lecture 1 - intro to physical geography Flashcards
geo means
earth
graphein means
to write
geography means
to write about the earth
sytematic geography
is often divided into two broad areas – human and physical geography
human geography
deals with social, economic, and behavioral processes that differentiate places.
physical geography
is mainly concerned with the atmosphere, terrestrial and maritime environments on local, regional, and global scales.
meteorology
explores the processes associated with short-term fluctuations in those properties of the atmosphere that form the basis of daily weather reports
climotology
describes the results of these processes in terms of their variability in space and time
geomorphology
is the science of Earth surface processes and landforms created by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or near the Earth’s surface.
geography of soils
primarily deals with the distribution of soil types and properties and the processes of soil formation
in biogeoraphy:
we learn the distribution of organisms and the processes that produce these spatial patterns
Natural hazards
involves with an understanding of physical processes, such as floods, earthquakes, and landslides, and provides the tool for assessing the impact.
GIS
is a computer-based, data-processing tool for gathering, manipulating, and analyzing geographic information. Maps can contain multiple data layers:
Physical features
Cultural features
Layers can be added to create composite overlay.
The art and science of map-making is called
cartography
Remote sensing
is a technique used for acquiring spatial information through aircraft or spacecraft that provide images of the Earth’s surface