GEOG 101I-15 Introduction to Physical Geography
GE Area B1: Physical Universe
INSTRUCTOR:
Owen Bettis
LECTURE:
2.0hrs/week, Monday and Wednesday 9-9:50, Butte 101
OFFICE HOURS:
Tuesdays and Thursdays 12-2 and Wednesday 11-12 Butte 525
LAB:
2.0hrs/week in laboratory classroom- Butte 503 Friday 9-11, 11-1
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Physical geography addresses how physical, chemical and biological principles
shape human landscape patterns and, in turn, how humans affect their physical
world within a global to local context. Students will learn how the spatial
diversity of agriculture, cities, transportation, and other aspects of the human
landscape are linked to physical processes and geographic patterns of weather and
climate, water, soils, landforms, natural disasters, vegetation, and animals. The
course provides a survey of the basic processes that determine energy flows
through the atmosphere, and examines the subsequent interactions among water,
rock, soil, vegetation, and landforms that create and modify the Earth’s surface.
Students will be introduced to how major transformations in our physical
environment such as climate change, species loss, and water distribution can be
traced to human activities.
GE student learning outcomes: GEOG 101I will address three of the GE student learning outcomes:
Written Communication: Develop effective written communication skills in scientific report writing through
laboratory assignments.
Critical Thinking: Learn to think critically about the geographic environment by examining the implications
of associations among physical phenomena at the local, regional, and global scales.
Active Inquiry: Develop an understanding of Earth’s physical landforms, and the processes controlling
variations in weather and climate, soils, and plant communities using the scientific method.
Pathway associations:
• Diversity Studies
• Food Studies
• Global Development Studies
• International Studies
• Science, Technology and Values
• Sustainability
Diversity Studies: Natural diversity is examined in conjunction with physical processes that are taking place
over different landscapes and have taken place to shape the current landscape. Chico’s environmental
conditions, for example, may be very similar to or very different from other regions of the world. The
course assists students to learn what physical processes lead to unique landscapes where we live.
Food Studies: Physical environmental conditions in various regions determine what vegetation can grow
there. Fundamental knowledge in regions and their associated climate, soil, and water conditions, for
example, is essential to what food crops can be grown in a given location.
Global Development Studies: Changes in physical conditions due to climate change as well as natural
disasters alter the world where we live. Environmental stewardship, or lack of it, has impacts on physical
conditions beyond political borders. Students will develop in-depth understanding of vulnerability that
different physical landscapes may regularly face. Understanding such vulnerability prepares students to
possess unbiased views of the world.
International Studies: Different from political borders, physical landscape typically changes gradually from
country to country. Different physical landscapes and environmental conditions make given regions unique.
Students will learn to appreciate different landscapes and the physical environment, within which we live
and develop unique ways of life.
Science, Technology and Values: We are increasingly aware of our physical environment that surrounds us
and how it impacts our lives. The course helps students to think with scientific method, use scientific
notations, and read critically with physical processes in related fields of study.
Sustainability: Our everyday lives are closely related to the physical environment within which we reside.
Through our everyday lives, we are active players involved in changes in physical landscapes and we
experience feedback from the natural environment that we have modified. Through the course, students will
learn fundamentals of physical processes on physical landscapes so that they will be aware of the impacts
that their actions may lead to.
ORGANIZATION:
The course is based on four units: Energy-atmosphere system; water, weather,
and climate systems; Soils, ecosystems and biomes; and Earth surfaceatmosphere Interface.
These units will introduce students to fundamentals (energy and matter),
processes, interactions, scientific analysis methods and spatial patterns within the
physical geographic environment, which are associated with the atmosphere,
hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.
REQUIREMENTS:
Students are responsible for all class materials and should be prepared for lectures
by reading the assigned textbook sections before class and laboratory
assignments. Students must print all labs before coming to the lab meeting. Labs
will be posted on Blackboard Learn.
CORE TEXT(S):
Online-only textbook:
Fairbanks, D.H.K. (2014). Discovering Physical Geography: Our Global
Environment, 1st Edition, Kendall-Hunt Publishers, Dubuque, IA.
