Università Roma Tre

The course is organized in three teaching units dedicated to the basic principles of geology and astronomy (The Earth in Space).

The first teaching unit takes place in the first semester, during which topics concerning the general principles of geology and the rock cycle are discussed. The topics covered in this teaching units are detailed in the following. The scientific method: hypothesis, theory, law. The principle of uniformitarianism. Chemical composition of the Earth and its differentiation. The concept of time in geology. The Earth as an integrated system: atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere. The physiography of the Planet: continents and oceans. The unifying model: plate tectonics. Minerals, rocks and their classification. Igneous rocks: classification criteria. Origin of magmas and their geodynamic context. Volcanoes: shapes and products of volcanic activity. The processes of alteration and the genesis of soils. Sedimentary rocks: their origin and classification. Metamorphic rocks: their origin and classification.
During the first semester, practical activities are dedicated to the macroscopic recognition of minerals and rocks.

The second teaching unit takes place in the second semester, where topics related to the dynamics of planet Earth and sedimentary environments are discussed. The topics covered in this teaching unit are detailed in the following. Earthquakes: genesis and distribution. Tsunamis. Notes on the deformation of rocks: faults and folds. Notes on the origin and structure of the mountain ranges. Recording time in the rocks. Principles of superposition, cross-cutting and intrusion. Stratigraphic gaps and angular unconformities. The fossil record. Radiometric dating. The geological time scale. Surface running waters, deserts, glaciers, coastal environments.
During the second semester, practical activities are devoted to the interpretation of geological maps and the construction of geological sections.

The third teaching unit (The Earth in Space) takes place in the second semester as well. The following topics are covered. Astronomical and geographical elements (the Earth and the celestial sphere; time measurement; the measurement of the Earth). The planet Earth in the Solar System (orbital characteristics of the Earth and the planets; the cyclical orbital variations; the planetary orbit and the climatic control factors). The origin of the Earth and the interactions with the cosmic environment (meteorites and formation of the solar system; accretion of the Earth and of the terrestrial planets; the Earth and the meteorites; the Earth-Moon system).
This teaching unit includes a visit to some of the main astronomical sites of the City of Rome is planned, and in particular at the Meridiana Clementina of the Basilica of S. Maria degli Angeli (Rome) to observe the diurnal and annual motion of the Sun, the effects of seasonality, the astronomical variations connected to the equinoctial precession cycle, the related consequences to the millennial variations of the obliquity of the rotation axis.

Field activity
During the course four field excursions will be carried out, two in the first semester and two in the second semester. The first two will take place within the city of Rome (Parco della Caffarella and historic center), the third will take place in the Prenestini Mountains and the fourth, dedicated to astronomy, again in the historic city center.
The main objective of the field activity is to link the skills acquired during course attendance within the natural environment, represented by the field analysis that represents the geologist's main goal. The specific objectives are: observation of the relationship between morphology and lithology (erodibility, subsurface structure, relief shapes, chemical and mechanical erosion processes), learning data acquisition techniques (strike, dip, azimuth of the dip) and annotating them in the field notebook, reading topographic maps, definition and recognition of geological limits, basic geological cartography, construction of simple geological sections starting from the field data, recognition of the main lithotypes of sedimentary and volcanic rocks and their origin.

During the field experience, several activities are carried out. Virtual astronomical observation at the Rocca di Cave Planetarium: recognition of the main references of the celestial vault, observation of phenomena related to diurnal rotation, recognition of the stars and constellations of the current season, identification of the ecliptic, of the observable planets and their motions, observation of the celestial bodies at the telescope of the observatory station of Rocca di Cave, observations of deep-sky objects and macroscopic details of planetary surfaces, notes on the use of CCD devices for the acquisition of planetary images and data processing.

- John P. Grotzinger Thomas H Jordan. Capire la Terra. Zanichelli, Bologna. Pagine: 752 ISBN: 9788808821232
- Tarbuck E.J., Lutgens F.K. & Tozzi M. – Scienze Della Terra. – Principato, Milano. Pagine: 572 ISBN: 9788841656501
- E. Lupia Palmieri & M. Parotto - La Terra nello spazio. Zanichelli, Bologna. Pagine 456 - ISBN 9788808063892. (Capitoli 3,4)
- J. K. Beatty, C. C. Petersen & A. Chaikin. The New Solar System. Carolyn Collins Petersen. Sky Publishing Corporation-Cambridge University Press. ISBN:0-933346-86-7.
(Capitoli 7,8,11,15,20)