Fully revised and presented in fifty-two short, easy-to-teach units, the third edition of Physical Geography: The Global Environment covers complex topics including long-distance weather linkages, biodiversity, and global change in a manner easily accessible to first and second year undergraduates. Set against a backdrop of human interaction with the environment, the text offers comprehensive treatments of Earth's five major components: the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere, the cryosphere, and the biosphere.

Preface PART 1. A Global Perspective Unit 1. Geography 1.1. Physical Geography 1.2. A Century of Physical Geography 1.3. Systems and Models in Physical Geography 1.4. Geographic Magnitude Perspectives on the Human Environment: Sliding Scale Unit 2. The Planet Earth 2.1. Spheres of the Earth System 2.2. Hemispheres 2.3. Continents and Oceans Perspectives on the Human Environment: Human Population and Natural Processes Unit 3. Mapping the Earth's Surface 3.1. The Spherical Earth 3.2. Map Projections 3.3. Map Interpretation 3.4. Evolving Cartographic Technology Perspectives on the Human Environment: Remote Sensing of the Environment Unit 4. The Earth in the Universe 4.1. The Universe 4.2. The Solar System Perspectives on the Human Environment: Collision! Unit 5. Earth-Sun Relationships 5.1. Earth's Planetary Motions 5.2. Seasonality 5.3. Insolation and Its Variation Perspectives on the Human Environment: Measuring Time on Our Rotating Earth PART 2. ATMOSPHERE AND HYDROSPHERE Unit 6. Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere 6.1. Contents of the Atmosphere 6.2. The Layered Structure of the Atmosphere 6.3. Research Frontiers Perspectives on the Human Environment: Ozone Holes in the Stratosphere Unit 7. Radiation and the Heat Balance of the Atmosphere 7.1. The Radiation Balance 7.2. The Heat Balance 7.3. Global Distribution of Heat Flows Perspectives on the Human Environment: The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming Unit 8. Atmospheric and Surface Temperature 8.1. What is Temperature? 8.2. The Vertical Distribution of Temperature 8.3. The Horizontal Distribution of Temperature Perspectives on the Human Environment: Urban Dust Domes and Heating Patterns Unit 9. Air Pressure and Winds 9.1. Atmospheric Pressure 9.2. Air Movement in the Atmosphere 9.3. Large-and Smaller-Scale Wind Systems 9.4. Local Wind Systems Perspectives on the Human Environment: Air Pressure and Wind in Our Daily Lives Unit 10. Circulation Patterns of the Atmosphere 10.1. A Model of the Surface Circulation 10.2. The Actual Surface Circulation Pattern 10.3. Secondary Surface Circulation: Monsoonal Windflows 10.4. Circulation of the Upper Atmosphere Perspectives on the Human Environment: The Sailor's Legacy-Naming the Winds Unit 11. Hydrosphere: Circulation of the World Ocean 11.1. Surface Currents 11.2. Generation of Ocean Currents 11.3. Flow Behavior of Ocean Currents 11.4. Deep-Sea Currents 11.5. The Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere System 11.6. El Nino-Southern Oscillation Perspectives on the Human Environment: The North Atlantic Oscillation Unit 12. Atmospheric Moisture and the Water Balance 12.1. Physical Properties of Water 12.2. Measuring Water Vapor 12.3. The Hydrologic Cycle 12.4. Evaporation 12.5. Condensation and Clouds 12.6. Precipitation 12.7. The Surface Water Balance Perspectives on the Human Environment: Water Usage in the United States Unit 13. Precipitation, Air Masses, and Fronts 13.1. Precipitation-Producing Processes 13.2. Convergent-Lifting Precipitation 13.3. Convectional Precipitation 13.4. Orographic Precipitation 13.5. Frontal (Cyclonic) Precipitation 13.6. Air Masses in the Atmosphere Perspectives on the Human Environment: Tornadoes and Their Consequences Unit 14. Weather Systems 14.1. Low-Latitude Weather Systems 14.2. Weather Systems of the Middle and Higher Latitudes 14.3. Energy and Moisture Within Weather Systems Perspectives on the Human Environment: Honduras After Hurricane Mitch Unit 15. Weather Tracking and Forecasting 15.1. Weather Data Acquisition 15.2. Mapping Weather Data 15.3. Weather Forecasting Perspectives on the Human Environment: Weather Extremes Unit 16. Climate Classification and Regionalization 16.1. Classifying Climates 16.2. The Koppen Climate Classification System 16.3. The Regional Distribution of Climate Types 