Essentials of Physical Geography

ESSENTIALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY uses the combined expertise of three respected geographers to help bridge the gap between scientific theory, practical application, and the human-environmental interface. The text emphasizes three essential themes to demonstrate the major roles for the discipline--Geography as a Physical Science, Geography as the Spatial Science, and Geography as Environmental Science. With a renewed focus on examining relationships and processes among systems, the text helps students understand how the various systems interrelate like never before. The eighth edition features Physical GeographyNow? the first assessment-driven and student-centered online learning solution created specifically for this course. Physical GeographyNow? uses a series of chapter-specific diagnostic tests to build a personalized learning plan for each student, allowing students to focus their study time on specific areas of weaknesses. Each personalized learning plan directs students to specific chapter sections and concept-driven multimedia tutorials designed to augment their understanding.

Robert E. Gabler has nearly five decades of professional experience. He has taught for five years in public elementary and secondary schools, in addition to teaching geography at Hunter College, City of New York, Columbia University, and Western Illinois University. At times in his lengthy career at Western, he served as chairperson of the Department of Geography and Department of Geology, and University director of International Programs. He received three University Presidential Citations for Teaching Excellence and University Service, served two terms as chairperson of the Faculty Senate, edited the Bulletin of The Illinois Geographical Society, and authored numerous articles in state and national periodicals. He is a past president of the Illinois Geographical Society, former director of coordinators and past president of the National Council for Geographic Education, and the recipient of the NCGE George J. Miller Distinguished Service Award. During his tenure at Western, Dr. Gabler traveled widely throughout the United States, western and southern Europe, eastern Asia, and India, planning, organizing, and leading university exchange programs, conducting field research, and compiling extensive slide photograph files. His major publications include, editor: A HANDBOOK FOR GEOGRAPHY TEACHERS (Illinois Office of Public Instruction); co-author: FOLLETT ELEMENTARY SOCIAL STUDIES SERIES (Follett Publishing Company); senior author: INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY (Rinehart Press); and senior author: ESSENTIALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

James F. Petersen is Professor of Geography at Southwest Texas State University, in San Marcos, Texas. He is a broadly trained physical geographer with strong interests in geomorphology and Earth Science education. He enjoys writing about topics relating to physical geography for the public, particularly environmental interpretation, and has written a landform guidebook for Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in Central Texas, as well as several field guides. He is a strong supporter of geographic education, having served as president of the National Council for Geographic education in 2000 after more than 15 years of service to that organization. He also has written or served as a senior consultant for nationally published educational materials at levels from middle school through university, and he has done many workshops for geography teachers. Most recently, he co-edited a volume of the journal GEOMORPHOLOGY, a collection of papers dealing with education in geomorphology that represented the proceedings from the Binghamton Geomorphology Symposium. Two other recent works include the opening chapter for a book on the environmental history of San Antonio, published by the University of Pittsburgh Press, and the role of field methods in geography education in the United States, for an international volume on the topic. In 2011, he received the George J. Miller Award from the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE). The award, which recognizes distinguished service to geography education, is the highest honor given by the NCGE.

L. Michael Trapasso is Professor of Geography at Western Kentucky University, as well as director of the College Heights Weather Station and a research associate with the Kentucky Climate Center. His research interests include human biometeorology, forensic meteorology, and environmental perception. In 1986, he received the Ogden College Faculty Excellence Award. He also has received Fulbright and Malone Fellowships to conduct research in various countries through time. His explorations have extended to all seven continents of the globe, and he has subsequently written and lectured extensively on these travels. His educational publications include laboratory exercises for EXPERIENCES IN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY (1980, Duxbury Press), a chapter for CLIMATOLOGY: SELECTED APPLICATIONS (1981, Arnold Publishing), and several entries for the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CLIMATOLOGY (1987, Van Nostrand/Reinhold Publishing), the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES (1997, Chapman Hall Publishing), and the upcoming ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WORLD CLIMATES (in press, Kluwer Publishing). In addition to his publications and lectures, he has written and narrated educational television programming concerning weather and climate for the Kentucky Educational Television (KET) Network, and WKYU-TV 24, Western Kentucky University Television.