LARTS 393 Introduction to Physical Geography
Physical geography is the study of forces that influence earth’s surface. This class will explore these forces and explain why they generate specific responses. We’ll separate climate factors (atmospheric conditions) from geomorphological factors (earth surface features) from biological factors (distribution of plants and animals). Climate factors vary in scale from understanding global circulation patterns to understanding localized effects of terrain on temperature. Geomorphology factors drive earth’s landforms and are both internal (e.g., plate tectonics) and surficial (e.g., stream flow). Biological factors describe the variation in the spatial distribution of organisms. We’ll also explore the interactions between climate, biological, and land forms which constantly influence each other. While not a human geography class, this course will introduce students to a field where real-world applications are affecting us every day.