Visualizing Physical Geography (VISUALIZING SERIES) [Paperback]

Alan H. Strahler (Author), Zeeya Merali (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470095725 | ISBN-13: 978-0470095720 | Publication Date: September 17, 2007 | Edition: 1

This debut edition of Visualizing Physical Geography encompasses the science of physical geography from local to global scales, using a uniquely visual approach to take students on a journey from the top layers of the Earth’s atmosphere to the rocks underlying the ocean basins to the forests of the farthest continents. As students explore the critical topics of physical geography, their study of the climate, surface features, and habitats around the world uses basic concepts of ecology, geology, chemistry, environmental science, biology, and physics and many other disciplines. Visualizing Physical Geography reinforces these interacting components and, with its premier art program, vividly illustrates the interconnectedness of physical processes that weave together to create our planet’s dynamic surface and atmosphere. 

Visualizing Geography relies heavily on other visuals with text to elucidate concepts for students and solidify their understanding of them. The goal is to help students understand the world around them and interpret what they see in a meaningful, accurate and exciting way. The content, design and layout of the text takes advantage of the full capacity in which students process information – visual as well as verbal.  

Visualizing Geography also helps students examine their own personal studying and learning styles with several new pedagogical aids -- encouraging students to apply what they are learning to their everyday lives. Visualizing Geography continues to offer ongoing study tips and psychological techniques for mastering the material.  Most importantly students are provided with numerous opportunities to immediately access their understanding.  

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jürgen Popp holds a full Professor at the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena. He is Director of the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the university as well as Director of the Institute of Physical High Technology (IPHT) Jena. In the German Main Research Topic 'Biophotonik' (National Network financed by the BMBF) he serves as the speaker.

Associate Editors:
Arthur Chiou (National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan)
Valery V. Tuchin (Saratov State University, Russia)
Stefan Heinemann (Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470095725
• ISBN-13: 978-0470095720
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Geography

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Graphics, Nice Textbook, January 4, 2008

By 

Dr. Mud (Saginaw, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visualizing Physical Geography (VISUALIZING SERIES) (Paperback)

This book is a great addition to the list of Physical Geography textbooks. The images and figures are large, high quality, and really help make the material more understandable -- as was the intent! Over all, the text in the book is well written. Alan Stahler is no newcomer to textbook authoring. I have used some of his other Physical Geography texts in my classes before and found them to be just fine. For the most part, Physical Geography textbooks are all quite well written, and are very similar in content. In my experience they are almost interchangeable -- all very good, but none really outstanding, Strahler's other texts included. This book is different, and much better, because of the "visual" approach. I have one major complaint, though (which resulted in my 4-star rating): Strahler's treatment of climate zones. Why does he not follow the Koppen Climate Classification system? I treat climate zones and their associated biomes as the foundation of my class. The Koppen system is logical, understandable, and students can more easily understand how climates are classified by using temperature and precipitation variables. I like the Koppen system! Strahler disregards this system and imposes his own. Gone are the two- or three-letter disignations which, themselves, explain how each zone is classified and where (with respect to latitude) each is located. Strahler's classificaion by names only is not as useful, period. The collaboration with National Geographic, and their great images, is wonderful, and makes the textbook something great. The actual text is good, like every other physical geography textbook, but I find the Stahler approach to climate zones to be quite irritating.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book with Awesome Pictures!, February 9, 2008

By 

lpete (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visualizing Physical Geography (VISUALIZING SERIES) (Paperback)

I purchased this book for my Geography class, and I have found it to be very informative. The National Geographic pictures are great and really help to "visualize" the information. The text is easy to read and understand. The visuals are helpful. I really like that it gives definitions of all of the vocab words off to the side of the text so I can easily understand it. Love the pictures!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good shape no markings, November 25, 2011

By 

Jennifer Ferrell (bullhead city, AZ) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Visualizing Physical Geography (VISUALIZING SERIES) (Paperback)

When I first received the Geograpy text book, I was surprised to see some of the corner dog-eared, even the cover. Not a big deal, I'm a just a book phanatic. Besides that, it was in good shape as promised. Thank You. Jen Ferrell