
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Introduction to Physical Geography
1.1 Geography as a Discipline
LO1: Describe the aspects of Earth that physical geographers seek to understand and distinguish physical geography from other sciences that study Earth
Practical Geography: What is the physical geography of your neighborhood?
1.2 Tools of Geography
LO2: Describe tools that physical geographers use to explore and understand Earth
Geography Matters: The Rain Line
1.3 Core Concepts in Physical Geography
LO3: Explain the core concepts related to physical systems on Earth
1.4 The Scope of Physical Geography
LO4: Understand how Earth history influences the physical geography of Earth today
Visualizing Geographic Data: General Reference, Thematic, and Elevation Maps of the U.S.
Chapter 2 – Earth Systems
2.1 What Makes Earth Habitable?
LO1: Describe the conditions that enable life to flourish on Planet Earth
2.2 Describing Earth as a System: Flows of Matter and Energy
LO2: Explain the concept of reservoirs and flows used to understand Earth as a system
Geography Matters: Biosphere 2
2.3 Earth’s Spheres
LO3: Consider the interactions that move mass and energy between Earth’s spheres
Practical Geography: Can You Design a Colony on Mars?
2.4 Earth’s Physical Geography
LO4: Explain the large-scale physical geography of Earth and how it changes over time
Visualizing Geographic Data: Earth, Mars, Venus
2.5 Human Impacts on the Earth System
LO5: Provide specific examples of how humans have affected each of the four spheres
Chapter 3 – The Atmosphere
3.1 The Layering and Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere
LO1: Diagram the layers and describe the composition of Earth’s atmosphere
3.2 Earth’s Magnetic Field and the Atmosphere
LO2: Explain why Earth has a magnetic field and how it shields us from radiation and controls the aurora
Geography Matters: The Atmosphere and You
3.3 Atmospheric Circulation and Winds
LO3: Relate Earth’s large-scale atmospheric circulation cells to the jet stream and surface winds
3.4 Human Impacts on Atmospheric Composition
LO4: Explain how human actions have changed the composition of the atmosphere
Practical Geography: How would you clean up the air in Mumbai?
Visualizing Geographic Data: U.S. Methane Emissions and Energy Infrastructure
Chapter 4 – Weather
4.1 The Elements of Weather
LO1: Understand why air masses differ and how they interact to create weather
Practical Geography: Could you predict the weather?
4.2 Types of Precipitation
LO2: Compare types of precipitation and explain how and why they differ
4.3 Where and When Precipitation Falls
LO3: Explain when, where, and how precipitation is most likely to occur
4.4 Severe Weather
LO4: Predict when and where different types of severe weather are most likely to occur and explain why
Geography Matters: Rapid storm intensification
4.5 Human Influences on Weather
LO5: Describe two ways in which humans have affected the weather
Visualizing Geographic Data: Satellite Imagery and Weather Maps
Chapter 5 – The Climate System
5.1 Earth’s Energy Balance
LO1: Predict what would happen if Earth’s radiation balance changed such that the atmosphere retained more heat
5.2 Earth, Sun, and Climate
LO2: Explain how differences in climate reflect differences in latitude
5.3 Global Climate Zones
LO3: List the five major climate zones and explain how they differ and where they occur
5.4 Controls on Climate
LO4: Select three important controls on climate and explain how each works
Geography Matters: A volcanic eruption and the fall of the Roman Republic
5.5 Mountain and Elevation Effects
LO5: Explain how orographic and elevation effects control climate across mountain ranges
5.6 Human Adaptation to Climate
LO6: Describe three ways in which human societies adapt to climate
Practical Geography: How would you adapt to a changing climate?
Visualizing Geographic Data
Chapter 6 – Climate Change
6.1 How Climate Has Changed in the Past
LO1: Explain why and how climate changed naturally over time
6.2 Recent Climate Changes
LO2: Describe global changes in climate since the last glacial period
6.3 Tools for Understanding Past Climates
LO3: Appreciate scientific tools physical geographers use to reconstruct past climates
Geography Matters: Greenland’s past predicts its future
6.4 Human Impact on Climate
LO4: Evaluate how humans have affected climate in the past and today
6.5 Climate and Human Societies
LO5: Assess how changing climate impacts human societies
Practical Geography: How Much Should Insurance Cost in a Changing Climate?
Physical Geography in Action: Climate Change
Visualizing Geographic Data
Chapter 7 – Water Cycle
7.1 Properties of Water
LO1: Describe water’s unique properties using a phase diagram
7.2 The Global Water Cycle
LO2: Understand the reservoirs and flows that make up the global water cycle
7.3 Precipitation, Infiltration, and Runoff
LO3: Predict when and explain why a heavy thunderstorm generates runoff
7.4 Groundwater
LO4: Describe how the water table and the nature of subsurface materials control groundwater flow
Geography Matters: Drinking Water with a Dash of Salt
7.5 Human Impacts on the Water Cycle
LO5: Explain three ways that humans have influenced the water cycle
Practical Geography: How to best keep your town’s drinking water clean?
Physical Geography in Action: Water Cycle
Visualizing Geographic Data: Evapotranspiration and NDVI Maps
Chapter 8 – Oceans
8.1 Ocean Basics
LO1: Describe the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of ocean water
8.2 Patterns of Ocean Circulation
LO2: Explain patterns of ocean circulation
8.3 Marine Zonation and Ocean Life
LO3: Understand marine zonation and ocean life
Visualizing Geographic Data: Ocean Currents and Upwelling Zones
8.4 Ocean Tides
LO4: Contrast the causes of different kinds of tides
Practical Geography: How can people use ocean currents?
8.5 Human Impacts on the Oceans
LO5: Examine human activities that degrade oceans
Geography Matters: Plastic, Plastic Everywhere
Physical Geography in Action: Oceans
Chapter 9 – The Solid Earth
9.1 Earth’s Interior and Plate Tectonics
LO1: Explain the layering of Earth’s interior and the role of plate tectonics in shaping the surface
9.2 The Rock Cycle
LO2: Diagram the rock cycle and describe how it works
9.3 Landforms from Volcanoes and Folded Rocks
LO3: Classify the diversity of landforms created by volcanoes and folded rocks
9.4 Natural Hazards and Resources
LO4: Recognize how plate tectonics causes natural hazards and controls resource distribution
Geography Matters: When the Earth Shakes
9.5 Human Impacts and Resource Extraction
LO5: Understand geographical influences on the impacts of human resource extraction
Practical Geography: How should you best prepare for the natural hazards in your region?
Physical Geography in Action: Solid Earth
Visualizing Geographic Data: Plate Boundaries and Earthquakes
Chapter 10 – Weathering and Erosion
10.1 Weathering Processes and Products
LO1: Describe the types and global distribution of weathering processes
10.2 Weathering and Landform Development
LO2: Characterize the controls on the distribution of weathering-related landforms
Geography Matters: Ancient Rock City
10.3 Erosional Processes in Unglaciated Landscapes
LO3: Recognize common erosional processes shaping unglaciated landforms
Practical Geography: What are the dominant erosional processes active in your region?
10.4 Climate and Hillslope Forms
LO4: Contrast hillslope forms across climate settings
10.5 Weathering, Carbon Sequestration, and Human Impacts
LO5: Explain how weathering affects global carbon cycles and how humans influence weathering and erosion
Physical Geography in Action: Weathering and Erosion
Visualizing Geographic Data
Chapter 11 – Rivers
11.1 Drainage Basins and River Networks
LO1 Recognize the basic elements of a drainage basin
11.2 River Patterns
LO2 Connect river patterns to the geologic setting of a drainage basin
11.3 River Processes
LO3 Relate river processes to valley form and channel response
Practical Geography: Where will the water go?
11.4 River Patterns
LO4 Classify rivers into fundamental types of river patterns
11.5 Fluvial Landforms
LO5 Associate floodplain landforms with sediment transport processes and explain the relationship between floodplains and terraces
11.6 Human Impacts on Rivers
LO6 Assess impacts of human actions on river processes and resulting river system response
Geography Matters: Pumped Hydropower
Physical Geography in Action: Rivers
Visualizing Geographic Data
Chapter 12 – Frozen Earth
12.1 The Cryosphere
LO1 Define the cryosphere and give an example of why it matters to people
12.2 How Glaciers Work
LO2 Understand how and why glaciers grow, persist, and vanish
12.3 Types of Glaciers
LO3 Describe the difference between alpine and continental glaciers
Practical Geography: Where will the water come from?