16.4. Boundaries of Climate Regions Perspectives on the Human Environment: Climate in Daily Human Terms Unit 17. Tropical (A) and Arid (B) Climates 17.1. The Major Tropical (A) Climates 17.2. The Major Arid (B) Climates Perspectives on the Human Environment: Deforestation of the Tropics Perspectives on the Human Environment: Desertification Unit 18. Humid Mesothermal (C) Climates 18.1. The Perpetually Moist (Cf) Climates 18.2. The Dry-Summer (Cs) Climates 18.3. The Dry-Winter (Cw) Climates Perspectives on the Human Environment: The Drought of '88 Unit 19. Higher Latitude (D, E) and High-Altitude (H) Climates 19.1. The Major Humid Microthermal (D) Climates 19.2. The Polar (E) Climates 19.3. High-Altitude (H) Climates Perspectives on the Human Environment: Acid Precipitation Unit 20. Dynamics of Climate Change 20.1. Evidence of Climate Change 20.2. The Climatic History of the Earth 20.3. Mechanisms of Climate Change 20.4. The Climatic Future Perspectives on the Human Environment: Weather Extremes and Teleconnections Unit 21. Human-Climate Interactions and Impacts 21.1. The Heat Balance of the Human Body 21.2. Shelter, Houses, and Climate 21.3. Urban Microclimates 21.4. Air Pollution 21.5. Human Activities and the Global Climate Machine Perspectives on the Human Environment: Weather Modification in an Industrial Region PART 3. THE BIOSPHERE Unit 22. Climate, Soil, Plants, and Animals 22.1. Natural Geography 22.2. Conservation and the Biosphere Perspectives on the Human Environment: Biodiversity Under Siege Unit 23. Formation of Soils 23.1. The Formation of Soil 23.2. Processes in the Soil 23.3. Soil Profiles 23.4. Soil Regimes Perspectives on the Human Environment: Exchange of Ions Unit 24. Physical Properties of Soil 24.1. Sol and Ped. 24.2. Soil Texture 24.3. Soil Structure 24.4. Soil Color 24.5. Soil Acidity and Alkalinity 24.6. Soils of Hills and Valleys 24.7. The Soil Development System Perspectives on the Human Environment: Fertilizer Unit 25. Classification and Mapping of Soils 25.1. Classifying Soils 25.2. The Soil Taxonomy 25.3. The Spatial Distribution of Soils Perspectives on the Human Environment: Soil Taxonomy-What's in a Name? Unit 26. Biogeographic Processes 26.1. Dynamics of the Biosphere 26.2. Plant Successions 26.3. Geographic Dispersal Perspectives on the Human Environment: A Biogeographic Puzzle: The Species-Richness Gradient Unit 27. The Global Distribution of Plants 27.1. Biomes 27.2. Principal Terrestrial Biomes Perspectives on the Human Environment: North America's Vegetation Regions Unit 28. Zoogeography: Spatial Aspects of Animal Populations 28.1. Processes of Evolution 28.2. Emergence of Zoogeography 28.3. The Earth's Zoogeographic Realms 28.4. Further Studies in Zoogeography 28.5. Zoogeography and Conservation Perspectives on the Human Environment: The African Stowaways PART 4. THE RESTLESS CRUST Unit 29. Planet Earth in Profile: The Layered Interior 29.1. Evidence of the Earth's Internal Structuring 29.2. The Earth's Internal Layer 29.3. The Earth's Outer Layer 29.4. The Crustal Surface Perspectives on the Human Environment: Hills, Mountains, Plains, Plateaus--What's in a Name? Unit 30. Minerals and Igneous Rocks 30.1. Minerals and Rocks 30.2. Classification of Rock Types 30.3. Igneous Rocks Perspectives on the Human Environment: The World's Oldest Rocks Unit 31. Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks 31.1. Sedimentary Rocks 31.2. Metamorphic Rocks 31.3. The Rock Cycle Perspectives on the Human Environment: Oilfield Formation Unit 32. Plates of the Lithosphere 32.1. Continental Drift 32.2. Continents and Seafloors 32.3. Distribution of Plates 32.4. Movement of Plates Perspectives on the Human Environment: Faulting in the Los Angeles Basin: The 1994 Northridge Earthquake Unit 33. Plate Movement: Causes and Effects 33.1. Mechanism of Crustal Spreading 33.2. Evolution of Continents 33.3. Isostasy Perspectives on the Human Environment: How Fast Do Drifting Plates Move? Unit 34. Volcanism and Its Landforms 34.1. Distribution of Volcanic Activity 34.2. Volcanic Mountains 34.3. Calderas 34.4. Landscapes of Volcanism Perspectives on the Human Environment: Risking the Wrath of Goddess Pele Unit 35. Earthquakes and Landscapes 35.1. Earthquake Terminology 35.2. Earthquake Distribution 35.3. Earthquakes and Landscapes 35.4. Tsunamis Perspectives on the Human Environment: Earthquake Risk in the Eastern United States Unit 36. Surface Expressions of Subsurface Structures 36.1. Terminology of Structure 36.2. Fault Structures 36.3. Fold Structures 36.4. Regional Deformation Perspectives on the Human Environment: The Decline and Fall of Southeast Texas PART 5. SCULPTING THE SURFACE Unit 37. The Formation of Landscapes and Landforms 37.1. Landscapes and Landforms 37.2. Gradation 37.3. Erosion and Tectonics 37.4. Regional Landscapes Perspectives on the Human Environment: Using the Geologic Time Scale Unit 38. Weathering Processes 38.1. Mechanical Weathering 38.2. Chemical Weathering 38.3. Biological Weathering 38.4. Geography of Weathering Perspectives on the Human Environment: The Dust Bowl Unit 39. Mass Movements 39.1. Mass Movement 39.2. The Importance of Mass Movements Perspectives on the Human Environment: The Human Factor Unit 40. Water in the Lithosphere 40.1. Water at the Surface 40.2. Water Flow in Rivers 40.3. Water Beneath the Surface Perspectives on the Human Environment: Groundwater Contamination Unit 41. Slopes and Streams 41.1. Erosion and the Hydrologic Cycle 41.2. Streams and Basins 41.3. Stream Functions and Valley Properties 41.4. Factors in Stream Erosion 41.5. The River as a System Perspectives on the Human Environment: The Hazards of Floodplain Settlement Unit 42. Degradational Landforms of Stream Erosion 42.1. Factors Affecting Stream Degradation 42.2. Drainage Patterns 42.3. Overcoming Geologic Structure 42.4. Regional Geomorphology Perspectives on the Human Environment: Controlling Rome's River Unit 43. Aggradational Landforms of Stream Erosion 43.1. Alluvial Fans 43.2. Rivers to the Sea 43.3. Deltas Perspectives on the Human Environment: The Great Midwestern Flood of '93 Unit 44. Karst Processes and Landforms 44.1. Karst 44.2. Karst Processes 44.3. Karst Landforms and Landscapes 44.4. Karst and Caves Perspectives on the Human Environment: Florida's Winter Park Sinkhole Unit 45. Glacial Degradation and Aggradation 45.1. Glaciers of the Past 45.2. The Formation of Glaciers 45.3. The Glacier as a System 45.4. Glacial Movement and Erosion Perspectives on the Human Environment: What Causes Ice Ages? Unit 46. Landforms and Landscapes of Continental Glaciers 46.1. The Antarctic Ice Sheet 46.2. The Greenland Ice Sheet 46.3. Age of the Present Ice Sheets 46.4. Other Late Cenozoic Ice Sheets 46.4.1. North America's Glaciation: The Final Four 46.4.2.. Landscapes of Continental Glaciers 46.4.3. Aggradational Landforms of Ice Sheets Perspectives on the Human Environment: The Driftless Area Unit 47. Landforms and Landscapes of Mountain Glaciers 47.1. Mountain Glaciers Today 47.2. Degradational Landforms of Mountain Glaciers 47.3. Aggradational Landforms of Mountain Glaciers Perspectives on the Human Environment: Mountain Glaciers: The View from Space Unit 48. Periglacial Environments and Landscapes 48.1. Permafrost 48.2. Geomorphic Processes in Periglacial Environments 48.3. Landforms of Periglacial Regions 48.4. Resource Development in Periglacial Environments Perspectives on the Human Environment: Humans and the Periglacial Environment Unit 49. Wind as a Geomorphic Agent 49.1. Wind Erosion 49.2. Degradational Landforms 49.3. Aggradational Landforms 49.4. Sand Dunes 49.5. Loess Perspectives on the Human Environment: The Winds of Interstate-10 Unit 50. Coastal Processes 50.1. Coasts and Shore 50.2. Waves and Their Properties 50.3. Waves Against the Shore 50.4. Degradation and Aggradation by Waves 50.5. Tides and Shore Zone Currents 50.6. The Role of Storms 50.7. Crustal Movement Perspectives on the Human Environment: Tides and Their Behavior Unit 51. Coastal Landforms and Landscapes 51.1. Aggradational Landforms 51.2. Degradational Landforms 51.3. Coastal Landscapes 51.4. Living Shorelines Perspectives on the Human Environment: Hazards of Barrier Island Development Unit 52. Physiographic Realms and Regions: The Spatial Variation of Landscapes 52.1. Defining Physiographic Realms and Regions 52.2. Physiographic Realms and Regions of North America 52.3. The Physiographic Imprint Perspectives on the Human Environment: Cumberland Gap Appendix A: SI Units and Their Conversions Appendix B: World Political Map, 2003 Pronunciation Guide Glossary of Terms Credits Index

H.J. De Blij, Michigan State University, Peter O. Muller, University of Miami; Richard S. Williams, Jr., Woods Hole Research Center