Nature and scope of physical geography
Physical geography is
considered as the accumulation of different branches of earth science. For
example – Climatology, Science of ocean and seas
i.e. Oceanography, Science of plants i.e.
Botany etc. Thus, it includes consideration of surface relief of the globe.
Different geographers have defined physical geography in different ways.
According to Tarr and Von Engeleh,
“Physical geography is the study of physical features of the earth and their
influence on men.”
In the words of Lobeck, “The study of
physical environment along contributes physiographic.”
According to Strahler, “Physical
geography is the study of unification of a number of earth sciences.”
Thus, it will include the study of all
physical elements and factors in physical geography which provide suitable
habitats for the living organisms of biosphere. Physical geography also studies
the spatial pattern and spatial relationship of environmental components of the
globe in original context. It also studies the causes of original patterns of
such spatial relationship.
Scope of
physical geography
The scope of physical
geography includes the study of earth relief features and physical features,
such as plains, mountains, hills etc. the emergence of areas branches into physical
geography such as Geomorphology, Climatology, Oceanography, Biogeography, etc
made the scope of physical geography quit extensive. The subject matter of all
those branches is considered as the scope of physical geography.
Geomorphology
Geomorphology is an important
branch of physical geography. It is concerned with the scientific study of the
origin and evolution of relief features of the earth surface. The word Geomorphology
derived from three Greek words, i.e., ‘geo’ means earth, ‘morph’
means shape and ‘logos’ means study. Hence Geomorphology
is defined as the scientific description of various landforms.
According to Worcester, “Geomorphology
is the interpretation, description of the relief features of the earth
surface.”
Geomorphology is the systematic
analysis of the origin, evolution and present pattern of earth relief features.
Geomorphology can be dividing into three sub-divisions, those are – a) Structure, b) Process,
c) Classification and evolution of landforms. Structure, process and evolution are all dynamic.
Climatology
It deals with the study of
the atmospheric components and their characteristics. It includes the
systematic and regional studies of the atmospheric conditions, i.e., weather
and climate.
Weather refers to the atmospheric
conditions in terms of temperature, pressure, humidity, and precipitation etc.
of a particular place at any given time.
On the other hand, climate is related
to weather conditions of any region in long term perspective. However, climate
is different from weather with respect to time and space.
The study of the characteristics of
both weather and climate and their influence on human activities are included
in the study of physical geography.
Oceanography
Oceanography includes the
description and analysis of physical and biological aspect of hydrosphere. The
study of marine resources and their biological characteristics is included
under oceanography which is an important branch of physical geography.
The study of seas and oceans and their
characteristics of marine eco-system and their interaction with hydrospheric
environment are studied under the scope of physical geography.
Biogeography
Biogeography
is defined as the study of distribution of plants and animals and their
relationship with environment. It comprises of two branches, i.e., a)
Phytogeography (study of plants distribution).
b) Zoo geography
(study of animal’s distribution and
their relationship with their relationship).
Thus, biogeography is the study of
distribution of both plants and animals. It also includes a study of all components
of the physical environment, such as land, water, air etc. which constitute the
habitat of plants and animals.
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