12.4 Glacial Landforms
LO4 Predict the spatial distribution of erosional and depositional glacial landforms
12.5 Periglacial Processes and Landforms
LO5 List the properties that make periglacial landscapes unique
12.6 Human Impacts on the Cryosphere
LO7 Describe three human impacts on the cryosphere
Geography Matters: Antarctica: the Wildcard
Physical Geography in Action: The Cryosphere
Visualizing Geographic Data
Chapter 13 – Dryland Environments
13.1 Introduction to Drylands
LO1: Understand differences in the degree of aridity among drylands
13.2 Arid and Semi-arid Environments
LO2: Describe distinguishing aspects of the physical geography of dryland environments
Geography Matters: Desert Floods
13.3 Dryland Landforms
LO3: Recognize characteristic landforms of dryland regions
13.4 Wind Processes and Erosion
LO4: Understand processes responsible for wind erosion, sediment transport, and deposition
13.5 Wind-Formed Landforms
LO5: Explain the origin of distinctly wind-formed erosional and depositional landforms
13.6 Desertification and Salinization
LO6: Assess the extent and impact of human activity on desertification and salinization
Practical Geography: What can we do to address water shortages?
Physical Geography in Action: Drylands
Visualizing Geographic Data
Chapter 14 – Costal Marine Geology
14.1 Coastal Processes
LO1 Understand processes shaping coastal environments
14.2 Coastal Landforms
LO2 Classify the diversity of coastal landforms
Practical Geography: How sensitive is your region to sea level rise?
Geography Matters: Evolution of the Mississippi Delta
14.3 Submarine Processes
LO3 Recognize dominant submarine erosional and sedimentation processes
14.4 Submarine Landforms
LO4 Explain the origin of submarine landforms and the geography of ocean basins
14.5 Human Impacts on Coastal and Marine Geography
LO5 Assess the influence of changes in sea level and sediment supply on coastal landforms and communities
Physical Geography in Action: Coastal and Marine Geography
Visualizing Geographic Data
Chapter 15 – Soils
15.1 Soil Characteristics
LO1 Recognize the basic properties of soils.
Geography Matters: Regenerative Agriculture
15.2 Factors of Soil Formation
LO2 Explain the factors that influence how soil forms.
15.3 Soil Development and Soil Profiles
LO3 Understand the influence of soil processes on the development of soil horizons.
15.4 Soil Geography
LO4 Compare the differences between typical soil profiles in different regions around the world.
15.5 Human Impacts on Soils
LO5 Appreciate the range of human uses of soil and the past, present, and potential future impacts of human activity on soil development and fertility.
Practical Geography: How would you conserve soils in your region?
Physical Geography in Action: Soils [[TDB]]
Visualizing Geographic Data: [[TBD]]
Chapter 16 – Ecosystem Processes
16.1 Energy Flows
LO1: Explain how plants convert the Sun’s energy to chemical energy that is transferred to organisms at higher trophic levels
16.2 Nutrient Cycles
LO2: Explore how nutrients move through Earth systems and support organisms
16.3 Ecosystem Interactions
LO3: Describe how groups of organisms interact with the physical environment and one another
16.4 Succession
LO4: [[New LO pending if included]]
16.5 Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
LO5: Explain the importance of ecosystem goods and services and biodiversity
Practical Geography: What can an individual citizen of the planet do to help support ecosystem services?
16.6 Human Choices and Ecosystem Health
LO6: Assess how humans can make conscious choices to reverse negative impacts on ecosystem processes
Physical Geography in Action: Ecosystem Processes
Visualizing Geographic Data: [[needs to be written]]
Chapter 17 – Biomes and Biodiversity
17.1 Global Biomes
LO1 Describe how the variety of organisms on Earth can be simplified into groupings called biomes
LO2 Explain how each biome relates to geographical location and environmental setting through latitude, elevation, position on the continent, climate, and soils.
17.2 Critique of the Biome Concept
LO3 Articulate the reasons why the biome concept is an oversimplification of the real world.
17.3 Conservation Biology
LO4 Critique how humans have affected patterns of life on Earth in the past and today.
Practical Geography: Which biodiversity hotspot should be protected next?
17.4 Human Impacts on Biodiversity
LO5 Assess how human societies have altered biomes and levels of diversity in the past and will affect them in the future.
Geography Matters: Dying Birds and Growing Herds
Physical Geography in Action: Biomes and Biodiversity
Visualizing Geographic Data: [[needs to be added]]
Chapter 18 – Sustainability
18.1 Resource Use on a Finite Planet
LO1: Identify how physical geography relates to resource use and grand challenges society faces today
18.2 Three Pillars of Sustainability
LO2: Recognize the three pillars of sustainability and summarize how they relate to physical geography
Geography Matters: Sustainable Development
18.3 Toward a Sustainable Society
LO3: Understand key aspects of what it will take for society to become sustainable
Practical Geography: How to balance needs of today versus those of future generations?
18.4 Addressing Grand Challenges
LO4: Describe ways physical geography can help frame and address society’s grand challenges
Visualizing Geographic Data: Global Resource Use and Human Footprints

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