The University of British Columbia
Department of Geography
GEOB 206 (sec. 101) Geomorphic Processes and Hazards
Instructor: Dr. Brett Eaton
E-mail: brett.eaton@ubc.ca
Office: rm. 143, Geography
Office Hours:
Session: Fall 2014W
website: ibis.geog.ubc.ca/courses/geob206
Office Phone: (604) 822–2257
Wednesdays 1100–1200hrs
Lecture Times: T Th 1400–1530 hrs
Teaching Assistant: Sarah Davidson
Office: TBA
Office Hours: TBA
Laboratory Times:
(01) T 1530–1730hrs
(02) W 1300–1500hrs
Room: rm 212, Geography
E-mail: n/a
Office Phone: n/a
Room
rm 101 (GEOG)
rm 462 (LSK)
Textbook
• see weekly assigned readings, available from the course website
Course Description
This is a course that is designed to go beyond the qualitative, descriptive geomorphology that is
usually taught at the first year. We will explore the currently accepted qualitative framework for
thinking about geomorphic processes and landforms, and we will also develop the physical principles
and mathematical equations that describe the relevant processes and apply them to geomorphic
problems. The intent is to demonstrate the role that math and physics play in geomorphology,
while covering the basics of the science. The specific objectives of the course are to introduce you
to:
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1. the quantitative equations describing geomorphic processes
2. the major ideas about landscape and landform development
3. some of the techniques used to analyze landforms and geomorphic processes
It will be assumed that students may be interested in taking advanced courses in the natural
sciences, where they will apply the basic principles and methodologies presented here. The emphasis
will be equally weighted between the analytical aspects of the science and the descriptive, theoretical
aspects.
Course Structure & Evaluation
The course includes regular lectures (in which student discussion is strongly encouraged), assigned
readings, laboratory assignments and two examinations:
1. Lectures will be given on the weekly topics, listed below. I will be working from the required
readings, and will use figures from them during lectures. You are strongly encouraged to take
your own supplementary notes or diagrams during class. Clickers will be used in class. Your
scores on clicker questions and in-class worksheets will be used to calculate a participation
mark for each student. Clickers can be purchased from the UBC bookstore.
2. Weekly readings will be assigned and posted on the course website, and during the
lecture, I will assume that you are familiar with all of the assigned reading material. Prior to
each week of lectures, you will be required to answer several questions based on the readings
online using CONNECT. All of the reading material is examinable, and the readings must
be completed prior to lecture.
3. There will be four (4) lab assignments. Students will have 7 days to complete their assignments, and they must be handed in at the beginning of their scheduled laboratory class.
Students may collaborate during the analysis, but must hand in independently written reports. As a general rule, no late labs will be accepted. You must pass the lab component
in order to pass the course.
4. There will be a midterm examination on Thursday, Oct 16, 2014 that will cover material
from lectures, readings and lab assignments.
5. There will be a final examination during the regular examination period. All material from
lectures, labs and readings is examinable. Do not make travel or employment plans until the
time of the exam has been finalized.
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Laboratory assignments
Midterm examination
Final grades will be determined as follows, . . . Final examination
In-class participation
Online reading questions
Total
20%
25%
35%
10%
10%
100%
Lecture Schedule
Date
(Week 1) Sep 3 – 5*
(Week 2) Sep 8 – 12
(Week 3) Sep 15– 19
(Week 4) Sep 22 – 26
(Week 5) Sep 29 – Oct 3
(Week 6) Oct 6 –10
(Week 7) Oct 14 – 17
(Week 8) Oct 20 – 24
(Week 9) Oct 27 –31
(Week 10) Nov 3 – 7
(Week 11) Nov 10 – 14*
(Week 12) Nov 17 – 21
(Week 13) Nov 24 – 28
Lecture & Lab Topics
Introduction & basics of geomorphology
Class cancelled Tuesday (Imagine Day)
Assigned Reading: Bridge and Demicco, 2008: 9 - 31
Landscapes, hypsometry & isostacy
Assigned Reading: Strahler, 1952: 1117-1114
Environmental physics I: gravity force
Lab 1: Interpreting hypsometric integrals (5 marks)
Assigned Reading: Eaton, 2012a
Environmental physics II: fluid forces, turbulence & energy
Assigned Reading: Eaton and Rosenfeld, in review: 1-17
Environmental physics III: entrainment, suspension & transport
Lab 2: Analyzing slope stability (5 marks)
Assigned Reading: Eaton and Rosenfeld, in review: 17-28
Mass movement types & hazards
Midterm this Thursday
Assigned Reading: Cruden and Varnes, 1996
Fluvial processes & landforms
Lab 3: Identifying & classifying landslides (5 marks)
Assigned Reading: Church, 1992
Environmental physics IV: waves
Assigned Reading: Bridge and Demicco, 2008: 213 - 221, 227-233
Coastal processes & landforms
Lab 4: Classifying stream channel pattern (5 marks)
Assigned Reading: Pethick, 1984: 91-125
Environmental physics V: flowing ice & glacial sediment transport
Assigned Reading: Trenhaile, 2013: 165- 199
Glacial environments: erosion
University closed Tuesday
Assigned Reading: Treatise on Geomorphology, 2013: ch 8.8
Glacial environments: deposition
Assigned Reading: Treatise on Geomorphology, 2013: ch 8.11
Review
Geomorphic Processes – 4
References:
Bridge, J. and R. Demicco. 2008. Earth Surface Processes, Landforms and Sediment Deposits.
