Geography Notes: Earth, People and
Environment
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1. What Is Geography?
Geography studies places, environments, people, and the relationships between them. Physical
geography examines natural features and processes, while human geography considers
populations, settlements, economies, cultures, and movement. Geography often connects both
areas to explain how people interact with the physical world.
Key review point: Summarise the main idea in your own words, identify one example, and think of
one question you could ask about this topic.
2. Maps and Scale
Maps represent places using symbols, colours, labels, and scale. A map scale allows distances
on the map to be related to real distances. Grid references can help locate features precisely.
Different map projections represent Earth's curved surface in different ways, so maps can contain
distortions.
Key review point: Summarise the main idea in your own words, identify one example, and think of
one question you could ask about this topic.
3. Rivers
Rivers move water from higher land toward lower land, usually eventually reaching a lake, sea, or
ocean. Erosion can wear away river channels and valleys, while deposition occurs when
transported sediment is dropped. River landscapes can change significantly from the upper
course to the lower course.
Key review point: Summarise the main idea in your own words, identify one example, and think of
one question you could ask about this topic.
4. Weather and Climate
Weather describes atmospheric conditions over a short period, such as temperature, rainfall,
wind, and cloud cover. Climate describes typical weather patterns over a much longer period.
Latitude, altitude, distance from the sea, ocean currents, and prevailing winds can influence
climate.
Key review point: Summarise the main idea in your own words, identify one example, and think of
one question you could ask about this topic.
5. Population
Population geography examines where people live and why populations change. Birth rates,
death rates, migration, employment, resources, and living conditions all affect population
patterns. Population density compares the number of people with the area they occupy.
Key review point: Summarise the main idea in your own words, identify one example, and think of
one question you could ask about this topic.
6. Urbanisation
Urbanisation is the growth of towns and cities. People may move toward urban areas because of
employment, education, healthcare, or other opportunities. Rapid urban growth can create
challenges involving housing, transport, pollution, waste, water supply, and infrastructure.
Key review point: Summarise the main idea in your own words, identify one example, and think of
one question you could ask about this topic.
7. Agriculture
Agriculture involves growing crops and raising animals for food and other products. Farming
systems vary according to climate, soil, technology, markets, and land availability. Sustainable
agriculture aims to produce food while protecting soil, water, biodiversity, and long-term
productivity.
Key review point: Summarise the main idea in your own words, identify one example, and think of
one question you could ask about this topic.
8. Natural Resources
Natural resources include materials and energy sources obtained from the environment.
Renewable resources can be replenished, while non-renewable resources are finite on human
timescales. Resource management involves balancing economic needs with environmental
protection and future availability.
Key review point: Summarise the main idea in your own words, identify one example, and think of
one question you could ask about this topic.
9. Hazards
Natural hazards include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, droughts, storms, and
landslides. The impact of a hazard depends not only on its physical strength but also on
population, preparedness, infrastructure, wealth, and emergency planning. Risk can be reduced
through monitoring, education, building standards, and evacuation plans.
Key review point: Summarise the main idea in your own words, identify one example, and think of
one question you could ask about this topic.
10. Sustainability
Sustainability means meeting present needs while maintaining the ability of future generations to
meet their needs. Sustainable development considers environmental, social, and economic
factors together. Individuals, communities, businesses, and governments can all contribute
through efficient resource use, conservation, responsible planning, and long-term thinking.
Key review point: Summarise the main idea in your own words, identify one example, and think of
one question you could ask about this topic.