The word “geography” can be divided into two parts: geo and graphy. Geo comes from the Greek word “ge” meaning Earth and graphy comes from “graphein” which means to describe. Literally therefore, geography is the description of the earth. Professor Yi Fu Tuan, the renowned Chinese-American Geographer defined Geography “as the study of the earth as the home of people.” Broadly speaking, geography can simply be defined as the integrated study of the earth’s places, people, environments and societies.
BRANCHES OF GEOGRAPHY
There are two main branches of geography: human and physical geography
- PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Physical Geography is a branch of geography that deals with the study of the patterns of physical processes of the earth and the natural environment. It focuses on earth’s landforms, climate, hazards, soils, water resources, oceans, and vegetation.
SCOPE OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Physical Geography covers wide range of areas. The sub-areas include:
- Geomorphology
Geomorphology deals with how the earth’s landforms develop over time and the processes that shape these landforms.
b) Hydrology
Hydrology deals with the study of all forms of water underground, over-ground and in the clouds as well as the management of these water resources.
c) Climatology
Climatology deals with the study of weather patterns of the earth as well as the activities that take place in the earth’s atmosphere.
d) Biogeography
Biogeography deals with the study of the pattern of distribution of plants and animal life.
e) Oceanography
Oceanography deals with the study of ocean currents, tides and waves, the factors that cause them as well their effects.
f) Pedology
Pedology deals with the study of the soils in their natural environment, with emphasis on evolution, functions and classification of soils.
2. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Human Geography is a branch of geography that deals with the study of spatial elements of human existence. It focuses on understanding the processes about human populations, settlements, economics, transportation, tourism, religion, politics, social and cultural traditions, human migration, agriculture, and urbanization.
SCOPE OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Human Geography covers wide range of specialized areas. The sub-areas include:
a) Economic Geography
Economic Geography deals with the study of production and distribution of goods in their respective markets as well as distribution of wealth in the various regions of the earth.
b) Population Geography
Population Geography deals with the study of cultural composition, growth and the migration patterns of people in various regions of the earth.
c) Health (Medical) Geography
Health Geography deals with the study of health and diseases across space and places in the earth.
d) Transportation Geography
Transportation Geography deals with the study of transportation and all aspects related to its including movement of people, goods and information in or across different regions of the earth.
e) Political Geography
Political Geography deals with the study of political and governmental features of regions with particular attention to the boundaries of a country, its states and development strategies.
f) Settlement Geography
Settlement Geography deals with the study of settlements’ location, form, structure as well as functions and processes that produced them over time.
