PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY WITH ELEMENTS OF GEOMORPHOLOGY

Course objectives

Expected learning outcomes To promote the awareness that Earth relief results from the opponent action of endogeneous and exogeneous agents. To allow comprehending the way the exogenous agents act and the processes they are responsible for, also relating them to climate and to the geo-structural characteristics of the territory. To generate the awareness that the interpretation of present landforms allow reconstructing the territory geomorphological evolution and predicting its future modifications. Dublin Descriptors Knowledge and understanding Successful students will have acquired knowledge and comprehension of: - the mode of action of the main elements of marine and continental hydrosphere and of cryosphere; - the agents and mechanisms of the exogenous morphogenetic processes and of their relationships with climate and structural conditions; - the different relief landforms deriving from exogenous morphogenetic processes. Applying knowledge and understanding Successful students will have acquired: -skill in the elaboration and interpretation of hydrological, glaciological and meteomarine data; -skill in interpreting landforms on the basis of topographic maps examination; - skill in reconstructing the morphological evolution of relief also on the basis of morphological maps interpretation; - skill in doing interpretative morphological profiles; -skill in reconstructing the past morphological evolution of Earth relief and in predicting its future evolution Making judgements Successful students will be able to: - evaluate the stability or instability conditions of relief slopes in different morphoclimatic contexts; - evaluate the hydrological and geomorphological conditions that help flood occurrences; -recognize human activities that are responsible for soil accelerated erosion and beach erosion. Communication skills Successful students will be able to: - communicate information, ideas, problems and solution concerning the phenomena of geomorphological instability and the deriving risks: -discuss about environmental impact with knowledge of the facts; -to write simple reports on the Geomorphology of a territory, based on the interpretation of geothematic maps. Learning skills Successful students will have acquired the necessary skills to tackle the more complex studies, concerning Applied Geomorphology and Environmental Geology in an independent and critical way.

