Physical Geography

Geomorphology is the scientific study of the origin and evolution of landforms and the processes that create and shape them. As a core sub-discipline of physical geography, it investigates how the Earth's surface is built up by internal (endogenic) forces like tectonic uplift and volcanism, and simultaneously sculpted and worn down by external (exogenic) agents such as water, wind, and ice through processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition. By analyzing these dynamic interactions, geomorphology explains the history, form, and future of landscapes, from the grand scale of mountain ranges to the intricate details of a river delta.

Biogeography is the subfield of physical geography that studies the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. It seeks to explain the patterns of life on Earth by investigating the interplay of physical factors, such as climate, topography, and soil, with historical processes like evolution, continental drift, and past environmental changes. By bridging biology and geography, this discipline provides critical insights into why particular organisms are found in specific locations and how their populations and communities have shifted over millennia.

Soils Geography is the sub-discipline of physical geography concerned with the spatial distribution of soils, their properties, and their formation processes. It investigates pedogenesis (soil formation), soil classification, and the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics that define different soil types. Central to this field is understanding the complex interplay between soils and other environmental factors—such as climate, parent material, topography, and organisms—to explain why specific soil patterns exist across the globe and to manage soil as a critical natural resource.