THE MAIN BRANCHES OF GEOGRAPHY - GEOGRAPHY

The branches of geography are born from the wide field of study that this science has. Geography is the science that studies the environments, spaces and inhabitants of the Earth and their interactions.

Due to its integrative nature, this discipline is not investigated in isolation but rather by linking with other areas. In a much broader way, geography can be divided into two main branches: general geography and regional geography, these in turn having other subdivisions.

General geography

General geography has been defined as that in charge of scientifically analyzing and studying isolated facts and phenomena that occur on earth.

That is, it is dedicated to assessing the different aspects of the entire globe such as rivers, mountains and climates, as well as the interaction between these elements and the human being.

This branch of geography is divided into three main groups which are physical geography, biological geography and human geography. In any case, this division is theoretical, since many of the phenomena that are studied have an inseparable connection between them.

Physical geography

Source: Scottish Geographical Society; Royal Scottish Geographical Society

Physical geography is one that focuses its field of work on the natural kingdoms. That is, it is in charge of analyzing the land surface as a whole, as well as the natural geographic space and so-called geographic factors.

In this branch he explains the earth both in terms of its shape, its physical constitution and natural accidents, and due to its extensive research work it is divided into other sub-disciplines.

Each physical phenomenon, those produced without the intervention of man, has its own specialty:

Climatology

Source: Miss Madeline ~ commonswiki CPHC Climatology

It is a field of study that is responsible for analyzing the atmospheric states that occur in a certain place on a regular basis. It is basically the phenomena that occur in contact between the earth's surface and the atmosphere.

Climatology is based on the study of meteorological data, but it also relies on other branches of physical geography.

Today the climatology is linked to two conceptions. The first of these is an analysis focused on observing the elements of time and the atmosphere separately.

The second refers to dynamics, which considers the different states of the atmospheric environment as a whole.

Geomorphology

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This branch was initially developed by geographers, although today it is in an intermediate position between geography and geology since both use it. Considered therefore as a branch of both disciplines.

In either case, geomorphology is responsible for studying the forms of the earth's surface, as well as the processes that produce them.

In general terms, it can be said that geomorphology studies the set of topographic irregularities and forms that are found on the surface of the earth's crust such as hills, mountains, plains, valleys, plateaus, among many others.

Hydrography

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This discipline of physical geography includes the study of the waters of the earth's surface, that is, marine, river and lake (continental) waters. The former include the oceans and seas, while the latter includes rivers, lakes, ponds, aquifers, streams, streams, and wetlands.

In the case of inland waters, hydrography focuses on studying specific characteristics such as flow, basin, bed and river sedimentation. All these waters occupy approximately 70% of the planet.

Edaphology

Source: Road to Gaia

It is a branch that is responsible for analyzing the nature and properties of the soil from all points of view. That is, from the perspective of morphology, taking into account the composition, its formation, evolution, taxonomy, utility, conservation, recovery and distribution.

Although edaphology is a science that has its origin in geology, it is considered an auxiliary branch of geography. This is so because its main objective, apart from studying and comparing different types of soils, has a close relationship with the field of study of geography.

Glaciology

Source: Argentina.gob.ar (Government of Argentina)

This branch is dedicated to the study of the various forms that water acquires in a solid state in nature. In other words, ice, glaciers, snow, hail, snow, among others. It is concerned with phenomena of this type, whether current or of geological age, that may occur in nature.

Although human interest in glaciers, snow and ice dates back many centuries, it was not until the 18th century that glaciology began to take shape as a discipline. Today it is one of the key studies for the survival of man on planet Earth.

Biological geography

This discipline, also known as biogeography, is responsible for the study of the associations of animals and plants in the different terrestrial environments that exist. In other words, it can be said that this study focuses on both the location and the distribution of living things on the earth's surface.

Phytogeography

Source: Gastón Cuello

As expected, elements of both biology and geography intervene in this sub-discipline. It is a field that is in charge of analyzing the relationship between plant life and the terrestrial environment.

It can also be defined as a science that studies the habitat of plants, focused on their distribution over the earth's surface.

In turn, this specialty is responsible for grouping the different species that exist according to their genetic kinship. In fact, there is a phytogeographic map where vegetation is classified according to its characteristics.

Zoogeography

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This study is dedicated to the analysis of the geographical distribution of animal species on the earth's surface. Along these lines, it deals with the factors that have influenced the dispersal of the animals.

On the other hand, it is also in charge of systematizing the models of fauna migration and adaptation, as well as explaining the reasons for these movements.