Additional web-based materials available on BlackBoard Learn
GRADING POLICIES:
Will be determined by scores on the three lecture midterm examinations, the
lecture final examination, reading quizzes, laboratory assignments and lab final
exam as follows*:
First Exam
Second Exam
Third Exam
Final Examination
Lab Component
60 points
60 points
80 points
100 points
300 points
Total 600 points
* Point system is subject to change
Attendance policy: Attendance is expected at every class and lab meeting. I understand, however, that
personal things happen during any semester that may keep you from class. Rather than punish you for not
showing up (your grade will most likely drop by itself) I will give you 20 extra credit points if you do not miss a
single class or lab. If you miss only one class/lab you will get 15 points, missing two classes/labs gets you 10
points, and missing three classes/labs gets you 5 points. Points will be awarded at the end of the semester.
“Excused” absences will not count as missed classes, though you will need to speak with me in person to get
any absence excused.
Course Etiquette: Minor requests: Please, turn off cell phones in lecture and lab to avoid disruption. Please do
not eat in lecture or lab (we’re ALL hungry!). Please do not bring drinks in glass bottles into lecture or lab.
§ Student assignments will be handed back promptly in lab section. Any material not picked up in
lecture/lab will be discarded at the end of the semester. Final papers will be held for one semester.
Disability Support Services: If you have a documented disability that may require reasonable
accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services (DSS) for coordination of your academic
accommodations. DSS is located in the Student Services building across from Merriam Library. The DSS
phone number is 898-5959 or FAX 898-4411. Visit the DSS website at http://www.csuchico.edu/dss/.
Statement on Academic Honesty: Academic misconduct (as defined in the current California State University,
Chico catalogue, pg 47, 635) will not be tolerated. Students are encouraged to discuss course materials inside
and outside the classroom. However, all written lab material submitted by students must be their own work
exclusively. No answers to questions cribbed from other students, other classes or the Internet. The highest
standards of honesty are expected when taking exams: no sneaking, peeking or cheat sheeting. If you have any
questions about what constitutes academic dishonesty, or the consequences of academic misconduct, consult the
current university catalogue, the Office of Student Judicial Affairs (Kendall 112), or ask me.
CHEATING CAN AND WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE ASSIGNMENT AND POSSIBLY THE
COURSE. DO NOT CHEAT. IF YOU ARE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT CHEATING IS, SEE ME.
LECTURE SCHEDULE*
Text
Dates
Lecture topics
section(part)
Lab
(field
trip)
MODULE 1 - Science and Phys. Geog. Fundamentals and MODULE 2 - Earth and Earth-Sun Geometry
Aug
25
Scientific Concepts and Methods, Fundamentals of Energy
and Matter
27
Global Address System and Time
2(1)
1
3
HOLIDAY! NO CLASS!
Reasons for Seasons and the Earth-Sun Relationship
2(2)
8
Properties of Radiation
2(3)
1(1), 1(2)
1
NO LAB
2
MODULE 3: Atmosphere
10
Sept
Oct
Composition, Energy, Interactions and Heat
3(1)
15
First Examination
17
Atmospheric Dynamics: Wind to Ocean Circulation Systems
3(2)
22
Atmospheric Dynamics continued
3(2)
24
Moisture: Hydrological Cycle and Water Balance
3(3)
29
Moisture continued
1
What is Weather
3(4)
6
Climate and Climate Change, Chasing Ice
3(5)
8
Climate Change – Chasing Ice
13
Second Examination
3
4
5
6
7
MODULE 4: Geosphere and Module 5: Biosphere
15
Geological Structure and Processes
4(1)
20
Soils
5(1)
22
Plate Tectonics: Topographic Relief, Earthquakes and
Volcanism
4(2)
27
Weathering, Rocks, and Relief
4(3)
29
Rivers and Fluvial Landscapes
4(4)
3
Rivers and Fluvial Landscpaes continued
5
Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biomes
10
Nov
Third Examination
Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biomes continued
17
Arid Land Systems
4(5)
19
Glaciation and Periglaciation
4(6)
1
Coastal Systems
3
TBA
8
TBA
Review
15-19
10
(BCCER)
PAPER
THANKSGIVING BREAK
26
10
9
NO LAB
12
24
Dec
5(2)
8
4(7)
PAPER
PAPER
Final Examination, TBA
* Schedule is subject to change by instructor. Reasonable efforts to notify students will be made.*
PAPER
DUE