Geography: Physical and Human Subdivisions

Knowledge in Geography

• Climatology is a sub-division of physical geography.
• Climatology studies climate and how it changes over time.
• Geomorphology is a sub-division of physical geography.
• Geomorphology studies landforms, their processes, form, and sediments at the earth's surface.
• Geology is a sub-division of physical geography.
• Geology studies earth's structure, surface, and origin.
• Astronomy studies the sun, moon, stars, planets and other objects and phenomena in space.
• Bio-geography is a sub-division of physical geography.
• Bio-geography studies the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.
• Bio-geography studies places where animals and plants are distributed.
• Pedology is a sub-division of physical geography.
• Pedology studies the formation, characteristics and distribution of soils.
• Population geography is a sub division of human geography.
• Population geography studies the composition, characteristics and movement of the people in a place.
• Economic geography is a branch of human geography that deals with the relations of physical and economic conditions to the production and distribution of commodities.
• Settlement geography is a branch of human geography that studies the earth's surface places settled by humans.
• Political geography deals with human government, the boundaries and sub division of political units, and the situation of the places in a country.

Geography Skills

• Map reading involves interpreting or understanding the geographic information represented on a map.
• Cartography is the science or art of making maps and representing the geographic variables of the area such as political boundaries, infrastructure, water features and geology.
• Remote sensing is a technology to gather information and analyzing an object or a place without making any physical contact.
• GIS (Geographic Information System) is a computer system for analyzing geographical data of a place and helps in mapping of a place or an area.
• GPS (Global Positioning System) is a network of satellites and receiving devices used to determine the location of something on earth.
• Life-saving skills include medical treatment or equipment or skills used for saving people's lives at the time of disaster.
• Surveying means making accurate measurements of earth's surface and from which maps are drawn
• Mapping helps in understanding and exploring the features of the parts of places.

Values in Geography

• Environmental conservation protects wildlife and promotes biodiversity.
• Maintaining a healthy and functional ecosystem helps prevent the extinction of certain animal species.
• If the environment is destroyed then some animals are forced out of their habitat, making it hard for them to survive elsewhere.
• Sustainable management of natural resources helps to use resources wisely without unnecessary use and without sacrificing on future generation' needs.
• Reuse is better than recycling, since it takes both energy and resources to recycle materials, with few recyclable materials available.
• Preserving culture is as important and valuable as our environment.
• Culture and tradition reflect and shapes the values and beliefs, thereby defining a people's identity.
• Preserving culture keeps our integrity as a people.
• Disaster management aims to reduce the occurrence of disasters and to reduce the impact of those that cannot be prevented.
• Four types of disaster management: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
• The world is filled with people who have different beliefs, religions, traditions, and ways of living.
• Creating a mutual understanding and respect for everybody's difference creates a more open and accepting environment for the workforce.