Whither Physical Geography?

T he one-hundreth anniversary of the Association of American Geographers (AAG) is an appropriate occasion to reflect on the future of geography in the U. S. During the past hundred years, American geography has been haunted by various dichotomies—none more pronounced than the distinction between human and physical geography. Although the dichotomy can be viewed as invalid (James 1967), it is nevertheless real. Since the founding of the AAG, mutual accommodation of human and physical sides of the discipline has proven difficult. The two sides have coexisted, but have not cooperated. Inclusion of physical geography as a distinct theme in this compilation on geography in the twenty-first century confirms that the human–physical distinction persists. Physical geography, although a minority component of contemporary American geography, currently is very much alive and well. In fact, it appears to be healthier than ever before. The purpose of this essay is to examine where physical geography has been and may be headed as the AAG moves into its second century as a professional organization. This look to the future begins with a glance at the past to discern the overall development of physical geography over the past hundred years. It then identifies emergent trends that are likely to grow and evolve as physical geography moves forward in the twenty-first century. Finally, the extant breach between human and physical geography is examined in the light of probable trends in physical geography.