The Branches of geography Are born from the broad field of study that this science has. Geography is the science that is responsible for the analysis of phenomena that are related to the Earth, either from a natural or human perspective.
Because of its integrative nature, this discipline is not investigated in isolation, but rather is linked to other areas.
Much more broadly, geography can be divided into two major groups: general geography and regional geography, these having in turn, as many divisions.
General geography
General geography has been defined as that in charge of analyzing and studying in a scientific way the isolated facts and phenomena that occur on the earth.
That is, it is dedicated to evaluating the different aspects of the whole globe as the 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 each other.
Physical geography
Physical geography is one that focuses its field of work in the natural realms. That is to say, it is in charge of analyzing the terrestrial surface as a whole, as well as the natural geographic space and denominated geographic factors.
In this branch explains the land both in terms of its form, its physical constitution and natural accidents and due to its extensive research work is divided into other subdisciplines.
Every physical phenomenon, those produced without the intervention of man, have their own specialty:
Climatology
It is a field of study that is in charge of analyzing the atmospheric states that happen in a certain place in a habitual way. It is basically the phenomena that occur in the contact between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere.
Climatology is based on the study of meteorological data, but also relies on other branches of physical geography.
Today, climatology is linked to two conceptions. The first of these is an analytic focused on observing separately the elements of time and atmosphere.
The second refers to the dynamics, which considers in block the different states of the atmospheric environment.
Geomorphology
This branch was developed initially by the geographers although today it is in an intermediate position between the geography and the geology since both use it. Considered therefore as a branch of both disciplines.
In any case, geomorphology is responsible for studying the forms of the earth's surface, as well as the processes that produce them.
In general, it can be said that geomorphology studies the set of irregularities and topographic forms found on the surface of the earth's crust as the hills, mountains, plains, valleys, plateaus, among many others.
Hydrography
This discipline of the physical geography comprises the study of the waters of the terrestrial surface, that is to say, the marine waters, the fluvial and lacustrine (continental). The former include the oceans and seas, while the second includes rivers, lakes, lagoons, aquifers, streams, torrents and wetlands.
In the case of inland waters, hydrography focuses on specific characteristics such as flow, basin, river bed and sedimentation. The whole of these waters occupy approximately 70% of the planet.
Edaphology
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 soil science is a science that has its origin in geology, it is considered an auxiliary branch of geography. This is because its main objective, apart from studying and comparing the different types of soils, has a close relationship with the field of study of geography.
Glaciology
This branch is dedicated to the study of the diverse forms that the water acquires the solid state in the nature. That is to say the ice, the glaciers, the snow, the hail, the neviza, among others. It is concerned with phenomena of this type, whether present or of geological age, that can occur in nature.
Although human interest in glaciers, snow and ice dates back many centuries, it was not until the eighteenth century that glaciology began to develop as a discipline. Today is one of the key studies for the survival of man on planet Earth.
Biological geography
This discipline, also known as biogeography, is in charge of the study of the associations of animals and plants in the different terrestrial means that exist. In other words, it can be said that this study focuses both on the location and distribution of living beings on the Earth's surface.
Phytogeography
As expected, this subdiscipline involves elements of both biology and geography. It is a field that is responsible for 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 its distribution on the earth's surface.
In turn, this specialty is responsible for grouping the different species that exist according to their genetic relationship. In fact, there is a phytogeographic map in which the vegetation is classified according to its characteristics.
Zoogeography
This study is devoted to the analysis of the geographic distribution of the species of animals in the terrestrial surface. In this line, it deals with the factors that have influenced the dispersion of the animals.
On the other hand, it is also responsible for systematizing patterns of migration and adaptation of fauna, as well as explaining the reasons for these movements.
Zoogeography is a branch of biogeography that is linked to zoology and geography.
Human geography
This branch of geography deals with the study of the causes and effects of the distribution of human groups on the surface of the earth, but also explains the influence of geographical conditions on man. This is a reciprocal investigation between the geographical environment and humans.
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 of the landscape that have been transformed by the hand of man.
It is through this breadth of the field of study that this branch focuses on three main aspects: the social, the political and the economic. These subdisciplines emerge from these areas.
Geography of the population
This discipline consists of the integral 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 really are not 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 the structure in a statistical way.
Rural geography
It is the specialty in charge of analyzing the conformation of the rural spaces and of the activities and the conditions of life that are developed in this environment. Specifically with regard to agricultural, livestock and commercial uses.
Rural geography is based on the study of the transformations occurring in agricultural or agricultural areas according to the country's economy, the distribution of property, technical problems of production, environmental problems, migrations, Population and culture.
Nowadays rural geography is in a stage of renovation because now the cities tend to penetrate the rural space, either to build residences, for cultural activities, etc. Even so, this branch is still characterized by the study of areas with low population density and that are generally far from the metropolis.
Urban Geography
Unlike the rural geography, the urban is concerned with studying the spaces and systems that are part of the cities. This analysis seeks 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, of uneven development, of the industrial nucleus that exists, of the territories that are in the interior of the city and of the dynamics that takes place in the internal spaces Like neighborhoods, streets, commercial areas, parks, among others.
The city is a much more complex space than the countryside. Since in these spaces other types of sectors converge like the industrial, the commercial and the services. People usually have more varied economic conditions and therefore the differences between them are much more marked.
Economic geography
This is the field of geography that focuses on economic aspects. It is responsible for studying the combination of spatial and natural factors and their influence on the economic activities of the regions studied.
In general, this discipline is dedicated to analyzing the types of economic activities that men usually undertake. In addition, it studies the relationship that these activities have with the way people live, relate to each other and to their environment.
On the other hand, the work of this branch also focuses on analyzing the relations of supply and demand of the market but from the perspective of space.
That is, the relationships that occur between consumers and producers in a specific area. Therefore, it is also often defined as a discipline that deals with both production and the means used to meet the economic needs of people.
Political geography
This is a branch that includes the study of the relations that exist between the soil and the State, as well as the growth of this and its situation. It also studies the subject of borders, relations between states and morphological units, fluvial and marine.
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, besides being a science that belongs to Political Science, studies the birth of the State, its growth, evolution and dynamics.
Unlike the political geography that considers the State, not as a dynamic entity, but as a static to the geographical base.
Cultural geography
Cultural geography is dedicated to the study of the phenomena and processes that occur in all the 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 humans had with the environment in which they developed. But today, that goal has been expanded 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
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 this, as well as on the 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. Teaching Material Agriculture and Food. University of La Rioja. Spain.
- Barrios, I. (without date). The edafología: origin, development and concepts. Retrieved from euskomedia.org.
- Ferrer, M. (undated). Concept of geography. Retrieved from Dialnet.com.