Physical Geography and Environmental Change

The puzzle of physical geography: connecting processes and landscapes through experimentation, monitoring, remote sensing and modeling

Physical Geography is the branch of geography that deals with the natural features and processes of the Earth. It focuses on the physical environment, including:

• Landforms and the processes that shape them
• Weather and climate
• Water bodies
• Soils and vegetation
• Natural hazards

Physical geography helps us understand how these natural systems interact and shape the Earth’s surface over time.

One major challenge in connecting the processes that shape and change Earth’s surface to landscapes and global change is the complex interaction between natural forces—such as tectonics, erosion, climate and vegetation—and human activities, like deforestation and urbanization. These processes occur at different scales and timeframes, making it difficult to predict how short-term changes contribute to long-term landscape evolution and global environmental shifts.