GEOGRAPHY NOTES FOR ORDINARY LEVEL
To view the Geography Notes for Ordinary Level, click the
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HOWTO PERFORM BETTER IN GEOGRAPHY
1.
Start with The Continents
Much
like how it is easier to explain Mathematics at the basic level first,
Geography is also a whole lot easier at the basic level. And one of the most
basic levels of Geography starts with knowledge about each continent. This
knowledge doesn’t have to include all the countries that belong to a specific
continent. One can start by learning where each continent is situated in the
globe and their borders with other continents.
2.
Learn and Practice Directions:
To
learn geography, it is important to learn directions. Because geography is all
about directions and maps. As we all know about South, West, East, and North.
At times, it feels very easy to learn these directions but when these
directions are twisted with longitude and latitude it gets difficult to learn.
So, the key point is to learn and practice directions quite often. If you want
to ace the geography then keep then in mind that directions will make you a pro
at geography.
3.
Ask someone to test you
By
reviewing what you have studied with another person, you’ll be able to see how
much you know. Ask them to jot down or underline the facts that you aren’t
familiar with. Also, be open to suggestions from them, as they could come up
with good ways to help you memorize facts. It might be helpful to do this with
someone who isn’t in your class, like a parent.
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Meaning of Geography Phenomena
Physical and human environments make up the two major geographical phenomena. The term phenomena refer to facts or circumstances observed, or observable within nature. Therefore, a geographical phenomenon, in this case, is an occurrence or fact in the geographical science. Geographical phenomena can be artificial (e.g. buildings), natural (e.g. rivers) or mixed type (e.g. smog).
Meaning of Geography
Define the term geography
The word “geography” comes from the ancient Greeks, who need to describe the writings and maps that were helping them to understand the world in which they lived. It is a combination of two Greek words: ‘geo’ and ‘graphia’. In Greek, ‘geo’ means Earth and ‘graphia’ means to write, draw or describe.
These two Greek words together form the word ‘geographia’, which means to draw, write about or describe the Earth. These meanings led to the development of the early definition of geography which referred to the description of the Earth by words, maps and statistics. The description includes both the physical Earth and everything found on it such as plants, animals and people. Therefore, geography is the study of the distribution and interrelationship of phenomena in relation to the Earth’s surface. In other words, geography can be defined as the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments in the Earth
A scientist who studies geography is called a Geographer. Geographers study both the physical features of Earth’s surface and the man-made features. They also examine how human activities interact with the natural environment and the way locations and places can have an impact on people. Geographers seek to understand geographical location of different things reasons for their occurrences and how changes occur over time.
Branches of Geography
There are two branches of geography, namely physical geography and human geography:
- Physical geography-mainly concerned with the formation of Earth’s physical features such as seasons, weather, climate, soil, streams, landforms and oceans. All of these features form the physical environment which includes all natural features found on the Earth’s surface such as water bodies, mountains, rivers, plains, natural forests, etc.
- Human geography-involves the study of human activities on the Earth’s surface. Human activities include farming, trade, mining, transportation, settlement, tourism, etc.
Inter-relationship between different geographical phenomena
Physical and human environments make up the two major geographical phenomena. The term phenomena refer to facts or circumstances observed or observable within nature. Therefore, a geographical phenomenon, in this case, is an occurrence of fact in geographical science. Geographical phenomena can be artificial (e.g. buildings), natural (e.g. rivers) or mixed type (e.g. smog – a mixture of smoke and fog).
The existence of relationships between different geographical phenomena occurs through different interactions. Physical environment; for example, interacts with living organisms including land resources which provides soil to supports plant growth.
Also, the Sun generates heat which leads to the evaporation of water; then water vapour forms clouds and eventually rain. The rainfall supports plant growth. Plants provide food for animals and human beings.
Climate determines the types of plant and animal species that can survive in a particular geographical area. It also influences human population distribution. Climate also determines human activities like farming, tourism and settlement. On the other hand, human activities can affect the physical environments, for example, mining activities (Figure 1.2), farming, overgrazing, deforestation etc.
