The Earth system, The four terrestrial "spheres": lithosphere,
hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere.
The dynamics of the atmosphere
The modeling of the relief.
Elements of physical geography: the interpretation of the landscape
through images and topographic maps (geomorphology exercises)
A. Strahler "Fondamenti di Geografia Fisica", Zanichelli.
T.L. McKnight, D. Hess "Geografia Fisica", Piccini
Learning Objectives
The course aims to give the basic knowledge on the earth system and its
complexity, with particular attention to the interactions between
atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of physics, chemistry and physical geography normally
acquired in upper secondary schools.
Teaching Methods
Lectures and practical exercises in the classroom.
Further information
Students will be provided with copies of the slides used during the
lessons at the end of each topic cycle. These slides represent a sort of
extended abstract of the program but are not sufficient for the
preparation of the exam alone.
Le quattro “sfere” terrestri
I quattro 4 principali componenti (sottosistemi): roccia (terra), acqua, aria
e componente organica = litosfera, idrosfera, atmosfera, biosfera.
Dinamica globale
Cicli a scala di sistema (planetaria).
Interazioni e retroazioni: bilancio energetico globale, termoregolazione.
La dinamica dell’atmosfera
Forzanti esterne e interne, bilancio energetico. Distribuzione dell’energia.
Fenomeni atmosferici e meteorologia. Il clima: definizione, classificazione.
Effetto “serra”. Cambiamenti climatici.
La dinamica dell’idrosfera
Forzanti esterne e endogene, ciclo dell’acqua, dinamica degli oceani.
La dinamica della litosfera
Forzanti esterne e endogene, bilancio energetico.
Struttura e composizione della terra, ciclo delle rocce, classificazione e
tipi di rocce.
Ciclo dei continenti (tettonica a placche), sollevamento e tettonica.
Interazioni atmosfera/idrosfera/litosfera: alterazione ed erosione (fluviale,
glaciale, eolica). Dinamica fluviale e costiera. Il modellamento del rilievo.
Il controllo strutturale (morfostrutture)
Interazioni atmosfera/idrosfera/biosfera/litosfera: il ciclo dell’ossigeno, il
ciclo del carbonio (carsismo).
Elementi di geografia fisica: l’interpretazione del paesaggio attraverso le
immagini e le carte topografiche (esercitazioni di geomorfologia)
Type of Assessment
Oral examination and analysis of a topographic map, with possible
discussion on graphic drawings produced during the exercises
Course program
The Earth system - The solar system, earth's orbit and motion, the shape of the earth. Earth energy balance.Structure and composition of the Earth - Crust, mantle, nucleus and lithosphere. The main minerals that make up the rocks. Rock classification. Geological time. Rock cycle.The hydrosphere and the water cycle - Origin of water. Ocean dynamics. Continental waters, river basin and hydrological balance. Precipitation, evapotranspiration, outflow, infiltration. Groundwater, porosity, permeability.Characteristics and dynamics of the atmosphere - Composition and structure of the atmosphere. Atmospheric parameters: temperature, humidity, pressure. Local and global atmospheric dynamics: baric gradient and winds, clouds, cyclones and anticyclones. Meteorology: perturbations, cold, hot and occluded front.The biosphere - Biomass, primary producers, trophic chains. Bio-geochemical cycles of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen.Climate - Definition and main factors of climate. Graphic representation of the main climatic parameters. Classification of climatic types (Strahler, Koeppen), examples of climatic types. Factors that determine the climate, greenhouse effect. Past climate change, in progress and future scenarios.Soils - Definition of soil, descriptive characters. Pedogenesis, classification of soils and their distribution.Rock alteration, karst and slope processes - Physical degradation and chemical alteration processes. Karst processes and forms. Slope modeling, soliflusso, landslides.Erosion and river dynamics - Dynamics of running waters, erosion, transport, sedimentation. River morphology. The hydrographic network and its evolution.Coastal dynamics - Coastal and coastal morphology.Morphoclimatic systems - glacial and periglacial geomorphology. Geomorphology of wet desert and tropic / equatorial areas.Structural geomorphology - Rock deformation. Selective erosion. Morphostructures.Outline of cartography and exercises in interpretation of topographic maps.