It is a basic subject in the field of geological disciplines. The main purpose of the course is to provide the interpretative tools to understand the "environmental system" from a geographical-physical point of view, through the analysis of the fundamental elements of the geosphere. In the training course the student will have to assimilate the fundamental knowledge on the physical characteristics of the Earth and the natural processes that define its whole. It will have to acquire also the basic techniques for the study of the landscape and the ability to interpret the processes that act on the earth's surface in different climatic environments. Moreoever, the acquisition of the ability to connect causes and effects inherent to the endogenous and exogenous phenomena of the planet and to expose the concepts through a specific language is of particular importance.

1. Geographical Astronomical Introduction: The earth as a rotating planet and the astronomical context

2. Earth System: Atmosphere and Climate, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Biosphere and soils

3. The climate system: composition, subdivision and limits of the atmosphere, solar radiation and thermal balances, air temperature, atmospheric pressure, winds, air humidity and rainfall, classification and distribution of climates.

4. Geomorphic Systems: Alteration Processes, Morphodynamic Contexts, Morphoclimatic Contexts

• The hydrological system (superficial and underground)
• The river and lake system: Elements of a river basin, Types of river patterns, Quantitative analysis of river basins, General characteristics of channels and channeled waters, Hydrological characteristics of a watercourse, Energy of watercourses, Diagram of Hjulstöm, Types of river transport, The lakes.
• The marine and coastal system: oceans and seas, sea water, wave motion, tides, currents and related processes.
• The glacial system
• The desert system

None

Knowledge and understanding

At the end of the course the student will have to have assimilated the fundamental knowledge of the physical characteristics of the Earth and of the natural processes that occur in the atmosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere, as well as the main morphodynamic processes, responsible for modeling the earth's surface. The student must also show the ability to use the specific language of the geographic - physical disciplines.

Applying knowledge and understanding

The student must be able to trace the various types of morphodynamic processes of the complex atmosphere-hydrosphere-lithosphere system to the climatic or geological conditions of an area (and vice versa).

Making judgements

The student must be able to critically evaluate the complex atmosphere-hydrosphere-lithosphere system, maturing the autonomous capacity of observation, data collection and interpretation. In addition, the student must be able to recognize the incidence of different geographical control factors for each of the natural studied phenomena  and hypothesize morpho-evolutionary scenarios on climatic systems and geological structures.

Communication skills

The student will acquire the ability to expose the system of geographic-physical phenomena and their interconnections in a simple and synthetic form, but with a technical-scientific language, recognizing the right value and weight to the different control factors. Furthermore, the student will achieve descriptive skills of the morphodynamic processes in progress starting from theoretical morphoclimatic frameworks using the terms of the discipline in a pertinent way. Furthermore, you must be able to transmit the principles and contents learned with correctness and simplicity even to non-experts.

Learning skills

The student must be able to construct his / her scientific growth path in the field of physical geography in a critical and autonomous way, being able to use the acquired knowledge. These skills, as far as possible, will be stimulated by the professor by proposing in-depth studies. Therefore, the student will be able to autonomously explore specific concepts, not presented during the course, on scientific texts. The basic notions acquired during the course represent fundamental requisites for continuing the studies of the Degree Course. The different case studies presented and the interactive teaching methods will allow the student to learn independently by applying basic methods and rules of the scientific method.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer and the specific communications of the lecturer are available, together with other support activities, within the Moodle platform ›blended.uniurb.it

Field laboratory (field surveys or excursions).

Teaching

Lessons aimed at explaining each topic through slides and relational schemes as well as practical exercises.

Innovative teaching methods

Flipped classroom
Flipped Learning. Overturned learning in academic teaching.

Attendance

Attendance of lesson and exercises is recommended, but not mandatory.

Course books

Il Globo terrestre e la sua evoluzione. E. Lupia Palmieri, M.Parotto.  Zanichelli Ed.

Geografia Fisica. Comprendere il paesaggio. T.L.McKnight, D.Hess. Piccin Ed. 2005

Il Pianeta terra. P.R.Federici. UTET Università

Fondamenti di Geografia Fisica, A. Strahler (Zanichelli).

Assessment

The evaluation will take place through an oral exam.

The criteria underlying the evaluation are:

• Level of mastery of knowledge (verification of acquired knowledge)
• Articulation of the response
• Ability in thematic connection and synthesis skills

This subject constitutes 1 module of the course called "TOPOGRAPHY, CARTOGRAPHY AND PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY" and therefore the final judgment, with a mark out of thirty, will be determined also taking into account the judgment of the TOPOGRAPHY, CARTOGRAPHY module exam, through an overall evaluation.

• less than 18: skill level not enough
• 18-20: skill level enough
• 21-23: skill level satisfactory
• 24-26: skill level good
• 27-29: skill level very good
• 30-30 with honors: skill level excellent

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Non-attending students will consult the Blended platform and will be able to follow and download the lessons in pdf files.

The professor is responsible for informing non-attending students about any didactic material to be presented before the exam.

Attendance

Non-attending students are obliged to communicate to the teacher (via email or with a meeting, by appointment) their intention to take the exam at least one month before the session.

Course books

Il Globo terrestre e la sua evoluzione. E. Lupia Palmieri, M.Parotto.  Zanichelli Ed.

Geografia Fisica. Comprendere il paesaggio. T.L.McKnight, D.Hess. Piccin Ed. 2005

Il Pianeta terra. P.R.Federici. UTET Università

Fondamenti di Geografia Fisica, A. Strahler (Zanichelli).

Assessment

The criteria underlying the evaluation are:

• Level of mastery of knowledge (verification of acquired knowledge)
• Articulation of the response
• Ability in thematic connection and synthesis skills

This subject constitutes 1 module of the course called "TOPOGRAPHY, CARTOGRAPHY AND PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY" and therefore the final judgment, with a mark out of thirty, will be determined also taking into account the judgment of the TOPOGRAPHY, CARTOGRAPHY module exam, through an overall evaluation.

• less than 18: skill level not enough
• 18-20: skill level enough
• 21-23: skill level satisfactory
• 24-26: skill level good
• 27-29: skill level very good
• 30-30 with honors: skill level excellent

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.