GEOL 412/612- Geomorphology
Fall 2007
Lecture and Labs: MWF 9:00 – 9:50 am, Stevens Hall 134
Textbook: Surface Processes and Landforms, 2nd ed., 1999, D.J. Easterbrook,
Instructor: Adam Lewis
Office: Stevens Hall 226
Phone: 231-6197
e-mail: adam.r.lewis.1@ndsu.edu
Office hours: one hour after lecture or by arrangement
Class URL: TBA
Course Overview
Geomorphology is the study of surface processes and the resulting landforms. In this class we will
focus on the core aspects of geomorphology that overlap with related sciences such as hydrology
(fluvial processes and landforms), soil science (weathering processes and landforms),
paleoclimatology (glacial and periglacial processes and landforms), and structural geology
(topographic expression of subsurface structures). The class will be organized such that we focus on
processes and resulting landform associated with building up the crust first (plate tectonics and
geological structures), then focusing on processes and resulting landforms associated with tearing
down the crust second (weathering, rivers, glaciers). Weather permitting, we will take a fieldtrip to the
mighty Red River of the North on either a Saturday or Sunday – we can either walk or bike, your
choice. Grades will be based on three exams, lab assignments and a term project (see below).
Attendance is important: general progress will be gauged on the basis of occasional, unannounced, 10minute quizzes given at the beginning of class.
Grading
Exam 1 and 2 are worth 20% each. Exam 3, the final, is worth 25%.
Assignments (homework/labs) and Quizzes (most will be unannounced) - 15%
Term project - 20%
Letter grades will be assigned as follows: A >90; B 90-80; C 80-70; D 70-60; F <60. These may be
adjusted to shift the class average (curving the grades) and to credit things like demonstrated effort and
class participation.
Exams will be given in class, closed book, without notes. Exam reviews will be held in class a few
days before the exam date. Graduate students can expect one or two extra questions, usually longanswer form.
Labs and homework will be given in class where we’ll take some time to discuss them and get started.
However, you will most likely have to finish them on your own time; due dates will be clearly
indicated on each. Discussion of these assignments with your peers is expected and encouraged but
the final product should be your own work. If you let others do the labs/home works for you, you
won’t fully understand the concepts and you’ll fail the exams.
Term projects for undergraduates will be either 1) to write and illustrate a geomorphic field guide for
a selected area or 2) create a new Google Earth/Google maps-based lab with two sets of questions, one
suitable for use in a college-level class and the other for a K-12 lesson. For the field guide, use maps
plus research to produce a professional-looking field guide with 2 or more stops that show key
geomorphic features (I can supply areas). At least 4 referenced sources must be paper – that means
from a published source. You can get them from the internet but they must be real published
documents, i.e. NOT the opinion of some unknown person on a website. If you decide to create a new
lab, use the ones we’ve been doing as a guide. Select a geomorphic process and/or feature, then, find a
map region that can be used as a base. Include detailed explanations with your answer key. Creativity
will be rewarded. Graduate students should write a fully referenced review of the surficial geology of
their study area. Same rules apply to referenced sources. Write it so that it can become a chapter in
your thesis (you’ll thank me later).
Americans with Disabilities Act
Any students with disabilities or special needs are invited to share their concerns with the instructor as
soon as possible such that reasonable accommodation(s) can be made.
Academic Code of Conduct
I emphasize the importance of your adherence to the North Dakota State University’s Code of
Academic Responsibility and Conduct, especially those portions concerned with plagiarism and
cheating. You can familiarize yourself with the details of academic conduct at
www.nodak.edu/policy/335.htm.
Tentative Course Schedule
Date
Topic
8/26
Introduction to geomorphology
Start part I – Building up the crust
8/28
Mega-scale Earth landforms/plate tectonics
Reading
Ch 1
Ch 8
8/31
9/2
9/4
LAB 1 the Earth’s surface features
Tectonic landforms
Tectonic landforms
Ch 8-10
Ch 8-10
9/7
9/9
9/11
Labor Day Holiday
Tectonic landforms (guest lecturer)
Tectonic landforms (guest lecturer)
Ch 8-10
Ch 8-10
9/14
9/16
9/18
LAB 2 Tectonic landforms; LAB 3 Igneous landforms
Reading and finish labs (No Class – Lake Superior field course)
Reading and finish labs (No Class – Lake Superior field course)
9/21
9/23
9/25
Igneous landforms
Review for Exam 1
Exam 1 (chapters 1; 8-11)
Start part II – Tearing down the crust
9/28
Mechanical weathering
9/30
Chemical weathering
10/2
Weathering controls and products (soils)
Ch 11
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
10/5
10/7
10/9
Mass wasting
Ch 4
Mass wasting
Ch 4
LAB 4 Mass wasting
Assign projects for undergrads: either field guides or new Google-Earth lab
10/12
10/14
10/16
10/17(18)
Fluvial processes
Ch 5
Fluvial processes
Ch 5
Fluvial processes
Ch 5
SATURDAY (or SUNDAY) FIELD TRIP – Red River walk or ride
10/19
10/21
10/23
Fluvial Landforms
LAB 5 fluvial processes
Fluvial Landforms
Ch 6
10/26
10/28
10/30
Finish fluvial
Review for Exam 2
Exam 2 (chapters 2-6)
Ch 5-6
Start part III – Tearing down the crust (specific regimes)
11/2
Groundwater
11/4
Karst topography
11/6
LAB 6 Karst
11/9
11/11
11/13
11/16
11/18
11/20
Cold climate geomorphology
Veterans Day Holiday
Cold climate geomorphology
Ch 6
Ch 7
Ch 7
Ch 12, 13
Ch 12, 13
Cold climate geomorphology
Ch 15
LAB 7 Glacial geomorphology
Climate change-geomorphological record
Ch 14
Schedule meetings individually to review progress on projects 11/16-11/20
11/23
11/25
11/27
Coastal geomorphology
Coastal geomorphology
Thanksgiving Holiday
Ch 16
Ch 16
11/30
12/2
12/4
LAB 8 Coastal geomorphology
Eolian processes - arid regions geomorphology
Eolian processes - arid regions geomorphology
12/7
12/9
12/11
LAB 9 arid regions geomorphology
Quantitative geomorphology – dating methods
Ch 18
Review for final exam (chapters 7, 12-18) – Final projects due
12/16
Final Exam 1:00 PM
Ch 17
Ch 17