Physical Geography: Here Are All You Need To Know
Definition & Scope
Have you heard of the term Physical Geography before? Yes, I guess...
Whenever you hear Physical Geography what does come to your mind?
These questions bring us to -The Definition of Physical Geography.
"Physical geography is the branch of natural science which deals with the study of processes and patterns in the natural environment such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere, as opposed to the cultural or built environment, the domain of human geography"(Wikipedia).
It can be simply defined as a field of knowledge or subdiscipline of Geography that studies natural features and phenomena on the Earth from a spatial perspective.
The study of the natural features of the earth's surface, especially in its current aspects, including land formations, climate, currents, and distribution of flora and fauna.
Physical geography focuses upon the character of, and processes shaping the land-surface of the earth and its envelope, emphasizes the spatial variations that occur and the temporal changes necessary to understand the contemporary environments of the earth.
The main purpose of Physical Geography is to explain the spatial characteristics of the various natural phenomena associated with the Earth's hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere
Also, to understand how the Earth’s physical environment is the basis for, and is affected by, human activity
That brings us to -
The Scope of Physical Geography
Physical Geography is a vast area of Geography; it covers very large part of Geography.The following studies are the areas covered by Physical Geography(that is, scope of Physical Geography):
It is evident from the foregoing discussion on the nature of physical geography that the detailed consideration of four components of the earth viz. lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere are included in physical geography wherein characteristic features of these components are studied spatially and temporally.
First, the origin, age and structure of the interior of the earth, isostasy and evolution of continents and ocean basins are studied in order to understand the characteristic features of the aforemeevolutionour components.
The study of forces or movements of the earth, both endogenetic (originating from within the earth) and exogenetic (originating from the atmosphere) becomes significant to understand the interactions between these two forces and resultant features.
In fact, endogenetic forces (termed as constructive forces) coming from within the earth, create reliefs of varying dimensions on the earth’s surface (e.g. mountains, folds, faults, volcanic cones etc.) which provide habitats for living organisms of the biospheric ecosystem on the one hand, and present initial reliefs for the interplay of exogenetic forces originating from the atmosphere, termed as destructive forces (denudational processes e.g., fluvial, marine, glacial, aeolian, periglacial etc. processes and weathering agents) on the other hand.
The study of evolution of continents and ocean basins and their drifting (continental drift as evidenced by plate tectonics) helps in the understanding of evolution and dispersal of plants and animals.
The characteristics, origin and distribution of constructional reliefs namely mountains, faults, folds etc. are thoroughly investigated.
The distribution, characteristics and origin of vulcanicity and landforms resulting therefrom are studied as physical features and natural hazards which adversely affect both human being and plants and animals.
The study of features resulting from the interactions between endogenetic and exogenetic forces involves the discussion of mode of denudational processes (weathering and erosion), hetherto termed as geomorphic processes, their mechanism of operation (machanism of erosion, transportation and deposition by running water-river, groundwater, sea waves, wind, glacier and periglacial agent) and resultant landforms.
The study of hydrospheric component involves the consideration of reliefs of the ocean basins (continental shelves, submarine canyons, continental slope, deep sea plains, ocean deeps etc.); thermal characteristics of ocean water; salinity (composition of seawater, sources and distribution of oceanic salinity); ocean deposits; ocean tides; ocean currents and coral reefs and atolls (their distribution and origin, coral bleach ing etc.).
The study of atmospheric component includes the discussion of composition and structure of atmos phere, elements of weather and climate, insolation and heat balance, terrestrial radiation balance and anthropogenic factors causing imbalance, air temperature, air pressure and winds (permanent or planetay winds, seasonal and local winds), characteristics and origin of monsoon, humidity and precipitation, airmasses, frontogenesis, cyclones and anticyclones, world cli mate etc.
The study of biospheric component involves the consideration of components of biosphere (both abiotic and biotic), soil system, ecological production and energy flow in the biospheric ecosystem, circulation of elements in the ecosystem, biogeochemical cycles, evolution, dispesal and extinction of plants and animals, biomes and man, ecosystem stability and man, man and atmospheric environment (global radiation balance, ozone depletion, greenhouse effects and glo bal warming), man and environmental processes, maininduced soil erosion and sedimentation, environmental degradation and pollution, extreme events, hazards and disaster, environmental planning and management, global environmental problems and international co operations.
From the above discussion, it is evident that the scope of physical geography includes the consideration of systematic study of physical environ ment as well as the study of interactions between man and physical environment.
Physical geography was conventionally subdivided into; geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, and biogeography, but is now more holistic in systems analysis of recent environmental and Quaternary change.
However, between 1850 and 1950, the main ideas that had a strong influence on the discipline were uniformitarianism, evolution, exploration and survey, and conservation (G. P. Marsh 1864).
In the 1960s, ‘a new type of physical geography began to emerge that accentuated a concern with dynamic processes of earth systems.
This new approach, which has evolved to the present, is founded on basic physical, chemical, and biological principles and employs statistical and mathematical analysis.
It has become known as the “process approach” to physical geography…
Over the past fifteen years, physical geographers, who have always acknowledged that the systems they study are complex, have turned to emerging ideas in the natural sciences about nonlinear dynamical systems and complexity to explore the relevance of these ideas for understanding physical-geographic phenomena’ (Rhoads AAAG 94, 4).
According to a writer, advances in remote sensing, geographical information systems and information technology have enabled a more global approach; a second new development has been the advent of a more culturally-based approach throughout many branches of physical geography.
By 2000 a series of issues can be identified including the increasingly holistic trend, greater awareness of a global approach and of environmental change problems, and of the timely opportunities which can arise from closer links with human geography and with other disciplines’ (Gregory Fennia 179, 1).
Physical geography was conventionally subdivided into; geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, and biogeography, but is now more holistic in systems analysis of recent environmental and Quaternary change.
An Oversight(Sort of history of Physical Geography):
According to report, R. Inkpen claims that there is not a single history of physical geography.
However, between 1850 and 1950, the main ideas that had a strong influence on the discipline were uniformitarianism, evolution, exploration and survey, and conservation (G. P. Marsh 1864).
In the 1960s, ‘a new type of physical geography began to emerge that accentuated a concern with dynamic processes of earth systems.
This new approach, which has evolved to the present, is founded on basic physical, chemical, and biological principles and employs statistical and mathematical analysis.
It has become known as the “process approach” to physical geography…
Over the past fifteen years, physical geographers, who have always acknowledged that the systems they study are complex, have turned to emerging ideas in the natural sciences about nonlinear dynamical systems and complexity to explore the relevance of these ideas for understanding physical-geographic phenomena’ (Rhoads AAAG 94, 4).
According to a writer, advances in remote sensing, geographical information systems and information technology have enabled a more global approach; a second new development has been the advent of a more culturally-based approach throughout many branches of physical geography.
By 2000 a series of issues can be identified including the increasingly holistic trend, greater awareness of a global approach and of environmental change problems, and of the timely opportunities which can arise from closer links with human geography and with other disciplines’ (Gregory Fennia 179, 1).
According to Harden Phys. Geog,
"While the sub-discipline of physical geography remains firmly grounded in research undertaken to explain Earth’s landscapes and its geomorphic, hydrologic, atmospheric, cryospheric, petrologic, and biogeographical processes, which change over time and space, the extent of the human “footprint” on this planet challenges physical geographers to pay greater attention to the role of people in environmental change and the interactions between people and their environments".
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