GEOG 1114 1stEdition Lecture 2Outline of Last Lecture:- A review of the class syllabus and class expectations. Outline of Current Lecture Physical Geography: An Introduction to Earth I. A Geographic Perspective, II. Process of Science, III. A portrait of the Earth 1. Solar System2. Size and Shape3. The Geographic GridCurrent LectureA Geographic Perspective-Geography is defined as a method of study that focuses on the human and the physical environment-Geographers study the relationships of things in certain places. Space and Place are underlying themes of Physical Geography. Geography has two components:1. Human Geography: Deals with the cultural diversity of place, urbanization, population, political, cultural, and economics. Specifically, how people differ from place to place (oneunderlying theme) 2. Physical Geography: Deals with the natural environment i.e., climatology, biogeography, geomorphology. Specifically, how natural characteristics of place differThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Geographers seek to observe, describe and interpret their observations- Questions to focus on are:1. Why do people, places, and environments differ from place to place?2. How are people, places, and environments interrelated over space and through time?3. How do people view their natural environment? *Space and Place are the concepts for this inquiryUnderstand the patterns, processes, and interrelationships between the four principle components of the Earth’s environment: Environmental Spheres:1. Atmosphere – Air 2. Hydrosphere/Cryosphere – Water/Ice 3. Biosphere – All parts of the Earth where living organisms are 4. Lithosphere – Earth’s crust/shape The study of the physical environment can be complex. An overall describing word for it is LANDSCAPE, which encompasses the physical environment as it comes together. Process of Science – Keep a Few things in mind! 1.Knowledge is advanced through the process of Science 2.The Scientific Method:-Observe Phenomena-Formulate a Hypothesis-Design an experiment -Predict the outcome of the experiment -Draw Conclusions 3. Science does not prove ideas – works by eliminating alternative explanations not supported by evidence4. Build Theory: highest order of understanding for a body of information5. Accept theory based evidence, NOT belief.UNDERSTAND THAT:Measurement systems are necessary to quantify scientific processesSI are used instead of English units i.e., centimeters, kilometers, liters, Celsius. Conversions of the SI units to and from English units Portrait of the Earth:Place of the Earth in the solar system:-One of 8 planets, 3rd from the sun- The Sun, a medium sized star that gets its energy from nuclear fusion, is the central body, source of energy-The Solar System is part of the Milky Way galaxy, which is just one of billions of galaxies in our universe-The Universe originated from The Big Bang theory, a cosmic explosion of matter and gases 13.7 million years ago. -Our Solar system originated between 4.5 and 5 billion years ago -A Nebula is a huge cloud of gas that contracted inward (from gravity) to form the sun and the planets-All planets revolve around the sun in an elliptical orbit, counter clockwise to the sun. -There are 150 moons in our solar system. We landed on the Earth’s moon in 1969. Ours revolves around the earth once every 27 days Size and Shape -Vertical relief- 20 km (12 miles)-Equatorial diameter ~ 12,756 km -Polar Diameter ~12,714-Diameter – 8,000 miles-Sphere or ellipse-The earth bulges. It is an ellipse that spins causing a bulge atthe equator Geographic Grid- used to determine location on spherical earth Lines of reference: The North and South Pole, which are earth’s rotation axis. The Plane of the equator-the midline of earth between the poles and perpendicular to earth’s surface is also reference. Earth is the only planet that tilts- The huge asteroid that hit 2.5 billon years ago tilted the earth (reason for the seasons) Great circles- any plane passing through the earth dividing it into 2 equal parts is called great circle/ hemispheres. They pass through the sphere’s center. -Also called circle of illumination because this is what the sunlights at one point in time.-Great circle identifies the shortest distance between two points on a sphere- used in navigation Lines of Longitude and Latitude The earth grid system is referred to as graticule: made up of many lines Parallels – run east west and north south Latitude (parallels) that measure your position North/South of the equator (run East/West)Important latitudes (expressed in degrees and minutes)-Tropic of cancer and Capricorn (23.5 degrees N and S) - Equator (0 degrees)-Poles (90 degrees N and S) Longitude: (meridians) that measure your position East/West (run North/South). Point of reference is Prime Meridian -Meridians-Measure your position E/W of prime meridian (run N/S)-Prime Meridian (0 degrees longitude)-Converge at the poles *Lines of latitude and longitude are expressed in degrees and minutes: 369 degrees, 60minutes in 1 degree Parallels of Importance (tied closely to the earth’s orbit around the sun) Equator, North Pole, South Pole, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Antarctic Circle, Arctic