The optional courses allow the student to complete his/her own study program and to characterize his/her own training profile choosing, according to his/her own personal interests, the themes of deepening among a wide range of alternatives.

According to the Dublin Descriptors (DdD), passing the exam certifies the acquisition of the following results:

DdD 1 (knowledge and understanding), 3 (autonomy of judgment), 4 (communication skills) and 5 (learning ability)

- ability to acquire, process independently and communicate knowledge not strictly related to the subjects characterizing the Master Program (DdD 1, 3, 4 and 5)

CLIMATE

This module provides information on climatology, which are the factors that create an area's climate, and the sources and uses of climate information.

The climate system is a complex, interactive system consisting of the atmosphere, land surface, snow and ice, oceans and other bodies of water, and living things. The atmospheric component of the climate system most obviously characterises climate; climate is often defined as ‘average weather’. Climate is usually described in terms of the mean and variability of temperature, precipitation and wind over a period of time, ranging from months to millions of years.

1. Factors that determine earth’s climate

            Relationship between climate change and weather

2. The greenhouse effect

Increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases during the industrial era caused by human activities

Which are the main greenhouse gases?

3. Changes in Human and Natural Drivers of Climate

Contribution of human activities to climate change and how do they compare with natural influences

4. Observations of Changes in Climate Atmosphere and Surface

How are temperatures on earth changing?

How is precipitation changing?

Change in extreme events: heat waves, droughts, floods and hurricanes

Warming of the 20th century: can it be explained by natural variability?

5. Oceans and Sea Level

6. Snow, Ice and Frozen Ground

Is the amount of snow and ice on the earth decreasing?

Causes of the ice ages and other important climate changes before the industrial era

7. Projections of Future Changes in Climate

Models used to make projections of future climate change

8. Effects on environment

How hydrological and energetic systems will be influenced?

Which are possible solutions?

HYDROLOGY

Hydrology is the scientific study of the waters of the earth. This module examines the properties of water as well as its planetary occurrence, distribution, and movement.

1. Introduction to the Hydrologic Cycle

What is Hydrology?

What is the Hydrologic Cycle?

Accounting Budget Approach for Hydrology

2. Distribution

Oceans

Snow and Ice: snowpack characteristics and snowmelt

Surface Water

Groundwater

Our fluctuating water supply           

Long-term changes             

Variations in stream flow    

3. Atmospheric Water

Condensation and Precipitation

Evaporation

Transpiration

Sublimation

4. Surface Water

Infiltration

Soil Composition

Soil Moisture

Soil Types

Runoff

5. Groundwater

Aquifer Characteristics

Water Yield and Flow

Recharge

Withdrawal

6. City water

Water purification and distribution       

How sewage and wastes are treated        

7. Stream flow and the river channel           

Drainage basins and watersheds     

Floods

8. How water facts affect you and me         

Waterpower                 

Misinformation               

Water conservation              

What constitutes water conservation?        

Water facts and the law            

Water facts and their use           

9. Water for food and energy

Water, food, climate and energy for sustainability, security and development

BIBLIOGRAPHY
The bibliography will delivered at the beginning of the course.

The final evaluation will be determined by the candidates' presentation capacity and by quality to answer to the exam questions referring to the arguments and the bibliography discussed in the course.
Non attending students will discuss and agree with the professor modality and content of their exam.