs from airplanes in order to better understand an area.

10. Databases • A database is a collection of information in a computer. The data can be anything from the different ethnic groups that live in an area to how much the average family earns in a year.

11. Primary Sources • Geographers often rely on direct observation in studying the earth and patterns of human activity. Primary sources can be books, articles, interviews, and pictures to name a few.