Carrying forthTom L. McKnight's well-known thematic focus on landscape appreciation, this best-seller fosters a solid understanding of Earth and its physical geography. Its clear, user-friendly writing style, superior art program, and abundant pedagogy appeal to a wide variety of readers. Updates and expands coverage of global environmental change, including a new section on measuring and understanding climate change. Expands section on human alteration of the atmosphere, including ozone depletion and air pollution. Expands sections on tsunamis and human modification of shorelines. A useful reference for anyone interested in physical geography.

 1. Introduction to Earth

 2. Portraying Earth

 3. Introduction to the Atmosphere

 4. Insolation and Temperature

 5. Atmospheric Pressure and Wind

 6. Atmospheric Moisture

 7. Transient Atmospheric Flows and Disturbances

 8. Climatic Zones and Types

 9. The Hydrosphere

10. Cycles and Patterns in the Biosphere

11. Terrestrial Flora and Fauna

12. Soils

13. Introduction to Landform Study

14. The Internal Processes

15. Weathering and Mass Wasting

16. The Fluvial Processes

17. Solution Processes and Karst Topography

18. The Topography of Arid Lands

19. Glacial Modification of Terrain

20. Coastal Processes and Terrain  

Appendix 1. The International System of Units (SI)

Appendix 2. U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Maps

Appendix 3. Meteorological Tables Appendix 4- The Weather Station Model