Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
INTRODUCTION TO
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
C H A P T E R O N E
I want to welcome you to this introductory textbook about physical geography, an exciting scientific discipline that
examines the Earth and how it functions. Physical geographers study a wide variety of interesting things, ranging
from climate and weather to soils, glaciers, and beaches, to name just a few. Their purpose is to understand the
location and character of certain features on the landscape, such as mountain ranges and river valleys, and to
explain why they came to be and how they differ from a geographical perspective. This text seeks to encapsulate
the essence of physical geography in a way that is appropriate for a beginning student of the discipline such as
yourself. As you read through it, your first goal should be to investigate the various physical processes on Earth
and how they operate and combine to form distinctive geographical features and patterns. At a secondary level,
you will be asked to examine how aspects of physical geography affect human lives and, in turn, how people im-
pact them. This opening chapter outlines the topics discussed in this topic and places them in the context of the
overall discipline of geography. Then we discuss the various components and features of the topic and how they
will assist with your learning.
