A systematic survey of the planet’s physical features and the processes that made them, beginning with the earth’s place in the solar system and the geological and geodetic methods used to measure its form and interior. It proceeds to characterize major landforms—continents, mountain chains, plateaus, plains, coasts, islands, and reefs—and explains volcanic and glacial activity, sea-level change, and the structure of soils and rocks. Chapters treat climate and atmospheric circulation, the distribution of plants and animals, and how human action interacts with natural forces. Frequent cross-references between structure, climate, and biological distribution emphasize causes as well as descriptive geography.