What Is Physical Geography? Understanding the Natural World

Physical geography, in simple terms, is a study that involves observing and recognizing our environment’s features and the processes involved in the creation, modification, and destruction of our environment.

Physical geography is the branch of geography that examines the Earth’s natural features and the physical processes that shape them. It focuses on the study of landforms, climate, water bodies, vegetation, and ecosystems, as well as the dynamic interactions that drive environmental change, including erosion, weathering, and tectonic activity.

By dissecting the earth into unique systems, we can look for the connections that will help us understand complex environmental problems like climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, etc.

The Four Major Earth Systems: An Overview of Earth’s Interconnected Spheres

In physical geography, there are 4 major earth systems;

1. The Atmosphere:  This can be defined as a layer of air surrounding the Earth, which gives us clouds, the ozone layer, weather, and oxygen, which is essential for the survival of living organisms.
2. The Hydrosphere: This is the part of the earth that is composed of water. Examples of the hydrosphere are oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, streams, ice caps, the water in the soil, and water molecules in the atmosphere. etc.
3. The Lithosphere: This can be referred to as the rocky outermost layer of the earth. The lithosphere rocks form our continent and line the bottom of our oceans (the river basins).
4. The Biosphere: This refers to the part of the Earth’s surface where life exists or the part of the Earth where living organisms live.

No matter what you choose to place your focus on, in the field of physical geography, all four major earth systems listed above will always play their roles.

The process in which these four major earth systems play their roles is known as an ecosystem (sounds familiar?)

An ecosystem is a community of living things interacting with their non-living environment based on these underlying earth systems. It can also be defined as a community of living organisms along with their natural habitat and the non-living components of their environment.

A typical example of these ecosystems is the Australian Great Barrier Reef. On the northeastern coast of Australia, is the world’s largest coral reef (the Great Barrier Reef). It is comprised of almost 3000 individual reefs that is home to more than 9000 different species of organisms working together to build their home.

Since the Great Barrier Reef, like all coral reefs, is life, the reef itself is part of the biosphere. Even the skeletons of each reef are built by the corals themselves,

The hard coral of the chemical reefs secretes a chemical compound called Calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ), which hardens into limestone, and that limestone is part of the lithosphere and forms the rock foundation that protects the corals and other organisms from the ocean currents and waves.

Even after the coral dies, the limestone remains and becomes a suitable spot for new corals to grow and thrive. The Great Barrier reefs also exist underwater in the Pacific Ocean, so the hydrosphere surrounds it. Also, the ecosystem still interacts with the marine ecosystem through storms.

Whether you believe it or not, these coral reefs that look delicate are more successful and thrive better where the atmosphere and the hydrosphere interact (i.e. during the storm).

It is estimated that thousands of cubic kilometers of the ocean waters flow through the great barrier Reef, bringing food materials, oxygen, and moderate regulation of temperatures for all organisms that live in the reefs.

By looking at the interactions between these earth systems, we can help identify what helps our ecosystem thrive.

What Causes Earth’s Four Spheres to Interact?

We can start thinking like a physical geographer by asking, “What causes these four spheres to interact?”. Well, the Earth’s Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere, and Hydrosphere are driven and controlled by the sun and insolation (i.e. Incoming Solar Radiation).

For example, The energy of the sun heats up liquid water (could be from oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, and other water bodies) causing it to turn to water vapor, and that water vapor makes density in the atmosphere forming clouds and rain, the rain enters a lake, river and other water bodies or it may become frozen in the glacier, over sometimes, that glacier might move down the sides of the mountain (basal sliding), altering earth surface and providing a suitable habitat for the smallest of bacteria.

As physical geographers, we can say that our areas of study are everywhere light touches and more (that’s very broad, right? ). Just like being a doctor, but you focus more on studying the human brain to be a neurosurgeon or being a wildlife conservationist but you spend most of your time studying more about birds in order to become an ornithologist, etc. Physical geographers make up the geo-ecosphere and specialize in different processes:

The Six Branches of Physical Geography: Key Areas of Study

1. Geomorphology
2. Climatology
3. Hydrology
4. Biogeography
5. Pedology
6. Glaciology
7. Coastal Geography

1. Geomorphology – This is the study of landforms, like mountains, valleys, and deserts. It looks at how these shapes form and change over time due to natural processes like erosion and volcanic activity.
2. Climatology – This branch focuses on the Earth’s climate. It studies long-term weather patterns, temperature changes, and the overall conditions that affect the atmosphere over large areas and time spans.
3. Hydrology – Hydrology is all about water. It looks at how water moves across the Earth in rivers, lakes, oceans, and underground, as well as how it is distributed and used.
4. Biogeography – This field studies where plants and animals live around the world. It explains how and why different species are found in particular areas based on factors like climate and geography.
5. Pedology – Pedology deals with soils. It looks at how soils form, what they’re made of, and how they affect plant life and the environment.
6. Glaciology – Glaciology is the study of ice. It looks at glaciers and ice sheets, their movement, and how they impact landscapes, especially in colder regions.
7. Coastal Geography – This branch focuses on coastlines, where the land meets the ocean. It studies how waves, tides, and currents shape beaches, cliffs, and other coastal features. It also looks at erosion, sea-level changes, and how human activities affect coastal areas.

4 Key Differences Between Physical Geography and Other Scientific Fields

Physical geography stands out from other scientific fields due to its unique focus on spatial patterns, environmental interactions, and large-scale natural processes. Below are four key differences that distinguish physical geography:

1. Emphasis on Spatial Patterns and Distributions
   Physical geography focuses on how natural features—such as landforms, climate, and vegetation—are arranged across space. Unlike other sciences that may study individual elements in isolation, physical geography examines their spatial distribution and relationships.
2. Study of Variations Across Earth’s Spheres
   Physical geography investigates how the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere vary from place to place. This place-based approach sets it apart from other sciences that may study these spheres without considering their geographic context.
3. Analysis of Interactions Between Earth’s Systems
   Physical geographers analyze how different environmental systems interact over time and across various scales. For example, they study how climate influences vegetation, how water shapes landscapes, and how natural disasters impact ecosystems—all within a spatial framework.
4. Focus on the Distribution of Natural Processes
   Unlike disciplines like ecology that focus primarily on biological aspects, physical geography examines how natural processes—such as erosion, climate change, and water cycles—function and are distributed across space. This perspective helps in understanding environmental change on a global scale.

Conclusion

Physical geography plays a crucial role in understanding the Earth’s natural processes, spatial patterns, and environmental interactions. Unlike other scientific fields, it provides a comprehensive, place-based approach to studying landscapes, climate, and ecosystems, making it essential for addressing global challenges like climate change, natural disasters, and resource management.

By grasping the key differences that set physical geography apart, you gain deeper insights into how the world around you functions. But how well do you really understand Earth’s systems and processes?

Test your knowledge now! Click the link below to take our exciting Physical Geography Quiz and see how much you really know about the planet we call home!

Take the Quiz Now