Physical Geography
Physical geography focuses on geography as an Earth science (and is sometimes called Earth System Science).
Physical geography is a branch of geography that focuses on the study of the natural features and processes of the Earth’s surface. It includes the examination of landforms, climate, vegetation, soils, and water resources. Physical geographers use a range of scientific methods and tools to analyze and understand the complex interactions between the Earth’s physical systems.
Learn about the different branches of geography that fall under the physical geography category: climatology, geomorphology, biogeography, and more.
Carbon Monoxide from the California Wildfires
As wildfires burn in California, carbon monoxide is rising high up into the atmosphere where a NASA satellite is capturing readings.
Five Tropical Cyclones in the Atlantic Basin
There are currently five tropical cyclones active in the Atlantic Basin.
Satellite Imagery of the Widest River in the World
The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission captured this satellite image of the Amazon river that has been processed by the combining of two polarisations into one image.
Germany Plans to Curb Light Pollution to Save Insects
In the latest bid to reverse the dramatic insect decline, Germany is planning on dimming its lights.
Ocean Warming is Driving the Wrong-Way Migration of Some Benthic Species
Some benthic species are spawning earlier due to ocean warming.
Smoke from the California Fires Over the Pacific Ocean
NASAโs Terra satellite captured this image of smoke from the August Complex fire and other fires burning in California as it blows out over the Pacific Ocean.
What are Barrancas?
One place to find barrancas is at the lower elevations of La Malinche volcano in central Mexico.
Hurricane Laura Made This River Flow Backwards Temporarily
When Hurricane Laura came onshore near Texas and Louisiana, its winds were so strong that it pushed the waters of the River Neches backwards for about 12 hours.
Mapping Climate Refuges
Climate refugia are places which can withstand climate change better than other regions and buffer the impacts of climate change.
Desertification in Romania
In their Sixth National Communication on Climate Change and First Biennial Report from 2013, the Romanian authorities estimated that the area affected by desertification makes up for about 30% of the countryโs total area.
How Many Oceans are There in the World?
The world is made up of: one global ocean, three major oceans, four historic oceans, and five world oceans.
Linking Geological Events to Aboriginal Oral Tradition and Stories
Recent findings about the existence of human civilization dating back 50,000 years suggests major geological events have been described in Aboriginal oral tradition and stories.
Mapping California’s Heatwave from Space
NASA's Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment (ECOSTRESS) has been mapping temperatures across parts of California from space.
Smoke from Australian Wildfires Reaches Atmospheric Highs
Smoke from the 2019 wildfires not only impacted Australian population centers but drifted far into the atmosphere as well.
Mapping the Causes of Mangrove Loss
A joint NASA-USGS initiative has created the first worldwide map of the causes of change in mangrove habitats between 2000 and 2016.
Satellite Captures Derecho Moving Across the Midwest
The GOES-East satellite captured a derecho over the U.S. Midwest on August 10, 2020.
Why Is Antarcticaโs Snow Turning Green?
The coasts of the northern Antarctic Peninsula are seasonally turning green, orange, and red - all thanks to microscopic algae.
The World’s Highest-Dwelling Mammal Found Atop of the World’s Second-Largest Active Volcano
Scientists were able to document that the yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse (Phyllotis xanthopygus rupestris) is the world's highest-dwelling mammal.
Marine Species are Shifting Towards the Poles
A review of research found that marine species were shifting their habitats toward Earthโs poles on an average of six kilometers (3.7 miles) per year.
2019 Was a Tumultuous Fire Season in the Amazon
Scientists and researchers have pieced together the many impacts the 2019 Amazon fire season had on that region and the world as a whole.
Coastal Ice Loss is Outpacing Mainland Ice Gains on Both Antarctica and Greenland
A recent study has confirmed that the coastal ice loss is much greater than the mainland ice gain on both Antarctica and Greenland.
Find Your Way Downstream with Streamer
Water is essential for life on the planet, and tool from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) makesย it easy and fun ...
What is the Largest Island in the Pacific Ocean?
New Guinea is the largest island in the Pacific Ocean.
Crown Shyness: When Trees Need Personal Space
Crown shyness is a phenomenon where the outstretched branches of one tree don't touch neighboring tree branches.
Mapping the Impact of Human Activity
Different methods have been utilized by landscape ecologists to map and study the Earthโs relationship to human activity.
Spread of Coronavirus May Have Seismic Implications
Scientists who record and observe seismic activity around the globe are detecting major decreases in activity as the effects of the Coronavirus continue.