GEOG. 160-PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Fall 2013
Sec. 2: MW 9:50-11:30
Rm. KH B-1007
INSTRUCTOR: Steve LaDochy
OFFICE HRS: KH D4061
MW 4-4:45;TR 2-4
Ext. 3-2222; email:
sladoch@calstatela.edu
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
ABOUT THE CLASS: Geography 160 is an introductory physical geography course that presents
the physical environment we live in, how it works, how it nourishes and challenges society, and
how it is impacted by human activities. There is not one day when there is not a significant event
in the world, or even in southern California, that can be considered part of physical geography
(storms, earthquakes, droughts, among others). You will learn how the weather machine works as
well as the slower workings of the oceans and land masses. This course fulfills the science without
a laboratory of the B3 block requirements of the university general education program. Visual aids,
lecture notes and study guides will be available on the course webpage:
http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/sladoch/g160.htm
Geography 160 is a science, without lab course that fulfills the GE B3 requirement.
Course Objectives
1. Students will discover how the different components of the physical
environment (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere) interact.
2. Students will also see how global changes in the physical environment
impact humans as well as other organisms.
3. Students will be able to demonstrate how human activities can impact the
natural environments, both beneficially and detrimentally.
Tentative Schedule
Week 1
Introduction-Our physical environment; spaceship earth;
solar radiation concepts;the Earth's atmosphere(Units 1-3)*
Week 2
Source of energy for the weather machine; recycling solar
energy; heating the earth and the atmosphere (Units 4-7)
Week 3
Atmospheric motion; air-sea interactions, El Niño (Units 8-10)
Week 4
Humidity, precipitation and other wet subjects; storm
systems, severe weather-oh my (Units 11-13)
MIDTERM #1
Week 5 Global climates and changing climates, soils and vegetation of the world
(Units 14,18, 19,20)
Week 6
Intro to landforms; rocks and minerals; plate tectonics and
continental drift (Units27-31)
Week 7
Earthquakes and volcanism-the dynamic Earth (Units 32-34)
MIDTERM #2
Week 8 Erosion, weathering and landform development; mass movement;
(Units 35-37)
Week 9
Fluvial processes and landforms; karst topography;
(Units 38-42)
Week 10 Coastal erosion and glacial landforms and theories of Ice
Ages wind erosion and deserts (Units 43-49); review
**********FINAL EXAM (Wed., Dec. 11th, 9-10:30)********
Course webpage: http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/sladoch/g160.htm
Course information and times of exams will be posted on this webpage.
GRADING:
Course projects (GE Writing Requirement)------------- 15%
Course attendance and participation ----------------- 5%
Mid-term exams (25% each)
------------------------ 50%
Final exam ----------------------------------------- 30%
*Readings from De Blij et al., Physical Geography, 4th ed. (2013). There are
other physical geography texts that may be as useful for this course and may be
used. Try not to choose texts that are earlier than 2010.
Participation
This course will only be successful if you are an active participant. I will actively call on you during
class sessions so come prepared.
Cell Phones
I expect your cell phone to be turned off while in my class. If your cell phone rings, I will likely
answer the phone for you.
For university policy on cheating and plagerism, disabilities, please consult the university
catalogue or schedule of classes.
Reasonable accommodation will be provided to any student who is registered with the Office of
Students with Disabilities and requests needed accommodation.