What is Physical Geography (definition,scope and development)

 By Umang Rajpurohit

Definition

Physical geography is one of the two branches of geography,the other one is Human geography.But some geographers requested for another branch of geography, i.e for the biotic aspect of thebiospheric ecosystem of the earth and hence, there is third branch which is biogeography.

Physical geography was Considered as the agglomeration(combination) of different branches of earth Sciences.For example: Meterology,Climatology,Oceanography,Geology,Pedology,botany and geomorphology.

The solid earth's surface(crust) provides different types of habitat to living organisms of the biospheric ecosystem.

 Scope of physical geography

 1. The physical geography is the detailed study of the Four components of the earth i.e.       Lithosphere,Atmosphere,Hydrosphere and Biosphere.

2. These four components are studied spatially and temporally.

3.Lithosphere is the upper surface(crust) of the earth .Ex: Mountains,Plateaus,Plains,etc.

4. Hydrosphere involves reliefs of the oceans basin(continental sheves,submarine canyons,continental slope,deep sea plains(Abyssal plain),ocean deeps,etc).

5.Atmosphere includes discussion and structure of atmosphere, elements of weather and climate, heat balance.

6.Biosphere involves the consideration of components of biosphere(both abiotic and biotic) soil system, energy flow in the biospheric ecosystem,evolution, man and environmental processed

* The scope of physical geography includes the consideration of systematic study of physical environment as well as the study of interaction between man and physical environment.

Major changes have taken place in the subject matter and methodology of physical geography due to the following factors:

1.Universal want to make physical geography more significant and applicable for human welfare     and to integrate it more intimately with human geography.

2. More regard towards the study of some aspects of physical geography.

3.More attention of human towards natural hazards and greater emphasis on the evalution of   adverse impacts of human activities on physical environment.

Development of Physical geography

 The discipline of physical geography has evolved through successive stages of  it's development in termof approaches to study.

When talking about physical geography we must talk about the four distinct branches of physical geography:

1. Geomorphology

Geomorphology is the significant branch of physical geography. The term of geomorphology came from three greek words geo(meaning earth),morphe(meaning form ) and logos(meaning discourse).

Geomorphology can be defined as the scientific study of surface features of the earth's surface invol-ving description of landforms, their origin, development, nature and mechanism of geomorphological processes which evolve the landforms.

2.Oceanography

About three-forth of the globe is taken by hydrosphere.The science of oceans i.e. oceanography includes marine geology,marine geomorphology, physical oceanography, chemistry of ocean wate and bio-oceanography.

Physical oceanography includes the consideration of physical properties of ocean water and dynamics of ocean water.

3. Climatology

The gaseous cover surrounding the earth is called atmosphere while the science dealing with 

the study of atmospheric components and characteristics is called meterology and climatology.

Climatology includes the systematic(structured) and regional studies of the atmospheric surroundings i.e, Weather

and Climate.

There are three distinct branches of Climatology:

1. Physical climatology 

2. Regional climatology 

3. Applied climatology

4.Biogeography

Biosphere is a life supporting layer which surrounds the earth and makes plant and animal life possible without any preservative device.

The organic world or biosphere is that part of the earth which have living organisms the biologically living in soil, air and water.

All the living organisms of the earth and environment to which these organisms interact make biosphere.

The biosphere consists of all the living organisms(biotic component) energy and physical environment(abiotic component).

The study of biosphere is called biogeography.

Source: Physical geography by  Savindra singh(Book)

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