What are human and physical processes?

Physical geography is the strand of natural science which deals with the study of processes and patterns in the natural environment. Within the body of physical geography, the Earth is often split into several spheres or environments, the main ones being the atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and pedosphere. Research in physical geography is often interdisciplinary and uses the system approach.

Human geography is the study of human use and understanding of the world and the processes which have affected it. Human geography broadly differs from physical geography in that it has a greater focus on studying intangible or abstract patterns surrounding human activity and is more receptive to qualitative research methodologies. It encompasses most of the aspects of the social sciences.

While the major focus on human geography is not the physical landscape of the Earth, it is not possible to discuss human geography without going into the physical landscape with which human activities are being played out, and environmental geography which is an important link between the two.