ELEMENTI DI SCIENZE DELLA TERRA

• To provide a general knowledge on factors controlling geographic features at global scale;
• To develop basic skills for the interpretation of the regional geographical features and their connection with Earth dynamics;
• To acquire capacity of recognizing the effects of active processes, changes over time, and their role in the environmental equilibrium.

The course consists of 35 hours lectures integrated with 12 hours of practical activities dedicated to achievement of abilities in the use of topographic, geological and thematic maps.

If the course will be held partially or totally online, due to the pandemic, some variations in the following list of contents could be necessary.

• The Earth and its characteristics: The Internal structure of the Earth.
• Plate tectonics: plate motion, global seismicity, plate margins and related geological processes.
• Endogenous processes and tectonic motion.
• Isostasy.
• Evolution of the divergent margins: from rifting to ocean spreading.
• Evolution of convergent margins: from subduction to mountain building.
• Plate tectonics and magmatism.
• Plate tectonics and rock cycle.
• Earthquakes and faults: intensity vs. magnitude, earthquakes and fault parameters, earthquake environmental effects.
• Vulcanism: types of volcano, eruption styles and environmental effects: example from Italian volcanoes.
• Exogenous processes: weathering and slope evolution, introduction to climate changes and environmental effects.
• Sedimentary cycle and environmental effects: erosional processes and landforms, fluvial transport and landforms, introduction to fluvial dynamics.
• Climate changes and sedimentary cycles: oxygen isotopic curve and eustatism, marine terraces.

Practicals on

• Use of topographic maps.
• Introduction to use of geological and thematic maps.

1. J. P. GROTZINGER, T. H. JORDAN - Understanding Earth. Seventh Edition.

2. E. LAVAGNA, G. LOCARNO – Geocartografia. Guida alla lettura delle carte geotopografiche. Ed. Zanichelli.

3. Text, ppt slides and exercises provided by the teacher during the course and published on studium platform.