Course description

The discipline “Methods of geomorphologic research” is a normative discipline of the cycle of professional and practical training courses in the specialty “106 Geography” of inner specialization in “Geomorphology and paleogeography” for the educational program of bachelors in geography, which is taught in the 6th semester in the amount of 3 credits (according to ECTS). The aim of the discipline is to acknowledge students with the methods and approaches to relief research and the latest relief-forming processes, ability to apply them in general and specialized research. While studying the discipline, students get the idea of different geomorphological methods and techniques; master practical skills of research organization. Students get the basics of preparation for field production practices and further independent geomorphological research, and also the most important knowledge about complex of methods of field and chamber works while investigating the territory relief and modern morphodynamics.

The course looks on the order of studying of different genetic relief categories and modern relief-forming processes needed for specialists in the field of expeditionary and stationary surveys.

On the course completion student will:

know: the main methods of geomorphological research (of different rank), while studying morphology, genesis, age, history of development and modern relief dynamics; methods classification (due to different factors); the main morphological relief complexes, their formation mechanisms and research methods; genetic relief complexes, their formation mechanisms and research methods; structure and principles of geomorphological research organization (in the first place – field ones) – fundamental and applied ones; methodology of selection of samples for different kinds of laboratory analyses in geomorphological research; application spheres, deviations, advantages and disadvantages of relief research analytical methods; principles and methods of field data fixation and operation in geomorphological research; the role of geomorphological research in different spheres of practical work; the latest methods of geomorphological research; the consequence of relief genetic categories research;

be able to: 1) perform chamber preparation for field work; 2) develop research program and criteria of route tracking; 3) separate morphological relief elements; 4) differentiate their structural presupposition and antistructurality; 5) describe geological sections; 6) study relief-forming processes; 7) study such genetic categories of relief as fluvial, karst, gravitational, volcanic, aeolian, permafrost processes on the sea shores.