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Lecturer(s)
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Létal Aleš, RNDr. Ph.D.
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Smolová Irena, doc. 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, pedogeography, and biogeography 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.
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.
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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.
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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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