Geography answers questions about the natural and human aspects. The following are some of the importance of studying geography;
- Develop knowledge of places and environments throughout the world. This will help in solving issues about the environment and sustainable development
- Help us understand different geographical concepts in our everyday life. For example, soil formation, water bodies, rainfall formation, how water cycles and ocean currents work. All these are explained with studying of geography
- Helps in understanding of the location of places and the physical and cultural characteristics of those places in order to function more effectively in our increasingly interdependent world
- Enable us to explore the methods and strategies used by other nations for economic developments and how Tanzania can learn from those nations for a similar purpose
- Enable us to make sensible judgments about the spatial distribution of human settlements in relation to the physical environment
- Enable us to understand the renewable and non-renewable resources and how properly to use them
- Help us to ensure proper use of the resources available in the world in a sustainable manner
- Enable us understand better various types of natural environments and how to harness them sustainably for the present and future generations
- Serve as the basis for further studies in specialized fields such as cartography (the science of map making (Figure 1.3), land survey, meteorology (the study of weather and weather forecasting), climatology (study of climate), seismography (the scientific measuring and recording of the shock and vibrations of Earthquakes), aviation etc
Chapter Summary
Geography is the study of the distribution and interrelationship of phenomena in relation to the Earth’s surface. It can also be defined as the study of the Earth and its environment. The scientists who deal with the study of geography are called geographers
Geographers study both the physical features of Earth’s surface and the man-made features. Geography is divided into two branches namely, physical geography and human geography. These two branches form the major geographical phenomena which relates in one way or another. For example, climate influences human population distribution. It also determines the types of plant and animal species that can survive in a particular geographical area. Studying geography is important because it answers questions about the natural and human aspects of the Earth.
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Geography is the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments. Geographers explore both the physical properties of Earth’s surface and the human societies spread across it. They also examine how human culture interacts with the natural environment and the way that locations and places can have an impact on people. Geography seeks to understand where things are found, why they are there and how they develop and change over time.
Geography is interdisciplinary, meaning that it is not defined by one particular topic. Instead, geography is concerned with many different topics, including people, culture, politics, settlements, plants, landforms and much more. In fact, every academic subject has some geographic connection. Geochemists study where certain chemical elements, such as gold or silver, can be found. Economists examine which nations trade with other nations and what resources are exchanged. Philosophers analyze the responsibility people have to take care of Earth.
Geography asks spatial questions, such as how and why things are distributed or arranged in particular ways on Earth’s surface. It looks at these different distributions and arrangements at many different scales. It also asks questions about how the interaction of different human and natural activities on Earth’s surface shape the characteristics of the world in which we live.
Geography seeks to understand where things are found and why they are present in those places; how things that are located in the same or distant places influence one another over time; and why places and the people who live in them develop and change in particular ways. Raising these questions is at the heart of the “geographic perspective.”
Exploration has long been an important part of geography, and it is an important part of developing a geographic perspective. Exploration is not limited to visiting unfamiliar places; it also means documenting and connecting relationships between spatial, sociological and ecological elements.
The age-old practice of mapping still plays an important role in this type of exploration, but exploration can also be done by using images from satellites or gathering information from interviews. Discoveries can come by using computers to map and analyze the relationship among things in geographic space, or from piecing together the multiple forces, near and far, that shape the way individual places develop.
Applying a geographic perspective demonstrates geography’s concern not just with where things are, but with “the why of where”—a short but useful definition of geography’s central focus.
The insights that have come from geographic research show the importance of asking “the why of where” questions. Geographic studies comparing physical characteristics of continents on either side of the Atlantic Ocean, for instance, gave rise to the idea that Earth’s surface is comprised of large, slowly moving plates, known as plate tectonics.
Investigations of the geographic impact of human activities have advanced understanding of the role of humans in transforming the surface of Earth, exposing the spatial extent of threats such as water pollution by artificial waste. For example, geographic study has shown that a large mass of tiny pieces of plastic currently floating in the Pacific Ocean is approximately the size of Texas. Satellite images and other geographic technology identified the so-called “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.”
These examples of different uses of the geographic perspective help explain why geographic study and research is important as we confront many 21st-century challenges, including environmental pollution, poverty, hunger and ethnic or political conflict.
Because the study of geography is so broad, the discipline is typically divided into specialties. At the broadest level, geography is divided into physical geography, human geography and environmental geography. Geographic techniques are also a significant area of study.
Physical Geography
The natural environment is the primary concern of physical geographers, although many physical geographers also look at how humans have altered natural systems. Physical geographers study Earth’s seasons, climate, atmosphere, soil, streams, landforms and oceans. Some disciplines within physical geography include geomorphology, glaciology, pedology, hydrology, climatology, biogeography and oceanography.
Geomorphology is the study of landforms and the processes that shape them. Geomorphologists investigate the nature and impact of wind, ice, rivers, erosion, earthquakes, volcanoes, living things and other forces that shape and change the surface of Earth.
Glaciologists focus on Earth’s ice fields and their impact on the planet’s climate. Glaciologists document the properties and distribution of glaciers and icebergs. Data collected by glaciologists has demonstrated the retreat of Arctic and Antarctic ice in the past century.
