Programme

Introduction to Physical Geography; the composition, the subdivision of the atmosphere; the radiative balance of the Sun / Earth / atmosphere system; the air temperature; atmospheric pressure and winds; the general circulation of the atmosphere; air humidity and precipitation; atmospheric pertubation; meteorological weather and climate; the classification of climates and their distribution; the climate in Italy; climatic variations over time; the hydrological cycle; the sea; the physical-chemical characteristics of seawater; the movements of the sea (waves, currents, tides); Introduction to climate change; general introduction on maps and their construction; the scale of the map; the shape of the Earth (ellipsoid and geoid); the geographical reference system; the concept of latitude and longitude; geographic projections; hints of triangulation; the UTM system; cartographic symbology; reading and interpretation of topographic maps; Italian cartographic production; practical exercises on topographic maps at different scales of detail concerning: the calculation of the geographical and metric coordinates (UTM and Gauss-Boaga), the construction of the topographic profile, the delimitation of the river basin, the calculation of the percentage and angular slope, the altitude of a point, the planimetric and real distances and the magnetic declination for a correct orientation of the map.

Core Documentation

MCKNIGHT T.H. & HESS D.H., GEOGRAFIA FISICA. COMPRENDERE IL PAESAGGIO. PICCIN, PADOVA

LUPIA PALMIERI E. & PAROTTO M., IL GLOBO TERRESTRE E LA SUA EVOLUZIONE, ZANICHELLI, BOLOGNA

SAURO U., MENEGHEL M., BONDESAN A. & CASTIGLIONI B. – DALLA CARTA TOPOGRAFICA AL PAESAGGIO. ATLANTE RAGIONATO. – ZETABETA EDITRICE SRL, VICENZA

MORI A. – LE CARTE GEOGRAFICHE E LA LORO LETTURA E INTERPRETAZIONE. – LIBRERIA GOLIARDICA, PISA

Attendance

To take the examination, students must attend at least 70% of the lectures and workshops. Attendance is recorded through regular roll-calls by the lecturer. Should students have problems attending some lectures, the teacher is always available to find a solution together.

Type of evaluation

The assessment of profit will take place by means of a written test with multiple choice questions, open questions and exercises. The first part of the assessment will focus on the topics covered in the course, while the second part will involve the performance of cartographic exercises, aimed at assessing skills in the quantitative reading of the maps discussed during the lectures (Coordinate calculation, topographic profile, catchment area). The theory part consists of 20 multiple choice questions (1 point each) and two open questions (5 points each). The exercises part in preparing a topographic profile (10 points), a hydrographic basin (10 points), calculation of geographic coordinates (10 points), calculation of a slope or magnetic declination (1 point, bonus). The final grade is calculated by separately considering the evaluation of the two parts, each of which is graded in thirtieths. In order to successfully pass the exam, it is necessary to achieve a sufficiency in both parts of the test, however in calculating the final grade the theoretical part has a weight of 2/3, the practical part 1/3. This exam is a module part of a larger exam (Physical Geography and Introduction to Geology). A sifficiency in both modules must be achieved to pass the exam. Typically the Physical Geography module is given in the first semester and the Introduction to Geology module in the second. Therefore, in the January, February and April calls it will be possible to register for the midterm dedicated to Physical Geography. Starting in June, on the other hand, it is possible to register for the midterm of Introduction to Geology or the entire exam. In any case, students always have the option of attempting individual modules. The only constraint is that if either module is passed, the student has one year to pass the second.