Syllabus Information

5.1. Methodological overview

The learning and teaching methodology developed in the course is aimed to promote the attainment of its objectives. A wide range of teaching and learning activities is implemented, such as interactive lessons, practical exercises, individual or group activities, directed activities, field work and private study.

A high level of student participation will be required from all students throughout the course.

Extensive material will be available via the Moodle site of the course. This offers a variety of resources including a repository of the lecture notes used in class, a course syllabus as well as other forms of course-specific materials, including a discussion forum.

5.2. Learning tasks

Lecture sessions: 25 hours

Interactive, individual or group activities: 40 hours

Laboratory sessions: 10 hours

Field work: 10 hours

Directed activities: 32 hours

5.3. Syllabus

PART ONE: RELIEF AND GEOMORPHOLOGY
Introduction. The landforms, a geographical study. Geomorphic systems. People as creators of landforms.

Unit 1. Geomorphology, the science of landforms. History of Geomorphology.
- The approach to Geomorphology until the nineteenth century. Description of the environment. Background of modern geomorphology.
- The study of the landforms from the nineteenth century. The knowledge of landforms. Structural and Climatic Geomorphology.
- Geomorphology from the twenty century: Dynamic Geomorphology, Applied Geomorphology, Environmental Geomorphology.

PART TWO: GEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LANDFORMS
Unit 2. Earth and the geodynamics.
- The Earth as a planet in the Universe.
- The internal structure of the Earth.
- Plate Tectonics, Geodynamic and Orogens. Evolution of the major structural units: geological time.
- Continental and oceanic topography.

Unit 3. The Earth rocks.
- Minerals and rocks.
- Classification of the rocks: sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks.
- Rocks and landforms.

Unit 4. The deformations of the earth's crust: tectonic and landforms.
- Geological structures: folds and faults.

PART THREE: THE STRUCTURAL RELIEF
Unit 5. Tectonic and structural landforms.

Unit 6. Lihology and landforms (karstic landforms, volcanic landforms…).

PART FOUR: THE MODELING OF LANDFORMS
Unit 7. Weathering.
- Weathering: concept and factors that control weathering.
- Mechanical Weathering: fragmentation and disaggregation.
- Chemical weathering: oxidation, hydration, dissolution, hydrolysis.
- Organic Weathering: soil formation.
- Development of modeling: Quantitative analysis of the form of erosion on the Earth's surface.

Unit 8. Slope processes
- Gravity and overland flow.
- Mass movements.
- Slopes and morphometry.

Unit 9. Fluvial processes and river valleys
- Drainage basin landforms

- Fluvial dynamics: Fluid flow in channels, sediment transport and discharge of water and sediment.

- Fluvial landforms: erosion and sedimentation landforms.

- River valleys

- Floodplains and terraces. Alluvial fans.

PART FIVE: THE GREAT LAND TYPES OF MODELING

Unit 10. The relief and climate: Climatic Geomorphology.
- Relations between topography, climate and vegetation cover. Morphoclimatic systems.
- Quaternary processes and landforms
- Morphoclimatic Earth diversity.

Unit 11. Glacial and periglacial processes and landforms.
- Glaciers. Spatial distribution of glaciers along the Quaternary

- Processes and mechanisms: flow and glacial activity.
- Glacial landforms

- Proglacial and Periglacial activity.

Unit 12. Eolian processes and landforms.
- Eolian activity: spatial distribution.
- Eolian processes and landforms: forms of erosion and sedimentation.

Unit 13. The coastal processes and landforms

- Quaternary variations of sea level.
- Coastal factors and processes: tides, waves, currents, storms, tsunamis.
- Coastal landforms: depositional and erosional landforms

- Deltas and estuaries

5.4. Course planning and calendar

The course is divided into 5 thematic blocks. The first block includes the followig units: Introduction and Unit One; it runs during the first 2 weeks of the term. The second thematic block includes the units 2, 3, 4 and 5 -geological characteristis of the landforms- and runs during the following three weeks. The third block covers the units 6 and 7 -lithological and tectonic landforms- and develops during three weeks. The fourth block covers the units 8, 9 and 10 -weathering- and runs during the following four weeks, and  the last block covers the four last units, 11, 12, 13, 14 -climatic landforms- and runs during the last three weeks.

