Geography - Physical Geography - Lecture Slides, Slides of Geology

Download Geography - Physical Geography - Lecture Slides and more Slides Geology in PDF only on Docsity! What is Geography? Geography is a representation of the whole known world together with the phenomena which are contained therein. Ptolemy, Geographia 2nd Century A.D. Geography is the science of place. Its vision is grand, its view panoramic. It sweeps the surface of the Earth, charting the physical, organic and cultural terrain, their areal differentiation, and their ecological dynamics with humankind. Its foremost tool is the map. Leonard Krishtalka, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 20th Century A.D. Docsity.com What is Geography? Geography is the study of WHAT IS WHERE, HOW IT GOT THERE, and WHY WE CARE? Docsity.com Fields of Physical Geography Geomorphology - studies the various landforms on the Earth's surface. Pedology - is concerned with the study of soils and their relationship to vegetation and farming. Biogeography - is the science that investigates the spatial relationships of plants and animals. Climatology - studies the effects of weather on life and examines the circulation of the atmosphere over longer time spans. Cartography - the art and science of making maps. Docsity.com Cartography: The Art and Science of Mapmaking (Click for more info) Docsity.com REMOTE SENSING (click here for more info) Aerial Photos of GCC (click) Docsity.com Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – click for info • Latest World Earthquakes Map • National Atlas of the United States Docsity.com Jobs in Geography Aerial Photo Interpreter Facilities Planner Land Developer Site Researcher Agricultural Extension Agent Forestry Technician Land Economist Soil Conservationist Air/Water Quality Control Manager Geographer Land-Use Analyst Surveyor Cartographer Geographic Area Specialist Location Expert Systems Analyst Cartography Compiler Geographic Attache' Map Analyst Teacher Climatologist Geographic Information Systems Map Curator/Librarian Traffic Manager Coastal Zone Manager Geophysics Assistant Map Editor Transportation Analyst Community Developer Hazardous Waste Planner Market Research Analyst Transportation Manager Computer Mapper Health Services Planner Natural Resources Spec. Travel Agent/Specialist Computer Programmer Health Services Organization Manager Outdoor Guide Urban/Regional Planner Demographer Hydrologist Park Ranger Weather Forecaster Earth Scientist Industrial Developer Peace Corp Volunteer Wildlife Manager Ecologist Industrial Planner Property Manager Writer/Author Editor Intelligence Agent Public Utilities Specialist Zoning Investigator Env. Impact Analyst International Business Rep Real Estate Agent/Broker/Appraiser Environmental Quality Specialist International Investment Analyst Remote Sensing Analyst College/University Professor Docsity.com Famous Geography Students Mother Teresa - Taught Geography and History in Calcutta for 15 Years Prince William of Wales – Majored in Geography at University of Saint Andrews, Scotland Michael Jordan – Majored in Cultural Geography at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Immanuel Kant – the famous philosopher also taught everything from geography to physics and anthropology. Docsity.com Introduction to the Earth Docsity.com Introduction to the Earth •The Location, Size, and Shape of the Earth •The Environmental Spheres •The Geographic Grid Docsity.com The Solar System Mercury Venus Mars Uranus Jupiter Saturn Neptune Docsity.com The Environmental Spheres Lithosphere - describes the solid inorganic portion of the Earth (composed of rocks, minerals and elements). It can be regarded as the outer surface and interior of the solid Earth. Docsity.com The Environmental Spheres Atmosphere - is the vast gaseous envelope of air that surrounds the Earth. Its boundaries are not easily defined. The atmosphere contains a complex system of gases and suspended particles that behave in many ways like fluids. Many of its constituents are derived from the Earth by way of chemical and biochemical reactions. Docsity.com The Environmental Spheres Hydrosphere - describes the waters of the Earth (see the hydrologic cycle). Water exists on the Earth in various stores, including the atmosphere, oceans, lakes, rivers, soils, glaciers, and groundwater. Water moves from one store to another by way of: evaporation, condensation, runoff, precipitation, infiltration and groundwater flow. Docsity.com The Size and Shape of the Earth Pythagorous (ca. 580 - 500 B.C., Greek), the first to note earth’s shape, assumed spherical perfection. Sir Isaac Newton (1687) reasoned that sphere not possible since earth rotation is maximized at the equator and this should produce a ‘bulge.’ He called earth an oblate spheroid (think of spinning water balloon; Jupiter is egg-shaped enough to be noticeable through inexpensive telescope). 7900 miles 7927 miles N Docsity.com H=TIPANOM U=A() Parallels are circular lines used to indicate latitude eee are arcs used to indicate Petite thats t= The Equator divides the world into Northern and Southern Hemispheres. In the Western world, sailors have traditionally undergone sometimes brutal initiation ceremonies when first crossing the equator. The rituals often include dressing in drag. Docsity.com The Geographic Grid Longitude the angular measurement of distance east or west of the Prime Meridian or Greenwich Meridian. Maximum value reached at International Date Line (180O E or W) Docsity.com The Prime Meridian, the zero measure of longitude, is a meridian that passes through the North Pole, South Pole, and Greenwich, England. Docsity.com The Geographic Grid Longitude the angular measurement of distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. Range: 0o - 180o E or W Docsity.com Earth-Sun Relationships The Reasons for the Seasons Docsity.com Solar Radiation • The earth intercepts less than one two-billionth of the energy given off by the sun. • However, the radiation is sufficient to provide 99.9% of the energy that heats the earth / drives our climate. • Photosynthesis provides the energy for nearly all earth processes. Docsity.com Radiation Receipt • Solar radiation is received as parallel rays of energy (“line of sight, speed of light”) – Earth’s diameter is 12,765 km – Sun’s diameter is 1,390,000 km (over 100 times that of the Earth) So is the receipt of radiation the same everywhere on Earth? Docsity.com Intensity of incoming solar radiation (insolation) is related to angle of incidence. Higher angles = higher intensity. Docsity.com Does our distance from the sun throughout the year cause seasons? The line marking the shortest distance between the Sun and Earth's orbit is called the perihelion and is 91,500,000 miles long. The line marking the greatest distance between the Sun and Earth's orbit is called the aphelion and is 94,500,000 miles long. Docsity.com Rotation of the Earth • Rotate west to east or ‘counter-clockwise’ (when viewed from the North Pole) – sunset and sunrise • Rotation period is 24 hours per solar day (23 hours 56 minutes with respect to other stars) • Axis points to Polaris Docsity.com Tilt of the earth on its axis. • The earth is tilted 23.5º from perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. • Tilt is currently constantly toward Polaris Docsity.com SOLSTICES SUMMER, JUNE 21 WINTER, DECEMBER 21 Where are the overhead rays of the sun on these days? Which parts of the earth are in darkness and light? For how long? Docsity.com North Pole Direct ray i 4 : . f we ‘Tropic of | capricorn ay Antare tc Gite | South Pole Side View EQUI NOXES VERNAL, MARCH 21 AUTUMNAL, SEPTEMBER 21  — -ddI]S}OS Jaquiasagq — — — — —)— — -xoulnby Jsaquaydeg— — — — — = — — —99Is]0$ ounr — = ————=— — -xoulnby yey = = 600 500 5 400- 3004 200-4 100-4 Insolation (Wim?) JFMAMdJdJASONOD Docsity.com Month E W N Of W N of E S of W S of E Annual Change in Noontime Solar Altitude 1 of 2 What is the change in height from the solstice to the equinox? The total annual change? Summer Solstice Winter Solstice Equinox Docsity.com E W N of E S of E Annual Change in Noontime Solar Altitude 2 of 2 23.5O 23.5O Summer Solstice Winter Solstice Equinox Total annual change: 47O sunrise sunset S of W N of W Thought question: How high in the sky will the sun be in Glendale at noon on December 21? Docsity.com