Geography+Year+7

What is Geography

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Geography is the study of environments and communities in different places, at different times and on a variety of scales.

Scale could be from the immediate locality to the entire planet.

Geographers ask questions like what, where, when, how, why and most importantly what should we do about it.

A perspective is a way of viewing the world. Geographers consider different perspectives related to ethnicity, religion, culture, socioeconomic, and environment.

The study of geography is important for many diferent careers.

Tourism, engineering, agriculture, geologists, meteorologists, surveyors and especially cartographers.

Geographers must learn to:


 * Observe (look carefully at things they see)
 * Inquire (ask questions and search out information)
 * Classify (sort out information)
 * Record (write down what they have seen and discovered)
 * Interpret (explain how and why)
 * Communicate (tell others)

Tool Geographers Use Geographers use: maps photographs tables, graphs and diagrams Maps A map is a plan of a place seen from above. We use maps to find out what exists at different places on the Earth. Maps have a title, scale, key and direction. Title What the map is for and where it is. Scale Relates the distance on the map to the real world. Shown as a line and ratio such as 1cm = 1km. Key Symbols and colours to show features on the map. Direction. A arrow that shows the direction of north.

Locating features on a map To locate places on a map we use either latitude and longtitude or a grid system. Latitude and Longitude. [] Large maps show latitude and longitude. Lines running east to west are called parallels of latitude. Lines running north to south are called meridians of longitude. Parrallels of latitude are measured north or south from the Equator: The Equator 0 degrees Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees south) Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north) Meridians of longitude are measured east or west of Greenwich, England. Greenwich 0 degrees. International Date line (180 degrees east or west) Sydney (151.2 degrees east) When giving co-ordinates always give latitude first. Grid System. [] Some of the maps that you will use will have a grid system. The grid is used to locate places on the map. There are two different ways that the grid can be used to identify locations—one is with an area reference and the other is with a grid reference. Area reference An area reference identifi es one square in the grid and is made up of four numbers. The first two numbers are those for the line along the left side of the square. The second two numbers are those for the line along the base of the square. Grid reference A grid reference pinpoints a specifi c place within a grid square and is made up of six numbers. The first three numbers indicate the position going across the grid and the second three numbers give the position going up the grid.

**Physical Elements of the Environment** Geographers classify features of the environment as either physical elements or human elements. The relationships between them can be simple or very complex and are always changing. ECOSYSTEMS Physical elements occur naturally. They can be divided into two groups: • biotic—living things, such as plants and animals • abiotic—non-living things, such as water, rocks and soil. The way in which all these things interact in a particular environment is known as an ecosystem. The three main processes that connect all parts of an ecosystem are the energy flow, water cycling and nutrient cycling.



[] [] ENERGY FLOW [] Plants capture about 1 per cent of the solar energy that reaches the Earth from the Sun. Through the process of photosynthesis plants convert this energy into carbohydrates that are a food source for their growth and the animals that eat them. In an ecosystem: • the source of energy is the Sun • energy is stored in the plants and animals, the biotic part • energy is used for growth and generates heat.



THE NUTRIENT CYCLE

Plants gain the water and nutrients they need for growth from the soil.

The nutrients then pass along a food chain as plants are eaten by animals and they, in turn, are eaten by other animals.

Eventually the plants and animals die, and the nutrients are returned to the soil by the decomposers.

In the nutrient cycle:

• the plants are the producers

• animals that eat plants are called herbivores

• animals that eat animals are called carnivores.

THE WATER CYCLE [] [] Water is essential for life and fl ows through all ecosystems. When heated by the Sun, water evaporates, turning into water vapour. If water vapour rises it cools and condenses forming clouds. Precipitation falls from the clouds and the water either soaks into the ground or fl ows over the surface back in to rivers. In the water cycle : • clouds are made of water droplets • rain, sleet, snow and hail are all types of precipitation • transpiration is water loss from plants.



__Weather Maps.__ []

Three main types of maps are synoptic, radar and satellite.

As we have seen satellite gives a visual presentation, radar identifies rainfall potential and synoptic gives a graphical interpretation of a range of evidence.

Synoptic Charts.

There are three elements to a synoptic chart.

1) Pressure Systems.

Air pressure of the atmosphere or weight of the air.


 * measured from various weather stations expressed in hectopascals (hPa).


 * isobars are line joining points of equal pressure.
 * high pressure systems are areas of sinking air usually more than 1013 hPa.
 * low pressure systems of less than 1013 hPa if very low they are called cyclones.

2) Air Masses and Fronts.

A line drawn on a map to show where two different air masses meet.

Can be cold or warm fronts.

3) Wind and Temperature.

Winds greatly impact on temperature. High pressure systems generally bring northerly winds and warm temperatures. Low pressure systems generally bring east/southerly winds and cooler temperatures.



Wind and Temperature.

Winds greatly impact on temperature.

High pressure systems generally bring northerly winds and warm temperatures.

Low pressure systems generally bring east/southerly winds and cooler temperatures.