For further details concernig the timetable, classroom and other information of the course please refer to the

“Facultad de Filosofía y Letras”  web site (https://fyl.unizar.es/horario-de-clases#overlay-context=horario-de-clases)

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

BIROT, P (1981): Les processus d'erosion a la surface des continents. Edit. Masson. Paris.

BUDEL, J. (1988): Climatic Geomorphology. Princeton  University Press.

CHORLEY, R.J., SCHUMM, S.A. & SUGDEN, D.E. (1984): Geomorphology. Methuen. Londres.

COQUE, R. (1984): Geomorfología. Alianza Universidad Textos. Alianza Editorial. Madrid. 475 pp.

DEMEK, J. (Ed.) (1972): Manual of detailed geomorphological mapping. IGU Comm. Geomorph. Survey Mapping Czech. Sci. Academia Prague. 341 pp.

DERBYSHIRE, E. (1976): Geomorphology and Climate. Wiley. London.

DERBYSHIRE, E. et al. (1981): Geomorphological processes. Butterworths. London.

DERRUAU, M. (1978): Geomorfología. Editorial Ariel. Barcelona. 528 pp.

EMBLETON, C. & THORNES, J.B. (1979): Process in Geomorphology. Edward Arnold. London. 436 pp.

FAIRBRIDGE, R.W. (Edit.)(1968): The Encyclopedia of Geomorphology. Reinholl Book Corporation. New York. 1295 pp.

GERRARD, A.J. (1981): The origin of landscapes. Longman. London

GERRARD, A.J. (1988): Rocks and Landforms. Unwin. London.

GUTIÉRREZ ELORZA, M. (2001): Geomorfología Climática. Omega. Barcelona, 642 pp.

GUTIÉRREZ ELORZA, M. (2008): Geomorfología. Pearson. Madrid. 898 pp.

HUGGET, R. (2007): Fundamentals of Geomorphology. Routledge. Taylors and Francis Group. 488 pp.

KING, C.A.M. (1976): Landforms and Geomorphology. New York.

MARTINEZ DE PISON, E. (1985): El relieve de la Tierra. Salvat. Barcelona.

MARTINEZ DE PISON, E. y TELLO, B. (Eds.)(1986): Atlas de Geomorfología. Alianza Editorial. Madrid.

MUÑOZ JIMENEZ, J. (1992): Geomorfología General. Editorial Síntesis. Espacios y Sociedades, 4. 351 pp.

PANIZZA, M. (1990): Geomorfologia Applicata. NIS. Roma. 342 pp.

PEDRAZA, J. (1996): Geomorfología. Principios, Métodos y Aplicaciones. Edit. Rueda. Madrid. 414 p.

RICE, R.J. (1982): Fundamentos de Geomorfología. Editorial Paraninfo. Madrid.378 pp.

SELBY, M.J. (1985): Earth's changing surface. Clarendon. Oxford.

SELBY, M.J. (1993): Hillslopes Materials and Processes. Oxford University Press, 451 pp.

SUMMERFIELD, M.A. (1991): Global Geomorphology. Longman. New York.

THORNES, J. & BRUNDSEN, D. (1977): Geomorphology and Time. Methuen. London. 208 pp.

TRICART, J. (1965): Principes et méthodes de la Géomorphologie. Masson.Paris. 496 pp.

TRICART, J. (1968-1981): Précis de Géomorphologie (3 tomos). SEDES. Paris.

TRICART, J. (1978): Geomorphologie Applicable. Masson. Paris. 204 pp.

TRICART, J. et CAILLEUX, A. (1965): Traité de Géomorphologie. T.I: Introduction a la Geomorphologie climatique. Paris. SEDES. 306 pp.

TWIDALE, C.R. (1971): Structural Landforms. MIT Press. Cambridge.

TWIDALE, C.R. (1976): Analysis of Landforms. Wiley. Singapur.

VIERS, G. (1973): Geomorfología. Elementos de geografía. Oikos-tau. Barcelona. 320 pp.

YOUNG, A. (1972): Slopes. Oliver and Boyd. Edinburgh, 278 pp.