Essentials of Geography

The Discipline of Geography

Principles of Geography

Geography is the study of the distributions and interrelationships of earth phenomena. Geographers describe their discipline as a spatial science. That is, geographers are concerned with answering questions about how and why earth phenomena vary across the Earth. For instance, geographers investigate patterns of vegetation as they relate to distributions of climate, soils and topography. Geographers recognize the dynamic nature of the environment. The earth environment is not static as it responds to short-term weather variations and to long-term changes that have a significant effect on global climate patterns. By recognizing the earth system is dynamic, geographers take time into consideration when looking at the spatial patterns of earth phenomena. 

Figure EG. 1 Folded Appalachian Mountains

Linear folds of the Appalachian Mountains can be easily seen in this satellite image.

(Source: NASA - "Geomorphology from Space")

Geographers study both the form and process of the earth. For example, examine the landscape of the Appalachian and Cascade Mountain Ranges in North America. The Appalachian Mountains appear as a series of linear folds in the earth surface. The Cascades on the other hand are much taller than the Appalachians and contain many peaks that are conical in shape. If both are mountain systems, why do they appear to have a different form? The difference in their form arises from the processes that created them. The Appalachian Mountains were created by the folding of the earth's crust. The conical shaped peaks of the Cascades are volcanoes. Many of these have their birth where crustal plates have collided, melted deep beneath the earth, and built at the surface by eruptions of molten rock and ash.

Figure EG.2 Mt. St. Helens, Cascade Mountain Range, USA

This picture was taken prior to the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1981.  (Source: USGS)

Now think about what information was required to answer the question as to why these two mountain systems are different. In order to understand their form we needed to look at the processes by which they were created. To do this, we needed to investigate the geologic history of them. Geographers often must rely on information provided by other sciences to understand the form and distribution of earth phenomena.

Geographers study how human activities are shaped by and impact our natural environment. For instance, geographers are actively engaged in research about the relationship between agriculture practices, water erosion, and flooding. Others are uncovering the impact of air pollution on ecosystems. These studies are a part of the "man-land" tradition in geographic research, what one might say was the precursor to modern environmental studies.