Physical Geography

Specific Foundation / Core

The course is also offered to exchange programme students.

Upon completing this class, students will be able to: 1. Understand what is the Earth’s Physical Geography. 2. Recognize the processes that shape the earth’s landscape 3. Understand the principles of geomorphology and implement basic methods of physical geographic research 4. Achieve the interconnection of theoretical knowledge with the implementation of better environmental practices. 5. Describe and explain the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, land surface and biosphere, and relate them to the dominant natural processes and to changes over time. 6. Develop an appreciation of the complex inter-relationships inherent in Earth’s natural systems

• INTRODUCTION, Physical Geography of our Planet, Physical Geography and Environment • THE SHAPE OF THE EARTH, Earth’s structure, Major Relief Features of the Earth’s Surface, Lithospheric plate movements and Orogenesis • WEATHERING, Physical weathering, Chemical Weathering, Weathering process as Geomorphological Factor • GLOBAL CLIMATES AND GEOMORPHOLOGY, Climate Classification and types, Global Precipitation, the geomorphological evolution in different climates, the climate of Greece as a factor of geomorphological evolution. • ECOSYSTEMS OF THE EARTH • GLOBAL SOILS, The Nature of the Soil, Soil development, Soils of the world, Soil erosion • HYDROGRAPHY – HYDROLOGY, Groundwater, Surface water, Drainage networks, Lakes, Water as a Natural Resource • FLUVIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY, The Work of Streams and Stream Gradation, Base Level, Valley formation, Fluvial Landscapes. • LANDFORMS MADE BY VOLCANIC ACTIVITY, Stratovolcanoes, Shield volcanoes, Volcanic activity of the Earth, Denudation process on Volcanoes, Main volcanos of Greece. • GLACIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY, Formation of a Glacier, Glacier Classification, Alpine Glaciers, Ice sheets, Glacial movement, Periglacial phenomena, Pleistocene Ice Ages. • LANDFORMS AND GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, Landforms and rock resistance, Landforms of Horizontal Strata and Coastal Plains, Landforms of Warped Rock Layers, Landforms on other geological structures. • TECTONIC GEOMORPHOLOGY, Fault Landforms, Active tectonics control in fluvial systems and basins. • KARST GEOMORPHOLOGY, Chemical and mechanical action of water on carbonate rocks, Surface karst landforms, Underground karst landforms, Karst hydrology, Karst types and cycles. • Coastal Geomorphology, The work of waves, .Types of Coastlines. • AEOLIAN GEOMORPHOLOGY, Geomorphological action of the wind, Aeolian Processes, Sand Dunes, Loess Structure and material of laboratories/laboratory-tutorial exercises • Drainage networks, Basins, Drainage network patterns, outlining the drainage divide • Drainage Network Analysis, Stream ordering. • Horton's laws of drainage composition. Law of stream numbers. • Horton's laws of drainage composition. Law of stream lengths. • Morphometric indices of Drainage Networks, Drainage Density, Drainage Frequency • Fluvial Geomorphology, River Terraces. • Fluvial Geomorphology, Meanders, Sinuosity Index. • Fluvial Geomorphology, River Valley Geomorphological Evolution. • Karst Geomorphology. • Glacial Geomorphology. • Coastal Geomorphology. • Aeolian Geomorphology. • Summarizing exercises. Course-related daily field trip 1) Daily Field Training Exercise on "Physical Geography, Karst Geomorphology, Speleology" 2) Training Site: Alistrati Village and Cave, Strymonas River Basin 3) Field Exercise Content Site 1: Location: Between Alistrati Village and Alistrati Cave. Subject: Surface karst landforms, Karst morfphology Site 2: Location: Alistrati Cave Subject: Underground karst landforms, Clastic sediments and chemical deposits, Speleogenesis, Speleomorphometry, Site 3: Location: Aggitis River Gorge. Subject: Geomorphological evolution of the area, Water Table, Fluvial processes Site 4: Location: Amfipoli Village in Serres Basin Subject: Geomorphological evolution of the Serres Drama basin, Basic level, Strymonas River Delta

Physical Geography, Geomorphology

09-03-2020