Geography

• The study of everything on Earth, from

rocks and rainfall to people and places.

Branches of Geography

1. Human Geography

The study of distribution and characteristics of the world’s people.

(Where they live and what they do)

Trades people make for survival.

2. Physical Geography

Focuses on the Earth’s natural environments including landforms, water, plants and animals and other physical features.

What shapes the earth’s surface

Three Regions• 1. Formal Region: One or more features make it

different from its surrounds• 2.Functional Region: city transit system, shopping

malls• 3.Perceptual Region: “home” South, Asia

Six Elements

• Study of Geography into 5 important Themes

• MR. LIP

• M=Movement

• R=Region

• L=Location

• I=human Interaction

• P=PlaceMR. L

I

Reasons for Seasons

• TEKSGEOGRAPHY- The student understands the concept of region3 A.B A) attribute occurrences of weather phenomena and climate to annual changes in Earth-Sun relationships; and (B) describe physical environment of regions and the physical processes that affect these regions such as weather, tectonic forces, wave action, freezing and thawing, gravity, and soil-building processes.

Summer Solstice

• June 20-21 is a very important day for our planet and its relationship with the sun. June 20-21 is one of two solstices, days when the rays of the sun directly strike one of the two tropical latitude lines. June 21 marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and simultaneously heralds the beginning of winter in the southern hemisphere.

Winter Solstice

• The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice.

Equinox

• Two Equinoxes a year.

• Equal day and night.• Pg 31 in Text• Equinoxes occur

on/about March 21st and September 22nd.

Total Solar Eclipse of 21 June 2001 from Zimbabwe

See Richard Monk’swebpage on eclipses:www.williams.edu/astronomy/IAU_eclipses/

Bailey’s Beads

Solar Corona

“Diamond Ring”

Critical Thinking pg 31

• Analyze: When does winter occur on Earth? Explain your answer

• Drawing Inferences and Conclusions: How does the tilt of the Earth affect the Polar regions?

Earth’s Spheres

Also known as Earth’s Environmental systems

Pg 35 in Textbook

Note Taking strategy

EarthSystem/Environment

Lithosphere

• The lithosphere contains all of the cold, hard solid land of the planet's crust (surface), the semi-solid land underneath the crust, and the liquid land near the center of the planet. Lithosphere also includes Mountains, Oceans, plains, and valleys

Hydrosphere

• The hydrosphere contains all the solid, liquid, and gaseous water of the planet.

• The hydrosphere extends from Earth's surface into the lithosphere.

• Ninety-seven percent of Earth's water is salty.

Biosphere

• The biosphere contains all the planet's living things.

• All microorganisms, plants, and animals of Earth. 

• Living things will form communities. These communities are referred to as biomes.

EX: Deserts, grasslands, and tropical rainforests

Atmosphere

• The atmosphere contains all the air in Earth's system

• The atmosphere is made up of many layers that differ in chemical composition and temperature.

Page 36 1-3• 1. How are Earth’s four spheres connected

to form a system?

2.How do different points of view on environmental issues influence public policies and decision making process? Give an EXAMPLE

3. How does the atmosphere affect other Earth’s systems?