About us

We are world leaders in driving and promoting increased understanding, high-quality learning and sustainable solutions concerning naturalphenomena and their interaction with each other and societal development.

Our research and education is in Physical Geography, a wide-ranging scientific field dealing with the diverse physical and biological features of Earth, their characteristics, processes, patterns and interactions with humans. We study connected physical, chemical, biological, geological, environmental and social processes and changes in the world's land areas and their water, ice and geological formations, climate systems and ecosystems, in relation to each other and to human societies.

Sara Cousins, Head of the department.

Sara Cousins, Head of the Department.

Every year, the department's activities are summarized in an annual report. They can be downloaded from the links below.

Annual Report 2024 (4589 Kb)

Annual Report 2023 pdf, 4.2 MB.

Annual Report 2022 pdf, 6.1 MB. (6283 Kb)

Annual Report 2021 pdf, 15.5 MB.

Annual Report 2020 pdf, 3.9 MB.

Annual Report 2019 pdf, 3.1 MB. (3127 Kb)

Annual Report 2018 pdf, 5.6 MB. (5689 Kb)

Annual Report 2017 (19364 Kb)

Annual Report 2016 pdf, 17.9 MB. (18344 Kb)

Annual Report 2015 (15583 Kb)

Annual Report 2014 pdf, 5.8 MB. (5955 Kb)

Annual Report 2013 pdf, 2.6 MB. (2624 Kb)

Annual Report 2012 pdf, 2.8 MB. (2894 Kb)

Annual Report 2011 pdf, 2.7 MB. (2798 Kb)

Annual Report 2010 pdf, 2.4 MB. (2414 Kb)

Annual Report 2009 pdf, 1.1 MB. (1153 Kb)

Annual Report 2008 pdf, 6.1 MB. (6287 Kb)

Annual Report 2007 pdf, 4.2 MB. (4267 Kb)

Annual Report 2006 pdf, 1.6 MB. (1679 Kb)

Annual Report 2005 pdf, 11.3 MB. (11575 Kb)

Annual Report 2004 pdf, 1.4 MB. (1418 Kb)

Annual Report 2003 pdf, 943.8 kB. (943 Kb)

Annual Report 2000-2002 pdf, 1.8 MB. (1820 Kb)

Geography was established as a subject at Stockholm University 1912, but it was not until 1929 before Professor Hans W: son Ahlmann took office. He was particularly interested in polar research and led several expeditions to the Arctic. Hans also started the department's research station in the subject of glaciology in Tarfala, next to Kebnekaise. Geography was established as a separate subject at Stockholm University as early as 1912, but it was not until 1929 before Professor Hans W: son Ahlmann took office. He was particularly interested in polar research and led several expeditions to the Arctic. Hans also started the department's research station in the subject of glaciology in Tarfala, next to Kebnekaise.

The subject Geography was divided in 1955 into the subjects Physical Geography and Human Geography. For a long time, the subject Quaternary Geology has been included in the subject Geology, which has long been studied at Stockholm University. In 2001, the departments of Quaternary Geology and Physical Geography were merged into the Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology. On 19 September 1997, the House of Earth Sciences was inaugurated and in 2015 the department was named the Department of Physical Geography.

The development of the department

The world-famous Geochronological Institute founded by Gerard De Geer has played a central role in geochronological research in the early 20th century. Today, a lot of material from the Geochronological Institute has been collected in the Geochronological Museum.

Head of Administration

Katrin Lindroth

katrin.lindroth@natgeo.su.se
08164809

Visiting addressSvante Arrhenius väg 8

Last updated: 2025-11-14

Source: Department of Physical Geography

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