The 12 auxiliary sciences of Geography

A review of the sciences that contribute knowledge to the study of the planet's surface.

Our planet possesses a series of conditions that make it capable of harboring life as we know it, and in fact for the moment no other planet has been identified on which life exists (although it is unlikely to be the only one).

But even if it is our home, the truth is that there is much we do not know about our planet.. That is why geography exists, a discipline that attempts to investigate and explore the surface of our planet.

However, often the knowledge and techniques of a single discipline is not enough to explain and acquire a critical knowledge of what is studied, but requires the contribution of related sciences or specialized in specific elements related to the object of study in order to obtain a more complete knowledge. This is also true for geography, and that is why in order to visualize how other sciences contribute to its understanding we are going to describe some of the most relevant auxiliary sciences of geography..

What is geography?

Geography is the discipline or branch of the science that has like main object of study the surface of our planetIt describes and analyzes the particularities of the terrain and the different territories and landscapes, as well as the societies that inhabit them, and the interaction between them. This study refers to both natural and socially generated territories.

It is a historical discipline and once considered universal, although over time it has been displaced by other sciences such as physics or chemistry. In short, geography analyzes the natural and geographical phenomena existing today, as well as the different factors that influence their change. And in doing so, it often feeds its knowledge with the contributions of various auxiliary sciences.

What are auxiliary sciences?

Auxiliary sciences are the group of disciplines that, Although they are not completely attached to a specific discipline and have their own objects of study, they complement it and provide support for it. and provide support in order to improve the understanding and development of the discipline in question.

One of the easiest cases to understand, and the one in which the help of auxiliary sciences is most often employed, is history. It is possible to analyze events that occurred in the past solely on the basis of the facts themselves.

However, this knowledge is partial, this knowledge is partial if we do not take into account that our way of seeing things may differ greatly from the way they were in the times studied. Thus, we can better understand what happened if we take into account, for example, the economic conditions, the way of thinking, the beliefs, values and cultural expectations, the level of development of agriculture and livestock or the climatology of the time (which implies the participation of sciences such as economics, sociology, psychology, agriculture or meteorology).

The case of geography is similar: to understand the current state and the changes that the surface of the planet is undergoing and has been undergoing, requires knowledge of aspects such as climate, climate change, climate change and the effects of climate change. requires knowledge of aspects such as climate, the formation or disappearance of aquifers or glaciers, the behavior of tectonic plates, or even the effect they have on it. or even the effect that living beings have on it (including us). That is why the help of auxiliary sciences is so necessary.

Main auxiliary sciences of geography

Geography can nourish and improve its understanding of its object of study based on the contributions of multiple disciplines, among which we can find the following.

1. Geology

Geology studies the composition and structure of rocks and soils.Geology studies the composition and structure of rocks and soils, which is fundamental for understanding their properties and helping to explain why and how the surface of the planet can change. Tectonics is part of it, studying for example the movement of land masses.

2. Meteorology

Another of the most relevant auxiliary sciences for geography is meteorology, since the study of the behavior of our atmosphere, weather and climate can be used to explain can be used to explain processes such as desertification or floods.

3. Hydrology

Three quarters of the earth's surface is water, which means that geography must rely heavily on the study of the composition and behavior of the elemental liquid in all types of water: rivers, aquifers, seas or oceans. the study of the composition and behavior of the liquid element in all types of water: rivers, aquifers, seas and oceans.. And its study is in charge of the branch of science called hydrology.

Within this we can find its branches such as oceanography or potamology. The tides or the sea level or the presence of aquifers, are aspects that are linked for example with the amount of land emerged.

4. Cryology

This discipline deals with the the study of water in solid state, including the formation of glaciers or hail.. Technically it could be considered within hydrology, and its participation in geography can be very useful.

At a time when climate change is becoming increasingly topical, this is one of the key ancillary sciences to geography.

5. Cartography

Cartography is deeply linked to geography, being the science that studies the topography of the land and takes measurements of it. studies the topography of the terrain and takes measurements of it to produce graphic documents such as maps..

6. Astronomy

Although geography focuses on our planet, astronomy is also a discipline to which it can turn to improve the understanding of its object of study. The behavior of the stars and how they influence our planet, as well as the way they influence our planetThe behavior of the stars and how they influence our planet, as well as the way our planet moves through the cosmos, can help explain the state of the surface.

7. Ecology

Our planet is inhabited by an immensity of creatures, which survive in a subtle balance with the ecosystem on which they depend. The presence or absence of certain living things can greatly alter the Earth's surface..

8. Biology

Undoubtedly, biology is a science especially linked to geography, since the different living beings have a role in the state of the planet's surface. Plants, animals and even microorganisms are part of the world and modify it, giving rise to different landscapes and ecosystems.and modify it, giving rise to different landscapes and ecosystems. For example, plants contribute to the formation of oxygen and hinder soil erosion, and large animals such as elephants make it possible for large expanses of savannah to exist, as they can knock down trees, giving grasses a better chance to thrive.

9. Sociology

The study of societies and forms of human organization is an element of sociology, which can contribute to the analysis of the concept of territory and how human beings operate in it. In fact, from the union of both disciplines arises the so-called social geography..

For example, human activities such as agriculture can have a notable impact not only on the type of animals and plants that live in an area, but also on the way in which water is distributed throughout the territory.

10. Policy

Although it may seem to have little to do with geography, politics can be considered an auxiliary science to geography because an understanding of the systems of human organization and management as well as the many laws and policies applied in relation to territory can influence and even explain the state of the planet's surface..

In addition, politics also explains the division of territories made by different countries. In fact, the relationship between politics and geography is so relevant that there is a subdiscipline called political geography.

11. Physics

One of the purest sciences in existence, physics is concerned with the study of matter, energy and their properties. Physics can be used to understand the to understand the properties of the earth's surface and the forces to which it is subjected.. Physics can be used to study erosion, ground movements, etc.

12. History

Our passage through the world is relatively short, but there is no doubt that it has contributed to modify the earth's surface. For example, industrialization or the creation of cities are factors that have greatly changed the earth's surface.

On the other hand, history as an auxiliary science of geography helps us to know how coasts, mountains, etc. were centuries ago.

Bibliographical references:

• Bartsch, J., Colvard, M.P. (2009). The Living Environment. New York: Prentice Hall.
• Cosgrove D. E. (ed.) (1999). Mappings. London: Reaktion Books.