The Science of Geography

• Geography is – methods, not just a body of knowledge– holistic– eclectic

Geography is:

• The science that studies the relationships among – natural systems, – geographic areas, – societies, – cultural activities, – and the interdependence of all of these over

space.

Physical Geography is

• The spatial analysis of all the physical elements and processes that make up the environment.

Figure 1.2

• Geographers use scientific methods

Figure 1

Earth Systems Concepts• System: an ordered, interrelated set of things &

their attributes, linked by flows of energy & matter, that is distinct from the surrounding environment  

• Open systems have inputs and outputs of energy and matter

• System feedback: when outputs influence continuing system outputs via feedback loops

• System equilibrium: when rates of inputs and outputs are equal and amounts of energy and matter in storage are fairly constant

Figure 1.3

Global Effects of Mount Pinatubo

Figure 1.5

Early Development of Physical Geography

• Aristotle (384-322 BC): ☺Earth is a sphere, not flat☺objects fall towards a common

center☺Apparent configuration of stars ∆

with movement to the south or north

Eratosthenes estimated Earth’s circumference in 247 B.C.

Figure 1.9

Figure 1.23

Figuring out how many degrees of Figuring out how many degrees of longitude should be in each time zone:longitude should be in each time zone:

Theoretical number of time Theoretical number of time zones of 1 hr. each: 24zones of 1 hr. each: 24

Number of degrees in a circle: Number of degrees in a circle: 360360

360/24 360/24 ≈ 15 degrees average ≈ 15 degrees average per zoneper zone

The International Date Line: Where The International Date Line: Where all New Days Beginall New Days Begin

• Moving through time zones to the west, subtract 1 hour for each. (If it is 5 am in Wyoming, what time is it in the next time zone to the west?)

• As it turns midnight in the time zone of the IDL, the new day begins. At first, the new day is just in the 1st time zone, but 1 hr. later it spreads to the next zone to the west, and so on.

Prime Meridian and Standard Time  

Figure 1.14