GEOG 101-07 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Spring 2012
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Guy King, Butte 517, 898-4858, Email: use Blackboard Learn class email.
Office Hours: Monday 9-10 AM, 11 AM -12 Noon, and Wednesday 9-10 AM, 11 AM-1 PM.
LECTURE: Monday and Wednesday 8-8:50 AM, Butte 503.
LABORATORY: Wednesday 9-10:50 AM, Butte 503.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Physical geography is a survey of the basic processes that determine energy flows through
the atmosphere, and examines the subsequent matter interactions among water, rock, soil, vegetation, and landforms
that create and modify the Earth’s surface. The learning objective of this course is to understand the fundamentals of
matter and energy through recognition of landscape patterns, and the physical, chemical and biological principles and
functions that create those patterns. Put another way, the course objective is to understand the natural environment,
and the role of humans affected by and affecting that environment.
Physical geography integrates information from other fields such as geology, biology, physics, and chemistry to
present a pattern and process paradigm to understanding natural landscapes. The following are the specific course
goals:
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Use and think about maps and spatial data of physical environmental phenomena.
Understand and interpret the implications of associations among physical phenomena in places.
Recognize and interpret at different scales the relationships among physical patterns and processes.
Become familiarized with the tools used to view, interpret processes, and recognize change occurring in our
physical geographic environment.
Develop an understanding of earth’s physical landforms, and the processes controlling variations in weather
and climate, soils, and plant communities around the world.
Provide a foundation upon which to build a better understanding of the human interrelationships with the
physical environment.
This is an approved General Education course for Physical Science credit.
REQUIREMENTS: Students are responsible for all class materials and should be prepared for lectures by reading the
assigned textbook chapters before class. Effective writing, critical reading, thinking, and a broad familiarity with
physical processes operating locally, globally and universally are important learning goals of this course. Attendance is
expected at every class and laboratory meeting.
All GEOG 101 quizzes and exams are completed through the use of Blackboard Learn software. Students are advised
to start and complete assessments early. Computer problems are normal. Make sure you have alternate access to the
Internet (a second computer, public library, etc.). Students are responsible for turning in all course assignments
on time.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
Robert Christopherson (2008). Geosystems. 7th Edition, Prentice Hall, NJ
(ISBN 9780136005988)
Rand McNally (2009) Goode’s World Atlas. 22nd Edition, Prentice Hall, NJ
(ISBN 9780321652003)
GRADING: They are determined by scores on the three lecture examinations, the lecture final examination, 14
reading quizzes, and laboratory work as follows:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Final Examination
Reading Quizzes (14 total, 10 pts each)
Lab
Total
50 points
50 points
50 points
100 points
140 points
220 points
600 points (10 points not counted)
GRADE CURVE:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
93-100%
90-92.99%
87-89.99%
83-86.99%
80-82.99%
77-79.99%,
73-76.99%
70-72.99%
65-69.99%
60-64.99%
<60%
Statement on Academic Honesty: Students are required to do their own work. Using work done by other students is
cheating which is a violation of CSU-Chico University Policy. For more information on academic honesty, see the
Student Judicial Affairs section of the University Catalog.
Disability Support Services: If you have a documented disability that may require accommodations, contact the
Accessibility Resource Center (ARC).
MW - LECTURE SCHEDULE
Lecture topics
Dates
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Text
chapters
27
29
Introduction to class
Physical geography, the scientific method, energy/matter
1
5
Geographic grid: latitude, longitude, time, geospatial data
1
10
12
Earth-Sun relationships, latitudinal effects, seasons
Atmosphere, energy balance and budgets, solar radiation
2
3,4
17
19
Planetary and local temperature patterns
Atmospheric pressure, wind systems, ocean currents
5
6
24
26
Water on Earth, humidity, adiabatic processes, clouds/fog
Exam 1
7
1
3
Air masses and fronts, lifting mechanisms
Storm systems
8
8
8
10
Hydrological cycle, water resources
Global climate systems and classification
9
10
15
17
Climate change
Exam 2
10
22
24
Internal earth energy – radioactive decay, earth materials
Rock cycle, plate tectonics
11
29
31
Tectonic processes in the Earth’s crust, earthquakes, volcanoes
Weathering processes, mass movement, Karst
12
13
5
7
Fluvial processes, watersheds, stream erosion,
Streamflow, floods
14
14
Landforms created by wind
15
19-23
Fall Break
26
28
Ocean energy, coastal processes and landforms
Exam 3
16
3
5
Glacial processes and landforms
Soils
17
18
10
12
The biosphere: ecosystem processes and patterns
Biomes, organism distribution and patterns
19
20
17-21
Comprehensive Final Exam (online)