Geomorphology
GEOL 3265 Spring 2009  

Meeting Time:           Tuesday and Thursday 4:30 pm - 7:15 pm

Meeting Place:           Room C-340 (Science Building)

Instructor:                  Prof. Charles L. Smart                                    
                                    Department of Geology and Meteorology                                    
                                    E-mail address: csmart@kean.edu                                    
                                    Lectures: http://www.kean.edu/~csmart/Geomorphology/Lectures                               

Text:                           "Geomorphology: A Systematic Analysis of Late Cenozoic Landforms", Third Edition, by Arthur L. Bloom.
                                   Waveland Press or Prentice Hall. Available at the bookstore.

Lab Manual:              Interpretation of Landforms from Topographic Maps and Air Photographs Laboratory Manual by Don J. Easterbrook and Dori J. Kovanen. Available at the bookstore.

Recommended:         100 Topographic maps by Richard DeBruin shared during class
Aerial Stereograms by Harold R. Wanless shared during class
Image Interpretation in Geology by Steve Drury shared during class      

Office Hours:             Tuesday and Thursday before class. I am usually nearby Mon.-Fri. The Secretary and Technician  know my cell phone number. Currently I am preparing samples in C-309.

 

Equipment:                 Besides the usual scientific calculator and protractor, each student needs a stereoscope. These are available for $6 at the first class.

 

General Comments       We will study the processes that create modern landforms, while increasing our interpretation skills with topographic maps, aerial and satellite photos. 


Grading
There will be three Hour Tests (15% each) and a cumulative Final Examination (20%).  The questions will come from the lecture, reading, and laboratories.  A practicum and take-home will test your new laboratory skills (10%).  Graded Homework, lab reports, and quizzes count for 10%.

 

Each student will complete a Project: a research term paper on a geomorphic surface feature in New Jersey, or adjacent Pennsylvania from the Water Gap to Milford.  Your proposal, paper and poster presentation will count for the remaining 15%.

 

A field trip will be run on Saturday, April 25th (rain date May 2nd).

 

All tests in regular classroom, closed book, closed notes. Quizzes, lab questions and homework all take-home.

Summary of Tests and Deliverables:
Test 1                    February 19th, Thursday                                    Lectures 1 - 8
Site Info due           March 10th, Tuesday
Test 2                    March 12th, Thursday                                        Lectures 9 - 11, and 13
Term Paper due     April 2nd, Thursday
Test 3                    April 16th, Thursday                                           Lectures for Chapters 14, 16 - 20
Lab Practicum       April 14th, Tuesday                                             All lab topics
Presentations          April 21st and 23rd                                              Attendance required
Field Trip               April 25th, Saturday                                            Attendance required
Final                      April 30th, Thursday                                           All Lectures, reading and labs
FT Rain Date         May 2nd, Saturday                                               Attendance required

Attendance   Attendance is the basis of class participation. Online copies of lecture slides are just outlines, and contain minimal text. They are not intended to replace note taking. Only by coming to class will you be able to get an accurate impression of what will be stressed on tests and the final.   Tests include lab questions. Missed labs and quizzes cannot be made up.

Disabilities       If you have a disability and need any sort of special accommodations, please see me prior to the first test.

Lecture Schedule

Tu/Th                 READING (Bloom Chapters)                TOPICS FOR THE LECTURE

Jan 20/22                              ppt, ppt                               Intro and Scope; Energy Flow

Jan 27, 29                             3(12),4                                 Cenozoic Tectonism; Structural control of Erosion; Climate Change; 

Feb 3, 5                                 5,6                                       Tectonic Landforms; Volcanoes

Feb 10, 12                              7, 8                                     Weathering; Karst

Feb. 17, 19                         9, Test 1                                 Mass Wasting; Test 1 (Lecture 1-8 (includes Chapter 12) and related reading and labs)

 

Feb 24, 26                             10, 11                                    Fluvial Systems; Fluvial System Evolution

 

Mar 3, 5                                 ppt, 13                                Statistical Hypothesis Testing; Arid Landscapes, Aeolian Processes

Mar 10, 12                           14, Test 2                           Site Info due and Periglacial; Test 2 (Lectures 9-11, and 13 and related reading and labs)

March 24                                                      Note:  Last Day to Withdraw

Mar 24, 26                             16, 17                                   Glaciers, Glacial Geomorphology   

Mar. 31, Apr 2                      18, 19                                  Late Quaternary Climates; Shore Processes and Papers due

Apr 7, 9                                    20, Reviews                      Coast Description, Lab and Lecture Review     

Apr 14, 16                           Lab Test, Test 3                  All Lab skills; Test 3 (Lectures for Chapters 14, 16 - 20)

Apr 21, 23                           Group Presentations         Poster sessions due, group order chosen at random

Apr 25                                  Field Trip                         

Apr. 28, 30                           Review, Final Exam           Review; Final Examination all Lectures

May 2                                    Field Trip if needed