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 eruption of mud.

GIS Data: Shallow Sea Mud Volcanoes

Caitlin Dempsey

A global dataset of 700 mud volcanoes was recently published by geologists from Sapienza University.

Map of the location of Point Barrow.

Northernmost Point in the United States

Caitlin Dempsey

Above the Arctic Circle, Point Barrow is the northernmost point in the United States.

A shaded relief map highlighting Alaska and the lower 48 states with the surrounding countries muted with a semitransparent white overlay.

Only State… Geography Facts

Caitlin Dempsey

Here are some interesting geography facts that are unique to individual U.S. states and do not occur in any other state.

Geography Printables

Caitlin Dempsey

GeographyFun features maps, crosswords, and word searches for educators, students, and geography enthusiasts who love exploring the world through words.

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.

A satellite image of a cavum.

Cavum: Hole-punch Clouds

Caitlin Dempsey

Cavums are also known as hole-punch clouds or fallstreak holes.

A black and a brown cow in a grassy pasture.

Mapping Methane: the Launch of MethaneSAT and the Limitations of Satellite Data

Caitlin Dempsey

While advances in remote sensing and satellite technology have improved methane mapping, ground measurements remain essential for accurate, localized data.

A comma-shaped cloud pattern on a storm seen on a satellite image.

Extratropical Cyclones in the United States

Caitlin Dempsey

Extratropical cyclones are powerful storms forming between 30°–60° latitude, driven by temperature contrasts.

A photo looking up towards the sky of conifer trees on a blue sunny day.

Land Carbon Storage Declined Sharply in 2023

Caitlin Dempsey

Global land carbon storage saw a significant decline in 2023, driven by extreme droughts, wildfires, and heatwaves.

A satellite image of the wester Pacific Ocean showing four active storms.

Storms in the Western Pacific Ocean

Caitlin Dempsey

The western Pacific experienced a rare event in November 2024 with four simultaneous storms.

A map with gradients of purple to against an off white map of continents in the Arctic.

Planting Trees in the Arctic May Contribute to Climate Change

Caitlin Dempsey

Afforestation in Arctic regions may accelerate permafrost thaw, releasing stored carbon and potentially exacerbating climate change.

Image from NASA's Aqua satellite showing Saharan dust and a phytoplankton bloom (bright blue) off the coasts of France and Spain.

Desert Dust Triggers Photoplankton Blooms in the Ocean

Caitlin Dempsey

Saharan dust carries vital nutrients across oceans, triggering phytoplankton blooms that boost marine productivity and influence global carbon cycles.

Collage of three books.

Pushing the Boundaries of Geospatial: New Books from Esri Press

Caitlin Dempsey

Three recent publications from Esri Press: Mapping the Deep, The Geography of Hope, and The Power of Where.

Screenshot from an interactive map website showing transit maps.

Automating a London Tube Style Transit Map of the World

Caitlin Dempsey

Researchers used OpenStreetMap data to automate the creation of a global transit map, featuring schematic layouts inspired by the iconic London Tube map.

A view on a bright sunny day of a street in a residential neighborhood with some trees.

Study: Cities at Higher Latitudes Benefit More from Urban Vegetation Cooling

Caitlin Dempsey

Study in Nature Communications examined cooling benefits of urban vegetation in 468 cities to see where parks and greenery benefit residents most.

Coastlines, like this California view at Pescadero, show how complex coastlines are with bluffs, rocks, and curvature. Photo: Meaghan Faletti, USGS . Public domain.

How Many States Are Along the East Coast and West Coast of the United States?

Caitlin Dempsey

Learn how many states are along the East Coast and how many states are along the West Coast.

A view of chaparral in the hills in the background against a sunny sky with light green grass in the foreground.

Biases in Measuring Vegetation Greenness with Satellite Imagery

Caitlin Dempsey

Satellite data is used to map vegetation greenness, but seasonal and sampling biases can distort results, especially in areas with short growing seasons.

A pair of old wooden cabins with vegetation growing through and around them.

Study: 25% of Europe Could Be Rewilded

Caitlin Dempsey

A study found that about 25% of Europe could benefit from rewilding, the process of restoring natural ecosystems and wildlife.

Redwood trees with sprouts growing from the base of the trees in a forest.

Regional Changes in Forest Carbon Storage

Caitlin Dempsey

Global forests have absorbed carbon steadily for 30 years, but deforestation and climate change have affected absorption rates across different biomes.

A view of cactus.

The Last U.S. Stand of the Key Largo Tree Cactus Has Vanished

Caitlin Dempsey

The Key Largo tree cactus is now extinct in Florida, highlighting the vulnerability of coastal species to climate change and sea level rise.

A snow covered landscape taken from space.

Slope Steepness and the Formation of Single-sided River Tributaries

Caitlin Dempsey

Steep slopes cause water to flow more quickly, increasing erosion and carving channels that eventually form tributaries.

Satellite image of the Northwest Passage area of Canada.

Shifting Sea Ice is Making Sailing Ships Through the Northwest Passage More Difficult

Caitlin Dempsey

Southward drifting ice is clogging the Northwest Passage, shortening the shipping season despite Arctic sea ice decline.

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