AUXILIARY SCIENCES OF GEOGRAPHY: 20 EXAMPLES - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The auxiliary sciences of geography are those disciplines such as astronomy, hydrology and others that complement this field of study. Much is said about the auxiliary sciences and although their name gives us an idea of ​​their function, it is necessary to define them to understand their importance.

An auxiliary science is a scientific discipline that can complement another science when its object of study is very complex. Having said the above, we can only define what geography is.

Geography is the science that studies the earth's surface, and its appearance and characteristics in a natural state. There are many areas of knowledge that collaborate with this scientific discipline. You can see some of them below. You may also be interested in learning about the auxiliary sciences of history: 19 examples.

List with 20 auxiliary sciences of geography

1- Astronomy

Science that studies the stars and their relationship with phenomena on Earth and how these influenced the physical characteristics of the planet.

By supporting geography geo-astronomy arises. Although much has been studied on the subject, the influence of astral movement on terrestrial events is not yet accepted as part of the exact sciences, that is why this science is considered a meta-science.

2- Edaphology

Science that studies soils and their composition. These, being part of the geographical characteristics, closely relate both sciences, since the characteristics of the soil are those that allow, or not, the geographical changes of the planet, which gives rise to geo-pedology.

3- Potamology

Science that studies groundwater. By supporting geography, they give rise to geo-potamology that studies the behavior of water in geological environments according to the laws of hydraulics.

4- Thalasology

Science that studies the seas, tides and seascapes, being part of the study of geography provides inherent support to this science.

5- Cryology

Science that studies glaciers and their influence on the rest of the earth's surface. Supporting geography originates geo-cryology, which studies the influence of permanently frozen soils on the terrestrial environment.

6- Hydrology

Science that studies the water cycle and how its different phases modify the physical characteristics of the planet.

7- Cosmology

Science that studies the history and evolution of the universe, is closely related to geography as it is the one that explains the origin of the different characteristics that make up the soils and matter of the planet.

8- Geodesy

Science that studies the imaginary division of the earth and bases its references on depressions and natural reliefs on the planet's surface.

9- Cartography

Science that is responsible for developing topographic maps, plans and charts. All the products of this science are firmly linked to geography, being simply the representation of its object of study.

10- Speleology

Speleology is a science in charge of studying caves and caves.

eleven-

Science that studies mountains and mountain ranges and their formation. Being part of the geographical characteristics, it closely relates both sciences.

12-

Science that studies the origin of the Earth and in doing so explains the origin of its reliefs, erosions, possible changes and most prevalent characteristics.

13- Geomorphology

Science that studies the forms of the earth and how they were or are modified by natural or artificial phenomena.

14- Petrology

Science that studies rocks, their formation, minerals, characteristics, morphology, malleability and how they influence the environment that surrounds them.

15- Limnology

Science that studies lakes and lagoons, their origin and influence on reliefs and formations.

16- Eology

Science that studies the winds and the changes of their erosions on the earth's surface.

17-

Science that studies plants and the relationship between natural reliefs and their changes thanks to them. An example of these changes is soil erosion due to the absence of trees.

18- Ecology

Science that studies environmental problems. By supporting geography, geo-ecology originates, a science that studies the environment with the intention of reducing man's impact on the natural terrestrial landscape without limiting the survival of the species.

19- Demographics

Science that studies the characteristics of the populations and the statistics of the settlements according to the availability of resources and the ease provided by the means to develop.

Geo-demography studies the modifications that human settlements cause in the structure of the earth's surface.

20- Politics

It is the science that studies the organization of the social strata of human beings. Supporting geography originates geopolitics, which studies the influence that terrestrial resources have on the organization of human society.

It can be concluded that geography is a science widely related to other disciplines, since its object of study actually encompasses the environment of all living beings, their characteristics and influence on the different eras and living beings that exist and have existed.

References

1. Macpherson, AG 1976: An open letter to Alan Baker, Derek Gregory, Leonard Guelke, Jim Lemon and Wreford Watson: after thoughts on methodology and philosophy. In Osborne, BS, editor, The settlement of Canada: origins and transfer. Proceedings of the 1975 British-Canandian symposium on historical geography. Kingston: Ontario. Mapping the knowledge covered by library classification systems. Plácida LVAC Santos First published: 1 March 2011, PDF available at onlinelibrary.wiley.com.
2. The Study of Geography by Franz Boas. Science, Vol. 9, No. 210 (Feb. 11, 1887), pp. 137-141. Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science. Recovered from jstor.org.
3. The History of Science and the History of Geography: Interactions and Implications by David N. Livingstone. First Published September 1, 1984. PDF available at journals.sagepub.com.
4. Mackinder, HJ Geography In Education. The Geographical Teacher Vol. 2, No. 3 (October, 1903), pp. 95-101 Published by: Geographical Association. Recovered from jstor.org.
5. Febvre, L. 1941: Comment reconstituer la vie affective d'autrefois? La sensibilité et I'histoire. Artnales d'histoire sociale 3; reprinted in translation in Burke, P., editor, 1973: A new kind of history from the writings of Febvre, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
6. Heathcote, RL 1972: The artist as geographer: landscape paintings as a source for geographical research. Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of Australia, South Australian Branch 73, 1-21.