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.date{margin:1px 10px 0 0;}</style><title>Physical Geography</title><meta name="keywords" content="physical geography landscape landforms glaciers ice sun earth ocean climate"><meta name="description" content="Physical geography covers the topics relating to the surface of the earth - the landforms, glaciers, rivers, climate, oceans, earth-sun interaction, hazards, and more."></head> <body id="tt14" class="gt6 education nd"> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <script language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120202042826js_/http://0.tqn.com/0/js/cj017x14t421p9.js?rdv=j25"></script> <script>function zob(p){if(!this.zOfs)return;var a=zOfs,t,i=0,l=a.length;if(l){w('<div id="oF"><b>'+(this.zobt?zobt:xg+' Ads')+'</b><ul>');while((i<l)&&i<zRad){t=a[i++].line1;w('<li><a href="/z/js/o'+(p?p:'')+'.htm?k='+zUriS(t.toLowerCase())+(this.zobr?zobr:'')+'&d='+zUriS(t)+'&r='+zUriS(zWl)+'" target="_'+(this.zOBNW?'new'+zr(9999):'top')+'">'+t+'</a></li>');}w('</ul></div>')}}function 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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/" zt="18/1ZZ/aZ"><span>Geography</span></a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/lists/u/basics.htm" zt="18/1ZZ/11o">What Is Geography?</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/findmaps/u/maps.htm" zt="18/1ZZ/11q">Maps</a></li><li class="c"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/u/physicalcultural.htm" zt="18/1ZZ/11r">Physical & Cultural</a></li><li class="last d"></li><script>if(typeof zp != 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id="sub" class="split"><li><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/climate/Climate.htm" zt="18/1R3/WZ">Climate (32)</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/hazardsanddisasters/Hazards_and_Disasters.htm" zt="18/1R3/WZ">Hazards and Disasters (34)</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/timeandtimezones/Time_and_Time_Zones.htm" zt="18/1R3/WZ">Time and Time Zones (21)</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/waterandice/Water_and_Ice.htm" zt="18/1R3/WZ">Water and Ice (29)</a></li></ol><div id="l1"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/Mountain-Building.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">How Do You Make and Break a Mountain?</a></h2><div>An overview of mountain building and how geomorphologic processes contribute to the building and breaking of mountains.</div></div><div><script>zSB(3,3)</script></div><div id="l2"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/biomes.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Biomes</a></h2><div>An overview of biomes and how they differ. Learn all about biomes from this overview.</div></div><div id="l3"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/valleyformation.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">An Overview of Valley Formation and Development</a></h2><div>Learn all about the development of valleys through this great overview article on valley formation from the expert About.com Geography site.</div></div><div id="l4"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/sanddunes.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Sand Dunes</a></h2><div>Learn about the formation and creation of sand dunes around the world, from the About.com Geography GuideSite.</div></div><div id="l5"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/solareclipse.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Solar Eclipse</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l6"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/physicalgeo.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Physical Geography Overview - All About Physical Geography</a></h2><div>An overview of the subject of physical geography and its various aspects from your About.com Guide to Geography.</div></div><div id="l7"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/atacama.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Atacama Desert</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l8"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/qt/atmcomposition.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Atmosphere Composition</a></h2><div>A listing of the composition of the atmosphere of the earth, from your About.com Guide to Geography.</div></div><div id="l9"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/fourspheres.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere</a></h2><div>Learn about the four spheres of the earth - the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.</div></div><div><script>zSB(3,2)</script></div><div id="l10"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/basinrange.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Basin and Range - An Overview of Basin and Range Topography</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l11"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/biogeography.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Biogeography - An Overview of Biogeography</a></h2><div>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</div></div><div id="l12"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/coriolis.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Coriolis Effect - An Overview of the Coriolis Effect</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l13"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/cs/calendarsseason/a/winter.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">December Solstice (Summer in the Southern Hemishpere)</a></h2><div>An overview of the December solstice.</div></div><div id="l14"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/deserts.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Deserts</a></h2><div>Learn about the deserts of the world and other arid lands, from your About.com Guide to Geography.</div></div><div id="l15"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/erosion.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Erosion - Information on Erosion</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l16"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/geodesyearthsize.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Geodesy and the Size and Shape of the Planet Earth</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l17"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/geomorphology.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Geomorphology - An Overview of Geomorphology</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l18"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/glacierdeposits.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Glacier Deposition and Moraines</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l19"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/karst.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Karst and Sinkholes</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l20"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/landscapeecolog.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Landscape Ecology - An Overview of Landscape Ecology</a></h2><div>An overview of the field of study known as landscape ecology, discipline that explores the spatial aspects of ecology and the biosphere.</div></div><div id="l21"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/lapserate.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Lapse Rate - Overview of Lapse Rate</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l22"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/magnetic.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Magnetic Reversal</a></h2><div>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! </div></div><div id="l23"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/mars.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Mars Geography</a></h2><div>In the tradition of ancient geography, this feature describes a far-away and unfamiliar place, the planet Mars.</div></div><div id="l24"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/cs/earthquakes/a/ringoffire.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Ring of Fire</a></h2><div>Find out more about the arc of volcanoes which circles the Pacific Ocean. </div></div><div id="l25"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/library/misc/blsoilsize.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Soil Size Classification</a></h2><div>From clay to gravel, each soil partical fits into its own category.</div></div><div id="l26"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/soil.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Soil</a></h2><div>An overview of the soil of the lithosphere, from your About.com Guide to Geography.</div></div><div id="l27"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/solarradiation.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Solar Radiation and the Earth’s Albedo</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l28"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/terminator.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Terminator Line</a></h2><div>Learn about the terminator line on the earth that separates light from darkness.</div></div><div id="l29"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/orbitsun.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">The Earth's Elliptical Orbit Around the Sun - Aphelion and Perihelion</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l30"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/library/misc/blequator.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">The Equator, Hemispheres, Tropic of Cancer, and Tropic of Capricorn</a></h2><div>The facts about the key lines of latitude that relate to the position of the sun and the angle of the earth.</div></div><div id="l31"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/fourseasons.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">The Four Seasons - An Overview of the Four Seasons</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l32"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/topographicprom.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Topographic Prominence - Overview of Topographic Prominence</a></h2><div>An overview of topographic prominence, the concept of looking at the local relief of a location based on the local terrain.</div></div><div id="l33"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/longestday.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">The Longest Day of the Year</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l34"><h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120202042826/http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/title_page.html" zt="-o1/XJ" target="_blank" class="o" zt="18/1R4/Wa">The Physical Environment</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l35"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/cs/physicalgeography1/a/rockcycle.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">The Rock Cycle</a></h2><div>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.</div></div><div id="l36"><h2><a href="/web/20120202042826/http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/uniformitarian.htm" zt="18/1R4/Wa">Uniformitarianism</a></h2><div>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. 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