Basic Concepts in Geography and Economics

Unit 1: Geography & Relief Concepts

Geography: The science that analyzes and describes the Earth's surface and the interrelationships between nature and human beings.

Relief Concept: The modeling or formations of the land surface and ocean floor.

Big Relief Units:

• Depressions or Basins
• Valleys
• Plains and Steppes
• Mesas
• Massifs
• Sierras/Mountains
• Ridges

Unit 2: Weather, Climate & Landscapes

Concept of Weather: The state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place.

Concept of Climate: The succession of atmospheric conditions that occur over a period of not less than 30 years in a given area.

Köppen Climate Classification:

• A: Warm/Tropical Climates
• B: Desert Climates
• C: Temperate Climates
• D: Cold/Continental Climates
• E: Polar Climates
• H: Mountain Climates

Landscapes:

• Atlantic and Oceanic
• Mediterranean
• Continental
• Mountain

Unit 3: Production, Marketing & Consumption

Production: The process of combining natural resources, technology, and labor to obtain goods or services. This includes consumer goods, capital goods, and production services.

Marketing: The process that influences storage, transportation, and sale.

Consumption: The act of buying a product or service to meet needs.

Unit 4: The Primary Economic Sector

The Primary Sector is the first of the sectors that form the global economy. It is considered a basic sector whose development influences the evolution of other sectors. Activities include:

• Agriculture
• Livestock
• Fishing
• Forestry

Unit 5: The Secondary Economic Sector

The Secondary Sector is the second economic sector, primarily dedicated to industrial activity. It is closely related to developed economies (market economies).

Unit 6: The Tertiary Economic Sector

The Tertiary Sector is often considered the final stage of the economy, although a new sector, the Quaternary Sector, dedicated to new technology and information, is emerging. The Quaternary Sector requires a high level of economic development for its existence.

The Tertiary Sector has a wide variety of activities, including:

• Health
• Education
• Justice
• Advertising
• Etc.

These are non-material activities and cannot be stored. They require continuous improvement and development.

Characteristics of the Tertiary Sector:

• Very heterogeneous due to the variety of activities.
• Activities are impossible to store.
• Consumers are often close to the service provider.
• Generally a very low level of mechanization (compared to industry).
• Unequally distributed geographically.