Physical Geography
Physical geography covers the topics relating to the surface of the earth - the landforms, glaciers, rivers, climate, oceans, earth-sun interaction, hazards, and more.
An Overview of Valley Formation and Development
Learn all about the development of valleys through this great overview article on valley formation from the expert About.com Geography site.
Learn all about the development of valleys through this great overview article on valley formation from the expert About.com Geography site.
Sand Dunes
Learn about the formation and creation of sand dunes around the world, from the About.com Geography GuideSite.
Learn about the formation and creation of sand dunes around the world, from the About.com Geography GuideSite.
Solar Eclipse
Learn about all types of solar eclipse - from total solar eclipse to partial solar eclipse. A solar eclipse is caused by the moon blocking the sun as viewed from the earth.
Learn about all types of solar eclipse - from total solar eclipse to partial solar eclipse. A solar eclipse is caused by the moon blocking the sun as viewed from the earth.
Physical Geography Overview - All About Physical Geography
An overview of the subject of physical geography and its various aspects from your About.com Guide to Geography.
An overview of the subject of physical geography and its various aspects from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the world's second driest region (icy Antarctica is first). Although the Tropic of Capricorn passes through the region, the Atacama lies in the rain shadow of Chile's Coast Range, which squeezes out the moisture from the atmosphere.
The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the world's second driest region (icy Antarctica is first). Although the Tropic of Capricorn passes through the region, the Atacama lies in the rain shadow of Chile's Coast Range, which squeezes out the moisture from the atmosphere.
Atmosphere Composition
A listing of the composition of the atmosphere of the earth, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
A listing of the composition of the atmosphere of the earth, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere
Learn about the four spheres of the earth - the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.
Learn about the four spheres of the earth - the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.
Basin and Range - An Overview of Basin and Range Topography
The prominent topography of the Basin and Range Province in the Western United States is due to a very specific geologic feature, which is only found in a few other basins and ranges around the world.
The prominent topography of the Basin and Range Province in the Western United States is due to a very specific geologic feature, which is only found in a few other basins and ranges around the world.
Biogeography - An Overview of Biogeography
An overview of biogeography, the geographic distribution of plants and animals over the surface of the earth. This article is part of the expert Geography site at About.com
An overview of biogeography, the geographic distribution of plants and animals over the surface of the earth. This article is part of the expert Geography site at About.com
Coriolis Effect - An Overview of the Coriolis Effect
Learn about the Coriolis effect, which appears to deflect items moving on or above the earth's surface based on the rotation of the earth.
Learn about the Coriolis effect, which appears to deflect items moving on or above the earth's surface based on the rotation of the earth.
December Solstice (Summer in the Southern Hemishpere)
An overview of the December solstice.
An overview of the December solstice.
Deserts
Learn about the deserts of the world and other arid lands, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Learn about the deserts of the world and other arid lands, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Erosion - Information on Erosion
Learn about water, wind, ice, and waves - the agents of erosion that wear away at the surface of the earth, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Learn about water, wind, ice, and waves - the agents of erosion that wear away at the surface of the earth, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Geodesy and the Size and Shape of the Planet Earth
Learn all about the size of the earth, the shape of the earth, and how its size and shape are measured in the science known as geodesy, from the About.com expert Geography GuideSite.
Learn all about the size of the earth, the shape of the earth, and how its size and shape are measured in the science known as geodesy, from the About.com expert Geography GuideSite.
Geomorphology - An Overview of Geomorphology
A great overview of geomorphology, which is the science of landforms with an emphasis on their origin, evolution, form, and distribution across the physical landscape. This overview of geomorphology is part of the About.com Geography site.
A great overview of geomorphology, which is the science of landforms with an emphasis on their origin, evolution, form, and distribution across the physical landscape. This overview of geomorphology is part of the About.com Geography site.
Glacier Deposition and Moraines
The rock and soil picked up and transported by glaciers creates new landscapes as it is eventually deposited by melting and retreating glaciers. Learn about deposition and moraines of glaciers.
The rock and soil picked up and transported by glaciers creates new landscapes as it is eventually deposited by melting and retreating glaciers. Learn about deposition and moraines of glaciers.
Karst and Sinkholes
Dangerous sinkholes and beautiful caverns are two results of landscapes known as karst topography. Learn about these features from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Dangerous sinkholes and beautiful caverns are two results of landscapes known as karst topography. Learn about these features from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Landscape Ecology - An Overview of Landscape Ecology
An overview of the field of study known as landscape ecology, discipline that explores the spatial aspects of ecology and the biosphere.
