1.2.3: The Continuum of Geography

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Page ID: 15315

Michael E. Ritter
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point via The Physical Environment

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Geography is a wide ranging field that incorporates a number of diverse subject areas. Broadly speaking, geography can be divided into human geography and physical geography. Human geography deals with spatial aspects of human activities and culture. Physical geography, our topic here, focuses on the geographical attributes of the natural environment. The diagram below illustrates the continuum of geography. Though the discipline can be broken down into two separate areas of study, physical geography and human geography, they are actually seen as blending with one another along a geographic continuum (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)).

geographic continuum — Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): The Continuum of Geography

As we move toward the center of the diagram we enter a zone where the subject matter of the two meet and intermingle. At the center is where the synthesis of the physical environment with the human/cultural environment occurs. In so doing we create a holistic view of earth systems. The study of environmental issues like global warming, response of humans to natural hazards, and deforestation requires this kind of synthesis or examination of relationships between society and the natural environment to understand them.

Lichen measurement — Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Measuring lichen diameter to date glacial moraines. (Courtesy Michael Ritter)

Borrowing a technique from archeology and paleontology, physical geographers use lichen growth rate and diameters to estimate the age of debris flows, recent moraines, and other rocky deposits.

Each subdiscipline draws on the knowledge provided by a variety of disciplines outside of geography. For instance, to study earth phenomena like the distribution of soils we have to draw on the expertise of such disciplines as soil science, botany, and climatology because soil properties are a function of vegetation, energy, and moisture. Geography, therefore, is a very integrative science.

Physical geography and earth science share much in common. Physical geography places earth science content in a spatial context. This video by the American Geological Institute illustrates why earth science (and by extension physical geography) is important to all of us.

Video: Why Earth Science, Courtesy American Geosciences Institute