Earthsurface

Earthsurface is a term used in geography and Earth science to describe the outermost physical layer of the planet as it is encountered at ground level and through the near-surface environment. It includes landforms, soils, surface water, vegetation, snow and ice, and the built or artificial surfaces that cover the continents and islands. The concept focuses on processes and features that operate at or near the surface, such as weathering, erosion, deposition, runoff, biosphere interactions, and the exchange of energy and matter with the atmosphere and subsurface.

Study and methods: In geomorphology, hydrology, soil science, and biogeography, Earthsurface is examined to understand how topography, climate, and living systems interact. Observations come from field measurements, topographic maps, and remote sensing, including digital elevation models, satellite imagery, and geographic information systems.

Human activity and environmental importance: Land use changes, urbanization, agriculture, deforestation, and mining alter Earthsurface properties, affecting soil stability, drainage, albedo, and habitat availability. The surface layer governs many climate-related processes at the local scale, influences flood risk, and supports biodiversity and agriculture.

Conceptual relation: Earthsurface serves as a boundary layer between the deeper geosphere and the atmosphere, highlighting the continuous exchange of energy, moisture, sediments, and organisms. It is related to but distinct from broader Earth system studies and from global interior geology.

See also: geomorphology, geodesy, cartography, and Earth system science.