PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Introduction

C.J. Cox
GEOGRAPHY
Geo = earth
graphy = to scribe, draw, or
map
 the science of location
the study of spatial relationships,
(context &interconnectedness)
an integrated science that uses
knowledge from many disciplines
 Physical Geography
Geography: The study of where things
are.

Physical: Environmental or natural

phenomenon

Physical Geography: the study of the

location of, context and interaction of
environmental phenomenon
 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF
THE WORLD
Climates
Plants
Animals
Landforms
The Earth System

System- a set of components

that are interrelated.

Earths Major Subsystems -

atmosphere
lithosphere
hydrosphere
biosphere
EARTHS
MAJOR
SUBSYSTEMS
The Earth System
Earths Major Subsystems -
atmosphere
blanket of air that surrounds the earth
lithosphere
sphere of the solid crust including rocks,
landforms
hydrosphere
system of water including rivers, subsoil water
and atmospheric water
biosphere
sphere of life including plants and animals
 Closed/Open Systems
Closed System- no Open System -
material or energy material or energy
enters or leaves the enters and leaves
system (ie. Solar the system ( river
System) system)
Key Terms
Ecosystem - community of organisms
functioning together in an
interdependent relationship with the
environment
Dynamic Equilibrium -changing
relationships among the variables of a
system which produces a balance
between the amounts of materials that
enter or leave a system
Earth/Sun Relationships

Revolution & Rotation

Aphelion & Perihelion
Angle of Inclination
Plane of the Ecliptic & Equator
Circle of Illumination
Winter & Summer Solstices
Spring & Fall Equinoxes
Revolution
Around The
Sun
 Earths Elliptical Orbit
Around The Sun

July 3
January 3
91,000,000 miles 94,000,000 miles
EARTHS
ROTATION
Rotation or
Spinning
An gl e
of
Inclination
 EARTH,
How hot is it?

What determines temperature?

Insolation (in
(incoming
coming solar
solar radiation
radiation))

Cloud cover

Altitude

Water vapor in the air

Land or water

Air movement (wind)

 Insolation

Only at one latitude

at a time are the
suns rays overhead

Between Tropic
of Cancer and
Tropic of
Capricorn

Everywhere else,
rays are diffused
 What causes the seasons?

Volunteers?

The tilt of the earth

The angle of sunlight

The change in heat received from the sun