Biosphere, First part

Earth sciences

Physical Geography   1. Basic elements of geomorphology and geology 2. Structural geomorphology 3. Coastal geomorphology 4. Karstology and landscape planning 5. Basic elements of meteorology and climatology 6. Climate change : an introduction. Relations with the landscape planning

Climates, grounds, vegetation

1. Introduction (définitions, functions, threats, issues).
2. Soil composition (mineral and organic components, soil solution, soil atmosphere, soil biodiversity).
3. Soil properties (physical, chemical and physico-chemical).
4. Soil formation and evolution (pedogenetic factors and soil forming processes).
5. Notion of soil classification and cartography.
7. Elements of operational pedology (land evaluation, urban soil characterization, soil consideration in impact assessment, policy and methods for treatment of polluted soils).

Earth sciences

• Basic knowledge in geomorphology, meteorology and climatology
• Case study & analyse of some processes by various documents (pictures, maps, graphics...)

Climates, grounds, vegetation

On the basis of basic knowledge of soil at different level of perception, the objective of the course is to sensibilize students to the importance of soils within the ecosystem and to give them the essential awareness to manage them, in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. A chapter on operational pedology show concretely the interest to take into account soils in numerous topical domains. Two field trips put emphasis on an approach based on observation and soil landscape analysis.
At the end of the course, the student is expected to:
- grasp the causes-effects relationships between soil compounds, properties and behaviors ;
- deduce the main practical incidences for soil management ;
- decrypt a soil map in order to extract a given information ;
- draw a field pedological diagnosis, based on observation and earned knowledge.

Earth sciences

Geography, basic mathematics, biology, physics & chemistry

Climates, grounds, vegetation

Principles of chemistry, physics and biology.
Basic principles of mineralogy, petrography and geomorphology.

Earth sciences

• Lectures
• study cases

Climates, grounds, vegetation

Lectures (ppt material) + field trip (2x3h).

Earth sciences

Face-to-face

Climates, grounds, vegetation

Classroom based teaching for lectures and field trip.

Earth sciences

 Notes available on USB key or on Moodle plateform if it's possible.

Climates, grounds, vegetation

A list of up-to-date bibliographic references and interesting web sites is supplied to students.

Earth sciences

Written exam with restitution and case study + topographic and geological profile to do.

Climates, grounds, vegetation

Written exam, with a pre-test and the exam itself.
The objective of the pre-test is to ensure that the student acquired the minimum vocabulary and basic concepts of the subject. Success is a necessary condition for the cotation of the exam itself.
Pre-test successfull --> final grade = grade of the exam itself
Pre-test failed --> final grade = 0/20
 
UE validation is determined by the achievement of this AA.

Climates, grounds, vegetation

Attendance is highly recommended for a good assimilation and comprehension of the subject (no syllabus, but slides as medium for oral explanations).

Earth sciences

Luc.Willems@hech.be
0496 93 75 08

Climates, grounds, vegetation

xavier.legrain@hech.be