| name | physical-geography |
| description | Earth systems science covering plate tectonics, landforms, erosion, biomes, hydrosphere, atmospheric circulation, and the interactions among lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Provides frameworks for analyzing how physical processes shape landscapes over geological and human timescales. Use when reasoning about landforms, natural hazards, climate patterns, ocean currents, biogeography, or any question about how Earth's physical systems operate and interact. |
| type | skill |
| category | geography |
| status | stable |
| origin | tibsfox |
| modified | false |
| first_seen | "2026-04-11T00:00:00.000Z" |
| first_path | examples/skills/geography/physical-geography/SKILL.md |
| superseded_by | null |
Physical Geography
Physical geography is the study of natural features and processes on and near Earth's surface -- the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere, and the energy and material flows that connect them. It asks why landscapes look the way they do and how they change over time.
Agent affinity: reclus (Earth sciences, physical systems), humboldt (integrated physical-human perspective)
Concept IDs: geo-plate-tectonics, geo-landforms-erosion, geo-biomes, geo-hydrosphere, geo-weather-systems, geo-atmospheric-circulation, geo-climate-zones
Part I -- The Solid Earth
Plate Tectonics
Earth's lithosphere is divided into approximately 15 major tectonic plates that move relative to one another at rates of 1--15 cm per year. Alfred Wegener proposed continental drift in 1912; the mechanism (mantle convection driving seafloor spreading) was confirmed in the 1960s through magnetic striping, deep-sea drilling, and earthquake seismology.
Plate boundary types:
| Boundary | Motion | Features | Example |
|---|
| Divergent | Plates move apart | Mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys, new oceanic crust | Mid-Atlantic Ridge, East African Rift |
| Convergent (oceanic-continental) | Oceanic plate subducts | Volcanic arcs, deep trenches, Andean-type mountains | Cascadia Subduction Zone, Andes |
| Convergent (continental-continental) | Neither subducts easily | Fold mountains, crustal thickening, no volcanism | Himalayas (India-Eurasia) |
| Convergent (oceanic-oceanic) | One plate subducts | Island arcs, deep trenches | Mariana Trench, Japanese Islands |
| Transform | Plates slide laterally | Earthquakes, offset features, no volcanism | San Andreas Fault, Alpine Fault (NZ) |
The Wilson Cycle. Continents rift, oceans open, oceanic crust subducts, oceans close, continents collide, and the cycle restarts over ~200--500 million years. The current configuration of continents is a snapshot in a continuous process.
Landforms and Erosion
Landforms result from the competition between tectonic uplift (constructive) and erosion (destructive). The balance between these forces determines whether a landscape is rising, in steady state, or being worn down.
Weathering breaks rock into smaller pieces or dissolves it in place:
