For introductory physical geography courses.
A brief, visual, and media-rich approach to physical geography
Highly regarded, best-selling author Robert Christopherson has partnered with renowned geographer and educator Stephen Cunha and longtime media author Charlie Thomsen to establish Geosystems Core, a brief, modular, highly visual and flexible textbook and springboard into physical geography. This approach allows instructors to teach concepts in their preferred order, empowering them to bring in their own case studies and applications to further illustrate the core concepts. Instructors can also easily augment and extend the 1st Edition of the print book by leveraging the rich library of media and customizable assessment resources in Mastering™ Geography.
Also available with Mastering Geography
This title is also available with Mastering™ Geography--an online homework, tutorial, and assessment program designed to work with this text to engage students and improve results. Interactive, self-paced tutorials provide individualized coaching to help students stay on track. With a wide range of activities available, students can actively learn, understand, and retain even the most difficult concepts.
Students, if interested in purchasing this title with Mastering Geography, ask your instructor for the correct package ISBN and Course ID. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information.
Geosystems Core, 1st Edition is also available via
Pearson eText, a simple-to-use, mobile, personalized reading experience that lets instructors connect with and motivate students – right in their eTextbook.
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About the book
Brief, flexible, modular approach for today’s students
- Key geographical concepts are presented as two-page modules that can stand on their own and be read in any order. Instructors can assign these flexible modules in whatever sequence best suits their course and teaching style. Each module in the text contains only the most essential content for any concept. The focused presentation prevents students from becoming lost in unnecessary detail.
- A vibrant and contemporary art and photo program places captivating visuals at center stage as the primary teaching tool with the narrative seamlessly integrated. Information is presented in an engaging and highly accessible format for the non-science major.
- QR Links to over 100 Animations and Videos provide just-in-time reinforcement to learners as they read, giving instant mobile access to visualizations from robust science sources such as NASA/JPL, FEMA, and NOAA.
Give students a reliable and visual learning path
- The unique Earth systems approach organizes the chapters around atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere, following the natural flow of energy, materials, and information to present topics in the same sequence in which they occur in nature.
- Christopherson, Cunha, and Thomsen’s structured learning path and tightly integrated pedagogy give students a reliable, consistent framework for mastering the chapter concepts:
o The introductory chapter gives an applied overview of the fundamentals of physical geography, including mapping, geospatial technology, the Scientific Method, and Earth Systems Science.
o The chapter-opening Key Concepts list the learning objectives for each chapter. Each section of the chapter is tied to a specific learning objective, providing students with a clear learning path to the chapter content.
o GeoChecks and GeoQuizzes are integrated into each module, enabling students to check their understanding as they read the module sections, for a “read a little, do a little” approach that is engaging, and that fosters active critical thinking.
o Chapters conclude with a Chapter Review that includes a module-by-module summary with integrated Review Questions, Critical Thinking exercises, Visual Analysis activities, Interactive Mapping activities using MapMaster, and Explore activities using Google Earth.
Engage students by connecting geography to their real-world environment
- Unique two-page GeoLab capstone modules integrate a lab experience directly into the book without the need for a separate lab manual or lab section, enabling students to get hands-on with the data and tools of physical geography. Each GeoLab includes an online component in MasteringGeography that can be assigned and automatically graded.
- The Human Denominator end-of-chapter features explicitly focus on the human-Earth dimension of physical geography within context of the chapter topic. They include maps (spatial data), real-world examples (photos), and review of both current and potential future issues that help engage students by connecting physical geography concepts to their real-world environment.
Present the latest climate change science and data
- Standalone Climate Change Chapter presents the most up-to-date and comprehensive coverage of climate change science and dat
