Geography is a spatial science. The science of space and place, that brings together Earth's physical and human dimensions. It’s a combined study of people, places, and environments, which shows the patterns (visual and otherwise) and relationships between things.

Whether it’s a quiz show or just a simple news program, importance of geography quite often passes undetected. Imagine the results, if an army general of allied forces mistakenly bombs Iran instead of Iraq?

Similar results will be produced if you are to tell your girlfriend that, “I have reserved seats to Finland for this year’s Christmas vacations”, while you were supposed to go to New Zealand!

These references might seem absurd, but this is actually the point from where geography starts.

Ask yourself a question: where did your last meal come from?

If you try to track everything that was used to prepare it, it will reveal a complicated social structure dependent on myriad geographical entities. For example, the grapes that you have just bought from the supermarket cannot tell you; who from where picked it for your consumption? What kinds of conditions are essential for its growth? Further trace, how that liquid fuel ended up in your car’s gas-tank? “The black gold” Which is absolutely imperative to make everything happen, in today’s ever shrinking world of mass transit and electron based communication.

Geography and its related sciences, answer all of these questions. From where and how it’s extracted from the earth, to its use and effects on our environment.

Braches of Geography

There are two main branches of geography: human geography and physical geography, and they re further divided into respected practical categories.

Human geography describe human existence on earth, how people and their activities are spread on the surface of the planet, and what is their perception of the space. Human geography is applied in the fields of urban and regional planning, transportation, marketing, real estate, tourism, and international business.

Physical geography covers studies of climates, landforms, vegetation, soils, and water. Physical geographers forecast the weather, manage land and water resources, and analyze and plan for forests, rangelands, and wetlands. A geographer’s skill in cartography and Geographic Information Systems is highly valuable.

Human geography is further divided into the following sub branches:

1) Behavioral geography

2) Population geography

3) Economical geography

4) Historical geography

5) Political geography

Behavioral geography: behavioral science helps us to perceive the events in our world and our lives. Its study can enhance our ability to make calculated choices as individuals, communities, and as a society.

Population geography: enables us to closely examine the population growth and change of small and large area of the planet, and it investigates the demographic components of the population.

Economical geography: It holds the responsibility of studying economic life, in the realm of geography. Its peculiar contribution is, to develop an understanding of the relation between natural environment and economic life of man. Such knowledge is essential because, the more wisely the natural resources of all regions are used, the higher can be the material standard of living of all mankind.

Historical geography : It’s the study of past cultures and people in relation to the land and place. It helps to determine devolvement of humans and their surroundings.

Political geography: If used properly, geographic information can help diplomats better understand and respond to the challenges they face today.

Physical geography has these sub branches:

1) Biogeography

2) Geomorphology

3) Hydro geography

4) Climatology

5) Soil geography or Pedology

Biogeography : the study of distribution and pattern of variations in numbers and kinds of living organisms. It measures,

Evolution: The change in genetic composition of a population.

Extinction: Disappearance of a species.

Dispersal: Movement of populations away from their point of origin.

Geomorphology: is the study of present-day lands forms, including their classification, description, nature, origin, development, and relationships to underlying structures. It provides valuable information that can be used in urban panning such as civil engineering.

Hydrograph : is the measurement of physical characteristics of waters and marginal land. In general hydrograph includes measurement and description of any waters. Its serves in many forms, from management of clean drinking water to finding correct positions for the building of harbors.

Climatology : climatology involves weather information showing moment-to-moment states, seasonal changes, the long-term effects of weather and how climate changes over time. It has proved to be immensely important in travel and airline industries, and also has prevented permanent and large losses by predicting the paths and patterns of hurricanes and various climatic phenomenons’.

Soils geography: in relation with geology and pedology, it studies the soil of the earth, for vegetation and determination of underlying strata. It’s very feasible in finding good fertile grounds and rich mineral and ore deposits.