Robert W. Christopherson
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For introductory physical geography courses.
Explore Earth’s Dynamic, Changing Systems
Among the most highly regarded textbooks in physical geography, Robert Christopherson’s best-selling Elemental Geosystems is known for currency, accuracy, rich integration of climate change science, and a dynamic multimedia program. Organized around the natural flow of energy, materials, and information, subjects are presented in the same sequence in which they occur in nature — an organic, holistic approach that is unique in this discipline. The Eighth Edition includes a unique new standalone chapter on Climate Change that presents the history and evidence of natural and human-caused climate change. The Eighth Edition also features new MasteringGeography activities, streamlines and focuses essential content, and incorporates more visual media, active learning, and visual tools to help student engagement and mastery.
Also Available with MasteringGeography™
This title is also available with MasteringGeography -- an online homework, tutorial, and assessment product designed to improve results by helping students quickly master concepts. Students benefit from self-paced tutorials that feature immediate wrong-answer feedback and hints that emulate the office-hour experience to help keep students on track. With a wide range of interactive, engaging, and assignable activities, students are encouraged to actively learn and retain tough course concepts.
1. Essentials of Geography
PART I: The Energy-Atmosphere System
2. Solar Energy, Seasons, and the Atmosphere
3. Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures
4. Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations
PART II: Water, Weather, and Climate Systems
5. Atmospheric Water and Weather
6. Water Resources
7. Global Climate Systems
8. Climate Change
PART III: The Earth–Atmosphere Interface
9. The Dynamic Planet
10. Tectonics, Earthquakes and Volcanoes
11. Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement
12. River Systems and Landforms
13. The Oceans, Coastal Systems, and Wind Processes
14. Glacial and Periglacial Landscapes
PART IV: Soils, Ecosystems, and Biomes
15. The Geography of Soils
16. Ecosystem Essentials
17. Terrestrial Biomes
Appendix A Maps in this Text and Topographic Maps
Appendix B The Köppen Climate Classification System
Appendix C Common Conversions
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Robert W. Christopherson
attended California State University-Chico for his undergraduate work and received his Masters in Geography from Miami University-Oxford, Ohio. Geosystems evolved out of his teaching notes and was his graduate thesis: this is his life’s work. He founded the geography program of American River College faculty. His wife Bobbé is his principal photographer and has provided more than 300 exclusive photos for each of his books. Together they have completed nine polar expeditions (most recently in spring 2010). They attended the 2004 Arctic Climate Impact Symposium in Reykjavik, Iceland to acquire photo and video coverage and research. Robert is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 1998 and 2005 Text and Academic Authors Association Textbook Award for Geosystems and Elemental Geosystems, 4/e, respectively. He was selected by American River College students as "Teacher of the Year" and received the American River College Patrons Award. Robert received the 1999 Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award from the National Council for Geographic Education and the Outstanding Educator Award from the California Geographical Society in 1997. The Text and Academic Authors Association presented him with its Presidents' Award in 2005. Amongst many other things, Robert has been deeply involved in the development of Pearson’s
Geoscience Animation Library, and he led the editorial board of Rand McNally’s Goode’s World Atlas 22e.
Ginger Birkeland
received her M.A. and PhD from Arizona State University, with a focus in fluvial geomorphology. She taught intro courses at Montana State University and Indiana University, spent time as a research associate at Arizona State, and has spent many years as an outdoor education instructor and commercial river guide.
Ginger has worked in the field as a fluvial geomorphologist for industry and funded government projects. Some of her field projects include: a multidisciplinary plan for recovery of two threatened fish species in the Truckee River Recovery Plan (California and
Nevada) for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; geomorphic oversight, technical expertise, and technical editing for the Menomonee River Sediment Study (Wisconsin); geomorphic expertise, and co-authoring of several sections on fluvial geomorphology for reports on bank protection and salmon habitat enhancement for the Integrated Streambank Protection Guidelines and Channel Design Guidelines (Washington).
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