Chapter 1 (Geography)

• Geography is the study of the Earth, which includes the physical and built environment, as well as the relationships that people have with both of these types of environments.
• What is physical geography?

  • Atmosphere (air)
  • Hydrosphere (water)
  • Lithosphere (rocks and mountains)
  • Biosphere (Living things)
• What is Human geography?

  • Housing
  • Transport system
• What are the geographical concepts?

  • Space
  • Place
  • Environment
  • Scale
• What is the geographical inquiry?

  • Pose geographical questions
  • Conduct geographical investigations
• Physical geography is the study of the physical environment and all living and non-living things that are found naturally, as well as the natural processes that occur.
• The Atmosphere is the layer of gas and tiny particles that surround the Earth.

  There are 5 layers in the atmosphere:

  1. Troposphere (Where most clouds, precipitation and other weather elements occur)
  2. Stratosphere (Where the temperature remains constant)
  3. Mesosphere (Where temperature decreases with height)
  4. Thermosphere (Where the temperature increases sharply in the lower Thermosphere, then drops off and holds steadily with increasing height)
  5. Exosphere (Where the uttermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere lies)
• The condition of the atmosphere at a given time and place is known as weather, which includes:

  • Temperature
  • Humidity
  • Rainfall
  • Wind
• Hydrosphere refers to all the water found on the Earth and in the atmosphere. It includes water found it all its three states:

  • Liquid
  • Gas
  • Solid

  The Hydrological cycle is a sequence of a process which allow water to be naturally replenished on Earth and enabled water to move continuously between the Earth's surface, the atmosphere and underground.
• Lithosphere is the solid layer of rock that forms the Earth's surface. Mountains and rocks are formed by the movement of large layers of rock within the lithosphere.
• Biosphere refers to all living things on Earth, including plants and animal life. It is dependant on other components of the physical environment.
• Human geography is the study of human life in the built environment. The built environment is created through human-made changes to the physical environment.

  The built environment includes:

  • Housing
  • Transport system
• Housing refers to temporary or permanent structures or buildings developed by people that shelter humans from the elements.
• Transport system refers to the equipment, infrastructure and network which support the movement of people or goods from one location to another.
• The geographical concept is an important idea to help us understand the world.

  The 4 geographical concepts include:

  • Space
  • Place
  • Environment
  • Scale
• Space refers to the physical area on the Earth's surface.

  Location is a specific area on the physical area on the Earth / space of the Earth.

  Location can be expressed as a set of coordinates which is based on a global system of imaginary lines, longitude (vertical) and latitude (horizontal).

  Spatial Pattern refers to the locations (specific areas on the Earth) of individual geographical features can be arranged across an area in a certain way. Spatial patterns can be identified as linear or cluster.
• Longitude and Latitude are imaginary lines surrounding the Earth. Latitude is a horizontal line that is on the equator, it is 90 degrees, North (up) and 90 degrees, South (down).

  Longitude is a vertical line that is 180 degrees from the East and 0 degrees from the West.
• The location of geographical features can be arranged across an area in a particular way which is known as a spatial pattern.

  Identified as:

  • Linear*
  • Cluster*
  • Peripheral
  • Grid
  • Radial
  • Dispersed / Scattered

  
• Place refers to an area of the Earth's surface that holds special meaning for people. (In which the people interact with the area and make memories / have thoughts / experiences) People would have developed memories and feelings towards those places.
• Physical Geography refers to the study of the physical environment while the physical environment includes the:

  • Atmosphere
  • Lithosphere
  • Hydrosphere
  • Biosphere
  • Natural Processes
  • Living and non-living things
• Layers in the atmosphere

  • Troposphere
  • Stratosphere
  • Mesosphere
  • Thermosphere
  • Exosphere
• Troposphere


  Where most clouds, precipitation and other weather elements occur
• Stratosphere


  Where the temperature remains constant
• Mesosphere


  Where temperature decreases with height
• Thermosphere


  Where the temperature increases sharply in the lower Thermosphere, then drops off and holds steadily with increasing height
• Exosphere


  The uttermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere
• Location of Ozone layer

  • 20-30km away from Earth
• Ozone layer absorbs a portion of the Sun's radiation, preventing it from reaching the planet's surface
• Effects of Ozone layer depletion

  • Damage / disruption to DNA
  • Skin Cancer
  • Immune system suppression in humans and animals
  • Lower yielding agriculture crops
• Atmosphere is the layer of gases and tiny particles which surround the Earth. (e.g. Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, etc...)
• Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a given time and place. It includes:

  • Humidity
  • Temperature
  • Wind
  • Rainfall
• Hydrosphere refers to all the water found on Earth, including liquid, solid and gaseous state. (It is closely related to the hydrological cycle)

  (Hydrological cycle enables water to move continuously between the Earth's surface, atmosphere and underground.)
• Lithosphere is the solid layer of rock that forms on the Earth's surface. It includes:

  • Soil
  • Rock
  • Mountains
  • Ground

  Mountains and valleys are created by the movement of rocks within the Lithosphere