97940 - Geological Risks and Climate Change

Learning outcomes

The student, at the end of the course, acquires knowledge of the geological risks and their relationship with climate and comprehends the importance of the geological processes for the forecasting, prevention and mitigation of risks associated to climate change in order to define sustainable strategies of adaptation.

Course contents

The course is organized in 4 Modules. After a general introduction dedicated to the structure of the Earth and geological and climatic hystory of our planet, following topics will be exposed and debated:

Module 1: Impacts on ecosystems of volcanic eruptions and associated risks with the description of main eruptive processes and their chemical, physical and climatic effects against human beings and the society;

Module 2: Vulnerability of coastal zones to sea level rising, coastal erosion and the impact of extreme events;

Module 3: Main mitigation measures to climate change, along with mid-term and long-term adaptation strategies to its effects, in relationship to the management of geological resources and ecosystems in coastal areas.

Module 4: Geomorphological and hydrogeological risks; Effects of Climate and Global Change against hydrologic cycle and groundwater resources.

Readings/Bibliography

Teaching material provided by teachers and uploaded, before the lessons, on platform https://virtuale.unibo.it

As integration to the materials provided by teachers and lesson notes taken up by the students, text books, papers and link will be recommended by the teachers.

Teaching methods

Lessons in presence, in classroom, with moments of discussion with the class.

Assessment methods

Evaluation method will be based upon a power point presentation orally exposed by groups of 5 students about a case study chosen by the group inside the topics and themes of the course. Parameters of evaluation for the votation will be: correct use of scientific terms learned during the course; general framework of the presentation (organization, methodology, conclusions supported by data and list of references); the general content (case study, coherence with the main topics of the course); understandability and respect of time. Teachers and class will actively attend the discussion with questions. Each group will have 15’ for the presentation, followed by the discussion and questions posed by the teachers to single components of the group. The final votation (in fraction of 30/30) will be the same for all the components of the group.

Teaching tools

Videoprojector, PC, blackboard.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Gargini

See the website of Claudio Antonio Tranne

See the website of Claudia Romagnoli

See the website of Beatrice Maria Sole Giambastiani