Abstract
Integrity and disparity are two of the basic characteristics implied in the scientific connotation of the physical environment as a material system. From a dialectical materialistic point of view the physical character of geographical environment of the earth surface is the unity in diversity. It is on such grounds that the two basic characteristics were put forth by the author in his monograph “Physical Structure of South American Geographical Environment” as the underlying theme. This holds true for the hierarchy of physical regions. For instance, the physical environment of the earth surface in unity behaves as a huge whole, yet, in differentiation into continents, it displays disparity; each continent differs from others and becomes an integrity in its own right. The same is true of regions of lower levels. In the case of generality and individuality of regional types and their constituent distributive areas in different continents, the same relationship exists among them. Owing to similar origin each type and its distributive areas in different continents bear the general character in common. On the other hand, each area expresses its own peculiarities, resulting from the interactions of the specific conditions of the continent in which lies the area concerned. In addition, the South American tropical west-coast desert exemplifies an observable dynamic changes of the physical structure of geographical environment from aid to humid and vice versa with the wax and wane of E1 Nino.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
钱 学森. 谈地理科学的内容及研究方法. 地理学报, 1991, 46(3):259.
冯维静, 韩春华译. 历史ф物主义论地理环境在社会发展 中的作用. 北京: 三联书店出版社, 1954. 11.
林 炳耀. 地理系统. 中国大百科全书 (地理卷). 北京: 中国大百科全书出版社, 1990. 11.
李春芬. 从发展过程中认识自然地理学的对象 任务和方法. 华东师范大学学报, 1957, (1):12.
李 春芬. 南美洲地理环境的结构. 北京: 科学出版社, 1962.1.
李 春芬. 南美洲地理环境的结构. 北京: 科学出版社, 1962. 2.
李 春芬. 北美洲地理环境的结构. 北京: 高等教育出版社, 1990. 117–118.
李 春芬. 北美洲地理环境的结构. 北京: 高等教育出版社, 1990. 133–134.
李 春芬. 南美洲地理环境的结构. 北京: 科学出版社, 1962. 197.
P.E. James, Latin America, New York, Odyssey Press, 1942, 172–174.
李 春芬. 南美洲地理环境的结构. 北京: 科学出版社, 1962. 199.
李 春芬. 南美洲地理环境的结构. 北京: 科学出版社, 1962. 110–112.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, C. Physical structure of geographical environment—Integrity and disparity, generality and individuality. Chinese Geographical Science 3, 289–296 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02664282
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02664282