An overview of the field of study known as landscape ecology, discipline that explores the spatial aspects of ecology and the biosphere.
Lapse Rate - Overview of Lapse Rate
An overview of the atmospheric phenomenon known as lapse rate. Lapse rate explains the decrease or increase in temperature of a parcel of air that rises or lowers.
An overview of the atmospheric phenomenon known as lapse rate. Lapse rate explains the decrease or increase in temperature of a parcel of air that rises or lowers.
Magnetic Reversal
Discover all about the magnetic reversal of the earth's poles throughout the planet's history. The poles have reversed 170 times in the past 100 million years. Find out when it will happen next!
Discover all about the magnetic reversal of the earth's poles throughout the planet's history. The poles have reversed 170 times in the past 100 million years. Find out when it will happen next!
Mars Geography
In the tradition of ancient geography, this feature describes a far-away and unfamiliar place, the planet Mars.
In the tradition of ancient geography, this feature describes a far-away and unfamiliar place, the planet Mars.
Ring of Fire
Find out more about the arc of volcanoes which circles the Pacific Ocean.
Find out more about the arc of volcanoes which circles the Pacific Ocean.
Soil Size Classification
From clay to gravel, each soil partical fits into its own category.
From clay to gravel, each soil partical fits into its own category.
Soil
An overview of the soil of the lithosphere, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
An overview of the soil of the lithosphere, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Solar Radiation and the Earth’s Albedo
An overview of the energy and heat, known as radiation, that is received on earth from the sun. Learn about solar radiation and albedo, the reflection of the sun's energy from the About.com geography site.
An overview of the energy and heat, known as radiation, that is received on earth from the sun. Learn about solar radiation and albedo, the reflection of the sun's energy from the About.com geography site.
Summer Solstice - Overview of the Summer Solstice
June 21 is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and marks the beginning of summer for the earth north of the equator.
June 21 is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and marks the beginning of summer for the earth north of the equator.
Terminator Line
Learn about the terminator line on the earth that separates light from darkness.
Learn about the terminator line on the earth that separates light from darkness.
The Earth's Elliptical Orbit Around the Sun - Aphelion and Perihelion
An overview of the earth's orbit around the sun, including the times when it is closest to the sun and farthest from the sun, known as perihelion and aphelion, respectively.
An overview of the earth's orbit around the sun, including the times when it is closest to the sun and farthest from the sun, known as perihelion and aphelion, respectively.
The Equator, Hemispheres, Tropic of Cancer, and Tropic of Capricorn
The facts about the key lines of latitude that relate to the position of the sun and the angle of the earth.
The facts about the key lines of latitude that relate to the position of the sun and the angle of the earth.
The Four Seasons - An Overview of the Four Seasons
Learn about the start dates for each of the four seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Find out about the earth-sun interaction on the June Solstice, December Solstice, March Equinox, and September Equinox, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
Learn about the start dates for each of the four seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Find out about the earth-sun interaction on the June Solstice, December Solstice, March Equinox, and September Equinox, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
The Longest Day of the Year
The summer solstice is the longest day in the year but it's not the day of earliest sunrise or sunset - learn more about this intriguing occurrence, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
The summer solstice is the longest day in the year but it's not the day of earliest sunrise or sunset - learn more about this intriguing occurrence, from your About.com Guide to Geography.
The Physical Environment
This online physical geography textbook is an amazing resource. Its images and graphics really help to provide detailed information about the basics of physical geography.
This online physical geography textbook is an amazing resource. Its images and graphics really help to provide detailed information about the basics of physical geography.
The Rock Cycle
Discover how igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are created and how they can be recycled as part of the rock cycle of the earth's crust.
Discover how igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are created and how they can be recycled as part of the rock cycle of the earth's crust.
Topographic Prominence - Overview of Topographic Prominence
An overview of topographic prominence, the concept of looking at the local relief of a location based on the local terrain.
An overview of topographic prominence, the concept of looking at the local relief of a location based on the local terrain.
Uniformitarianism
James Hutton, known as the father of geology, suggested that the earth was much older and that processes occurring in the present were the same processes that had operated in the past, and would be the processes that operate in the future. This concept became known as uniformitarianism and can be summarized by the phrase 'the present is the key to the past.'
James Hutton, known as the father of geology, suggested that the earth was much older and that processes occurring in the present were the same processes that had operated in the past, and would be the processes that operate in the future. This concept became known as uniformitarianism and can be summarized by the phrase 'the present is the key to the past.'