THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
(2009 – 2010)
GRM 2201
GEOMORPHOLOGY
1. Course Description
This course aims to provide an introduction to the science of geomorphology with emphasis on:
 Presenting a basic knowledge of earth materials, their origin and weathering characteristics;
 Knowing the structure, origin, and time relationship of landforms;
 Understanding the mechanisms by which geomorphic processes create landforms;
 Developing skills of landform description; and
 Appreciation of various landforms
2. Personnel
Instructor:
Tutors:
Dr. Sai Leung NG
Office:
FYB Room 208
Phone:
2609-6527
Email:
slng@cuhk.edu.hk
Mr. Wang Kai
Office:
FYB Room 219
Phone:
2609-6233
Email:
chesswangkai@cuhk.edu.hk
Consultation time: TBA
Ms. Gao Xuehua Emmy
Office:
FYB Room 219
Phone:
2609-6233
Email:
gaoxh@cuhk.edu.hk
Consultation time: TBA
3. Course Format
One lecture session of 2 hours is conducted every week. No tutorials will be arranged but 4
half-day field trips/exercise will be arranged for the course.
 Lecture:
every Thursday (except 1/10 and 29/10), 8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. (ELB LT3)
 Field trip :
4 half-days
4. Course Performance
 Field trip report (7.5% x 4 = 30%): Field trip is an integral part of the teaching and learning process
and all students have to take part. Although no mark is allocated for the attendance, the field trip
report is not accepted if the student is absent from the trip. Late assignment will be penalized at
the rate of 10 % per day. Furthermore, be punctual, the coach will depart sharply.
 High Island Reservoir
(Oct 3, Saturday)
 CUHK Campus
(Oct 24, Saturday)
 Yuen Long
(Nov 14, Saturday)
 Cape D’Aguilar
(Nov 28, Saturday)
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
Final examination (60%): All materials of the course will be covered. Both short and long
questions will be included. The question paper will be printed in both English and Chinese.
 Quiz (2.5% x 4 = 10 %): Four quizzes (5 M.C. questions, dates: Oct 8, Oct 22, Nov 19 and Dec 3)
will be conducted during the lecture. The objective of quiz is to encourage students to attend the
lectures and review the taught subjects.
5. Syllabus
Week
10/9
Topic
1. Introduction: what is geomorphology?
17/9
2. Plate tectonics
24/9
3. Tectonic landforms
1/10
Field trip 1 (High Island
Reservoir)
Public Holiday: National Day
8/10
4. Weathering
15/10
5. Mass movement and landslide
22/10
6. Particulate movement and soil erosion
29/10
Field trip 2 (CUHK
campus)
Conference Leave
5/11
7. Slope evolution and management
12/11
8. Fluvial processes and landforms
19/11
9. River management
26/11
10. Coastal processes and landforms
3/12
11. Coastal management
7/12 (make-up)
Field Trip
Field trip 3 (Tai Tong)
Field trip 4 (Cape D
Aguilar)
12. Karst, aeolian and glacial landforms
6. Internet Resource
All important information is included in the course website of the WebCT.
7. Reference
There is no prescribed textbook for the course. You can pick your own favourable book and
read the correspondent chapters. Nevertheless, a set of copies of references will be reserved in the
Reference Room (Rm 220, WFY Bldg.) of the Department of Geography and Resource
Management.
L1 What is geomorphology?
Bloom, A.L. (1998) Chapter 1, The Scope of Geomorphology. Geomorphology. (3rd ed.) Pp.3-18.
New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
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L2 Plate Tectonics
Marshak, S. (2001) Chapter 4. The ways the Earth works: plate tectonics. Earth, Portrait of a
Planet. Pp.77-108. New York: W.W. Norton.
L3 Tectonic Landforms
Bloom, A.L. (1998) Chapter 5, Tectonic Landforms. Geomorphology. (3rd ed.) Pp.67-91. New
Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
L4 Weathering
Bloom, A.L. (1998) Chapter 7, Rock Weathering. Geomorphology. (3rd ed.) Pp.119-146. New
Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
L5 Mass Movement and Landslide
Bloom, A.L. (1998) Chapter 9, Mass Wasting and Hillslopes Weathering. Geomorphology. (3rd ed.)
Pp.119-146. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
L6 Particulate Movement and Soil Erosion
伍世良 (2001) 香港水土流失及其防治研究。水土保持研究，第8卷第4期：86-90頁。
L7 Slope Evolution and Management
蘇澤霖 (1993) 香港坡地問題，在: 蘇澤霖、陳金永 (編) 地理研究與發展，香港大學出版
社，205-220頁。
L8 Fluvial Processes and Landforms
Bloom, A.L. (1998) Chapter 10, The Fluvial Geomorphic System. Geomorphology. (3rd ed.)
Pp.198-232. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Bloom, A.L. (1998) Chapter 11, Evolution of the Fluvial System. Geomorphology. (3rd ed.) Pp.231256. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
L9 River Management
Brookes, A. & K. Gregory (1988) Channelization, River Engineering and Geomorphology. In:
Hooke, J.M. (ed.) Geomorphology in Environmental Planning. John Wiley & Sons, pp.145-167.
L10 Coastal Processes and Landforms
Bloom, A.L. (1998) Chapter 20, Explanatory Description of Coasts. Geomorphology. (3rd ed.)
Pp.445-457. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
L11 Coastal Management
Yim, W.W.S. (1996) Towards Sustainable Coastal Development in Hong Kong. In: A. Page &
S.J. Reels (eds.), The Urban Geology of Hong Kong. Geological Society of Hong Kong Bulletin
Number 6, Geology Society of Hong Kong, pp.203-219.
L12 Karst, Aeolian and Glacial Landforms
Bloom, A.L. (1998) Chapter 7, Karst and Speleology. Geomorphology. (3rd ed.) Pp.147-168. New
Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Bloom, A.L. (1998) Chapter 13, Arid and Savanna Landscape; Eolian Processes and Landforms.
Geomorphology. (3rd ed.) Pp.445-457. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Bloom, A.L. (1998) Chapter 17, Glacial Geomorphology. Geomorphology. (3rd ed.) Pp.373-394.
New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
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