Course overview – full

Course overview – full-time study
Course title:
Introduction to Geography
Course number:
548-0060
Supervising
institute:
Institute of Geoinformatics
Course guarantee:
RNDr. Pavel Švec, Ph.D.
Credits:
5
Duty:
compulsory
Level of study:
undergraduate
Teaching language:
Czech/English
Year:
1
Semester:
winter
Intended for
faculties:
HGF
Intended for the
type of study:
bachelor
Way of completion:
credit + examination
Hours per week:
2+2
Prerequisites:
none
Co-requisites:
none
Appears in
prerequisites:
no
Link to website:
Learning outcomes
-
-
-
The student demonstrates knowledge:
 an understanding of the Earth as the Earth’s body and its position in the Universe
 identifies key processes and movements that take place on planet Earth
 explains the effects of the above processes on each geosphere
The student can:
 work with a map and get oriented on a map
 carry out basic terrain analyses, including visualisation in a GIS environment
 use hydrological and meteorological data in their further studies
The student is able to:
 describe, understand and identify the basic principles of the functioning of processes
and phenomena on Earth
 use professional knowledge and skills relating to planet Earth in their further studies
Teaching methods (representation of individual methods must be
quantified in %)
Lectures
Exercises
Individual work
– 35 %
– 35 %
– 30 %
Annotation
The course includes basic knowledge of the various sub-disciplines of geography. Geography will be
generally divided into physical geographical sciences and socio-economic sciences, with an emphasis
on a systematic approach and an understanding of the internal connections and links within the
entire system. The main focus is on physical geographical sciences (planetary geography,
geomorphology, hydrology, meteorology, landscape ecology). Exercises will focus on basic methods
of research and geographic data sources, including maps and working with maps. The aim of the
course is to allow students to apply the newly-acquired knowledge in subsequent geoinformatics
courses – digital terrain models, socio-economic geography etc.
Compulsory literature
ČAPEK, R., (1997): Planetární geografie. Praha, Karolinum, 82 p.
HORNÍK, S. a kol. (1986): Fyzická geografie 2. Praha, SPN, 319 p.
POJER, F. et al. (2007): Krajina v České republice. Consult. 399 p.
NĚMEC, J., HLADNÝ, J., et al. (2006): Voda v České republice. Praha, Konsult. 253 p.
NETOPIL. R. et al. (1984): Fyzická geografie 1. Praha, SPN, 272 p.
Recommended reading
BECKEL, L. et al. (1997): Global Change. Praha, GeoMedia, 160 p.
BRÁZDIL, R. et al. (1988): Úvod do studia planety Země. Praha, 365 p.
DEMEK, J., (1988): Obecná geomorfologie. Praha, Academia, 476 p.
Edice Chráněná území ČR, AOPK ČR & MŽP Praha
CHÁBERA, S., (1996): Geomorfologie. České Budějovice, JČU, 151 p.
FORMAN R, T. T., GODRON, M., (1993): Krajinná ekologie. Praha, Academia, 583 p.
LÖW, J., MÍCHAL, I. (2003): Krajinný ráz. Kostelec nad Černými lesy, Lesnická práce, 552 p.
SUMMERFIELD, A. M., (1991): Global Geomorphology. Edinburgh Gate, Pearson Education Ltd. 560 p.
THURMAN, H.V., TRUJILLO, A.P., (2005): Oceánografie. Praha, Computer Press, 479 p.
TLAPÁK, V., ŠÁLEK, J., LEGÁT, V., (1992): Voda v zemědělské krajině. Praha, ZN Brázda, 320 p.
TOMÁŠEK, M. (2003): Půdy České republiky. Praha, Česká geologická služba, 68 p.
TOUŠEK, V., KUNC, J., VYSTOUPIL, J. et al. (2008). Ekonomická a sociální geografie. Plzeň, Aleš Čeněk, 411 p.
Requirements for providing the education
Some of the exercises take place in a computer classroom.
Methods of continuous checking knowledge during the semester
During the semester, knowledge is checked through the completion of individual tasks at exercises
and an individual project.
Outline of lectures
1) An introduction to the study geography, geography as a science and its sub-disciplines.
2) An introduction to cartography, cartographic methods.
3) The universe, the Earth’s location in the universe, the Sun, the Earth, the Earth’s motion, the
cycle of the seasons.
4) The moon of the planet Earth and its influence on the Earth, tidal phenomena, calendar, time
zones.
5) The Earth’s structure and composition, plate tectonics, continental drift, seismology.
6) General geomorphology I, an introduction to geomorphology, endogenous processes.
7) General geomorphology II, exogenous processes, selected geomorphological problems.
8) Hydrology I, basic hydrological concepts and processes, the large and the small water cycles
on Earth, water distribution on Earth and its forms.
9) Hydrology II, surface and subsurface water, current hydrological problems.
10) The atmosphere and its basic characteristics, atmospheric composition, precipitation, cloud
types, meteorology, general atmospheric circulation.
11) Basics of soil science, soil formation and composition, soil types and classification, soil
distribution within the Czech Republic.
12) An introduction to ecology, nature conservation, current topics and issues, legislation.
13) An introduction to the study of socio-economic geography.
Outline of exercises
1) Planetary geography – the shape and size of the Earth, calculations on a sphere, positioning
on Earth, geographic coordinates.
2) Time on Earth – the calculation of local and zone time and its determination on the ground,
the length of day and night at different latitudes.
3) Working with a map – scale, azimuth, compass, a demonstration of working with a map.
4) Morphometrics – 3D terrain models, DMR visualisation, the possibilities for using GIS in
physical geography.
5) Hydrology.
6) Regional geography of the Czech Republic.
7) A mind map.
8) Virtual globes and maps – Google Earth, Google Maps, mapy.cz
9) Individual project.
Exam question topics
1) The universe – the Earth’s location in the universe, the Sun and the Solar System, the planet
Earth.
2) The Earth’s motion, the cycle of the seasons.
3) The moon of the planet Earth and its influence on the Earth, tidal phenomena, calendar, time
zones.
4) The Earth’s structure and composition, plate tectonics, continental rift, seismology.
5) General geomorphology, endogenous processes, exogenous processes.
6) Hydrology – basic hydrological concepts and processes, the large and the small water cycles
on Earth, water distribution on Earth and its forms, surface and subsurface water, water
contamination, current hydrological problems.
7) The atmosphere and its basic characteristics, atmospheric composition, precipitation,
meteorology, general atmospheric circulation.
8) Soil science – soil formation and composition, soil types and classification, soil distribution
within the Czech Republic and in the world.
9) Cartography, methods used in cartography, map, azimuth.
Terms for completing the course
Task name
Credit and examination
Credit
Attendance at
exercises
Presentation on an assigned
topic
Assigned tasks
Examination
Written exam
Task type
Credit and examination
Credit
Laboratory work
Maximum number
of points
(credit for
subtasks)
100 (100)
33 (33)
6
Minimum
number of
points
51
17
4
Semester project
13
7
Laboratory work
Examination
Written exam
14
0
67 (67)
67
30
30