ID:
511770
Duration (hours):
48
CFU:
6
SSD:
GEOGRAFIA FISICA E GEOMORFOLOGIA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (02/03/2026 - 12/06/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The Physical Geography course aims at providing the base for comprehension and the analysis of the main processes and dynamics affecting the Earth's surface, as a result of the interaction between lithosphere, atmosphere, pedosphere hydrosphere, and biosphere.
Course Prerequisites
For the Physical Geography course, basic knowledge of chemistry and physics (high school level) is required, and it is necessary to be able to read and understand different types of graphs in a cartesian axis system.
Teaching Methods
The Physical Geography course is based on lectures, with the support of slides and other material from the Internet (e.g., videos, animations, and visualization tools). Additional learning material is also recommended in class.
All material used in the lectures is made available on the KIRO e-learning platform.
All material used in the lectures is made available on the KIRO e-learning platform.
Assessment Methods
Written exam, consisting of a series of multiple-choice questions, questions with true/false answers, questions with short answers.
Texts
Basic textbooks for the Physical Geography part:
Hess D. 2021. McKnight’s Geografia fisica: comprendere il paesaggio. Piccin, Padova. ISBN: 9788829932122
Lupia Palmieri E., Parotto M. 2008. Il globo terrestre e la sua evoluzione. Sesta edizione. Zanichelli, Bologna. ISBN: 9788808167309
Auxiliary material will be provided during the course and made available on the KIRO e-learning platform.
Hess D. 2021. McKnight’s Geografia fisica: comprendere il paesaggio. Piccin, Padova. ISBN: 9788829932122
Lupia Palmieri E., Parotto M. 2008. Il globo terrestre e la sua evoluzione. Sesta edizione. Zanichelli, Bologna. ISBN: 9788808167309
Auxiliary material will be provided during the course and made available on the KIRO e-learning platform.
Contents
A primer on astronomy. Stars, galaxies, the Sun, the Solar System, and the Earth-Moon System. The Earth in the Solar System. Characteristics of the Earth as a planet: shape, size, movements in space.
Then, the topics concerning the atmosphere and the physical processes that characterize its dynamics will be carried out in detail, in terms of their interactions with the Earth’s surface.
The factors and elements of the Earth’s climate, as well as its classification will be covered in detail. The climate system will be also treated in terms of its changes over time, linked to the natural processes of interaction with the Earth systems, and the forcing determined by human activities.
The physical processes that characterize the terrestrial hydrosphere, in terms of its interaction with the other natural systems and its fundamental role as a shaping agent of the Earth’s surface will be discussed during the course. The different parts of the hydrosphere, from the seas and the oceans to the continental waters (streams, rivers and lakes), will be treated in the context of the distribution of the water resources and of the global hydrological cycle
A special focus will cover the main elements of the Earth’s cryosphere, and their interaction with the climate system.
The pedosphere and its principal elements acting as an interface between atmosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.
Then, the topics concerning the atmosphere and the physical processes that characterize its dynamics will be carried out in detail, in terms of their interactions with the Earth’s surface.
The factors and elements of the Earth’s climate, as well as its classification will be covered in detail. The climate system will be also treated in terms of its changes over time, linked to the natural processes of interaction with the Earth systems, and the forcing determined by human activities.
The physical processes that characterize the terrestrial hydrosphere, in terms of its interaction with the other natural systems and its fundamental role as a shaping agent of the Earth’s surface will be discussed during the course. The different parts of the hydrosphere, from the seas and the oceans to the continental waters (streams, rivers and lakes), will be treated in the context of the distribution of the water resources and of the global hydrological cycle
A special focus will cover the main elements of the Earth’s cryosphere, and their interaction with the climate system.
The pedosphere and its principal elements acting as an interface between atmosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.
Course Language
Italian
More information
At the end of the course, detailed information will be provided on how the exam will be conducted.
Degrees
Degrees
NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
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People
People (2)
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