Introduction to Physical Geography

About this book

In this textbook energy is used as a unifying theme to integrate various divisions of the environment. There are chapters on: atmospheres; biosphere; lithosphere; and the hydrosphere. Each chapter begins with a discussion of energy and its relation to the topic of that chapter.

Contents

Part 1 The geographic: the geographic viewpoint; the Earth in space. Part 2 The atmospheres: the ocean of air; solar energy and the Earth's response; the windy planet; clouds, atmospheric moisture and precipitation; the stormy planet; climate - controls, classification and design; climatic patterns. Part 3 The biosphere: soil-forming processes; soil patterns of the world; environmental factors of plant communities; the Earth's plant communities. Part 4 The lithosphere: rocks and minerals of the Earth's crust; plate tectonics, seismic waves and the Earth's interior; faulting, folding and volcanism; levelling of the land by weathering and mass wasting. Part 5 The hydrosphere: the work of water in the hydrologic cycle; groundwater and the hydrologic cycle; the work of ice in the hydrologic cycle; the work of waves; the work of wind and water in arid and wind-formed landforms; the miracle of design. Appendices: climate classification; soil classification systems; soil nutrients.

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