Geography & Atmospheric Sciences

This product accompanies:
Christopherson,  Elemental Geosystems, 6/E

"Please explain how you cover Earth systems in your physical geography course".

• UNIQUE ORGANIZATION AND FLOW OF TOPICS:  Elemental Geosystems’  four-part organization and 17-chapter sequence teaches subjects as process systems, essentially nonmathematical, with text material organized in the same order and direction as the flow of energy and matter in the environment. Like previous editions, this edition is the most-up-to-date presentation of physical geography as the essential Earth systems science.

"In what ways do you encourage your students to read and study in your physical geography class?"

• WRITING AND PEDAGOGY:  The book features a strong writing and pedagogical program which was recognized by a national Text and Academic Authors' Award. The writing integrates numerous interesting examples for students, and features a strong focus on understanding current events through physical geography. The pedagogical program includes Key Learning Concepts at the beginning of every chapter and an exclusive Summary and Review section at the end of every chapter that is organized around those Learning Concepts.  A Student Study Guide written by the author, and an interactive online Student Learning Center is available to all students.

"How do you integrate current scientific information and current events into your personal classes?"

• CURRENCY:  Currency is an Elemental Geosystems’ hallmark, and this edition is no exception. The latest science appears in text and figures throughout. For example, the Western drought, into its sixth year, receives coverage in Chapters 6 and 12. The Colorado River focus study is updated as of press time to give students the latest information on declining reservoir levels and the failing river flows. Global climate change and the latest scientific research is presented in Chapters 3, 7, and 14. With the polar regions experiencing climate change at a rate twice as fast as lower latitudes the text presents "High Latitude Connection" features in seven chapters. With the upcoming International Polar Year of research and science, the book is perfectly positioned to assist teachers with unfolding events.

"How do you help your students visualize physical geographic concepts and processes?"

• ILLUSTRATION PROGRAM:  Photographs, maps, illustrations, and satellite images provide a multimedia richness to highlight content, specially important in this visually-oriented time. The author has created compound figures throughout the book developed from his classroom teaching methods. This dynamic approach brings a subject alive while giving students a complete view of a concept.

• Student Animations CD:  In keeping with its emphasis on graphics, the book features animations of key concepts. The topics and concepts animated were chosen by a panel of physical geographers as the most difficult concepts and processes for students to visualize. These 67 animations are specifically crafted by the author to help students learn these processes more quickly and effectively. Each animation allows the student to control the action. The user can replay the animation, control its pace, and stop and start the animation anywhere in its sequence. In order to facilitate effective independent study, Robert Christopherson has written narrations to accompany each animation. In addition, the CD presents 5 videos made by the author in the Arctic and Antarctic regions so students can see and hear these remote places first-hand! There are 18 satellite loops, a map reference library, and 3 exclusive photo galleries with narration.

"Do you prefer to use electronic resources to prepare for class and to deliver your lectures?"

• Instructor Resource CD-ROM:  The Instructor’s Resource Center on CD-ROM (IRC), contains everything needed for efficient course preparation. All digital resources are in one, well-organized, easy-to-access place. New to this edition, the IRC now provides high-quality electronic versions of EVERY SINGLE photo and illustration from the book, as well as additional photographs and customizable PowerPoint lecture presentations. All 67 animations are included ready for the classroom. The Instructor’s Resource Center on CD-ROM also includes the Instructor’s Manual, Test Item File, and testing software.

• THOUROUGHLY REVISED AND UPDATED THROUGHOUT:  Elemental Geosystems text meticulously delivers the latest scientific content and examples, while presenting the core topics in physical geography. The fifth edition remains true to this legacy. Examples of currency: coverage of a hurricane that hit Brazil in 2004 and in 2005 the remnants of Hurricane Vince struck Spain—both firsts. Other examples include the October 2005 Pakistan earthquake and satellite images of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami; an author-drawn map of the record-breaking 2005 hurricane season and Katrina photos; coverage of jet-contrail impacts on Earth-atmosphere energy budgets; new discussion of derechos—straight-line intense winds. And, the text continues to lead the field with the most up-to-date coverage of climate change science.

• REVISED STUDENT ANIMATION CD-ROM:  The author-revised student CD-ROM is packaged automatically with each copy of the text and features 67 animations of key concepts in physical geography and text figures. These animations are interactive and will greatly augment classroom presentation and student comprehension. The author has taken the Prentice Hall Geoscience animations and added pedagogy to help students understand and learn more efficiently about physical processes. This CD-ROM, is referenced with icons throughout the text, and includes 18 satellite loops, and 8 Notebook features, 3 photo galleries, map reference library, complete Glossary, and 5 exclusive video clips made by the author featuring the north and south polar regions.

