Discuss the similarities and difference between human and physical geography

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James Eacott                                                                                                       26/11/05

Discuss the similarities and difference between human and physical geography

        Geography is the study of the locational and spatial variations of physical, biological and human phenomena on earth.  Geography is split into two disciplines.  Physical geography involves the understanding of processes and landforms of the physical environment.  Human geography’s main intellectual contribution is to understand the relations between humans and the natural world of which we are part, as well as how all components of human life are linked together.

        Both share the fundamental common ground in that geography is about the relationship between humans and the environment.  However, as a deeper understanding of an increasing range of topics develop, the two disciplines have to go to greater lengths to find the mutual underlyings which bond the subject.

        At a younger age, it is difficult to distinguish between human and physical geography at all.  In school, students are taught geography as a whole up until AS level, meaning lessons are solely based around the fundamental aspects covering both disciplines.  There is no difference between the subjects here and the core principles are closely linked together.  From 6th form and onto degree intensity, fields of study are much more varied, including many more topics, thus distancing the areas.  Higher education geography is so specialised that it is sometimes near impossible to believe that the human and physical aspects are related at all.  Physical specialisations such as quaternary environmental change, biological productivity and periglacial geomorphology are supporting the fact that the discipline is firmly moving into the sciences.  On the other hand, human geography specialisations such as globalisation, colonialism and urban gentrification secure its move into the social science aspect.

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        While each of the two broad areas of geography exists in its own right, the subject also combines them to provide a much needed capability to study and understand interactions between people and the physical environment in which they live and depend on, both locally and globally. [www.rgs.org].  The basic bond, which holds the two areas together, is the fact that geography is all around us and is intrinsic to everyones lives.

        They are also similar in that they are linked together by certain topics.  For example, natural hazards such as volcano’s and hurricanes are studied in physical geography, but ...

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