Updated November 20, 2009

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GEOMORPHOLOGY - Earth Science 307 - Autumn, 2009

Instructor:

Professor William Locke

Office:

Traphagen Hall, room 223; 994-6918; wlocke@montana.edu

Office Hours: 

Tu/Th 11-12 and any time my office door is open.

Textbooks:

1) D. F. Ritter, R. C. Kochel, and J. R. Miller; 2002, Process Geomorphology (4th), W. C. Brown, Dubuque, IA

 

2) Geomorphology Field Trip Notes
 

 

General Course Summary:

This course meets Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 PM in room 204 Traphagen. The labs meet in 100 Traphagen Tuesday (Section 02) or Wednesday (Section 04) at  2:10 PM, or at the Motor Pool (7th opposite the Parking kiosk) for field trips. Please be punctual - we will start on time!

The study of geomorphology provides a working understanding of the terminology of landforms and the processes and history of landscape evolution. It serves the needs of geologists, geographers, soil scientists, construction engineers, and others for whom an understanding of the Earth's surface is essential. If you cannot recall the general principles involved with the work of water, wind, ice, etc., you should review your notes and text from the prerequisite course. Mention will be made in this course to material covered in Physical Geography (weather and climate) and Historical Geology, but only ESCI 111 OR 112 is required. Spreadsheet modeling of Earth surface processes makes CS 150 or equivalent experience essential.

The course grade will be based on two hour exams, a final exam, and lab exercises (field trip and/or map work and computer models). Weightings will be approximately 20, 20, 35, and 30%, respectively, with the weakest performance down-weighted by 5%. All test scores are raw, and will be curved to about 15% A, 35% B, 35% C, and 15% D. In the context of this course:

  • A = Excellent knowledge and understanding of material, some evidence of creative thought, confidence in application of principles;
  • B = Good knowledge of material, some minor lack of understanding and confidence in application, little creative thought;
  • C = Fair knowledge of material, significant gaps in understanding, little demonstrated ability in application or creative thought;
  • D = Adequate knowledge and understanding of material; and
  • F = Unacceptable knowledge and understanding of material.

In this course, you should consider the textbook as your major source for information. Class time will be used for review, discussion, and summary, thus the reading must be done prior to its assigned date. Given the wide range of backgrounds and interests represented in the students in this course, it is your responsibility to request clarification where necessary, and mine to provide it. Questions - in class, by e-mail, or outside of class - are always in order!

In class, I will emphasize material which I feel is significant, present a little new material, present case studies which display and develop the material in the text, and use slides of landforms and topographic maps to clarify important concepts. I also have Reference Quadrangles (topographic maps of a variety of landforms and landscapes) available in drawers (labeled "Reference Quads") in the labeled map case in Traphagen 116 - please feel free to refer to them at any time (just keep them in order!).

Teamwork is encouraged in the labs.  I will accept work submitted by teams provided that team members number three (3) or fewer, and all names appear on the work.   If there is any substantial contribution from another class member or outside agent (TA, tutor, previous student...), it must be acknowledged.  Submission of substantively similar work without attribution is plagiarism, and is subject to class and University disciplinary action.

Course Schedule:

Day

Month

Date

Topic

Chapter

Tues

Sept

1

Introduction to Geomorphology 

1

Thurs

 

3

Geomorphic concepts

2

Tues

 

8

Structural Processes, Landforms & Landscapes 

2

Thurs

 

10

Volcanic Processes, Landforms & Landscapes; Climate

2

Tues

 

15

Chemical weathering and soils

3

Thurs

 

17

Soils and Geomorphology 

3

Tues

 

22

Slope Processes

4

Thurs

 

24

Slope Landforms and Landscapes

4

Tues

Sept

29

FIRST HOUR EXAM

1-4

Thurs

 Oct

1

Hydrology and Basins 

5

Tues

  

6

Fluvial Processes and Groundwater

6

Thurs

 

8

Fluvial Landforms 

7

Tues

 

13

Fluvial Landscapes; Fans & Terraces 

7

Thurs

 

15

Eolian Processes

8

Tues

 

20

Eolian Landforms & Landscapes

8

Thurs

 

22

Glacial Processes 

9

Tues

 

27

Glacial Processes (cont.)

9

Thurs

Oct

29

Glacial Landforms 

10

Tues

Nov

3

Glacial Landscapes 

10

Thurs

 

5

SECOND HOUR EXAM

1-10

Tues

 

10

Periglacial Processes & Landforms

 11 

Thurs

 

12

Periglacial Landscapes  

11

Tues

 

17

Karst Processes 

12

Thurs

 

19

Karst Landforms & Landscapes 

12

Tues

 

24

Coastal Processes

13

Thurs

Nov

26

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY - NO CLASS

 

Tues

Dec

1

Coastal Landforms 

13

Thurs

 

3

Coastal Landscapes 

13

Tues

 

8

Quaternary Stratigraphy - Causation

  

Thurs

 

10

Review and assessment

  

Thursday

Dec

17

FINAL EXAMINATION – 12 noon to 1:50 PM - TRAP 204

1-13

FIELD TRIP AND LABORATORY SCHEDULE:
The focal point of this course is the development of familiarity with Earth surface processes, resultant landforms, and their interrelationships across space and time. The major hands-on tools for this purpose are field trips, topographic map interpretation, and computer modeling. Field trips will take precedence because of possible weather constraints, however, labs will meet regardless of the weather. Cancellation of trips will take place only in case of heavy rain or snow or excessive snow cover - the decision will be made by noon on lab days, and will be posted on the department chalkboard as well has on this Web page. In case of weather, the field trip will usually be held on the following week.  Field trips will depart promptly at 10 minutes past the hour from in front of the Motor Pool (Seventh SE of the Parking Kiosk). All field trips will require the full 3 hours scheduled for them - please do not plan activities which will require you to return early. For liability, communication, and personnel management reasons, private cars will not be allowed to accompany field trips.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to dress appropriately for the field trips. Good walking shoes are strongly recommended and a windbreaker, rain gear, gloves, hat, and parka may be necessary. 

PRELIMINARY Laboratory Schedule

Week

Field Trip

Other

Sept 1/2

NO FORMAL LAB THIS WEEK - browse "Techniques of topo map interpretation" link as discussed in class

Sept 8/9

 

 Spreadsheet modeling - SCARP

Sept 15/16

 Field Trip #1 - Bridger Canyon

 

Sept 22/23

 

 Topographic Maps - Structural Landscapes 

Sept 29/30

 Field Trip # 3 - Gallatin Canyon

 

Oct 6/7

 

 Spreadsheet modeling - SCARP2

Oct 13/14

 

 Topographic Maps - Fluvial Landscapes

Oct 20/21

 Field Trip # 2 - South Gallatin Valley

 

Oct 27/28

 

 Spreadsheet modeling - LONGPRO (Recipe)

Nov 3/4

  VETERANS’ DAY HOLIDAY (a week early!)

Nov 10/11

 Field Trip # 4 - Spanish Creek

 

Nov 17/18

 Field Trip # 5 - Paradise Valley

 

Nov 25/26

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Dec 1/2

 

 Spreadsheet modeling - GLACPRO (Recipe)

Dec 8/9

 

 Review - Topographic maps