Branches of Geography

BRANCHES OF GEOGRAPHY
The general practice is to divide geography into two main branches-physical and human. There are two other important branches.

MATHEMATICAL GEOGRAPHY is the study of the earth'~ size and shape, of time zones, and of the motion
of the earth.

CARTOGRAPHY is the production and study of maps and charts. This branch is responsible for geodetic and topographical surveys and the preparation of maps on certain selected scales.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY is concerned with natural features such as land, water and climate. It studies these features as they are and in relationship with one another as well as with human activities. It also tries to understand what forces create and change these features.

Physical geography may be subdivided into the follow­ing:
Geomorphology is concerned with landforms, their distribution and origin and the forces that change them. It also studies the relationship between landforms and human activities.

Climatology is the study of the processes involved in
.the making of the weather and climate, the changes in climate, and how climate is affected by human activity.

Hydrology is the study of earth's water-oceans, rivers, glaciers, etc. Some geographers consider its concern to be particularly water on or under the ground before it reaches the ocean or before it evaporates into the air. It has important applications such as irrigation, flood control, water supply and hydel generation.

Oceanography is particularly concerned with the study of oceans. It covers the shape, depth, and distribution of oceans, life forms, ecology and currents, besides the legal status of oceans.

Soil geography deals with the kinds of soils, their evolution and their distribution besides their significance in land use.

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY is concerned with the earth features created by human action in the course of contriv­ing to build and improve habitats to live in comfort and security. Agricultural fields, industrial development, settle­ments and roads are some examples.

Beyond these material manifestations, there are some invisible aspects that influ­ence human action; these belong to the realm of ideas and the mind. Human geography is also concerned with how some of these aspects are expressed-in religion, the views of a population, the education and knowledge level of people.