Z7551 Methods in Physical Geography 1

Faculty of Science
Spring 2019
Extent and Intensity
1/2/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Máčka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Filip Hrbáček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Daniel Nývlt, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Rudolf Brázdil, DrSc.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Máčka, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 18. 2. to Fri 17. 5. Tue 11:00–11:50 Z4,02028
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
Z7551/01: Mon 18. 2. to Fri 17. 5. Tue 12:00–13:50 Z4,02028, F. Hrbáček, Z. Máčka, D. Nývlt
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
After finishing of the course student will be able to:
determine basic rock forming minerals and major rock types;
explain the use of basic methods used in physical sedimentology and sedimentary petrography;
appply selected methods of geomorphometry (geodetic surveys, digital elevation models);
appply basic methods of morphostructural analysis and geological/geomorphological mapping;
understand basic methods of landform evolution study (monitoring, geochronology, modelling);
design their own project of regionally based geomorphological research.
Learning outcomes
After finishing of the course student will be able to:
determine basic rock forming minerals and major rock types;
explain the use of basic methods used in physical sedimentology and sedimentary petrography;
appply selected methods of geomorphometry (geodetic surveys, digital elevation models);
appply basic methods of morphostructural analysis and geological/geomorphological mapping;
understand basic methods of landform evolution study (monitoring, geochronology, modelling);
design their own project of regionally based geomorphological research.
Syllabus
  • 1) Macroscopic determination of most common minerals and rocks (most common minerals and their properties, composition of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and basic criteria for their determination)
  • 2) Methods of physical sedimentology and stratigraphy (sedimentary textures and structures, lithofacies, geometry of sedimentary bodies, basic lithofacies logging)
  • 3) Sedimentary petrology (sediment grain-size and sorting, clasts orientation, shape, roundness and surface texture, clast petrology, heavy minerals)
  • 4) Genetic types of terrestrial sediments (definition of main genetic groups of sediments and their distinguishing criteria), geochemical and petrophysical research methods (elemental composition, organické matter content, magnetic susceptibility and its anisotropy)
  • 5) Geodetic survey and its application in geomorphology (measurement of lengths, angles and heights; levelling; theodolite and total station; terrrestrial laser scanner; use of GPS in geomorphology)
  • 6) Digital elevation models (DEM – philosophy, principles; existing, available DEMs; creating DEM from availavble and own spatial data; visualisation of landforms and geomorphometric methods)
  • 7) Application of geophysical surveying in geomorphology (frequently used methods - principles, case studies; pros and cons of particular methods)
  • 8) Basics of geological, geomorphological and applied mapping (kinds of maps and their content, specifics of maps´ content of various scales; creation of legend; procedures of field mapping in large scales; mobile GIS and GPS in a field survey)
  • 9) Morphostructural analysis of land surface (morphostratigraphical levels, morpholineaments and geomorphological network, typological regionalisation and segmentation of land surface – elementary forms, morphostructures)
  • 10) Modelling and statistics in geomorphology
  • 11) Monitoring of landscape changes/development – methods of empirical (field) research (short term landscape evolution, small landforms; e.g. fluvial, slope and glacial systems - changes in morphology, sediment flux in different land systems)
  • 12) Geochronological methods for young processes and events determination and denudational landscape chronology (basic types of absolute and relative dating methods, materials suitable for dating, sampling and sample preparation, interpretation and pitfalls).
Literature
    recommended literature
  • THORNBUSH, Mary J, Casey D ALLEN a Faith A FITZPATRICK. Geomorphological fieldwork. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2014, xv, 270 s. ISBN 978-0-444-63402-3.
  • BEZVODOVÁ, Bohumila, Jaromír DEMEK and Antonín ZEMAN. Metody kvarterně geologického a geomorfologického výzkumu. Vyd. 1. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1985, 207 s. info
    not specified
  • Geomorphometry : concepts, software, applications. Edited by Tomislav Hengl - Hannes Isaak Reuter. 1st ed. Boston [Mass.]: Elsevier, 2009, xxix, 765. ISBN 9780123743459. info
  • Guide to medium - scale geomorphological mapping. Edited by Jaromír Demek - Clifford Embleton. Brno: International geographical union, commission on geomorphological survey and mapping, 1978, 1 sv. info
Teaching methods
Lectures are the basis of the course which are supplemented with practical demonstrations of selected research methods in seminars. Compulsory part of the course are three field days devoted to selected lecture topics:
1) Field techniques for study of sediments (topics 2 to 4)
2) Geodetic and geophysical methods (topic 5 and 7)
3) Practical excercise in mapping (basic approaches) (topic 8)
Assessment methods
Students will be evaluated according to the quality of final report from three field days and performance at oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Spring 2017, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2019, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2019/Z7551