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.
Shifting Sea Ice is Making Sailing Ships Through the Northwest Passage More Difficult
Southward drifting ice is clogging the Northwest Passage, shortening the shipping season despite Arctic sea ice decline.
Nilas: Understanding the Early Stages of Sea Ice Formation
Early sea ice forms as frazil crystals, which merge into thin, streaky layers called nilas, influenced by winds and ocean currents in polar regions.
Role of GIS in Renewable Energy Planning
Researchers use GIS and climate models to map optimal renewable energy sources, addressing challenges of dynamic energy potentials.
Using Seals to Track Ocean Currents
By tagging seals with specialized sensors, researchers can map Antarctic ocean currents, heat distribution, and assess the health of marine ecosystems.
Hydrothermal Explosions
Hydrothermal explosions are dramatic, natural events that occur when superheated water and steam are suddenly released from beneath the Earth's surface.
Chorology and Chorography
Chorology examines places and regions, often known as regional geography, while chorography focuses on describing or mapping those regions.
What to Know About Absolute and Relative Location
Understand absolute and relative location: absolute uses coordinates or fixed points, while relative describes a place in relation to another location.
Study Models How Well Marine Protected Areas Overlap Fish Habitat
A study found that most marine protected areas (MPAs) don't adequately cover key habitats of diadromous fish with only 50% of core habitats protected.
Understanding the Earth’s Structure: A Guide to Tectonic Plates
The Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates, which are in constant motion. Learn where to find GIS data on tectonic plates.
Conservation Tech: Monitoring Humpback Whales Using Image Recognition
Happywhale is a citizen science effort that uses AI to identify and track humpback whales.
Overwintering Monarch Butterfly Populations
The latest counts of overwintering monarch butterflies in California and Mexico.
Nor’easter Storms in the United States
Nor'easters are powerful storms that bring heavy snowfall to the East Coast of the United States, primarily between September and April.
Alviso Slough in the San Francisco Bay
The Alviso Slough in the San Franciso Bay is a restored salt marsh that lies in the path of the Pacific Flyway.
Measuring Greenland’s Ice Loss
More accurate geospatial methodologies for measuring ice loss in Greenland indicate that existing approaches may not fully capture the scale of ice melt.
How the Beaver-Wolf Dynamic Affects Forests
Researchers are studying how wolves shape forests by limiting beaver foraging, keeping them close to water to avoid predation.
Mapping Coral Bleaching With Satellites
Satellite data is being used by scientists to map out where ocean heatwaves are triggering coral bleaching events.
Largest Island in Alaska
Kodiak Island off the southern coast of Alaska is the second largest island in the United States.
Interesting Geography Facts About Florida
Show off your knowledge about Florida's geography with these fun and amazing facts.
Wildfires in Hawaii
Fueled by high winds and drought, a wildfire has destroyed much of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
Phytoplankton Blooms in the Northeast Pacific Ocean
During summer in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, phytoplankton blooms proliferate due to the nutrient-rich upwelling along the continental shelf.
Removing Groundwater is Affecting the Earth’s Axis
Researchers have found that the enormous amount of groundwater being pumped is changing the Earth’s tilt and increasing sea level rise.
Scurry Zones Around California Shrubs
Scurry zones are areas of low-lying vegetation that form a ring about some shrubs in Northern California near grasslands.
Examples of Absolute and Relative Location
Here are some examples of the same location described as a relative location and an absolute location.
How the Earth’s Terminator Changes With the Seasons
The Earth's terminator is the shifting boundary dividing day and night as a result of our planet's rotation and its position relative to the Sun.
A to Z Geography: United States
The geography of the United States is diverse, featuring rugged mountains, arid deserts, dense forests, and expansive coastlines.
Changes in Ice Cover on the Great Lakes
Ice cover on the Great Lakes varies annually depending on factors such as air temperature, wind, and lake depth.