Physical geography is a branch of geography that focuses on the study of the natural features and processes of the Earths surface. It is one of the three main branches of geography, alongside human geography and environmental geography. Physical geography deals with the processes and patterns in the natural environment such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere. Its purpose is to understand how the Earth’s physical environment is the basis for, and is affected by, human activity. Physical geography can be divided into several branches or related fields, including:

• Geomorphology: the study of landforms and the processes that shape them.

• Climatology: the study of climate and its variability over time.

• Hydrology: the study of water in the Earth system, including its distribution, movement, and quality.

• Biogeography: the study of the distribution of living organisms on Earth and the processes that shape their distribution.

• Environmental geography: the analysis of the spatial aspects of interactions between humans and the natural world, bridging the divide between human and physical geography.

Physical geography uses a range of scientific methods and tools to analyze and understand the complex interactions between the Earth’s physical systems. It emphasizes the spatial variations that occur and the temporal changes necessary to understand the contemporary environments of the Earth. Physical geography has become more holistic in systems analysis of recent environmental and Quaternary change, using expertise in mathematical and statistical modeling and in remote sensing, and benefits from collaborative links with many other disciplines such as biology, geology, and engineering.