Physical Geography Report: Environmental Challenges and Solutions

This physical geography report delves into critical environmental issues, including deforestation, climate change, and the impact of human activities on ecosystems. The report analyzes how deforestation rates are measured, the threats posed by underwater mining to marine species, and the Earth's response to climate change, such as increased volcanic activity and other natural disasters. It highlights the interconnectedness of the atmosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere, emphasizing the need for human intervention to mitigate environmental degradation and maintain ecological balance. The report concludes by underscoring the importance of conserving the environment to manage natural calamities and prevent catastrophic changes, advocating for actions that strengthen the balance of environmental factors and the overall well-being of the planet.

Physical geography 1
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Physical geography 2
Physical geography
Physical geography is a crucial branch since it involves the different processes and
patterns in the environment. The human beings rely on physical geography for different aspects
including the survival. The physical geography consists of different components such as the
atmosphere, geosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere.
1
One of the key parts of the natural environment which affect human life directly is the
deforestation. Increased human activities have increased the deforestation rate. The New York
Times, on February 28, 2017, published an article on the different ways to measures the
deforestation rate. This issue relates directly to human life since the forest can link directly to
human life activities by supporting its existence. According to scientists, the distances between
the forests in North America have increased, and this is a new way to measure the deforestation
rate (Yin, 2017 p. D2). These researchers named the new way of measuring the deforestation rate
as ‘forest attrition distance.’ According to Dr Mountrakis, the gap between the forests is a clear
indicator of the deforestation rate in the countries. Additionally, Aaron Ellison from the Harvard
Forest reports that there is no need for another metric to measure the deforestation rate. The
researcher noted that there is a clear difference in distance between forests in 1992 details and
the 2001 features. The distances can, therefore, be used and according to their calculations, 3%
or close to 35,000 miles was found between the forests (In Rogers, 2017). This topic related well
to the course because the subject extends on other issues such as soil erosion, climate change,
biodiversity and other environmental conditions.
2

Physical geography 3
The lives of other creatures are essential to ensure balance and mutual benefits for all
creatures. But human activities are in many cases threatening the lives of other creatures. Some
of the creatures are unknown to human due to the environment they live. Underground water
mining has increased, and this poses a danger to the animals which live there. An online article
was posted on Science Daily website of some creatures which are being endangered due to the
underwater mining (University of Gothenburg, 2017). This article aims at enhancing the
understanding of the danger these activities are posing on the ecosystem and its balance. Species
such as Plenaster craigi are reported in this article as critical creatures which live on ocean floors
and being affected by human activities of underwater mining. Control on these events will be
able to save the lives of different creatures which have not been discovered up to now (Lim et al.,
2017). The environment should be enhanced to allow all the animals to live and let the
ecosystem control itself. The activities of the human beings are affecting their existence and
therefore interfering with the natural ecosystem.
3
Change in climate is a great physical geography activity which happens from different
perspectives. According to an article published in The Guardian, on 7th August 2007, the earth is
devising different mechanisms to fight back. According to McGuire, (2007) more damages
should be expected regarding earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and tsunamis as the earth fight
backs. These activities can affect different human activities. Moreover, this article is related to
the topic since its activities are naturally generated. The rate of climate change is high, and this is
causing different changes which are making the earth to react while fighting back. The article
notes that the volcano eruptions lead to increase in sea level during some seasons. The eruptions
happen on specific seasons, and the balance happens on counter seasons (Lovelock, 2007). The

Physical geography 4
article tries to bring out the point that the human being needs to take charge and control the
different activities. This will helps to prevent the negative effects of the earth fighting back and
trying to find the balance. The adverse environmental degradation is causing the earth to react to
the changes and trying to find the balance. The article notes that the dramatic changes are
expected in coming centuries, and they will be catastrophic.
In conclusion, physical geography can relate to different aspects of controlling the
environmental factors. Human activities can enhance the various actions which have to
strengthen the balance of the events. Trees are able to relate to the physical activities and help to
control the human relation to the environment. Different activities help to link to the life of the
ecosystem. Conserving the environment will help to manage natural calamities which are taking
place. The earth is fighting back to find balance, and this is causing catastrophes.

Physical geography 5
References
In Rogers, F. L. (2017). Deforestation and afforestation: Global challenges, management, and
environmental implications.
Lim, S. C. Wiklund, H., Glover, A. G., Dahlgren, T. G. & Tan, K. S. (2017). A new genus and
species of abyssal sponge commonly encrusting polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-
Clipperton Zone, East Pacific Ocean. Systematics and Biodiversity,; 15 (6): 507 DOI:
10.1080/14772000.2017.1358218
Lovelock, J. (2007). Why the Earth is fighting back - and how we can still save humanity. Place
of publication not identified: Penguin.
McGuire, B. (7 August, 2007). The Earth Fights Back. Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2007/aug/07/disasters
University of Gothenburg. (25 October 2017). "Marine species threatened by deep-sea mining."
ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily,.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171025103146.htm.
YIN, S. (FEB. 23, 2017). How Far to the Next Forest? A New Way to Measure Deforestation.
Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/23/science/forests-deforestation-map-
united-states.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FGeography