Physical geography

This article is about the academic discipline. For the peer-reviewed journal, see Physical Geography (journal).

"Physiography" redirects here. The term may also refer to Geomorphology.

Not to be confused with Geophysics.

NASA true-color image of the Earth's surface and atmosphere

The relationship between the three branches of geography

Physical geography (also known as physiography) is one of the three main branches of geography. Physical geography is the branch of natural science which deals with the processes and patterns in the natural environment such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere. This focus contrasts with the branch of human geography, which focuses on the built environment, and technical geography, which focuses on the use, study, and creation of tools for obtaining, analyzing, interpreting, and understanding spatial information. The three branches have significant overlap, however.