Geomorphology
Fall 2008
Geography 360

Announcements

12/10/08 If you would like to review for the final (it'd probably be a good idea), these questions may help.

11/17/08 For the data display workshop next week it would be nice to have some figures from you. Please send me any graphs that you find interesting, misleading, or excellent. If you have any data from your project that you would like help in displaying, send that also. Or send one of your own graphs you would like to offer up for critique.

10/23/08 I added a few more review questions. I also updated the syllabus to reflect the midterm date change and the Veteran's Day holiday (we'll just spend less time on karst).

Here's the midterm 2 study guide.

The links on the side haven't been working for some folks - here are the latest ones:

• Lab 5 Tahoe
• Lab 6 Hydrologic Data

The sidebar without any formatting could serve as a site map too.

Here's the release form. I need a copy from each of you before we go on the field trip. And whoever drives the second vehicle will need to fill out this form. The plan will be for the van to leave from parking lot B on the west side of the Schultz library at 3pm on Friday the 26th. We'll drive up and hopefully beat most of the traffic and set up our camp at the Fallen Leaf Campground. The second car will leave later and meet us there. Please email me if you need to leave late, or if you want to leave late.

Volunteer Tasks

• shopping for food (2 people, Naomi, John Allison)
• dinner cooking, and give a list to the shoppers (2 people, Caitlin and John Krafft)
• dinner cleanup (2 people, Kent Nicole)
• take GPS points of our stops and put them into Google Maps (1 person Brian)
• take charge of the maps - pull them from the map library and carry them on the trip (1 person John and Caitlin)
• I don't know what else...

Field Trip Packing List

• clothes appropriate for hiking/camping (highs of 65-75, nighttime lows of 35-40 F)
• hiking shoes
• sunscreen
• hat (perhaps one for sun, and one for warmth)
• umbrella and/or raingear - I recommend an umbrella so you can still take notes. If we all have umbrellas, then it won't rain.
• swimsuit (I'm not sure what the water temp will be)
• flashlight or headlamp
• GPS if you have one
• camera if you want
• notebook, pen/pencil
• lunches and snacks (Sat and Sun)
• water bottle(s) - I'd recommend about 2 L
• backpack to hold above items while hiking
• toiletries (there are showers at the campground for those who are interested)
• tent (the department has some you can borrow)
• sleeping bag (a few may be available to borrow)
• chairs
• money for dinner on the road (Fri)
• money for shared expenses ($20 to start - we'll see what actual expenses are and then recalculate at the end)

Group Items

• big cooler (I'll check if the department has one)
• stoves, pots, pans (department)
• tarp (department)
• firewood
• breakfast (Sat and Sun)
• dinner (Sat)
• ice
• maps (topo, geologic, soils, air photos)
• what am I forgetting?

Instructor

Andrew Bliss
Office: Stevenson 3009A
Office hours: Tuesday 3-4 p.m. and by appointment
Email: blissclass at gmail
Webpage: http://glacierbliss.com/

Lectures

TTh 1-2:50; 3065 Stevenson Hall
Lectures will include discussion so you'll have to keep up with the assigned readings.

Labs

Th 3-4:50; 3065 Stevenson Hall
The labs will have a variety of activities including some short field trips. The exercises will be posted on the web at least 24 hours prior to the lab. You should print and bring a copy to lab.

Field Trip

We will take a weekend field trip to the Lake Tahoe area to observe the geomorphologic effects of glaciers. We will leave on September 26th at 3pm, camp for the night at the Fallen Leaf Campground, go for a hike on the 27th, and return to Cotati late on the 27th or in the afternoon on the 28th. If you have a time conflict that you cannot get out of, please let me know in the first week of classes.

Course website

Announcements, labs, extra readings, web links, test answers after the fact, and more will be posted. I use a little bit of JavaScript for the navigation bar on the left side. If you are using IE7 with the default settings, you will need to click the warning bar to allow the "blocked content" to run.

Required reading

Process Geomorphology by Ritter, Kochel, and Miller (4th edition). Pages to read for each class are listed on the syllabus. Additionally, we may read some recent scientific papers which will be distributed in class or on-line.

Grading

Labs 35%
Midterms 20% (10% each)
Final Exam 25%
Class project 20%

Your responsibilities

• Attend lectures and labs. Be punctual.
• Do the reading and assignments.
• Participate in lecture, discuss in sections, and ask questions.
• Maintain the highest academic integrity.
• Bring a calculator to class and lab.

Teaching philosophy

To me, the natural world is a fascinating place. The beauty and complexity of what I see around me motivates me to want to understand how it works. Observations of the real world form the basis for scientific theories which can lead to predictive models of the processes that shape the landscape around us. In this class we will be focusing on geomorphology but we will also try to understand the interactions between geomorphology and the other parts of the earth system. To accomplish this, we will draw from a variety of scientific disciplines: chemistry, math, biology, geology, and physics. We will use a variety of instructional techniques including traditional lectures, peer instruction, audience participation, in-class demonstrations, interactive laboratories often with up-to-date web materials, and a few field trips.

Course Description

Geomorphology explores the relationships between surface processes such as weathering, mass movements, running water, wind, waves and glacial ice, and the landforms these processes create. The course looks at geomorphic systems and the role of tectonics and climate in changing the balance of these systems. Actual research projects are presented to demonstrate geomorphic approaches to envi-ronmental questions. Students are exposed to research methods in the field and lab. Field trips and field reports, use of maps, and hands-on labs are included.

Prerequisites

• Geog 204 Global Environmental Systems (formerly Physical Geography) (4)
  An integrated study of the physical environment, focusing on the processes and relationships between the four spheres: the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. Major topics include global and regional patterns of climate and weather, soils, distribution of plants and animals on earth, and erosional and depositional processes that create landforms on the earth's surface. Also explored are possible links between human activities and changes in climate and vegetation patterns and dominant landform processes. Field trips and hands-on lab exercises included.
• Geol 102 Our Dynamic Earth: An Introduction to Geology (3)
  Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. A study of the minerals, rocks and landforms that make up our earth in the context of the dynamic forces that form them and the external forces that break them down. Emphasis on local geology, including earthquakes and other environmental aspects. Laboratory study of minerals, rocks, and maps. Required one-day weekend field trip.

Disabled Students

If you have a disabling condition that may substantially limit your ability to participate in this class, please contact the Disabled Students Services located in Salazar 1049, phone at 664-2677, for confidential assistance and accommodation authorization.

Acknowledgements

Dolly Friedel has graciously shared many of the materials you see here.