Physical Geography

Friday, June 17, 2011

Physical Geography

Dr. Edmar Bernardes DaSilva (Masters in Geography and Doctor of Geography Education)

Physical geography is the study of the natural landscapes on the face of the Earth, better defined as the study of the conditions of the natural landscapes. Physical geography involves Water Resources (water resources on land: rivers, lakes...), Palaeogeography (studies of ancient geologic environments), Geomorphology (studies of landforms and the processes that shape them), Oceanography (studies of the Earth’s oceans), Pedology (studies of the soil), Glaciology (studies of natural phenomena involving ice - glaciers), Biogeography (studies of the distribution of species on Earth), Climatology (studies of the climate), and Landforms (highlands, lowlands, plateaus...).

Physical geography also concentrates on the physical analysis of the Earth’s crust and the influence of humans on that crust. As everyone knows humans are the major forces that change the Earth’s surface. Humans are constantly modifying the Earth’s natural environments and shaping it according to their desire. In the process biomes are destroyed and natural landscapes re-shaped to become a cultural landscape.

Some Important Sub-fields of Physical Geography:

The Brazilian Highlands

Geomorphology: the area of physical geography which is concerned with the understanding of the Earth surface and all processes that shapes it (present processes and past processes)

Hydrology: is concerned with the quality and amounts of water moving and accumulating on the land surface and in the soils and rocks near the surface (Hydrological Circle)

Water Fall in Minas Gerais - Brazil

Glaciology: the study of glaciers and ice sheets and the phenomena that involves ice

Perito Moreno in Argentina

Biogeography: deals with the geographic distribution of species and the processes that results in the patterns

Climatology: the study of the weather and climate (weather conditions over a long period of time)

Palaeogeography: the study of the continents through geological time examining preserved material

Map of Major Plate Tectonics

Coastal Geography: is the study of the dynamics between the land and the ocean

Florida's coastal region

Oceanography: Studies the Earth oceans and seas

Environmental Geography: worries about the human interactions with the natural world

Lake in Florida

Professor Harm de Blij

Dutch geographer and author. Professor de Blij left a legacy to be followed by us younger geographers. His regional divisions of the Earth in my view is the closest to reality (and I love his micro-regional divisions) with exceptions (some flaws can be found in his publications). Great geographer and also a great researcher. Professor de Blij wanted to meet me personally, but I never had the honor to meet him personally. Professor de Blij exchanged e-mails with me and also included my name in two editions of his books The World Today and Regions. I also had the honor to receive from him a copy of his book Why Geography Matters with his personal dedication to me with his signature and date. Professor de Blij did an extensive study of the wine regions of the Southern Hemisphere and Brazil my homeland was part of it which became a book (I own this book). Professor de Blij wrote me in a personal e-mail that he was six month in South America doing the research on wine regions of South America.