Pedologists study soil and how it is created, changed and classified. Soil studies are used by a variety of professions, from farmers analyzing field fertility to engineers investigating the suitability of different areas for building heavy structures.
Hydrology is the study of Earth’s water, including its properties, distribution and effects. Hydrologists are especially concerned with the movement of water as it cycles from the ocean to the atmosphere, then back to Earth’s surface. Hydrologists study the water cycle through rainfall into streams, lakes, soil and underground aquifers. Hydrologists provide insights that are critical to building or removing dams, designing irrigation systems, monitoring water quality, tracking drought conditions and predicting flood risk.
Climatologists study Earth’s climate system and its impact on Earth’s surface. For example, climatologists make predictions about El Niño, a cyclical weather phenomenon of warm surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. They analyze the dramatic worldwide climate changes caused by El Niño, such as flooding in Peru, drought in Australia and, in the United States, the oddities of heavy Texas rains or an unseasonably warm Minnesota winter.
Today, climatologists are playing a vital role in studying the global impact of climate change. Human activities, like deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels, are heating up Earth’s atmosphere and ocean basins, leading to accelerated climate change. People and ecosystems around the world are affected by climate change–induced flooding, droughts, heatwaves, wildfires and rising sea levels. Scientists in many different fields are using the tools of geography to map and track the impact of climate change around the globe.
Biogeographers study the impact of the environment on the distribution of plants and animals. For example, a biogeographer might document all the places in the world inhabited by a certain spider species and what those places have in common.
Oceanography, a related discipline of physical geography, focuses on the creatures and environments of the world’s oceans. Observation of ocean tides and currents constituted some of the first oceanographic investigations. For example, 18th-century mariners figured out the geography of the Gulf Stream, a massive current that flows like a river through the Atlantic Ocean. The discovery and tracking of the Gulf Stream helped communications and travel between Europe and the Americas.
Today, oceanographers conduct research on the impacts of water pollution, track tsunamis, design offshore oil rigs, investigate underwater eruptions of lava and study all types of marine organisms from toxic algae to friendly dolphins.
Human Geography
Human geography is concerned with the distribution and networks of people and cultures on Earth’s surface. A human geographer might investigate the local, regional and global impact of rising economic powers China and India, which represent nearly 36 percent of the world’s population. They also might look at how consumers in China and India adjust to new technology and markets, as well as how markets respond to such a huge consumer base.
Human geographers also study how people use and alter their environments. When, for example, people allow their animals to overgraze a region, the soil erodes and grassland is transformed into desert. The impact of both overgrazing and agricultural production on a landscape is an area of study for human geographers.
Finally, human geographers study how political, social and economic systems are organized across geographical space. These include governments, religious organizations and trade partnerships. The boundaries of these groups constantly change.
The main divisions within human geography reflect a concern with different types of human activities or ways of living. Some examples of human geography include urban geography, economic geography, cultural geography, political geography, social geography and population geography. Human geographers who study geographic patterns and processes in past times are part of the subdiscipline of historical geography. Those who study how human psychology impacts behavior in a geographic space belong to a subdiscipline known as behavioral geography.
Human geographers interested in the relationship between humans and the environment often work in the subdisciplines of cultural geography and political geography.
Cultural geographers study how the natural environment influences the development of human culture, such as how the climate affects the agricultural practices of a region. Political geographers study the impact of political circumstances on interactions between people and their environment, as well as environmental conflicts, such as disputes over water rights.
Some human geographers focus on the connection between human health and geography. For example, health geographers create maps that track the location and spread of specific diseases. They analyze the geographic disparities of healthcare access. They are very interested in the impact of the environment on human health, especially the effects of environmental hazards such as radiation, lead poisoning or water pollution.
Geographic Techniques
Specialists in geographic techniques study the ways in which geographic processes can be analyzed and represented using different methods and technologies. Mapmaking, or cartography, is perhaps the most basic of these. Cartography has been instrumental to geography throughout the ages.
Today, almost the entire surface of Earth has been mapped with remarkable accuracy, and much of this information is available instantly on the internet. One of the most remarkable of these websites is Google Earth, which “lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean.” In essence, anyone can be a virtual explorer from the comfort of their home.
Technological developments during the past 100 years have given rise to a number of other specialties for scientists studying geographic techniques. Airplanes made it possible to photograph land from above. Now, there are many satellites and other above-Earth vehicles that help geographers figure out what the surface of the planet looks like and how it is changing.
