地理事物的任何变化必然在时间轴上延续，所有动态过程的描述都离不开时间的度量，时间认知是地理学的关键思维。本文首先解读了时间单位、时间分辨率、时间区间、时间尺度和时间序列等时间表达形式。其次描述了地理事物在不同时态下的变化性质、变化模式、变化幅度和变化速率等时间变化特征。最后阐述了三种地理的时间思维过程，包括明确时间区间，把握时间尺度，构建动态认知过程；分析时态特征，确定时段划分，解构系统演化阶段；串联时间序列，发现时态规律，提炼人地关系法则。

Any change of geographical phenomena must unfold along the timeline, and the description of all dynamic processes cannot be separated from the measurement of time. Temporal cognition constitutes a core mode of thinking in geography. This article fi rst interprets the forms of time expression such as time units, time resolution, time intervals, time scales, and time series. Second, it describes the temporal change characteristics of geographical features in diff erent tenses, such as the nature of change, change patterns, magnitude of change, and rate of change. Finally, three temporal thinking processes in geography were expounded, including defining time intervals, grasping temporal scales, and constructing dynamic cognitive processes; analyzing temporal characteristics, determining time period divisions, and deconstructing the evolutionary stages of systems; connecting time series, identifying temporal laws, and refining the principles of humanenvironment interaction.