Description
Study and analyze Earth's physical landscapes and processes—landforms, climate, hydrology, soils, and ecosystems—using field measurements, remote sensing, and GIS. Model natural systems, assess environmental change, hazards, and resources, and interpret interactions between physical environments and human activities from local to global scales.
- • Create and refine maps and terrain models using GIS, remote sensing, and cartographic principles.
- • Write and present reports on physical geography research and applications.
- • Develop, operate, and maintain GIS and remote sensing systems and related hardware.
- • Locate, integrate, and manage physical-environment datasets and geodatabases.
- • Analyze spatial patterns and dynamics of landforms, climate, hydrology, soils, and vegetation.
- • Teach physical geography courses, labs, or workshops.
- • Gather and compile data from field surveys, GPS, drones, satellite imagery, and aerial photographs.
- • Conduct fieldwork to measure landforms, soils, hydrology, weather, and vegetation.
- • Model and assess natural hazards, erosion, flooding, drought, and climate impacts.
- • Provide consulting for resource assessment, environmental planning, and hazard mitigation.
- • Collect and calibrate meteorologic, hydrologic, and geomorphic measurements using survey and monitoring equipment.
- • Provide GIS and remote sensing support to public and private environmental organizations.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
