Physical Geography Essay
Physical Geography Essay This study aims to get a vast knowledge in as far as Physical geography. Therefore, the topic of study in this paper is Physical geography which is a branch of the study of geography as a discipline. The other branch of geography is human geography. The knowledge of physical geography is essential because it makes us understand all that surrounds us. My motivation to explore this discipline has been as a result of the urge to find out the relationship between the human kind and the environment. This knowledge is helpful in understanding why people prefer living in particular regions of the world and not the other. Therefore, I intend to seek explanations or answers to questions like: What are the relationships between human activities; as studied in human geography; and the changes that take place in the environment. I will also investigate the measures which can be taken to curb the dangers that come as a result of human activities. Finally the paper will also present a clarification on the measures that can be taken to conserve the limited natural resources on earth. The study will be intended to find an insight into all sub- themes of physical geography for a better understanding of the link that exists between the physical and human geography. Keen attention will be given to sub-themes like: rocks and minerals, landforms, soils, animals and plants. The study will also look at the atmosphere, rivers and other water bodies, the environment and oceans. Other elements that would be studied include climate and weather. Many scholars have done research on these sub-themes of physical geography. Some of the scholars have investigated part of the broad branch of geography while others have given it a holistic view by discussing all sub-themes under the field of physical geography. In either way, the scholarly journals help geographers to boost their knowledge of how best they can relate to the environment. During my research into this sub-field of geography, I find a number of scholarly journals necessary as they provide relevant information on a specific sub- themes of interest. Some of the articles are basically used to get a general view of the broad discipline “geography” while others are found to be helpful in investigating specific topics in Geography. An annotated bibliography of the sampled journals is provided in this discussion to give a guideline to one who may have an interest in investigating the subject. Agyeman, Yaw., Seidu, Godfred & Dayour, Fredrick. Exploring some social dimensions to the practice and sustainability of traditional conservation Agriculture in semi-arid Ghana. Journal of Geography. 2014.
This article looks at the social factors that explain the increased use of traditional farming methods by small holder farmers in various regions in Ghana. The methods are referred to in the article as traditional conservation agriculture. The article looks at traditional conservation methods as an affordable way through which low income earners can conserve their environment. The conservational measures are intended at improving soil fertility for improved production rate. This research has generally contributed to an understanding of physical geography. By extension, the research has been helpful in investigating the link between human geography and physical geography. This information is helpful in trying to find a solution to the research questions. From the study, it clearly emerges that the human kind has a role to play in making his environment a better place to live in. It is realized that there are limited natural resources in the world that need to be utilized responsibly for the continued survival of human kind. The research looked at physical geography in sections by handling different sub-themes at a time. For example, the study looked at landforms, soils, animals, plants and the atmosphere. It goes ahead to examine rivers and other water bodies, climate, oceans and weather. The main idea was to find solutions to the challenges that come as a result of a conflict between human kind and the physical environment. The research has been helpful in learning different measures to be taken in conserving the environment. For example, the findings of studies on climate and weather have indicated that hostile climatic conditions that are witnessed in various parts of the world are as a result of careless utilization of the natural resources. When analyzing this topic, it came out clearly that the natural vegetation has a role to play in maintaining favorable climatic conditions for human existence. The findings of the study will be helpful in correcting the mess that has led to a hostile environment that does not support human life. The topic investigated in this research is an integral part of geography as a whole. It forms the basis on which a geographer can obtain substantive competence in matters pertaining to the discipline. The study has also been very helpful in understanding the role that humans have to play in making the environment a better place to live in. By looking at the aspects of Water, air and soil pollution, it is evident that without proper conservation and careful disposal of waste products, the environment cannot support human, animal and aquatic life. The research should be used to motivate behavior change which is a necessity in checking drastic climatic changes that have been witnessed in the recent past. The study went ahead to acknowledge technological advancements which have made it possible for irrigation to be done in desert areas. This is helpful in reducing the harsh conditions suffered by residents of such areas who are given alternative measures to moderate climatic conditions. For example, Wulfmeyer & Volker together with their colleagues give suggestions on how to moderate weather and climatic condition through establishment of plantations in desert areas. These are very useful information that can help humans to initiate and sustain improvements on the nature of their environment. Peter Knight: Physical Geography: Learning, teaching in a discipline so dynamic that text books can’t keep up. A journal on Geography. 2007. Retrieved on 4th June fromwww.questia.com/read/ ip3-131956145/physical-geography This journal seeks to provide a solution to learners and teachers of geography and particularly physical geography. The author; Peter Knight responds to the crisis experienced in geography learning environment as a result of insufficient and outdated learning materials. He provides a journal which would help in filling the gap of scarcity of learning resources. In this journal, the author’s point is that there are vast discoveries that are made in physical geography each day that should be addressed through provision of current and up to date learning materials. For example, the author points out the teaching and learning of global environmental change and glacier systems. The journal provides an opportunity for learners to explore and clearly understand the world around them. The author also mentions that the study of geography should be made topical with regard to the current affairs. He suggests that the geography learners can effectively apply the knowledge that they acquire from studying the discipline to a wide range of vital social and environmental affairs. The journal tackles sub-themes like global warming, the collapse of the world’s glaciers, and the catastrophic rise of the global sea level. He mentions that these changes are ever in the press due to the magnitude of impact that they have on human kind. The author mentions the need for geographers to have a clear knowledge on global environmental change, which he says would be essential for learners to be capable of drawing together several types of geographical evidence that would help in addressing an important issue in the environment. This source greatly contributes to the understanding of geography. It introduces vital topics in the study of physical geography that add value to the general knowledge on geography as a discipline. For example, the book focuses on global environmental change as the focal point around which the author develops several sub-themes. The journal uses evidences drawn from different sources to handle complex interdisciplinary topics. The author largely informs on ice-sheet collapse and global sea level rise which he says are some of the most complex and pressing concerns in the study of geography. The knowledge acquired by going through this journal undoubtedly adds to the vast knowledge of the broader geography discipline.
