physical geography

Physical geography is a branch of geography that focuses on the natural features and changes of the Earth's surface. It examines the Earth's surface processes, including field and laboratory investigations of contemporary processes and the reconstruction of past environments. This field involves understanding systems of natural environmental processes and often collaborates with disciplines like physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics.12

Key areas within physical geography include:
* Geomorphology: The study of landforms and landscape evolution.2
* Hydrology: The study of water's role in erosion, transport, and deposition.2
* Climatology: The study of climate systems and weather patterns.2
* Biogeography: The study of the distribution of plants and animals in relation to environmental conditions.2

Physical geography aims to understand how the environment works and how it produces its characteristic features, often integrating these studies into models of environmental systems to predict future changes.23