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Climatology, geomorphology, biogeography, arctic and alpine systems, hydrology, and global change

Physical Geography integrates and interrelates landforms, water, soils, climate, and vegetation as the major natural elements of the environment. This study focuses on the zone of the land, ocean, and atmosphere containing most of the world's organic life. Physical geography not only describes natural phenomena near the surface of the earth but, more importantly, seeks explanations of how and why the physical and biological processes act as they do.

Geographic Information Science (GIS), cartography, remote sensing, drones, and computer programming

The widespread adoption of digital technology coupled with management of very large spatial data sets has led to the development of GIS. Geographers use remote sensing methods for collecting and integrating geographical data. They utilize cartography and geographic information systems to uncover spatial patterns and trends, to reconstruct past environmental conditions and to predict future scenarios. Additionally, the societal, political and ethical implications of geographic information in policy and decision-making are also an important component of study in GIS.

Population, political, urban, social, and cultural geography

From its earliest development as an academic field, Geography has been concerned with the manifold relations between societies and their natural and built environments.Ìý Societies adapt and transform the environments they inhabit.ÌýThey depend upon the use of resources and reduction of hazards for their survival and material well-being.ÌýThey also assign meanings to the environment that vary over place and time, but that help define their identity and values within the world.

Population, political, urban, social, and cultural geography

Human geography first and foremost involves the study of human beings--more specifically, of the organization of human activity and of spatial patterns as they affect and, in turn, respond to the world about us.Ìý The processes under study derive from distinct, but interactive, substructures: pursuit of livelihood (economic), social interaction (socio-political), and historical inertia and meaning (cultural).Ìý The products are change, conflict, diffusion, differentiation, and repetition in the human organization of the land.Ìý These same human processes will interact with biophysical processes, (e.g., air quality or plant introductions) to shape humanized landscapes and regional character.Ìý Human geographers typically investigate problems associated with locational strategies and human decisions.Ìý Such problems cut through subjects as diverse as analysis of regional markets, racial segregation in cities, migration flows, hazardous sites, international development, medieval landscape patterns, or formulation of impact statements.