UNIT 1 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY THE STUDENT WILL BE

UNIT 1: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

THE STUDENT WILL BE ABLE TO… Explain how characteristics of physical geography influence human patterns and processes

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY This actually isn’t a physical geography class. Physical geography is important to understanding the things that we discuss in this class after today It’s assumed that you know some principles of Physical Geography and you’re incorporating them into your understanding Physical Geography includes weather, climate, elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, and positions of things on continents. Today’s really the only day we spend on Physical Geography

WEATHER VS. CLIMATE Weather is short-term patterns of temperature, wind, and precipitation recorded at specific moments in time (Getis et al. , p. 81). This winter was one of the coldest on record. This is only a glimpse, it does not mean the Earth is getting colder Climate is long-term patterns of temperature, wind, and precipitation recorded over a specified period of time; i. e. years, decades, centuries (Getis et al. , p. 81). This winter was one of the coldest on record. However, the overall temperature for the Earth has increased in the last twenty years from the twenty years prior (Climate).

WE CARE ABOUT CLIMATE B/C OF WHERE THINGS GROW (WHICH MEANS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE & AT WHAT DENSITY)

WHY DO TEMPERATURES VARY? (YOU’LL GET A BETTER ANSWER IN BIOLOGY) Magic. (However, the state of Texas requires a different answer) Temperatures vary because of the sun and how it hits the earth. Not every place gets the same amount of sunlight. Other factors also influence it such as: Water vapor in the air Degree of cloud cover Nature of surface (land or water; they retain heat differently) Elevation above sea level Degree and direction of air movement

TIME ZONES ARE BASED ON SUNLIGHT ON THE EARTH http: //www. timeanddate. com/worldclock/sunearth. html? iso=19720101 T 2020&earth=1 We have time zones because the sun doesn’t shine on the whole earth at the same time. The tilt of the Earth will also influence how much sunlight and night time an area has; areas further north and south will have variations based on the seasons

THINGS I CARE ABOUT IN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Land is warmer than water (sun rays are concentrated on top) Water stores warmth more than land, sun warms water and it moves Coastal areas have lower summer temperatures and higher winter temperatures one reason, out of many, why people live near water The sun hits the equator more, it’s warmer there for more of the year This higher temperature causes moisture, rain, to form because of air and moisture rising up and then cooling down (it can’t hold the water, so it rains) Ocean currents correspond to global wind direction & patterns

OCEAN CURRENTS ARE KIND OF A BIG DEAL (SUPER IMPORTANT IN HISTORY)

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY & PEOPLE Depending on where you live, you may have varying types of hazards Difference between natural disasters and natural hazards? Someone died (that makes it a disaster) Hurricanes Drought Tornado’s (actually, the U. S. is really the only place that gets these) Earth quakes Physical features may impede movement of people (ideas, trade, etc. ) Mountains (they’re hard to climb over) Deserts tend to get in the way too

TIME LEFT, LET’S LOOK AT THIS… http: //www. spaghettimodels. com/