SA

Class notes Geography grade 8

Study Notes Social Science Guidelines

  • Terminology: Read and understand terminology for each topic; create a wordbox for all important terms (most highlighted).

  • Clarification: If unclear, note it down for discussion after holidays.

Chapter 1: Topic 1: What is Geography?

Unit 1: The Western Hemisphere

  • Definition of Geography: Study of Earth’s surface, features, and inhabitants.

    • Involves physical characteristics (landforms, climate, resources) and human activities.

Types of Geography

  • Physical Geography: Focuses on natural features including mountains, rivers, oceans, and climate patterns.

  • Human Geography: Examines interactions between people and their environments (population distribution, culture, economy, politics).

  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Computer systems for analyzing geographic data to understand spatial relationships.

Themes of Geography

  1. Location

    • Absolute Location: Exact position (e.g., Empire State Building: 40.7484° N, 73.9857° W).

    • Relative Location: Position relative to other places (e.g., "The library is next to the park.").

  2. Place

    • Physical Characteristics: Landforms, climate, vegetation, bodies of water.

    • Human Characteristics: Culture, language, religion, economy, population.

  3. Human-Environment Interaction

    • Adaptation: How people adapt to their environment (e.g., building igloos in cold areas).

    • Modification: Changes made to environments (e.g., dams, deforestation).

  4. Movement

    • Migration: Movement of people from one location to another.

  5. Region

    • Focus on areas with shared characteristics.

Types of Maps

  • Topographic/Relief Maps: Show Earth’s surface features using contour lines for elevation.

  • Political Maps: Show boundaries of countries, states, and significant cities.

  • Thematic/Choropleth Maps: Use colors/patterns to represent specific data (e.g., population density).

  • Climate Maps: Display average weather conditions in various regions.

  • Nautical Charts: Specialized maps for navigation on water.

  • Digital Maps: Electronic maps, often utilizing GPS for real-time information.

Reading Maps

Using Cardinal Directions and Coordinates

Longitude

  • Definition: Angular distance east/west of the Prime Meridian.

  • KEY POINTS:

    • Measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds.

    • Ranges from 0° (Prime Meridian) to 180°.

    • Determines time zones.

    • Lines are called meridians.

Latitude

  • Definition: Angular distance north/south of the Equator.

  • KEY POINTS:

    • Measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds.

    • Ranges from 0° (Equator) to 90°.

    • Determines climate zones.

    • Lines are called parallels.

Geospatial Mapping Tools

  1. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

    • Combines maps, satellite images for detailed analysis (population density, migration).

    • Assists in understanding natural disasters and urbanization.

  2. Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

    • Uses satellites for precise location finding.

    • Crucial for navigation and tracking movements.

  3. Remote Sensing

    • Involves collecting data about the Earth from a distance (satellites/aircraft).

    • Used to monitor land use, deforestation, pollution, and weather patterns.

Use of Geospatial Mapping Tools in Social Studies

  • Mapping historical events/migrations.

  • Analyzing geographic contexts of events.

  • Mapping cultural regions/language distribution.

  • Economic activities and trade routes.

  • Urban growth, natural resources, and environmental impact.

Topic 2: Earth’s Physical Geography

  • Solar System: The Sun as the center, with Earth and other planets orbiting.

  • Earth's Rotation: Spins on its imaginary axis every 24 hours (day/night cycle).

  • Earth's Revolution: Completes a trip around the sun yearly (365 ¼ days).

    • Leap years add a day every four years.

Earth's Structure

  • Layers:

    • Core: Solid inner core and liquid outer core.

    • Mantle: Hot rock layer, about 1,800 miles thick.

    • Crust: Rocky shell varying from 2 to 75 miles thick.

Earth's Tilt

  • Tilt Effect: Not all areas receive equal sunlight; leads to seasons.

    • Summer Solstice: North Pole tilted towards the sun (longest day).

    • Winter Solstice: North Pole tilted away (shortest day).

Key Terms

  • Axis: Imaginary line through a planet’s center.

  • Orbit: Celestial path of one body around another.

  • Solstice: Sun’s position farthest from the equator.

  • Equinox: Sun crosses the celestial equator.

The Sun as an Energy Source

  • Powers life via nuclear fusion, providing necessary warmth and light.

  • Earth’s Motion: Rotation (day/night), revolution (seasons), and axis tilt (climate).

Seasons

  • Solar Events:

    • Equinoxes: Equal day/night.

    • Solar Eclipses: Moon blocks sunlight.

    • Lunar Eclipses: Earth casts shadow on the moon.

The Hydrosphere

  • Definition: All of Earth’s water (70% surface coverage).

  • Lithosphere: Earth’s land area (mountains, plains, oceans).

  • Atmosphere: Gas layer surrounding Earth (mostly within 16 miles high).

  • Biosphere: All living organisms on Earth.

Structure of Earth

  • Layers: Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core.

  • Subsytems: Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere.

Landforms

  • Natural features influenced by geological processes:

    • Mountains, Hills, Plains, Plateaus, Deserts, Forests, Islands.

  • Processes:

    • Weathering: Decomposition of rocks.

    • Erosion: Displacement of solids by wind, water, ice.

Types of Mountains

  • Formed through tectonic plate movement (collisions).

    • Volcanic, Fault-block, Folded Mountains.

The Hydrologic Cycle

  • Continuous circulation of water in Earth's system:

    • Processes: Evaporation, Transpiration, Condensation, Precipitation.

  • Human impact alters the cycle (deforestation, urbanization).

River Systems

  • Components: River and tributaries form a river system (drainage basin).

  • Key Features: Meanders, floodplains, deltas, estuaries.

Climate Factors

Influences on Regional Climate

  • Latitude: Determines solar radiation and daylight.

  • Elevation: Affects temperature/precipitation.

  • Proximity to Water Bodies: Ocean currents impact local climate.

Climate Zones

  • Divided by latitude: Tropical, Dry, Temperate, Polar.

Climate Change

  • Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.

  • Primarily driven by human activities (burning fossil fuels).

    • Major greenhouse gases: CO2, methane.

  • Mitigation: Reducing emissions; adaptation: adjusting to climate impacts.

Population Geography

  • Studies spatial distribution, characteristics of human populations.

  • Population Density & Distribution: Variance across locations.

  • Affected by factors like climate, water supply, natural resources.

Migration Types

  • Defined as moving across boundaries (internally or internationally):

    • Permanent, Temporary, Voluntary, Forced.

Push and Pull Factors

  • Push: Current negative conditions.

  • Pull: Positive perceptions of new locations.

Population Pyramids

  • Illustrate age and gender structure of populations.

    • Dependency Ratios: Young dependents, economically active, old dependents.

  • Examples: LEDCs (Niger), NICs (Nepal), MEDCs (USA, Japan).

Implications of Population Structure

  • Identifies issues like ageing populations, falling birth rates, and migration imbalances.

    • May result in worker shortages, reduced tax revenue, school closures.

Economic Geography

  • Economic Principles: Guidelines for resource allocation.

    • Needs vs Wants, Renewable vs Non-Renewable resources.

    • Supply and Demand: Producer readiness and consumer desires.

Economic Sectors

  1. Primary: Extraction (mining, agriculture).

  2. Secondary: Manufacturing (construction, textiles).

  3. Tertiary: Services (nursing, education).

  4. Quaternary: Knowledge-based services (research, IT).

  5. Quinary: High-level decision making.