Manchester is situated within a bowl-shaped land area, bordered to the north and east by the Pennine moors and to the south by the Cheshire Plain. The city centre is located on the east bank of the River Irwell, near the confluence of the River Medlock and the River Irk.

The River Mersey also flows through the south of the city. Much of the inner city, especially in the south, is flat, offering extensive views of the moors from the floors of many tall buildings. Manchester’s geographic features were highly influential in its early development as the world’s first industrial city. These features are its climate, its proximity to a sea port at Liverpool, the availability of water power from its rivers, and its nearby coal reserves.

Manchester has a damp climate and a reputation as a rainy city. The average annual rainfall is 809 mm, meaning that its reputation is relatively undeserved.[1] For example, this total is less than that of Plymouth, Cardiff, Glasgow, or Edinburgh. In international terms, Manchester receives substantially less rain than New York City, which receives 1200 mm of rain in an average year, and its average annual rainfall total is comparable with that of Rome.

The precipitation is light, however, so a small volume of rain may take an hour to fall in Manchester, compared to several minutes of heavy rain experienced in Rome. Manchester also has a relatively high humidity level, which is why it is noted for being a fabric town (chiefly manufacturing cotton, but to the south silk).

There are currently over thirty-five members of staff within the School who have a wide range of teaching and research interests. The School has a highly rated international research reputation in a broad range of areas of human and physical geography. Furthermore, Geography has been rated excellent for a teaching programme that covers BA and BSc Geography, three joint degree programmes, three taught Masters degrees, and an expanding PhD programme.