PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY-1

The course falls within the optional courses of Earth Sciences for the degree in Environmental Sciences. This course is designed to give an overview of processes active on the Earth’s surface and how they are affected by climate changes. Specific objectives of the teaching are: to provide know-how and operational capacity in studies connected with earth surface processes.

At the end of the course, the student will understand landforms and processes active on the Earth’s surface and how they may vary through geological and human time scales. The student will learn how the cause/effect links between morphology and processes and the effect of human interventions on the natural geomorphological balance.

The course requires a general knowledge of geology, geography, cartography, and basics of chemistry and physics.

The course follows the structure of the book “Key Concepts in Geomorphology” by Paul R. Bierman and David R. Montgomery, published by Freeman & C. Each lecture spans approximately two 2-hours classes. It is not necessary to purchase the book to follow the course and take the exam. Slides and video lectures will be given by the teacher.

Lecture 1 - Introduction
1.1 - Introduction and information on the course
1.2 - Geosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere
1.3 - Landscapes and unifying concepts in geomorphology
1.4 - The tools used in geomorphology

Lecture 2 - Weathering and soils
2.1 - Physical weathering
2.2 - Chemical weathering
2.3 - Soils
2.4 - Landforms related to weathering and soils

Lecture 3 - Fundamentals of hydrology
3.1 - Precipitation and evapotranspiration
3.2 - Groundwater
3.3 - Surface water
3.4 - Hydrologic landforms

Lecture 4 - Hillslopes
Lecture 4.1 - Slope-forming materials and diffusive processes
Lecture 4.2 - Mass movements
Lecture 4.3 - Slope stability and morphology
Lecture 4.4 - The Vajont landslide

Lecture 5 - Channels
5.1 - Fluvial processes
5.2 - Sediment transport
5.3 - Channel patterns and morphology
5.4 - Fluvial bedforms

Lecture 6 - Drainage basins
6.1 - Definitions and basin-scale processes
6.2 - Channel networks, basin morphology, and lanfdorms
6.3 - Estuaries and deltas
6.4 - Italy, November 1966

Lecture 7 - Coastal morphology
7.1 - Coastal settings and drivers
7.2 - Rock coasts
7.3 - Beaches
7.4 - Coral reefs

Lecture 8 - Glacial and periglacial environments
8.1 - Glaciers and ice caps
8.2 - Glacial sediment transport and deposition
8.3 - Glacial landscapes, landforms and deposits
8.4 - Periglacial environments and landforms

Lecture 9 - Aeolian processes and landscapes
9.1 - Air as a fluid
9.2 - Wind-driven geomorphic processes
9.3 - Aeolian processes
9.4 - Aeolian features, landforms and deposits

Lecture 10 - Volcanic and tectonic geomorphology
10.1 - Distribution and styles of volcanism
10.2 - Volcanic landscapes
10.3 - Tectonic processes
10.4 - Landscape response to tectonics

Lecture 10 - Geomorphology and climate
12.1 - Records of a changing climate
12.2 - Climate cycles
12.3 - Climatic geomorphology
12.4 - Landscapes and climate

"Key Concepts in Geomorphology" by Paul R. Bierman and David R. Montgomery, published by Freeman & C (2021)
Slides and video lectures from the teacher

The student will be required to prepare all the topics covered during the course for a written test. The test will include 15 open-answer questions. Sample questions will be given at the end of each lecture. To access the written test, the student will have to hand in the results of the practical exercise.

Lectures followed by practical exercises

Italian

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development