Geosystems Core

Description

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.

Dr. Stephen Cunha is professor of geography at Humboldt State University. He received his BS, MA, and Phd from UC Berkeley. Dr Cunha is an active teacher, researcher, and mountain geographer. He has co-authored geography textbooks and the Atlas of California. Cunha was head of the California Geographic Alliance. He has international travel and experience in the Americas, Asia, and Africa, bringing a new international perspective and content to Geosystems Core. Cunha has numerous teaching and research awards and is active in various organizations like AAG.

Charlie Thomsen is professor of geography at American River College, where he teaches physical geography, cultural geography, and GIS. Professor Thomsen received his BA from UC Chico and MA from UCAL. He is the author of Pearson’s Encounter Geosystems and Applied Physical Geography: Geosystems in the Laboratory, as well as many other assessment and media projects.

Introduction to Physical Geography

Part I: Energy & Earth Systems

1. Solar Energy, Seasons, & the Atmosphere

2. Energy in the Atmosphere

3. Pressure, Winds, & Currents

Part II: Water, Weather, & Climate Systems

4. Atmospheric Water & Weather

5. Water Resources

6. Global Climate Systems

7. Climate Change

Part III: The Geosphere: Earth’s Interior & Surface

8. Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, & Volcanism

9. Weathering & Mass Movement

10. Stream Erosion & River Systems

11. Coastal Systems & Wind Processes

12. Glacial Systems

Part IV: The Biosphere

13. Ecosystems & Soils

14. Biomes

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.

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

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 MasteringGeography.

Also available with Mastering Geography
This title is also available with MasteringTM 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.
Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; Mastering Geography does not come packaged with this content. 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. If you would like to purchase both the physical text and Mastering Geography, search for:

0321949552 / 9780321949554 Geosystems Core Plus Mastering Geography with eText — Access Card Package

This package contains:

• 0321834747 / 9780321834744 Geosystems Core
• 0321958276 / 9780321958273Mastering Geography with Pearson eText — ValuePack Access Card — for Geosystems Core

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. Learn more.

Additional information