Main Branches of Geography
In geography, there are 2 main branches
A.
Systematic geography
B.
Regional geography
A. Systematic
geography: In
systematic geography, we try to understand how the different elements of the
geography work alternatively with intermediate laws and they exchange the
different characteristics with each other elements. There are three types of systematic geography:
1.
Physical geography
2.
Biogeography
3.
Human geography
1. BRANCHES OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY:
It is the study of the physical
aspect of the earth. The physical elements like the relief of the landforms, the air of
the atmosphere, water of the river- sea-ocean of the earth, soil, and solid earth.
According to Arthur Holmes: “the study of the physical environment by itself is physical geography which includes consideration of surface relief of the globe(geomorphology), of the sea and the ocean(oceanology), and of the air (meteorology and climatology).”
 |
| BRANCHES OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY |
A.
Geomorphology: Geomorphology came from the 3 Greek
word geo or ge (earth), morphe(form) and logos(discourage).it is the study of
the earth’s surface features, description of the formation of the landforms,
origin, development, nature and formation processes of geomorphology.
It’s mainly explained about relief
features, shapes, and approaches of the landforms.
B.
Oceanology: It is the study of the sea and ocean
as part of the hydrosphere. It is the combination of the study of the
description and analysis of the physical and biological aspect of the ocean. It
is explained marine geology, marine geomorphology, physical oceanography (structure,
ocean deposits), the chemistry of the ocean water and biogeography (plant, fish,
animals).
C.
Climatology: Climatology and meteorology are described as the gases of the atmosphere. it is the
study of the gaseous surrounding around the earth. The characteristics and
components of the gaseous envelop of the atmosphere.in climatology, we have to
study about the weather, climate of any region it can be small or large scale.
It explains about the temperature, pressure, wind (flow direction), moisture,
cloudiness/ cloud formation, precipitation, air movement around the earth.
D.
Hydrology: In hydrology, we study about the role
of the water in smaller to the bigger medium of the earth surface. We have to study
of the water from the vapor formation to cloud formation to precipitation to
surface flow through the pond, river, sea- ocean to groundwater recharge even
the storage of the water as ice in the high latitude.
E.
Soil geography: Soil geography and pedology are
same. It is the study of the upper layer of the earth’s crust and the main
sources of the nutrition for plant and human as well as the animal kingdom. We have
to study the origin, classification, physical properties like texture,
structure; chemical properties like nutrient, distribution around the earth,
influences of soil types in agriculture, soil degradation, land reclamation
etc.
F.
Geo-tectonic: It has a relationship with the geomorphology. We study how the
internal and external source of energy influence the formation of the earth’s
surface. Sources are like plate movement, earthquake, weathering influence the
formation of folds-faults in the mountain desert, plain land, etc.
G.
Astronomy: From the ancient time, the study of
the outer space as part of the geography. The study of the origin of the
galaxy, big bang theory, the position of planets, stars was a branch of
geography. It helped the boatmen to decide the paths in the ocean as the navigation
system.
H.
Cartography: In physical geography, cartography
study came with the help of astronomy science. It is the graphical
representation of the world in 2 or 3 dimensions in the paper. Ptolemy was the
first draw the cartography.
2.BRANCHES OF BIOGEOGRAPHY:
Biogeography is situated between physical and human geography. The main study of the biogeography focus on plants, animals, and human. The subdivision of the biogeography are as
follows:
 |
| BRANCHES OF BIOGEOGRAPHY |
A. Plant geography: Plant geography and botany are
the studies about the plants in the natural environment. It is the main source,
food of the life of the animals as well as the human. We learn how the plant
growth, the evolution of species, inhabits.
B. Zoogeography: On earth, the role of animals is
also important as a part of the food cycle, zoology of the environment. Zoo
geography also explain the evolution and distinction of different types of the
organisms over time and space with the help of the geological timescale and
rock strata.
C.
Human ecology: The human is the main living organism
of the earth as the most civilized one among the living animals and human
ecology means the habitats of the human. In human ecology, we get to know about
Human and nature interaction, how human evolution took place with changing
environment over time and space.
D.
Environment geography: The environment is part of
geography as well as science. The study of environment geography explains the
also environmental issues, degradation, result and conservation through the
sustainable development, how the changing environment (greenhouse gas emission,
pollution, soil degradation, etc) influences the life of the animal plants as
well as human over time and space.
3.BRANCHES OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY:
Human geography is the major part of the systematic geography as human are the main element of the
nature and studying man and its culture-society-occupation are the key points
to study human geography. The sub-branches of human geography as
follows:
 |
| BRANCHES OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY |
A.
Population geography: The population is the key factor of human geography. So, in population geography, we study the demography about of the living population over, the shape of the population growth trend, death
rate, birth rate, migration in different countries, how different push and pull
factors affect on population composition and distribution over time and space.
B.
Settlement geography: It is the study of the
earth as a habitat for the human population. In settlement geography, we study about
the settlement evolution and distribution, types and shape of the settlements,
functions of the different settlement types, evolution and distribution of
rural and urban settlement over time and space.
C.
Social geography: Human is a social animal. We
can’t live alone. In social geography, we study about the surrounding of the human,
different types of groups, religion, caste, social stratification, social norms
(dowry system, criminal activity, etc), social interaction, etc.
D. Cultural geography: Human improves himself with
the help of his culture. In cultural geography, we talk about education, belief
system, cultural thought processes, rules and behaviors of the human. Its
cultural geography we also study about the dominance of strong culture over the
weak cultural groups, distribution(horizontal) and assimilation of the culture
over time and space.
E.
Political Geography: Political geography talks
about the population, country, state, its territory, international relationship
or geopolitics with other countries. Political geography helps us to
understand how international relationships, political diplomacy,
international organization (UNITED NATIONS) influence peace over countries.
F.
Medical geography: It is the new branch of the
geography. It describes about the reason and distribution of the epidemics and
pandemics disease, illness, death and providing health care (preventing and
treatment of the disease) in the affected areas.
G.
Economic geography: It is the study of all
types of occupation and its relation with the economy. The role of the economic
geography is important as it pillar of the nation. The economic activities like
agriculture, manufacture, transport, international trade, tourism industry. Its
focus on the distribution of raw materials, production, revenue, and the
locational factors.
H.
Historical geography: Historical geography explains
about the human and nature’s interaction in the past, a state, and its society
and the economy changed through time and how environment and culture influenced
on the evolution of civilization in the past.
B. BRANCHES OF REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY: the 2nd branch of geography is
regional planning. It is the study of location (small or big) on the earth
which have the same nature of the human and nature, and characteristics like relief,
climate, soil social and cultural similarities. Regional planning has 4
branches. There are as follow:
 |
| BRANCHES OF REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY |
1.
Regional survey: in the regional survey, we have collected
data of the region’s relief, socio-economic and cultural data like population,
religion, food habit, occupation type, etc. through the collecting data we can
understand the region from the primary level and it is possible with on the ground
level Field survey.
2.
Regional development: The regional development
we try to equilibrium the development of socio-economic and cultural disparities
between different regions. Digital cartography plays an important role in this.
3.
Regional planning: Regional planning describes
how to take steps to develop a region with nature and future potentialities
to improve the selected area. GIS, GPS and remote sensing help to identify in
macro and meso level economic planning.
4.
Regional Analysis: Regional analysis gives the full picture of the region’s natural and economic situation with the help of
statistics and mapping.
There are also new branches, which will explore in the future. Like
tourism geography, etc.
No comments:
Post a Comment