Physical Geography

1. Physical Geography Location & Effects

2. What is Physical Geography? • Examines the relationships among patterns & processes within the environment • Study of earth’s physical processes: • Geology – rocks and earth formations • Environmental science – human interaction with the environment • Topography – earth’s features • Cartography – map making

3. How are Physical Factors spatially defined? Location: The location of a place or thing on the earth’s surface Absolute Location: The exact spot of a place on the earth’s surface -Use Latitude and Longitude to define it Ex.) Toyko, Japan is at 36° N Latitude and 140° E Longitude Relative Location: The location of a place in relation to another place or thing Ex.) Sonic is across the street from Kroger Globe: Scale model of the earth

4. Latitude- AKA: Parallels Numbers get higher the further North or South you move away from the Equator Latitude lines measure North or South of the Equator Zero Degrees Latitude is the Equator 90 Degree North (North Pole) 90 Degrees South (South Pole)

5. Latitude KNOW THESE LINES & their latitude measurements!! Equator 2 Tropics 2 Circles 2 Poles

6. Zero Degrees longitude is the Prime Meridian 180 degrees East or West is the International Date Line By international agreement - 0 degrees longitude runs through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England Numbers get higher the farther you move either East of West Longitude lines measure East or West of the Prime Meridian Longitude AKA: Meridians

7. Where lines of latitude & longitude cross they form a pattern known as: A Grid System (a global address) Each degree of the earth is equal to 1/360 of the earth Each degree is divided into 60 minutes (‘) Each minute = 60 seconds (“)

8. Hemispheres- If you cut the Earth through the Equator, you get two halves: Northern & Southern Hemisphere If you cut the Earth through the Prime Meridian, you get two halves: Western & Eastern Hemisphere The US is in the Western Hemisphere & the Northern Hemisphere

9. Absolute Location 30°03' 39.60" N 95°09' 19.26" W

10. Absolute Location

11. Absolute Location Basic Geography

12. Absolute Location

13. Relative Location

14. 0 • 0 latitude = Equator • (Distance from it has large effect on climate) • 0 longitude = Prime Meridian • (Distance from it has no effect on climate)

15. Rotation- • The spinning of the earth on its axis • Takes 24 hours • Creates night & day

16. Revolution- • The orbit of the earth around the sun • Takes 365 ¼ days • Creates 4 seasons

17. Polar Night- • When the polar region is tilted away from the sun – the polar area receives 24 hours of darkness • When it is pointed toward the sun the area receives 24 hours of daylight

18. Equinox- • Direct rays of the sun are located on the EQUATOR • Days & nights are equal in length • Spring (Vernal) & Fall (Autumnal) • When it is Spring in the northern hemisphere it is Fall in the southern hemisphere (the opposite is also true)

19. Solstice- • Direct rays of the sun are located on the TROPIC OF CANCER or CAPRICORN • Days & nights are not equal in length – summer days are longer – winters nights are longer • Summer & Winter • When it is Winter in the northern hemisphere it is Summer in the southern hemisphere (the opposite is also true)

21. Red – LOW LATITUDES *0 – 23.5 N & S Tropics Hot & Humid Green – MID LATITUDES *23.5- 66.5 N & S Temperate & Mild THE MAJORITY OF THE WORLD’S PEOPLE LIVEIN THE TEMPERATE ZONE Blue – HIGH LATITUDES *66.5- 90 N & S Polar Cold & Dry