Physiography

n. physical geography, study of the features of the Earth's surface

Physical geography (also know as geosystems or physiography) is one of the two major subfields of geography. Physical geography focuses on understanding the processes and patterns in the natural environment, as opposed to the built environment which is the domain of Human geography. Within the body of physical geography the Earth is often split either into several spheres or into different environments, with the main spheres being the; Atmosphere, Biosphere, Cryosphere, Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere and Pedosphere. Within physical geography there are various fields of study, mainly but not exclusively focusing on the spheres of the earth. Research in physical geography is often interdisciplinary and uses the systems approach.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Noun
1. the study of physical features of the earth's surface
(synonym) physical geography
(hypernym) geography, geographics

(n.)
The science which treats of the earth's exterior physical features, climate, life, etc., and of the physical movements or changes on the earth's surface, as the currents of the atmosphere and ocean, the secular variations in heat, moisture, magnetism, etc.; physical geography.
  

Synonyms and related words:
cosmical geology, dynamic geology, geodesy, geodetics, geodynamics, geognosy, geographics, geography, geological chemistry, geological engineering, geology, geomorphogeny, geomorphology, geophysics, geoscopy, geotectonic geology, historical geology, hydrogeology, mineralogy, mining geology, paleontological geology, pedology, physical geography, physical geology, physiographic geology, soil mechanics, soil science, stratigraphic geology, stratigraphy