 Both scalar and vector fields are found in geographic applications, although the former is more common.The simplest formal model for a field is the function, which yields a single value given a point in space (i.e., "t" = "f"("x", "y", "z") )

Even though the basic concept of a field came from physics, geographers have developed independent theories, data models, and analytical methods.One reason for this apparent disconnect is that "geographic fields" tend to have a different fundamental nature than physical fields; that is, they have patterns similar to gravity and magnetism, but are in reality very different.