Cambridge University Press.
Church, M.A. 1992. Channel Morphology and Typology. in The Rivers Handbook. P. Calow and
G.E. Petts (eds). Blackwell Science, Oxford.
Cruden, D.M. and DJ. Varnes. 1996. Landslide Types and Processes. in Landslides: Investigation
and Mitigation. A.K. Turner, and R.L. Shuster (eds.). National Academy Press, Washington.
Eaton, B.C. 2012. Forces in Geomorphology. Course notes for GEOB 206. Unpublished.
Eaton, B.C. and J. Rosenfeld. In review. Chapter X: Mechanisms of flow and sediment transport in
fluvial ecosystems: physical and ecological consequences. in Ecosystems: a Biogeoscience Approach,
E. Johnson and Y. Martin (ads). Cambridge University Press.
Menzies, J., Hess, D.P., 2013. Depositional features. In: Shroder, J. (Editor in Chief), Giardino,
R., Harbor, J. (Eds.), Treatise on Geomorphology. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, vol. 8, Glacial
and Periglacial Geomorphology, pp. 127140.
Munro-Stasiuk, M.J., Heyman, J., Harbor, J., 2013. Erosional features. In: Shroder, J. (Editor in
Chief), Giardino, R., Harbor, J. (Eds.), Treatise on Geomorphology. Academic Press, San Diego,
CA, vol. 8, Glacial and Periglacial Geomorphology, pp. 8399.
Pethick, J. 1984. An Introduction to Coastal Geomorphology. Edward Arnold, London.
Strahler, A.N. 1952. Hypsometric (area-altitude) analysis of erosional topography. Bull. Geol.
Soc. Am. 63: 1117-1142.
Trenhaile, A.S. 2013. Geomorphology: A Canadian Perspective. Oxford University Press, Don
Mills.
Policies For The Course
USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LECTURE: With the exception of the CLICKER that each
student is required to have with them at all times, students may not use any hand held devices
during lecture (cell phones, smart phones, tablets, MP3 players, cameras, etc). All hand held
devices should normally be turned off and packed away during class sessions. The use of computers
in the classroom is also strongly discouraged. Students using their computers for texting, e-mail,
Geomorphic Processes – 5
games or other non-class related activities are a source of great distraction to those around them,
and computers are very poorly suited to taking the kinds of notes required in this course, which
rely heavily on diagrams, sketches and equations.
E-MAIL COMMUNICATION: I prefer to deal with questions about the subject material in
person, either during my office hours, immediately after the lecture or during the lab period, and
I am also willing to deal with questions in person outside these times, provided I am not too busy.
I will respond to ALL e-mails that I do receive, so if you do not get a response, I did not get your
e-mail! Using your UBC email account helps to ensure that the e-mail filters do not intercept your
message. Also putting the course number (i.e. GEOB 206) in the subject line helps to make sure
I get your message.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Late laboratory assignments will only be accepted at the discretion of
the instructor or teaching assistant when a compelling reason has been presented, preferably before
the deadline is missed. A late penalty of 10% per day will be deducted from the final mark. No
late labs that are marked on a pass/fail basis will be accepted. No assignments more than 5 days
late will be accepted under any circumstances.
MISSED EXAMINATIONS: If a student knows that they will miss the midterm examination, they should contact the instructor as soon as possible. In most cases, when an acceptable
reason for missing the exam can be documented, the midterm examination will be deferred and the
final grade will be calculated based on the other completed work for the course. In exceptional circumstances (e.g. where absence from the midterm is unavoidable due to official university-related
activities), an alternate midterm examination may be set. Students that miss the final examination will have to obtain, if possible, an academic deferral from their faculty and then sit an
alternate examination to be scheduled and supervised by Enrollment Services. Typically, the delay
between learning the material and writing the examination, combined with the stress associated
with the process of obtaining a deferral, result in much poorer student performance. No alternate
final examination will be provided without an academic deferral, and a grade of zero will be assigned. It is by far the best course of action to attend the regularly scheduled final examination if
at all possible.
EXAMINATION HARDSHIPS: Alternate final examinations will be arranged for those with
exam hardships or exam conflicts, as defined in the University Course Calendar. In this case, the
instructor must be made aware of the exam hardship no less than one month prior to the scheduled
final examination.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: Any and all suspected incidents of academic misconduct (e.g.
cheating, plagiarism, submission of false records or information, etc.) will be referred to the Head
of the Geography Department, who will decide if the matter warrants further action. Disciplinary
measures may include: a letter of reprimand; a failing grade or mark of zero on the assignment
or in the course; suspension of scholarships, bursaries or prizes; suspension from the University;
expulsion from the University; a notation of academic discipline to appear on all official University
transcripts; or revocation of a degree or other academic credentials.