Chapter 1Chapter 1The Geographer’s The Geographer’s

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Section 1Section 1The Six Elements of The Six Elements of

GeographyGeography

The World in Spatial TermsThe World in Spatial Terms

Geography-Geography-is the study of the special is the study of the special physical and human characteristics physical and human characteristics of a place or region.of a place or region.

An important part of geography is the An important part of geography is the relationship between humans and relationship between humans and their their environment.environment.

Environment-Environment-physical surroundings.physical surroundings.

The World in Spatial TermsThe World in Spatial Terms

A geographer might also study A geographer might also study culture.culture.

Culture-Culture-aa learned system of sharedlearned system of shared beliefs, traits, and values.beliefs, traits, and values.– Example:Example: Texas Texas

BigBigCover approximately 267,000 square milesCover approximately 267,000 square miles22ndnd largest state (in both size and largest state (in both size and

population)population)

The World in Spatial TermsThe World in Spatial Terms

Geographers Geographers look at where things are look at where things are on the Earth’s surface.on the Earth’s surface.ie…Location of Texas cities:ie…Location of Texas cities:

Near Near water sourceswater sources Near Near transportation centerstransportation centers (highways, (highways,

rivers, and railroads)rivers, and railroads) Near a Near a larger city larger city (Pearland is close to (Pearland is close to

Houston)Houston)

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Different tools of a Geographer:Different tools of a Geographer:

MAPSMAPS

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Charts & GraphsCharts & Graphs

Navigation Tools Increasing Population of Texas

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Satellites Satellites

Satellites-are located in space and are able to take aerial photos For geographers to study and use to better understand the earth.

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Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-is a computer database that stores is a computer database that stores huge amounts of data and/or huge amounts of data and/or information.information.

Geographers use these Geographers use these GISGIS databases databases to help in future planning.to help in future planning.

ie…ie…where to buildwhere to build RoadsRoads RailroadsRailroads DamsDams

Places and RegionsPlaces and Regions

People’s People’s cultureculture and and experiencesexperiences affect affect their ideas of place and regions.their ideas of place and regions.

A A Place Place has physical and human has physical and human characteristics that make it characteristics that make it special.special.

Physical Characteristics include:Physical Characteristics include: Plant and Animal lifePlant and Animal life Sources of WaterSources of Water Weather and ClimateWeather and Climate LandformsLandforms SoilsSoils

Places and RegionsPlaces and Regions

Landforms-Landforms-are natural shapes onare natural shapes on Earth’s surface.Earth’s surface.

Ie…Ie…Mountains, hills, and valleysMountains, hills, and valleys

Human Characteristics include Human Characteristics include ethnicity, language, political and ethnicity, language, political and economic systems, population economic systems, population distribution, religion, and standard of distribution, religion, and standard of living.living.

Places and RegionsPlaces and Regions

A A regionregion is an area with common is an area with common characteristics that make it different characteristics that make it different from surrounding areas.from surrounding areas.

Regions are defined by people toRegions are defined by people to organize the world.organize the world.

Regions can be as large as Texas or as small as a Regions can be as large as Texas or as small as a neighborhoodneighborhood..

Places and RegionsPlaces and Regions

Formal Regions-Formal Regions-has one or more has one or more shared characteristics, that could be shared characteristics, that could be based on based on physical featuresphysical features (plant (plant life), life), culturalcultural (people’s beliefs), (people’s beliefs), economiceconomic ($$$), or ($$$), or politicalpolitical..

examples: Countries, states, and examples: Countries, states, and cities.cities.

Places and RegionsPlaces and Regions

Functional Regions-Functional Regions-is made up of is made up of different places that function different places that function together as a unit.together as a unit.

Example: Dallas-Ft. Worth is a Example: Dallas-Ft. Worth is a FUNCTIONAL REGIONFUNCTIONAL REGION they are separate they are separate areas/cities, but are apart of the same areas/cities, but are apart of the same Metropolitan area.Metropolitan area.

Places and RegionsPlaces and Regions

Perceptual Region-Perceptual Region-is defined by is defined by people’s shared attitudes, culture, people’s shared attitudes, culture, and feelings about an area.and feelings about an area.

Examples of PERCEPTUAL REGIONS are Examples of PERCEPTUAL REGIONS are Central TexasCentral Texas and the and the PanhandlePanhandle (perceptual (perceptual regions usually have vague borders)regions usually have vague borders)

Geographers Geographers try to learn what defines try to learn what defines a place or region and what makes it a place or region and what makes it special.special.

Physical Systems and Human Physical Systems and Human SystemsSystems

Geographers study the Geographers study the physicalphysical processesprocesses and and interactionsinteractions among 4 among 4 physical systems-physical systems-Earth’sEarth’s atmosphere, land, water, and life.atmosphere, land, water, and life.

Physical ProcessesPhysical Processes shape and change shape and change the Earth’s physical features.the Earth’s physical features.examples: Texas’ coastline changes as tides examples: Texas’ coastline changes as tides from the Gulf of Mexico move beach sand, from the Gulf of Mexico move beach sand, or weather determines where people choose or weather determines where people choose to live.to live.

Physical Systems and Human Physical Systems and Human SystemsSystems

Ecosystem-Ecosystem-is all of an area’s plants is all of an area’s plants and animals together with the and animals together with the nonliving parts of their environment.nonliving parts of their environment. EarthEarth is the largest ecosystem. is the largest ecosystem. A beach, an island, and a pond are all A beach, an island, and a pond are all ecosystemsecosystems..

Human activityHuman activity and and natural eventsnatural events can change can change ecosystems.ecosystems.

Example: During the Example: During the 1930s1930s drought and overgrazing drought and overgrazing led to loss of topsoil and plant life in West Texas, thus led to loss of topsoil and plant life in West Texas, thus creating the West Texas we know today (desert).creating the West Texas we know today (desert).

Physical Systems and Human Physical Systems and Human SystemsSystems

Human SystemsHuman Systems is studying an areas is studying an areas population distribution, growth, and population distribution, growth, and movement to understand human movement to understand human events and geography.events and geography.

Migration-Migration-is the movement of people.is the movement of people.

Urbanization-Urbanization-is an increase in people is an increase in people living or working in cities.living or working in cities.

Environment and SocietyEnvironment and Society

One of the most important topics in One of the most important topics in geography geography is how people interact is how people interact with the environmentwith the environment..

Human interaction can be favorable:Human interaction can be favorable: Planting TreesPlanting Trees RecyclingRecycling

Human interaction can be un-favorable:Human interaction can be un-favorable: PollutionPollution Loss of WildlifeLoss of Wildlife

Roy BedichekRoy Bedichek(1878-1959)(1878-1959)

Roy Bedichek Roy Bedichek was a Texas naturalistwas a Texas naturalist who warned of the dangers of who warned of the dangers of pollution some 50 years ago.pollution some 50 years ago.

ReviewReview

The Six Essential Elements of Geography:The Six Essential Elements of Geography:

1.1. The World in Spatial TermsThe World in Spatial Terms

2.2. Places and RegionsPlaces and Regions

3.3. Physical SystemsPhysical Systems

4.4. Human SystemsHuman Systems

5.5. Environment and SocietyEnvironment and Society

6.6. The Uses of GeographyThe Uses of Geography

ReferencesReferences

Holt Texas! Holt, Rinehart AND Holt Texas! Holt, Rinehart AND Winston 2003Winston 2003

http://www.bedichek.org/roy/http://www.bedichek.org/roy/graphics/Roy_Bed graphics/Roy_Bed ichek_1947.jpg&imgrefurl ichek_1947.jpg&imgrefurl