Chong Boon Secondary School Geography Unit Lower Secondary

Sec 1 Unit 1 Lesson 2What do geographers study?

2016

Unit Objectives

At the end of this unit you will be able to:› Identify the key concept in Physical Geography

› Identify the key concepts in Human Geography

Geographers study 2 aspects

Physical Geography Human Geography

Physical Geography

4 Spheres1.Atmosphere2.Biosphere3.Hydrosphere4.Lithosphere

Atmosphere

Atmosphere Layer of air above the

ground. 15km above the surface. Weather elements occur here

› Temperature, rainfall, humidity, winds.

Biosphere

Biosphere All life on earth Important part of the oxygen

cycle Interaction between humans

and the rest of the biosphere has severe effects on the earth.

Lithosphere

Lithosphere Outermost solid crust of the

Earth. The surface layer of the earth

› Including the seafloor Earthquakes occur due to

lithosphere movement Interaction of humans with the

lithosphere in fossil fuel excavation.

Hydrosphere

Hydrosphere All water on earth.

› Oceans, Seas, Reservoirs, rivers, wetlands, ice sheets, underground water, moisture in air.

Water covers 70% of earth Study water movement Study the effect of hydrosphere on

humans

Human Geography

Human Geography How and where humans

live. Four key components

1.Population2.Settlements3.Development4.Culture

Population

Population The total number of people

living in a place. Current global population is over

7 billion› China and India have over 2.5

billion humans combined Population increase leads to

greater need for resources.

Settlements Places where people live, work

and carry out activities.› Villages, towns, cities.

Type of work available affects size of settlement.

The way that settlement grows is mostly a result of the economic factors.

Development Use of resources (natural and

human) to achieve a higher standard of living.

Developed Countries (DCs)› USA, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore

Less Developed Countries (LDCs)› Laos, Democratic Republic of

Congo,

Culture The way people live, including

their economic activities, traditional beliefs and religious practices.

Culture can be region specific, across national boundaries.

Review What are the components of Physical Geography?

What are the components of Human Geography?

Next Lesson

Read pg 11 to 17 of the textbook.