Physical Geography and its Importance

Physical geography is the branch of geography that studies the natural features of the Earth's surface and the processes that shape them. It is the foundation upon which the entire discipline of geography rests, because every human activity takes place within a physical setting. The book Fundamentals of Physical Geography is devoted entirely to this branch, and its contents reveal the full scope of what physical geography covers.

The subject matter of physical geography is organised around four major realms of the Earth. The lithosphere includes landforms, drainage patterns, relief and physiography — the solid, rocky surface of the Earth. The atmosphere covers its composition, structure, and the elements and controls of weather and climate, such as temperature, pressure, winds, precipitation and climatic types. The hydrosphere deals with oceans, seas, lakes and all features associated with the water realm. The biosphere encompasses all life forms, including human beings and micro-organisms, along with their sustaining mechanisms — the food chain, ecological parameters and ecological balance.

Soils form a special part of this study. They are created through the process of pedogenesis, which depends on four factors: parent rocks, climate, biological activity and time. Time is particularly significant because it gives soils maturity and allows the development of soil profiles — the distinct layers that build up in a mature soil.

Every element of the physical environment matters to human beings, and the book explains this through concrete examples. Landforms provide the base on which human activities are located. Plains are used for agriculture; plateaus supply forests and minerals; mountains offer pastures, forests and tourist spots, and serve as the sources of rivers that carry water to the lowlands. Climate shapes our house types, clothing and food habits. It has a profound effect on vegetation, cropping patterns, livestock farming and even some industries. Human beings have also developed technologies that modify climatic elements within a restricted space — air conditioners and coolers are the simplest examples. Temperature and precipitation together determine the density of forests and the quality of grasslands. In India, the rhythm of agriculture is set in motion by monsoonal rainfall. Precipitation also recharges groundwater aquifers, which later supply water for agriculture and domestic use.

The oceans are studied as the storehouse of resources. Besides fish and other seafood, they are rich in mineral resources. India has developed the technology to collect manganese nodules from the oceanic bed. Soils, being renewable resources, influence a number of economic activities such as agriculture. The fertility of soil is both naturally determined and culturally induced — nature provides the base, but human practices can enhance or degrade it. Soils also provide the basis for the biosphere, accommodating plants, animals and micro-organisms. …