PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY-1

This course is an elective within the Earth Sciences area of the Environmental Sciences degree program. It provides an overview of the main processes shaping the Earth’s surface, highlighting their interactions with climate change. The objective is to equip students with a solid foundation for understanding and analyzing geomorphological and environmental processes that shape the landscape.

By the end of the course, participants will have acquired knowledge of landforms and active surface processes, understanding how they vary across different temporal scales. They will learn to identify cause-effect relationships between morphology and processes and assess the impact of human activities 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 Key Concepts in Geomorphology by Paul R. Bierman and David R. Montgomery, published by Freeman & Co. Each lesson consists of two sessions of approximately two hours each. Purchasing the book is not required to follow the course or take the exam. Lecture slides will be provided by the instructor at the end of each session.

The course offers an in-depth overview of the processes and landforms that shape the Earth’s surface. The initial lectures will introduce the fundamentals of geomorphology, focusing on the relationships between the geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, as well as the essential tools used in the field. The course will then delve into weathering and the role of soils in shaping the environment, analyzing the physical and chemical processes that influence rock alteration and soil formation.

Next, the course will cover hydrology, examining the various forms of water on Earth—from precipitation to groundwater and surface water—and their impact on landscape formation. The study of slopes and mass movements will follow, exploring the materials involved, the processes affecting slope stability, and their geomorphological implications, with a special focus on the Vajont disaster.

Students will also explore river systems and drainage basins, analyzing sediment transport processes and the morphological evolution of river channels. Coastal geomorphology will then be examined, focusing on different types of coastlines, beaches, and coral reefs, as well as the processes that shape them.

The course will further investigate glacial and periglacial environments, studying glaciers, associated landforms, and deposits. Aeolian processes and their influence on landscape morphology will also be addressed. Finally, the course will explore the connection between geomorphology and climate, analyzing historical records of climate change, climatic cycles, and their impact on Earth’s surface.

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

The exam consists of a written test covering all topics discussed in the course. The test includes 33 multiple-choice questions, each worth one point. There are no penalties for incorrect answers. The final score corresponds to the total number of correct answers, and scores above 30 qualify for honors.
Sample tests will be provided to help students prepare.
To be eligible for the written exam, students must submit the results of the laboratory exercise. The laboratory grade accounts for one-third of the final exam score.
Example of final grade calculation:
• Written exam score: 27/30
• Laboratory exercise score: 30/30
• Final grade = (27 × 2/3) + (30 × 1/3) = 18 + 10 = 28/30

written

The final exam grade will be determined based on the results of the multiple-choice written test and the technical laboratory report, according to the following criteria:
• 18-22: sufficient knowledge of fundamental geomorphological concepts, with correct answers only on basic topics in the written test. The technical report follows a minimal structure, providing general descriptions but lacking critical insight or detailed data analysis.
• 23-26: fair knowledge of key geomorphological processes, with a reasonable number of correct answers in the written test. The technical report is clear and well-structured, with an adequate analysis of the data, though some inaccuracies or lack of depth may be present.
• 27-30: good to excellent understanding of the subject, demonstrated by a high percentage of correct answers in the written test. The technical report is detailed, well-argued, and shows strong analytical and interpretative skills in handling geomorphological data.
• Honors: outstanding mastery of the topics, with an almost flawless written test. The technical report is exceptionally well-structured, featuring in-depth critical analysis, precise use of scientific terminology, and the ability to connect laboratory data to the studied geomorphological processes.

Lectures and in-depth study with materials provided by the lecturer

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