• CONTINUING GENETIC COVERAGE OF GLOBAL CLIMATE SYSTEMS:  Chapter 7 features a refined genetic climate map and treatment, original to Geosystems and Elemental Geosystems and now widely accepted in the market. The familiar global climate map and climate category names are noted with the causes of climate. Each climograph features these genetic elements so that students learn the factors that produce each climate type. A detailed appendix presents the Koppen empirical system to assist in this transition.

• Many items have been updated for currency.  Examples include: many new photos, satellite images, maps, and arts:  four new polar-region temperature maps; new treatment of North Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific Decadal Oscillations; rewritten section on humidity for clarity of concepts; revised midlatitude weather teaching map;  analysis of the intense 2005Atlantic hurricane season and the plight of Florida, with satellite-loop coverage on the text CD; new genetic climate classification map and discussion, with causative forces portrayed on the climate map; updated section on global climate change including the latest science; discussion of the Loess Hills of Iowa; a revised and expanded glacial and periglacial chapter; new section on evolution and the tremendous biodiversity that results from the process; new treatment of polar climates and biomes; an updated capstone Chapter 17 featuring 11 Katrina-damage photos and a discussion, "2005–A Year for the Record Books–Lessons Learned?"; among many new or updated items.

 1. Foundations of Geography.

THE ENERGY-ATMOSPHERE SYSTEM.

 2. Solar Energy, Seasons, and the Atmosphere.

 3. Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures.

 4. Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations.

WATER, WEATHER, AND CLIMATE SYSTEMS.

 5. Atmospheric Water and Weather.

 6. Global Climate Systems.

 7. Water Resources.

EARTH'S CHANGING LANDSCAPE SYSTEMS.

 8. The Dynamic Planet.

10. Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement.

11. River Systems and Landforms.

12. Wind Processes and Desert Landscapes.

13. The Oceans, Coastal Processes, and Landforms.

14. Glacial and Periglacial Landscapes.

BIOGEOGRAPHY SYSTEMS.

15. The Geography of Soils.

16. Ecosystems and Biomes.

17. Earth and the Human Denominator.

APPENDICES.

A. Maps in this Text and Topographic Maps.

B. The Canadian System of Soil Classification (CSSC).

C. The Köppen Climate Classification System.

D. Common Conversions.

Physical Geography  (Geography & Atmospheric Sciences)

• 
  Elemental Geosystems, 6/E
  Christopherson
  ©2010 | Prentice Hall | Paper; 640 pp | Instock
  ISBN-10: 0321595211 | ISBN-13: 9780321595218
  Suggested retail price: $112.40  Buy from myPearsonStoreNet price: $84.30  (What's this?)Brief Description

  

  For introductory courses in Physical Geography.
  
  Offering a briefer treatment of the elements of physical geography without sacrificing scientific content, Elemental Geosystems features a distinctive integration of human-Earth relationships, an applied flavor, and scientific correctness. It is written, organized, and illustrated to give students an accessible, systematic, and visually appealing start in physical geography.
  

Robert W. Christopherson attended California State University—Chico for undergraduate work and received his Masters in Geography from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.  He joined the American River College faculty in 1970, where he founded the geography program.  He taught such courses as physical and cultural geography, weather and climate, humans and the environment, and humans in the urban environment from 1970 to 1999, and is currently Professor Emeritus. 

Robert Christopherson is the recipient of numerous awards, including among others, the Patrons  Chair and Student Association Teacher of the Year Awards at his college, most recently the 2005 President's Award and 2005 Textbook Award for Elemental Geosystems, 4/E, from the Text and Academic Authors Association, the 1999 Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award from the National Council for Geographic Education, the 1998 Textbook Award for Geosystems, 3/E, from TAA,  and the California Geographical Society’s 1997 Outstanding Educator Award. 

Robert presented in seminar, television and radio, and research papers on topics such as, the physical geography of the polar regions, global climate change, energy issues, and environmental awareness.  He and his professional photographer wife completed 5 polar expeditions, and attended the 2004 Arctic Climate Impact Symposium in Reykjavik, Iceland, to gain photo and video coverage, and research for Geosystems and Elemental Geosystems–his wife has more than 300 exclusive photos in each of these texts.

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