GEOS 140   Physical Geography (3 Hours)

This course is a survey of the physical and environmental topics of geography, including the methods used to study them. The Earth as a system and the subsystems of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere constitute the major units of study. Students will acquire basic terminology that they will use to explain the earth, the atmosphere, the landscape, and the processes that occur on earth to change the landscape. Topics may include mapping with topographic maps and remote sensing; development and structure of the atmosphere; weather; water resources; climate; rock formation; mountain building; chemical and physical weathering; mass movement; soil formation; erosion, transportation and deposition by running water, wind, ice, currents, waves and tides; and the foundation that these processes build for the biosphere on earth.