Geography Basics

Geography is the study of the Earth’s physical and human features, their spatial relationships, and the processes that shape them. It is a broad and interdisciplinary field that incorporates elements of natural science, social science, and the humanities.

Geographers seek to understand the complex interactions between the natural environment and human societies, and the ways in which these interactions vary across different regions and cultures.

This category contains articles about introductory concepts in geography. Find resources, books, lesson plans, and maps for teaching geography to all ages. A fun way to learn about geography is through the use of quizzes which are also listed in this category.

A massive plume of sand and dust was pushed northward from the Sahara desert by the calima, a warm southeasterly wind prevalent in North Africa in the winter, as seen in a satellite view of Spain and Portugal. Image: February 21, 2016, NASA.

Deep Space Mapping of Saharan Dust Height

Caitlin Dempsey

Researchers used four years of measurements from a deep space satellite to calculate the average monthly heights of Saharan dust clouds.

Map showing the NDVI anomaly in 2024 compared to average levels from 1991 to 2020). After a couple of years of above average precipitation in Southern California, vegetations levels in the summer of 2024 were 30% greener than average. Map: NASA, public domain.

Hydroclimate Whiplash: the Impact on California Wildfires

Caitlin Dempsey

Hydroclimate whiplash - the rapid swing between drought and heavy precipitation - plays a role in the increasing intensity of California wildfires.

A photo taken from space that has been labeled with place names of an open water estuary.

Florida’s Largest Open Water Estuary

Caitlin Dempsey

Covering an area of about 400 square miles, Tampa Bay is Florida's largest open water estuary.

Sado Island: An Example of Tripartite Geography

Caitlin Dempsey

Sado Island is an example of a landmass with tripartite physical geography.

A satellite image of islands.

Isostatic Rebound: How Earth’s Surface Rises after Glaciers Retreat

Caitlin Dempsey

Isostatic rebound is the Earth's slow rise after glaciers melt, reshaping coastlines, revealing landforms, and altering sea levels globally.

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