10815 - Geomorphology

Academic Year 2018/2019

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Geological Sciences (cod. 8015)

Learning outcomes

General understanding of the processes that shape and have shpaed the Earth's surface and the main resulting landforms. Interpretation of topographic ana geomorphological maps, including the ability to conduct basic QGIS operations. 

Course contents

Lectures:

1. Introduction to Geomorphology; 2. Basics of cartography and the main topographic variables; 3. Tectonic and structural conditioning; 4. Volcanism and volcanic conditioning; 5. Surficial materials; 6. Physical weathering; 7. Chemical weathering; 8. Basics of Hydrology; 9. Hillslope forms and processes (part 1); 10. Hillslope forms and processes (part 2); 11. Fluvial forms and processes (part 1); 12. Fluvial forms and processes (part 2); 13. Glacial forms and processes (part 1); 14: Glacial forms and processes (part 2). 15. Permaforst and periglacial environments; 16. Geomorphology of the Anthropocene: humans as dominant geomorphic agents.

Field excursion 1 (8 hours):

River Santerno and Sillaro valleys: contrasting hillslope and fluvial forms and processes in two adjacent basins characterized by different lithologies. The excursion entails field data collection and analysis and the preparation of a group oral presentation and a short report.

Field Excursion 2 (4 hours):

Parco Talon (Casalecchio di Reno): reading and mapping a hilly fluvial landscape of the Northern Apennines. Students are expected to hand in individual geomorphic maps of the area visited in the excursion.

Cartography and aerial photo interpretation (labs - 16 hours):

1. Readings topographic and geomorphological maps; 2. Manual extraction of river long profiles and valley cross sections. 3. Aerial photo interpretation and mapping of a high Alpine mountain area; 4. Scale calculation and measurement of landforms on aerial photographs.

QGIS labs (8 hours):

1. Introducing QGIS, plug-ins e main commands; 2. Digital mapping of hillslope and fluvial forms; 3. Automated extraction of fluvial long profiles and valley cross sections.

Readings/Bibliography

Readings and presentations posted online

Teaching methods

Lectures, Field excursions and Lab sessions

Assessment methods

Cartographic and aerial photo interpretation assignments (30%)

Group report linked to field excursion 1 (20%)

Draft geomorphological map linked to field excursion 2 (10%)

QGIS assignment (10%)

Oral exam (30%)

Teaching tools

PC-based video projections

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Brardinoni