EDU515 Official Handouts

Table of Contents:

Introducing Geography - Definition ,History, Advancement and Significance (1-5) Nature, Scope and branches of geography (6-10) Importance of geography in education and development (11 -14) Introducing Earth: Shape and Size of the Earth (16 – 18) Introducing Universe, Galaxy and Milky way and Sun (stars and planets) (19-21) Earth's Rotationlatitude and longitude (22-24) Maps and types of Maps 1 (25-28) Maps and types of maps 2 (29-32) Determination of direction (33-34) Representation of relief features (35-37) Geographical field work (38-40) Geographical Information System (41) Remote Sensing and global positioning system (42-43) Global positioning system (44) Spheres of Earth (Lithosphere, Atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere) (45-48) Mineral and Rocks and types of Rocks (49-52) Economic benefits of rocks (53-54) Landforms & Landscapes 1 (55 - 59) Landforms & Landscapes 2 (60 - 65) Landforms & Landscapes 3 (66 - 68) Landforms & Landscapes 4 (69 - 73) Landforms & Landscapes 4 (74 - 76) Weathering (77 - 79) Mass wasting (80 - 82) Weather & Climate (83 - 86) Weather variable (temperature) (87 - 91) Weather variable (air pressure, wind) (92 - 97) Effects of weather (landforms & human life) (98 - 99) Biomes (100 - 104) Weather variable (precipitation) (105 - 108) Air masses (109 - 112) Savanna, steppe biomes & vegetation (113 - 115) World’s Population and Settlements (116 - 118) Population growth & structure (119 - 123) Factors effecting change of population (124 - 125) Human settlement(126 -128) Urbanization- (129 -132) Issues and problems of urbanization (133 - 138) Energy resources and its resources (139 - 140) Energy resources 2 (141 - 145) Energy resources 3 (146 - 148) Environment hazards and disasters 1 (149 - 152) Environment hazards and disasters 2 (153 - 154) Environment hazards and disasters 3 (155 - 156) Environment hazards and disasters 4 (157 - 158)

Lesson No.1 · Defining Geography -1 · Topic- 001:

According to Greek philosophers, Geography is a subject of “the description of the Earth” “Geo” means the earth and “Graphy” means the description. Most people think that geographers are concerned with naming places, drawing maps and writing travel descriptions. Geography is a field of science dedicated to the study of the land, features, inhabitants, and the phenomena of the Earth. Geography is a spatial science with organized knowledge of the earth as the world of man. Spatial word is related to space.

Geography is the branch of science which deals with the study of earth and its physical and human environment with respect to its spatial and temporal variations. " To provide accurate, orderly, and rational description and interpretation of the variable character of the earth surface" explained by Richard Hartshorne, in 1959. The old definition of geography is “The purpose of geography is to provide "a view of the whole" earth by mapping the location of places” by Ptolemy explained in 150.

In the context of physical environment it deals with the entire physical and natural phenomenon. All the meteorological, geological and geomorphic processes are studied under this umbrella. In context of human environment, it deals with all the types of human activities i.e. population, migration, economic activities etc.

Spatial variation means, the difference in the magnitude of a same phenomenon at two different places i.e. degree of temperature and rainfall at two different places while temporal variation means the occurrence of a same phenomenon at same place but at different time. For example, difference in temperature of Lahore in 1960s and in 2000s.

Topic – 002: Defining Geography -2:

Geography can be defined as:

•  Study of natural features of the Earth’s surface.
•  Study of the Man - Environment interaction

Study of natural features of the Earth’s surface

Topography

Topography is the study and description of the surface features of land, which includes both natural and artificial features. Topographically, Pakistan has been divided into 5 main categories:

•  Mountains (northern and western mountains)
•  Plateaus (Potwar plateau & Baluchistan plateau)
•  Plains (upper Indus and lower Indus plains)
•  Deserts (thar, thal & kharan)
•  Coastal areas & delta regions

Climate

Climate is a generalization of day to day weather conditions over a long period of time, usually thirty years. Important climatic conditions of a area are temperature, air pressure, wind and the rainfall. Climatic divisions of Pakistan are:

•  Highland climate
•  Lowland climate
•  Coastal climate
•  Arid climate

Soil

The upper layer of the earth which is composed of different thin rock particles is helpful in the growth of vegetation and plants that is called soil. The soil of Pakistan may be classified according to the regional basis:

•  Indus basin Soils
•  Bongar soils
•  Khaddar soils
•  Indus delta soils
•  Mountains soils
•  Sandy desert soils

Vegetation

Natural vegetation comprises forests, shrubs and grasses, and is determined by climatic conditions and soil types.

1. Human activities related to production like agriculture, mining, industry, etc. Activities related to production (Wheat production in Pakistan)
2. Human activities related to services like, transportation, trade, communication, etc

Activities related to services (Trade through Panama Canal)

Topic 003: Study of Man - Environment interaction:

Desert Environment: Deserts receiving less than 10 inches of annual rainfall

Study of Man – Environment Interaction

•  Lithosphere