© 2007, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Physical Geographyby Alan Arbogast

Chapter 1

Introduction to Physical

Geography

Lawrence McGlinn

Department of Geography

State University of New York - New Paltz

© 2007, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Scope of Geography

• Much more than memorizing locations

• Spatial attributes of Earth’s surface & how

they vary from place to place

• Geography as Interdisciplinary Science

• Human and Physical Geography

• Spatial Analysis

© 2007, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Defining Physical Geography

• Spatial Analysis of physical components

and natural processes of Earth

• Key to processes is incoming solar radiation

• Interconnected processes constitute natural

systems

• Physical Geography stresses

interconnections

© 2007, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Earth’s Four Spheres

• Atmosphere

• Lithosphere

• Hydrosphere

• Biosphere

© 2007, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Scientific Method

• Recognition of a Problem

• Formulation of Hypothesis

• Test Hypothesis

• Collect Data

• Observe/Analyze

• Experiment

© 2007, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Textbook Organization

• Chapter 2 – Tools

• Chapters 3-5 – Earth’s relationship w/Sun

• Chapters 6-9 – Atmosphere

• Chapters 10-11 – Plants and Soils

• Chapter 12 – Earth Materials

• Chapters 13-19 - Landforms

© 2007, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Geographical Literacy

• Americans’ poor geographic knowledge

• Map Literacy :

• Identifying states and countries

• Identifying physical regions

• Visual literacy

• Reading the landscape

© 2007, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Physical Geography’s Relevance

• Interesting, exciting links to real world

• A better understanding of one’s locality

• Make travel more fulfilling

• Info on environmental issues

• Good job opportunities