Zoogeography is a branch of biogeography that is linked to zoology and geography.

Human geography

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This branch of geography deals with the study of the causes and effects of the distribution of human groups on the earth's surface, although it is also responsible for explaining the influence that geographical conditions exert on man. It is a reciprocal investigation between the geographical environment and human beings.

Another conception about the field of study of human geography has to do with the way in which the population relates to nature. That is, he studies the visible objects in the landscape that have been transformed by the hand of man.

It is because of this breadth of the field of study that this branch focuses on three main aspects: the social, the political and the economic. Its sub-disciplines emerge from these areas.

Population geography

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This discipline consists of the comprehensive study of human geography, in charge of studying the different aspects of human populations such as their composition, distribution, growth and migratory movements, focusing on a dynamic human phenomenon.

The geography of the population was born in the fifties and was influenced by the population problems of the postwar period of that time, although this branch is often confused with demography, they are not really the same.

Both disciplines share methods and content, but the geography of the population studies the spatial structures of demographic phenomena and their variation over time, while demography studies this structure statistically.

Rural geography

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It is the specialty in charge of analyzing the conformation of rural spaces and the activities and living conditions that take place in this environment. Specifically in regards to agricultural, livestock and commercial uses.

Rural geography is based on the study of the transformations that occur in agricultural or agrarian spaces according to the country's economy, the distribution of property, technical production problems, environmental problems, migrations, movements of people. population and culture.

Nowadays, rural geography is in a renovation stage because now cities tend to penetrate the rural space, either to build residences, for cultural activities, etc.

Even so, this branch continues to be characterized by the study of areas with low population density and which are generally far from the metropolis.

Urban geography

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Unlike rural geography, urban geography deals with studying the spaces and systems that are part of cities. Through this analysis we seek to explain the internal relationships that exist between the different urban centers that exist.

This branch is also dedicated to the study of urban and demographic growth in the city, uneven development, the industrial centers that exist, the territories that are inside the city and the dynamics that occur in internal spaces such as neighborhoods, streets, commercial areas, parks, among others.

The city is a much more complex space than the country. Since other types of sectors such as industrial, commercial and services converge in these spaces. People tend to have more varied economic conditions and therefore the differences between them are much more marked.

Economic geography

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This is the field of geography that focuses on economics. It is in charge of studying the combination of spatial and natural factors and their influence on the economic activities of the studied regions.

In general, this discipline is dedicated to analyzing the types of economic activities that men usually undertake. And in addition, it studies the relationship that these activities have with the way in which people live, relate to others and their environment.

On the other hand, the work of this branch also focuses on analyzing the supply and demand relationships of the market but from the perspective of space.

That is, the relationships that occur between consumers and producers in a specific area. For this reason, it is also usually defined as a discipline that deals with both production and the means used to satisfy people's economic needs.

Political geography

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This is a branch that includes the study of the relationships that exist between the soil and the State, as well as its growth and its situation. It also studies the issue of borders, relations between states and morphological, fluvial and marine units.

It is considered as a discipline that studies the reciprocal influence of political organizations and space.

Political geography is often confused with geopolitics. The difference is that the latter, in addition to being a science that belongs to Political Science, studies the birth of the State, its growth, evolution and dynamics.

Unlike political geography that considers the State, not as a dynamic entity, but as a static one to the geographical base.

Cultural geography

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Cultural geography is dedicated to the study of the phenomena and processes that occur in all human groups that inhabit the planet, each of which has its own idiosyncrasy that identifies them and differentiates them from the rest.

In the past, the object of study was more oriented to the relationships that human beings had with the environment in which they developed. But today, that objective has been broadened and includes more economic and social factors.

In any case, it has come to be defined as the application of the idea of culture to geographical problems, but also as the application of geographical ideas to cultural problems.

Regional geography

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This is the branch of geography that is dedicated to the study of a certain part of the Earth. It focuses on the physical aspects of it, as well as geological, economic, ethnic and other characteristics.

It is also known as descriptive geography because it is basically a synthesis of all the facts that are studied in general geography.

References

Andrades, M; Múñez, C. (2012). Fundamentals of climatology. Didactic Material Agriculture and Food. University of La Rioja. Spain.
Barrios, I. (undated). Edaphology: origin, development and concepts. Recovered from euskomedia.org.
Ferrer, M. (undated). Geography concept. Recovered from Dialnet.com.

THE MAIN BRANCHES OF GEOGRAPHY - GEOGRAPHY - 2024