Level 64
1 day < 1 min
LeaderboardGuest · Log in
Landforms and Major Physical Regions

Foundations of Physical Geography

An exploration of Earth's internal structure, plate tectonics, and the erosional and depositional processes that continually reshape its surface, together with the science of cartography that lets us measure, project, and navigate the physical world.

60-Second Review

Express review

A condensed, point-by-point summary of the module, for reviewing right before a test or exam.

  1. Earth's Structure and Plate Tectonics. How Earth's layered interior and moving plates build oceans, mountains, and the Ring of Fire.
  2. The Rock Cycle and Volcanism. How magma, sediment, and pressure build rocks and volcanoes, from granite to Vesuvius.
  3. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Mountain Building. How faults, earthquakes, tsunamis, and colliding plates build and shake the world's mountains.
  4. Erosion, Landforms, and Soils. How weathering, rivers, ice, wind, and waves carve landforms and build the world's soils.
  5. Geologic Time and the History of Cartography. From stratigraphy to map projections, how geologists and cartographers measure time and space.
  6. Modern Geospatial Technology and Biogeography. How satellites, GIS, and Earth's magnetism map the planet and explain where species live.

This is the starting point of Landforms and Major Physical Regions: you don't need any prior knowledge of this subject to begin.

Key points

Visual module map

1Earth's Structure and Plate Tectonics
2The Rock Cycle and Volcanism
3Erosion, Landforms, and Soils
4Geologic Time and the History of Cartography
5Modern Geospatial Technology and Biogeography

Alternative visual view: a simplified sequence of some of the module's key points, in their order within the syllabus.

Your module mastery

0% (overall measurement)
Approximate breakdown by skill
Understanding of historiographical debate0%

A rough estimate based on the key points reviewed, not an exact measurement of actual mastery.

Final test

You need to review all key points to unlock the final test.

Optional mini-games

Extra practice, with no penalty, to reinforce the module's content.

Review Flashcards

Review each key point with cards that flip to reveal the summary.

Memory

Match each concept with its definition in as few attempts as possible.

Time Attack

Answer true or false statements before time runs out.

Chronological Order

Put the module's key points back in their original order.

Further reading

Bibliography and cited sources used to create this module.

  • Tarbuck, E.J. and Lutgens, F.K. (2019). Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology. 12th ed. New York: Pearson.
  • de Blij, H.J., Muller, P.O. and Nijman, J. (2013). Physical Geography: The Global Environment. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Robinson, A.H., Morrison, J.L., Muehrcke, P.C., Kimerling, A.J. and Guptill, S.C. (1995). Elements of Cartography. 6th ed. New York: Wiley.
  • United States Geological Survey (USGS). "This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics." https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/7000097
  • United States Geological Survey (USGS). "Earthquake Hazards Program." https://earthquake.usgs.gov/