关键词: 科学创新, 自然地理学, 综合性, 地域性, 人地关系

Abstract: The study on synthesis,region-locality and human-natural dimensions are not only a deep scientific tradition of physical geography, but also a new insight in the research on global environmental change. There are broad development prospects and innovation opportunities for physical geography in the domain of basic applied research. Physical geography has distinctively contributed much to national development and construction. Based on the traditional themes and academic foundation and oriented to the social demands, physical geography will make innovative fruits for man-nature relation optimization, territorial management and resource conservation. The extreme complexity of the study object requires methodological innovation of physical geography. In new insights and approaches,appropriate `physical'models should be established and the mechanism study should be emphasized. Physical geography research projects should clearly identify detail scientific questions, setting clear priorities of what should be studied at the regional and local scales and how,and making the relationship of various issues at various spatial and temporal scales clear in particular. These may be the innovation points and the unique contribution that physical geographers can do for global environmntal change study. Integrated researches on unique physical geographical regions and unique problems usually result in innovative achievements. Physical geography should pay more attention to Chinese characteristics and address Chinese situation. This is not only the practical requirement of the nation but also beneficial for strengthening the place of Chinese geography in the international academic community.

Key words: scientific innovation, physical geography, synthesis, regional and local scales, human-natural dimensions