Channel 1
DANIELA PIACENTINI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
INTRODUCTION Definition and purpose of Physical Geography and relations with Geomorphology. Geomorphology and Earth sciences. Endogenic and exogenic processes. The time factor in the evolution of the earth surface. Climate controls on morphogenesis. WEATHERING The weathering processes. Physical and chemical weathering. Weathering products. Landforms due to weathering. HILLSLOPES Hillslope processes. Gravitational hillslope processes. Landforms due to gravity. Mass movements: general concepts, predisposing and triggering factors, types, state of activity and velocity. Flowing water action. Landforms due to flowing waters. FLUVIAL LANDSCAPE River channel networks and fluvial systems. Stream discharge, velocity, and energy. Stream longitudinal profile and baselevel. Fluvial processes of erosion, transport, and deposition. Fluvial landforms and deposits. Fluvial channels, valleys, and terraces. Relations between rivers and slopes. COASTAL LANDSCAPE Sea movements and coastal environment. Coastal processes. Classification of coasts. Cliffs, beaches, platforms, marine deltas, estuaries, tidal flats, mangals, volcanic coast, and coral reefs. AEOLIAN LANDSCAPE Wind processes and aeolian environment. Aeolian erosion, transport and deposition. Aeolian erosional landforms. Aeolian depositional landforms. KARST LANDSCAPE Karst processes and environment. The nature of soluble rocks. Surface karst landforms. Subterranean karst landforms. Climate and karst morphogenesis. PERIGLACIAL LANDSCAPE Periglacial environments. Permafrost. Periglacial landforms. Snow action. GLACIAL LANDSCAPE Glaciers and glacial environment. Ice sheets. Present glaciers and Quaternary glaciations. Main classification of glaciers. Glaciers mass balance. Ice flow. Glacier erosion, transport and deposition. Erosional glacial landforms. Depositional glacial landforms. Glacio-fluvial landforms. ANTHROPIC LANDSCAPE Interactions of human activities on landscape modelling STRUCTURAL GEOMORPHOLOGY Relation between geologic structure and landforms. Selective erosion process. Structural landforms. Connection between stream network and geologic bedrock. VOLCANIC GEOMORPHOLOGY Volcanism and volcanic products. Volcanic landforms. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM Introduction to GIS and application in geomorphology. GIS data. Temporal and spatial resolution in GIS. Introduction to most popular GIS software. Geomorphological application of Digital Elevation Model. Google Earth and its application in Physical geography and geomorphology. GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAPS Base maps: review of the essential notions relating to the creation, use and reading of topographic maps. Geomorphological mapping: Introduction to the realization of geomorphological maps. Detailed description of the characteristics of the Italian geomorphological legend. Reading, interpretation and creation of thematic maps, both traditional and digital. GEOMORPHOLOGICAL FIELD SURVEY Principles and procedures for digital field surveys. Introduction to QGIS and its Plugin QField. Principles and procedures for geomorphological field survey: gathering of bibliographic data, remote sensing, field activity, laboratory analyses, data managing and output. Field survey experience, using both traditional and digital approach.
Prerequisites
Geography and Cartography
Books
Ciccacci S., Le forme del rilievo - Atlante illustrato di Geomorfologia - III EDIZIONE, Mondadori Università, 2020; Hugget R.J., Fundamentals of Geomorphology – Fourth Edition, Routledge, 2017.
Teaching mode
Classroom lessons and multidisciplinary field trips
Frequency
Attendance is recommended but not mandatory.
Exam mode
The exam will be a written test with open answers and an oral test aimed at verifying knowledge.
Bibliography
Hugget R.J., Fundamentals of Geomorphology – Fourth Edition, Routledge, 2017. D'Orefice M. e Graciotti R., Rilevamento geomorfologico e cartografia: Realizzazione-Lettura–Interpretazione, Flaccovio Editore, 2015. Pesaresi C., Applicazioni GIS. UTET, 2021.
Lesson mode
Classroom lessons and multidisciplinary field trips
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MAURIZIO DEL MONTE Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
(PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY) Professor: Maurizio Del Monte, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, II floor, room 206, ph. 06-49914920 e-mail: maurizio.delmonte@uniroma1.it Students target: 3rd year Unit Level: introductory/specialist Pre-requisites: Basic knowledge of Geology and Physical Geography Credits: 9 CFU Description of content: Geomorphology: Geomorphology and climate. Weathering. Slope processes and landforms. Runoff landforms. Fluvial processes and landforms. Karst geomorphology. Aeolian geomorphology. Glacial geomorphology. Periglacial geomorphology. Coastal processes and landforms. Structural geomorphology. Volcanic geomorphology. Geomorphological maps Physical Geography: Environmental geology and land management. Environmental resources. Resources and reserves. Renewable and nonrenewable resources. Genesis and geo location of resources. Population growth and resources. The hydrological cycle and water resources. Surface water and groundwater. Energy resources. Fossil fuels. Alternative and complementary energy resources. Environmental risk. Hazard, vulnerability and elements at risk. The vulnerability of groundwater. Seismic risk. The seismic risk in Italy. Volcanic risk. The volcanoes in Italy. Flood hazard. The risk for landslide. Beach erosion and coastal defense. Remote sensing. Geographic information systems. Geothematic maps: basic carthography and hazard and risk maps.
Prerequisites
Preliminary knowledge of Physical Geography, Geology, and other basic knowledge of the three-year degree course in Natural Sciences.
Books
Ciccacci S.- Atlante di Geomorfologia , Mondadori –Sapienza, Milano, 2011 Del Monte M. - La Geomorfologia di Roma - Sapienza Università Editrice, 2018
Exam mode
The assessment of the knowledge acquired by the student and his / her ability to autonomous interpretation will take place through oral discussion and practical tests. The determination of the final vote will take into account: a) the logic followed in resolving the question; b) the correctness of the procedure identified; c) the adequacy of the proposed solution according to the skills that the student should have acquired; d) the use of an appropriate language. The satisfaction of the first three aspects (a, b, c) is a necessary condition for passing the exam; higher grades will be awarded to students whose tests meet all four aspects listed above.During these tests may be used thematic maps, aerial photos, technical tools.
FRANCESCA VERGARI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Frequency
Attendance: warmly suggested.
  • Lesson code1020294
  • Academic year2024/2025
  • CourseNatural Sciences
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDGEO/04
  • CFU9
  • Subject areaDiscipline naturalistiche