Page 11 - Chapter 1: How Geographers Look at the World

Today, most cartographers
rely on computers and com- CHART STUDY
puter software to make maps.
Each type of data on a map is Jobs in Geography
kept as a separate “layer” in
Geography
the map’s digital files. This
Field Description Applications/Careers
method allows cartographers
Physical Studies Earth’s features Forecasting weather,
to make and change maps
Geographer and the geographic tracing causes and
more quickly and easily.
forces shaping them effects of pollution,
conserving wilderness
Geography areas
and Other Human Analyzes human Developing cultural
Geographer aspects of culture— policies for interna-
Disciplines population, language, tional organizations,
ethnicity, religion, such as the United
Geographers study both
government Nations
the physical and human fea-
tures of the earth and also Economic Examines human Urban planning, focus-
Geographer economic activities ing on the location of
analyze the patterns and
and their relationship industries or transpor-
relationships among geogra-
to the environment tation routes
phy and other disciplines.
Regional Studies geographic Assisting government
Studying subjects such as
Geographer features of a particular and business in making
history, government, sociol-
place or region decisions related to
ogy, and economics helps a region
geographers to understand
Environmental Focuses on the two-way Advising government
how each of these subjects
Specialist interaction between and business on ways
affects and is affected by humans and the physical of protecting the
geography. environment environment
Geographic Teaches about Teaching geography at
History and Educator geography all educational levels;
Government serving as consultant
Geographers use history to business and
to help them understand government
what places looked like in
the past. For example, geog-
raphers might want to know
1. Interpreting Charts What does a human geographer study?
how Boston, Massachusetts,
looked during the colonial 2. Applying Geography Skills How might human geographers studying
the effects of population growth gather information for their research?
years. They might also wish
to look at the changes that
have occurred in Boston
over the past two centuries. Geographers may Geographers study political science to help
begin by gathering information about time periods them see how people in different places are gov-
in the city’s history. This information could be erned. They look at how political boundaries have
used to answer such geographic questions as: formed and how they have been changed. Geog-
How have human activities changed the natural raphers are interested in how the natural environ-
vegetation in the area? Are the waterways differ- ment has influenced political decisions and how
ent than they were in the past? Answers to these governments change natural environments. For
questions can help people make better decisions example, the Egyptian government, helped by
and plans for the future. financing from abroad, built the massive

26 Unit 1