Branches of physical geography

Physical Geography is the main branch of Geography

1. Branches of Physical Geography Dr. ATUL M. JETHE Department of Geography C.T. Bora college, Shirur, Dist. Pune – 412210

2. Branches of Physical Geography 1. Geomorphology 2.Climatology 3.Oceanography 4.Biogeography 5.Soil Geography 6.Hydrology 7.Meteorology 8.Environmental Geography 9.Ecology 10. Glaciology 11.Paleogeography 12.Astronomical Geography

3. Geomorphology Geomorphology is the main branch of physical geography. It is the science of earth surface processes and landforms. In other words it is the scientific study of surface involving interpretative description of landforms, their origin and development and nature and mechanism of geomorphological processes which evolve the landforms

4. Climatology According to Critchfield, climatology is the science which studies the nature of climate, the causes and interpretation of its spatial variations and its association with the elements of natural environment and human activities.

5. Oceanography It is the study of distribution and characteristics and global impact of ocean and seas. It is concerned with the study of various types of oceanic component and processes related to ocean floor depths, currents, corals reefs, and continental drifts etc.

6. Biogeography It is also one of the important branch of geography which is dealing with the study of physical factors influencing the world distribution of plants and animals . There are two sub branches of Biogeography i.e. A. Zoogeography B. Phytogeography

7. Soil Geography Soil geography is the study of distribution of soil as a and natural resources on the earth surface. It is not only studies the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil but also their utility, management and impact of living organisms. It is therefore further sub divided into two sub branches namely A. Pedology B. Edaphology

8. Hydrology Hydrology deals with the occurrence, movement, and storage of water in the earth system. Hydrologic science comprises understanding the underlying physical and stochastic processes involved and estimating the quantity and quality of water in the various phases and stores. The study of hydrology also includes quantifying the effects of such human interventions on the natural system at watershed, river basin, regional, country, continental, and global scales.

9. Meteorology Meteorology is the study of atmospheric phenomena. This study consists of physics, chemistry, and dynamics of the atmosphere. It also includes many of the direct effects the atmosphere has upon Earth’s surface, the oceans, and life in general. In this manual we will study the overall fundamentals of meteorology, a thorough description of atmospheric physics and circulation, air masses, fronts, and meteorological elements.

10. Environmental Geography It is the branch of Geography that majorly deals with the study of the earth components such as atmosphere, hydrosphere, Lithosphere and Biosphere. It is the branch of Geography the describes and explains spatial aspects of interaction between human individuals and their natural environment.

11. Ecology Ecology is the study of physical environment in which how organism interact with other. The distribution and abundance of organisms on earth is shaped by both biotic and a biotic factors .

12. Glaciology The word glaciology is also derived from greek language ‘glacio’ means ice sheets and logos means to study. It is the study of glaciers and the processes related to glaciers. It is interdisciplinary earth science that interact with Geophysics, geology, Geomorphology, Climatology and hydrology.

13. Paleogeography Paleogeography is the study of Historical geography. Generally Physical landscapes, Paleogeogeography can also include the study of human or cultural environment when the focus is specially on the study of landform. Inshort ith the scince focuces on the way the earth looked in ancient times.

14. Astronomical Geography It is the part of Mathematical Geography that treats with earth and the other celestial bodies., it studies about planet stars satellite comets, eclipses the origin of planet etc. It also studies the speed of planet and effects on the earth seas, oceans , atmosphere, tides and seasons etc.

15. Thanks