Physical Geography

A.Y. 2024/2025
9
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
GEO/04
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course intend to provide the basis for understanding and reading the earth landscape, by underlining the relationships among the environmental components.
Expected learning outcomes
Basis for understanding and reading the earth landscape and the relationships among the different components of the environment. Ability of using large scale cartography
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The Earth and its representation: elements of cartography.
Shape, dimensions and movements of the Earth.
Cartographic representations and their use.
The official Italian cartography
National and international reference systems and coordinates.
The representation of the elevation
Basis of remote sensing and its application to geographical issues.
Atmosphere and climate: Atmosphere: composition and features
The physical basis of the greenhouse effect.
Climate elements: temperature, pressure and humidity.
Climates: classification and variations - climate changes
The hydrosphere: Distribution of water on Earth.
Oceans and seas.
Sea waves and the evolution of the coasts.
Fresh- waters.
Rivers and streams
Lakes and water ponds
The cryosphere -
The lithosphere: Distribution of continents and oceans.
Natural landscapes: introduction to the evolution of the landscape and its processes. Types of landscape. Landscapes of temperate zones. Landscapes of dry areas. Landscape and Landforms of cold areas.
-Environment and Human presence.
Antarctica: dry area or water resource?
Prerequisites for admission
It is a fundamental basic course.
However, all the introductory notions of Italian, European and non-European regional geography that are not presented during the course, but which can be recalled during the exam tests, are taken for granted.
Teaching methods
Lectures and technical practical activities of cartography. The Lab activities will be also available through the tutorials posted at the ARIEL web site
Teaching Resources
Notes available at ARIEL web site
videoclips and tutorial at the ARIEL WEB site
BASE HANDBOOKS
https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/physical-geography
https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/introduction-to-oceanography
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will be a written test largely with multiple choice questions and it will embrace all the issues of the course. Prove in itinere (partial tests) will be offered to students during the course
GEO/04 - PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Educational website(s)