Ruscell, Vose. Improved historical temperature and precipitation. Time series for U.S Climate Divisions. A Journal on Applied Meteorology and Climatology. 2014. Web. Retrieved on 4th June 2014 from < http://dx,doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-13-02481> This journal is based on the focus on temperature bias adjustment. It constitutes various improvements that were done in the Climate Division data set in the United States. The improvements are done through control of harmful human activities that have diverstating effects on temperature changes and environmental precipitation rates. The authors argue that climatologically aided interpolation can be used to respond to and to adjust topographic and network variability. In the article, the author gives a vivid analysis of key concepts like climate change, climatology and other elements like interpolation schemes and surface observations. The article helps in broadening the understanding of geography through provision of measures that can be exploited to reduce climate change. What mainly makes the article relevant is the need for humans to learn how they can adjust the drastically changing environment to suite their survival. Discussions on Climatology provide useful insights about measures that can be taken to regulate climate changes. This gives the link that the journal has to geography as a discipline. Trevors, Jack. Water, Air and Soil Pollution. An International Journal of Environmental Pollution. New York: Springer Publishers. 2013 This journal covers all aspects of pollution. It goes ahead to provide possible solutions to the pollution in the biosphere. The journal looks at varied elements like physical, chemical and biological processes that affect: water, air, flora, fauna and soil with respect to environmental pollution. The journal covers a very vast area, and it discusses various sources of pollution that include: accumulation, acid precipitation, transport, deposition, metals and atmospheric pollution. The journal also discusses aquatic pollution, which include waste water, pesticides, sewage, soil pollution, sediment pollution and forestry pollution among others. It also looks at the effects of pollutants on vegetation, humans, aquatic species, animals and microorganisms. The journal helps in understanding the nature of the environment; both inland and aquatic; so as to check on the measures that can be taken to mitigate the adverse effects of such pollutants. The author suggests that human activities should be conducted responsibly by considering their impacts on the environment, human life, aquatic life and animals. It helps learners to get a broad understanding of the risk factors that result into environmental pollution. The environment is given a wholistic view in that the author discusses pollutants to the air, water and soil. This is necessary in creating a limitless understanding of the environment. The journal also suggests specific ways of mitigating unwarranted pollution to the environment. For example, it advocates for proper treatment of all waste products before disposing them into water bodies. This takes account of the importance of aquatic life. The journal relates to the study of geography in that matters of environmental pollution are studied as sub-themes in the field of geography. Wulfmeyer Volker, Branch Oliver et al. The impacts of plantations on weather and climate in coastal desert regions. A Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 2014. Web. Retrieved on 4th June from This journal contains several articles. In the specified article by Wulfmeyer Volker and Branch Oliver et al (1143-1169), the authors look at the measures that can be taken to provide an option for climate engineering by afforestation. The journal is based on research findings that form the basis of argument and understanding that afforestation can be used as a measure to curb adverse climatic changes that could pose a threat to human survival. The article acknowledges that recent technological advancements have made it possible for irrigation to be done even in the dry coastal areas while avoiding the use of fossil water that would result into conflicts with other uses like food production. The authors mention that considering large scale plantations would be one sure way of mitigating adverse atmospheric concentrations due to carbon sequestration. They also discuss various measures that can be taken to modify weather and climate. Specifically, the article investigates the impacts of plantations in Sahara desert, in Mexico and in Oman. Studies on which this journal bases its arguments indicate a significant decrease in the mean temperature over the sampled plantations due to nonlinear changes of the diurnal cycle. The study also revealed that plantations resulted into a substantial increase in the vertical instability and modified the horizontal flow resulting into development of convergence zones. The journal is relevant in the study of physical geography as it gives a clear indication that humans can modify the climatic conditions of the environment through various suggested conservative measures. Specifically, the article illustrates that adverse weather can be modified through development of plantations. By reading the article, any physical geography learner gets reach knowledge on how to adjust the weather and climatic conditions through specific human activities like afforestation. This knowledge relates to the body of knowledge on healthy utilization of natural resources for sustainable human existence. For example, the article indicates that the desert areas can be made to support human life through afforestation.
