Name: Living Physical Geography
Author: Bruce Gervais

About

The second edition of Bruce Gervaisâ€™ Living Physical Geography offers a fresh approach to the study of physical geography, combining print and digital media to create a scientifically substantive work that is written for students. Living Physical Geography focuses on human-physical geography interactions, using pedagogical features in the textbook and online in SaplingPlus to create a modern synthesis of the science of physical geography. In this, the most student-friendly book in the market, the authors Bruce Gervais has curated and designed all of the learning assets within the text and online in SaplingPlus.

Each of the four major parts in Living Physical Geography focuses on energy flows within Earthâ€™s physical systems. Additionally, landscape analysis underpins the body of the text. Step-by-step examples are used to illustrate how landforms and systems develop, evolve, and change through time.

Digital Options

E-book

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Contents
The Geographer’s Toolkit
1. This introduction covers the traditional and modern tools and foundational concepts in wide use in geography.

Part I Atmospheric Systems: Weather and Climate
Part I explores how solar energy in the atmosphere creates atmospheric phenomena and organized systems. One chapter is devoted to the topic of climate change.

2. Portrait of the Atmosphere
3. Solar Energy and Seasons
4. Water in the Atmosphere
5. Atmospheric Circulation and Wind Systems
6. The Restless Sky: Severe Weather and Storm Systems
7. The Changing Climate

Part II The Biosphere and the Geography of Life
Part II is contextualized around solar energy’s work in the biosphere. Major ecological units and human modification of the biosphere are emphasized. One chapter is devoted to marine ecosystems.

8. Patterns of Life: Biogeography
9. Climate and Life: Biomes
10. Ocean Ecosystems
11. Soil and Water Resources

Part III Tectonic Systems: Building the Lithosphere
Part III explores uplift and building topographic relief via geothermal energy.

12. Earth History, Earth Interior
13. Drifting Continents: Plate Tectonics
14. Building the Crust with Rocks
15. Geohazards: Volcanoes and Earthquakes

Part IV Erosion and Deposition: Sculpting the Earth’s Surface
Part IV examines the work of solar energy, water, chemical reactions, and gravity in grading the Earth’s surface.

16. Weathering and Mass Movement
17. Flowing Water: Fluvial Systems
18. The Work of Ice: The Cryosphere and Glacial Landforms
19. Water, Wind, and Time: Desert Landforms
20. The Work of Waves: Coastal Landforms

Authors

Bruce Gervais

Bruce Gervais is a professor of geography at California State University, Sacramento. He has been teaching physical geography for over 25 years. He holds a doctorate in geography from the University of California at Los Angeles. Bruce’s research focus is in paleoclimatology. For his doctoral research at UCLA, he studied ancient climates by using tree rings and fossil pollen preserved in lake sediments on the Kola Peninsula in northwestern Russia. He has published 12 peer-reviewed research papers detailing his work in Russia and California. Bruce enjoys spending his free time backpacking, learning Spanish, and with his family. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at gervais@csus.edu.