At the end of this course the student will know the basics of
geomorphology and he will be able to read an aerial image and identify
the landforms, and identify the processes that produced them. Moreover,
he will know the landforms related to marine, coastal, wind, volcanic,
glacial, periglacial and slope processes, and he will be able to describe a
landform and propose ways of studying them.

Being passed the exam of Physical Geography with Cartography
Laboratory. Basic knowledge on navigation, writing, spreadsheet and
Google Earth softwares are also requested.

Introduction to landforms and landscapes, definition of geomorphology, brief history of geomorphology, processes and forms, morphogenetic systems. Landforms associated with plate tectonics, volcanic landforms. Landforms related to alteration processes. Slope landforms and processes. The glacial and glaciofluvial landscape. Periglacial landforms. Wind landforms. Coastal landforms and processes. Karst landforms. Short- and long-term geomorphological evolution, geomorphological carthography.

Slide produced by the teacher.
-Le forme del rilievo. Atlante illustrato di geomorfologia, S. Cicacci,
Mondadori Education, Mondadori Università.
-The basics of Geomorphology. Key concepts. K.J. Kennedy; J. Lewin,
Sage, London.
-Fundamentals of geomorphology, R.J. Huggett, Routledge Fundamentals.
- Quaderno Serie III, Volume 13, Fascicolo 1 (ISPRA) "AGGIORNAMENTO
ED INTEGRAZIONI
DELLE LINEE GUIDA DELLA
CARTA GEOMORFOLOGICA D’ITALIA ALLA SCALA 1:50.000", ISPRA

Definition of geomorphology, difference between forms and processes, process geomorphology, the different types of approaches to the study of geomorphology, the morphogenetic system, the concept of balance, thresholds and bifurcation theory, chaos, intensity and frequency, morphogenetic models, the concept of historical geomorphology, relict forms, denudation and deposition, man as morphogenetic agent, forms related to plate tectonics, volcanoes and plutons, tectonic geomorphology, batholiths and lopolites, dykes, sills, laccolytes and other intrusive forms, pyroclastic volcanoes, volcanoes misit, shield volcanoes, lava domes, calderas, impact craters, forms associated with faults and fractures, weathering and related forms ,, regulated, duricrust and hardpan, tafoni and honeycombs, alteration and climate, Local effects on weathering, alteration on artefacts, slopes, slope processes, Varnes classification, surface processes (rainsplash and rainflow), leaching, climate and versant i, processes limited to transport and limited to supply, evolution of the slopes, forms of payment, elements of a slope, relations between man and versant. Running water, river environments, river processes, springs, underground flow, river erosion, number of Reynolds, Hjulstrom diagram, rills and gullies, rock channels, alluvial channels (rectilinear, meandering, braided, anastomized, anabolic channels, mountain channels, hydraulic geometry, river profile, drainage basins and river network, river catches, river valleys, flood plains, alluvial fans, river terraces, lake deltas, human impact on river systems. Glacial and glaciofuvial landscape, scenarios, types of glaciers, quaternary glaciations, glacial processes, glacier movement, glacial erosion, hexaration, plucking, abrasion, transport of debris, glacial deposition, abrasive forms, glacial cirques, fjords ,, glacial thresholds, residual forms (arete, col, horn), above and subglacial forms.glaciofluvial forms, marginal forms (overflow channels), kame, ou twash plain, glacial and paraglacial landform. Periglacial landforms, permafrost, periglacial processes, periglacial landscape, pingo and palsa, modeled soil, polligonal forms, hummocks, soliflow forms. Wind forms, wind processes, wind erosion, deflation, wind transport, wind deposition, erosional landforms, rock floors, deflation holes, yardangs and zeugen, ventifacts, depositional forms, dunes, types of dunes, dune fields and seas of sand, the loess. Coastal processes and forms, cliff retreat, coast classification, wave action, tsunamis and effects, coastal processes (alteration, erosion, aggradation, biological activity), coastal platforms and cliffs, cliffs, sea furrows, ramp, bastion, potholes, sea caves, arches, stacks and connected landforms, beaches, beach profiles, spits, barrier islands and connected forms, tidal inlet, coastal dunes, estuaries, coastal plain, delta, atolls, changesd in sea level, sea level in the pas. The karst landscape, karst and pseudokarstic landforms and processes, solution and precipitation, epigean and hypogean forms, denuded karst, polygenetic karst, rock floors, pinnacles, coastal karst, coralligenous forms, dolines, uvala , polje, Karast with cones, gorges, natural bridges, landforms on travertine, karst in quartzite, forms of buried karst, erosive landforms, depositional landforms in caves, eccentric, underwater landforms . Longterm geomorphological evolution, ancient and recent forms, erosion surfaces, penepian and pedipian, exhumed surfaces, evolutionary cycles, geomorphological evolution.

Frontal lessons, laboratory and field trips.

The exam is carried out in oral mode. The first question is related to the identification of a landform on a topographic map, on aerial image or DTM or reading a geomorphological map. The second regards a theoretical issue, the third is a closed question (classification of a form). Then there is an open question for discussion on the whole program. The student may be asked to draw simple geomorphological schemes. A possible fourth question is asked in case of need.

The course pursues the following objectives of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development: quality education, gender equality, climate action, life on land, life under water.