Physical Geography

• Biosphere includes all living things on Earth, dependent on other components of the physical environment; for example, plant growth requires suitable temperatures, rainfall & soil conditions
• Examples of the physical vs built environment:

  • Physical environment: made naturally, e.g., atmosphere, biosphere, rock land forms (Lithosphere)
  • Built environment: man-made, e.g., buildings & houses
• Hydrosphere encompasses all water on Earth & in the atmosphere, in solid, liquid, or gaseous states; the hydrological cycle enables water movement between the Earth's surface, atmosphere & underground
• Lithosphere consists of solid layers of rock forming the Earth's surface, with examples like mountains and valleys created by movement of large rock layers within the lithosphere
• Layers of gases and tiny particles surrounding the Earth in Physical Geography:

  • Troposphere: lowest layer where clouds, precipitation & weather elements occur
  • Stratosphere: temperature usually remains constant
  • Mesosphere: temperature gets colder with height
  • Thermosphere: temperature increases sharply in lower areas, then drops off and holds steadily with height
  • Exosphere: outermost layer of the atmosphere