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Lecturer(s)
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Smolová Irena, doc. RNDr. Ph.D.
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Létal Aleš, RNDr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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During the course, the fundamental knowledge from selected disciplines of physical geography will be presented: geomorphology, pedogeography, and biogeography. Students will be introduced to the following areas: definitions, terminology, and research methods in these disciplines, as well as the basic processes and phenomena occurring on the Earth's surface, in the biosphere, and in the pedosphere. Attention will also be paid to the anthropogenic impacts on these geospheres and their consequences. Main topics: 1. The position of geomorphology within the system of sciences; 2. Methods of geomorphological research and geomorphological terminology; 3. The structure of the Earth, the lithosphere; 4. Geotectonic hypotheses and global tectonics; 5. Structural geomorphology and structural landforms; 6. Endogenic geomorphological processes and landforms; 7. Karst relief, exokarst and endokarst landforms; 8. Exogenic geomorphological processes and landforms (fluvial, cryogenic, aeolian, and marine); 9. Fundamentals of anthropogenic geomorphology - the impact of human activities on relief; 10. Fundamentals of pedogeography - soil formation, soil typology, and pedogenetic processes; 11. Fundamentals of biogeography - environmental conditions for organisms and the world's geobiomes. For the combined (part-time) form of study, study materials are available at moodle.upol.cz.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Lecture, Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook)
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Learning outcomes
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The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the fundamental concepts of geomorphology, pedogeography, and biogeography. During the course, students will be introduced to the basic knowledge of the subdisciplines of physical geography: geomorphology, pedogeography, and biogeography. They will become acquainted with the following areas: definitions, terminology, and research methods in these disciplines, as well as the basic processes and phenomena occurring on the Earth's surface, in the biosphere, and in the pedosphere. Attention will also be given to the anthropogenic impacts on these geospheres and their consequences. The main topics include: the lithosphere and lithospheric plates, structural relief, karst and karst landscapes, exogenic geomorphological processes, anthropogenic geomorphology, the pedosphere - fundamentals of pedogeography, soil erosion, the biosphere - fundamentals of biogeography, and the world's biomes. From the perspective of the Graduate Teacher Competency Framework, the course Physical Geography 2 makes its most significant contribution to Area 1 - Subject Knowledge and Its Mediation to Learners, particularly Competencies 1.1 and 1.2. At the same time, it provides the disciplinary foundation for the development of competencies in lesson planning, creating learning environments, and professional development, which are subsequently and systematically developed further in geography didactics courses and teaching practicum experiences.
Understanding and knowledge of the basic terms and concepts used in physical geography, as well as an understanding of the fundamental methods employed in physical geography. The core competency is understanding the interrelationships and connections between the natural and socio-economic environments. Students acquire competencies that meet the requirements of a bachelor's degree in geography and develop not only subject-specific knowledge but also analytical, interpretative, and practical application skills that are essential for subsequent geography courses and professional practice. The course Physical Geography * primarily provides the disciplinary (specialized) foundation for the preparation of future geography teachers. In connection with the Competency Framework for Graduates of Teacher Education, it primarily develops competencies in the area of Teaching Subjects and Their Mediation to Pupils, while also creating the prerequisites for other professional competencies that are subsequently developed in didactic and pedagogical courses. The student acquires in-depth knowledge of geomorphology, pedogeography, biogeography, and physical geographical processes, understands their interrelationships, and is able to interpret them at both regional and global scales (1.1.). The student acquires specialized knowledge that forms the content of school geography and builds a professional foundation for its subsequent didactic transformation in geography teaching (1.2.). The student learns to formulate objectives when preparing a physical geographical characterization of an area and when solving specialized tasks, thereby creating the prerequisites for lesson planning (2.1.). Through working with maps, specialized texts, and spatial data, the student develops the ability to structure geographical content according to its level of complexity and logical relationships (2.2.). The student develops analytical thinking, the ability to explain natural processes using specific examples, and the ability to use evidence-based geographical arguments (2.3.). The course promotes the use of maps, digital geographical data, landscape photographs, and field observations as tools for active learning (3.2). When completing specialized tasks, the student evaluates the accuracy of interpretations of natural processes and critically works with geographical information sources (4.3.), and the student recognizes the importance of continuously following new developments in physical geography and environmental sciences for the teaching profession (6.1).
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Prerequisites
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The course follows on from Physical Geography 1, building on the knowledge acquired in meteorology, climatology, and hydrology. In the geomorphology section, it draws on knowledge from the course Planet Earth and the Natural Regions of the World.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Mark, Written exam, Student performance
Course credit requirements: pair presentation - lithospheric plates; individual presentation - cadastral area within the Czech Republic, focusing on relief, biota, and soils; use of geoportals and field research; seminar paper (according to the required structure, including the partial assignments from the seminar). Examination requirements: knowledge of the fundamental concepts within the scope defined by the course content. Regular attendance at seminars, presentation of a seminar paper, and submission of the seminar paper. Learning outcomes are assessed through a written test and evaluation of active participation in seminars, including the assessment of presentations and seminar papers. The course outcomes fulfill the key competencies of the competency framework for graduate teachers (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2). In completing professional tasks, the student evaluates the accuracy of interpretations of natural processes and critically works with geographical information sources (4.3). The student also recognizes the importance of continuously keeping up with new developments in physical geography and environmental sciences for the teaching profession (6.1.1, 6.1.2).
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Recommended literature
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Allen, Philip A. (1997). Earth surface processes. Oxford.
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Huggett, R. J., Shuttleworth, E. (2022). Fundamentals of Geomorphology. London.
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Huntley, Brian. (2023). Landscapes: Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrology.
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Hyndman, D. and Hyndman D. (2025). Natural Hazards and Disasters. 6th Edition.. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
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Kirchner, K., & Smolová, I. (2010). Základy antropogenní geomorfologie. Olomouc.
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MacDonald, Glen, M. (2025). Biogeography: Introduction to Space, Time, and Life.
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Marsh W. M. & Kaufman M. M. (2013). Physical Geography: Great Systems and Global Environments. Cambridge.
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Petersen, J.F. (2021). Physical Geography.
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Slaymaker, O., Spencer, T., & Embleton-Hamann, C. (2009). Geomorphology and global environmental change. Cambridge.
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Smolová, I., Vítek, J. (2007). Základy geomorfologie : vybrané tvary reliéfu. Olomouc.
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Strahler, A., Strahler, A. (2013). Introducing Physical Geography, 6th Edition. New York.
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Summerfield, M. A. (1991). Global Geomorphology : An Introduction to the Study of Landforms. New York.
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