Geographers looking at what above-Earth cameras and sensors reveal are specialists in remote sensing. Pictures taken from space can be used to make maps, monitor ice melt, assess flood damage, track oil spills, predict weather and perform endless other functions. For example, by comparing satellite photos taken from 1955 to 2007, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discovered that the rate of coastal erosion along Alaska’s Beaufort Sea had doubled. Every year from 2002 to 2007, about 13.7 meters (45 feet) per year of coast, mostly icy permafrost, vanished into the sea.
Computerized systems that allow for precise calculations of how things are distributed and relate to one another have made the study of geographic information systems (GIS) an increasingly important specialty within geography. GIS are powerful databases that collect all types of information (maps, reports, statistics, satellite images, surveys, demographic data and more) and link each piece of data to a geographic reference point, such as geographic coordinates. This data, called geospatial information, can be stored, analyzed, modeled and manipulated in ways not possible before GIS computer technology existed.
The popularity and importance of GIS has given rise to a new science known as geographic information science (GISci). Geographic information scientists study patterns in nature as well as human development. They might study natural hazards, such as a fire that struck Los Angeles, California, United States, in 2008. A map posted on the internet showed the real-time spread of the fire, along with information to help people make decisions about how to evacuate quickly.
GIS also allowed Digital Earth Africa, an initiative launched in 2019, to make Earth observation data (satellite imagery) of the continent free and accessible. Its data sets and maps focus on analyzing changes in water resources, coastal erosion and food security throughout the continent. By increasing accessibility of GIS data, Digital Earth Africa aims to improve the lives of African people. Digital Earth Africa’s cropland extent map, for example, helped scientists realize that the countries of Ethiopia and Burkina Faso need more assistance to grow enough food to sustain their livestock.
The enormous possibilities for producing computerized maps and diagrams that can help us understand environmental and social problems have made geographic visualization an increasingly important specialty within geography. This geospatial information is in high demand by just about every institution, from government agencies monitoring health data to entrepreneurs deciding where to locate new businesses.
Regional Geography
Regional geographers take a somewhat different approach to specialization, directing their attention to the general geographic characteristics of a region. A regional geographer might specialize in African studies, observing and documenting the people, nations, rivers, mountains, deserts, weather, trade and other attributes of the continent. There are different ways to define a region, such as by climate zones, cultural regions or political regions. Often regional geographers have a physical or human geography specialty as well as a regional specialty.
Regional geographers may also study smaller regions, such as urban areas. A regional geographer may be interested in the way a city like Shanghai, China, is growing. They would study transportation, migration, housing and language, as well as the human impact on elements of the natural environment, such as the Huangpu River.
Whether geography is thought of as a discipline or as a basic feature of our world, developing an understanding of the subject is important. Some grasp of geography is essential as people seek to make sense of the world and understand their place in it. Thinking geographically helps people to be aware of the connections among and between places and to see how important events are shaped by where they take place. Finally, knowing something about geography enriches people’s lives—promoting curiosity about other people and places and an appreciation of the patterns, environments and peoples that make up the endlessly fascinating, varied planet on which we live.
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Some of the top educational institutes in the world understand the importance of geography and offer a variety of courses. Here are a few reasons why studying geography is significant today.
To learn and understand how the world’s basic physical systems work and affect our everyday life. For example, the role the sun plays in providing heat and life on earth and how wind and ocean currents affect the weather. This not only helps us to better predict and prepare for severe weather, but also how we can use the earth’s resources for our benefit.
To learn about other cultures, where they live, and how their location and climate affects their lifestyle. This can help us understand their differences as well as the similarities we all share.
To learn more about the geography of a different era and the role it played in people’s lives, environments and ideas. Geography plays a major role in our history and has helped mold the world we live in today.
To learn all the different places on earth as well as their cultural and physical characteristics in order to be more productive and effective in a world that has become interdependent. Considering how global our market economies have become, it’s important to know more about countries and their locations to better understand the effect they have on the market.
To have a better understanding of society and why we live in the places we do. How has urbanization changed the world and its societies? Why did certain areas flourish while others didn’t? Geography helps us understand why certain locations are ideal for living and why others are not.Geography Plays A Major Role In Our History
To better understand why and how global interdependence has grown. Technological breakthroughs in transportation have not only made this world smaller, but have also created societies that depend on external resources. Some areas are ideal for agriculture, while other areas are rich in natural resources such as metals. You need metal from one place to build the machines that work the land in another.
To have a better appreciation of Earth as our home and have a better understanding of its limitations. Knowing how much resources are available can help us be more responsible in the way we manage and treat our home.
