Physical Geography Concepts

Answer

Physical Geography Concepts

Discussion Post:  What does the term "geography" mean to you? What does geography Encompass

            I consider geography to be a term referring to a branch of science with a major focus on studying lands, inhabitants, features, and the phenomena of the planets and the earth. Geography encompasses all disciplines which focus on understanding the earth as well as its natural and human complexities rather than simply objects but also how they have transformed and came to exist. According to Strahler (2013), geography refers to aspects which include location of towns, place, topology and special features that can be observed on maps and satellite photos. They are considered to be the primary building blocks of the subject. Strahler (2013) suggests that geography is composed of two primary branches: physical and human geography. Human geography includes the study of human factors such as population and distribution, cultures, communities, economies and how they interact with the environment. On the other hand, physical geography includes the study of the natural environment aspects such as processes, patterns, geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and the atmosphere. Geography is also considered as the study of how different environmental aspects influence the biosphere. For instance, examining how global warming results to climate change and the rise in sea level prompted by the melting of the glaciers due to the increased temperature change. Therefore, it is accurate to derive that the geographic factors influence each other in that the atmospheric changes can prompt a change in the geosphere and the biosphere.

            Therefore, I believe that geography is the study of physical features of the earth and the environmental elements and how they influence the human activity. The subject is also inclusive of the study of the patterns of human population and its distribution, resources availability, land use as well as the different industries available in different parts of the globe. Ketterer and Rodríguez-Pose (2018) reiterate this factor by revealing that geography encompasses factors such as spatial analysis, human phenomenon, human and land relationships.

Current Events

            Grambling (2020) published an article suggesting that the rapid rise in the sea level have the potential of sinking the protective mangrove forests by 2100. Over the years, the mangrove forests have managed to maintain its existence by surviving the extreme conditions set forth by the rise in the sea levels. However, researchers have established that this may not be the case by 2100. Notably, studies maintain that the mangroves do not have the power to survive the rapid rise in the sea level which exceeds 7 millimeters on an annual basis (Grambling, 2020).

            On a global scale, the sea levels are rising at an average value of approximately 3.4 millimeters every year (Grambling, 2020). However, in the past few decades, the projected rate of the rise has increased rapidly to a value of between 5 millimeters annually and will rise by 10 millimeters by 2100 (Grambling, 2020). The projected rise will be detrimental to the mangrove forest as this could drown the plantation which has been effective in protecting different coastlines across the globe by preventing erosion and other tide’s effects. Additionally, the mangroves have been effective in preventing the detrimental effects of carbon dioxide gas in the climate such as cases of global warming. Moreover, for decades, the mangroves have provided a habitat for the tropical fish (Grambling, 2020).

            The rapid rise in the sea levels will deprive the mangroves off their balancing ability hence resulting to their loss. Despite this belief, two major unknowns exist. For instance, it is not clear at which point the seas might rise too rapidly to a point that the trees will lose their balance and it is unknown when the mangrove forest will lose their power to balance (Grambling, 2020). Global warming is the major factor of determinant in this case since it is directly associated with the sea water rise majorly due to the melting of glaciers. Therefore, efforts should be established to prevent the loss of the mangrove forest (Grambling, 2020).