Research area Physical Geography

Physical Geography, a wide-ranging scientific field dealing with the diverse physical and biological features of Earth, their characteristics, processes, patterns and interactions with humans.

Physical Geography is connected to physical, chemical, biological, geological, environmental and social processes and changes in the world's land areas and their water, ice and geological formations, climate systems and ecosystems, in relation to each other and to human societies.

Our research in Physical Geography include spatial analyzes of phenomena and their development over time, area studies of different places and regions, studies of relationships and complexity in linked natural-social systems, and studies of global change and the Earth system as a whole. The studies deal with, for example, changes in land formations, glaciers and permafrost, ecosystems and biodiversity, soil, water and other natural resources and environmental aspects, as well as their interactions with the climate and various societal developments, such as urbanization.

Climate change over time

Studying climate and climate change involves exploring long-term patterns and variations in weather conditions over time and in different places of the Earth.

Earth's surface processes

We study how landscapes are shaped and changed over time through natural processes such as erosion, weathering and colonization of plants and animals, as well as how human activity affects these processes through land use and climate change.

Natural resources and sustainability

Our researchers and projects focus on how people utilise different environments and natural resources, and how this affects the surrounding landscape and ecosystems.