SANTA MONICA COLLEGE SUMMER 2007 Office: DH 314M Web Page: http://homepage.smc.edu/drake_vicki INSTRUCTOR: Prof. V. Drake e-mail: drake_vicki@smc.edu Office Phone: 310-434-8652 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 5 LECTURE AND LAB COURSE DESCRIPTION Physical geography is the study of the Earth’s surface and the four great realms: atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere. The physical processes within each of these four great Earth realms, as well as the interrelationships between the processes, are examined through the use of lectures, slides, videos and other geographic tools (including maps, charts, graphs and more). Laboratory work emphasizes the practical application of concepts presented in lecture, introduces the student to some of the tools and methods used in Physical Geography STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Students will be able to identify spatial patterns and interrelationships between systems and cycles that affect life and shape landscapes. Students will demonstrate cartographic literacy, including map interpretation and, using spatial analysis skills, will be able to analyze, recognize and evaluate spatial distributions on all scales from local to global. REQUIRED TEXT Introducing Physical Geography, 4th Edition, by Strahler and Strahler Physical Geography Supplement by Vicki Drake World Atlas, Pencils (No.2 lead and Colored), Ruler, Calculator REQUIRED TOOLS/EQUIPMENT FOR LAB Calculator, ruler, colored pencils, scissors, glue, tape, pen and pencils (No.2 lead) PLEASE BRING THESE TO CLASS EVERY DAY – THERE WILL BE LAB EVERY DAY!! COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION Grading is based on attendance and participation in class discussions, homework assignments, lab assignments in class, lab quizzes, a midterm and a final exam. The midterm and final exam will consist of objective questions and short answer essays. Everyone must take the final exam: failure to do so will result in a grade of FAIL no matter the grade going into the final! Grades will be computed mathematically based on the total number of points received. Evaluation: Midterm Exam Homework/Labs Lab Quizzes Final Exam 40% 10% 10% 40% Keep your attendance regular and punctual, excessive absences may result in exclusion from the class. Arriving late for class is disruptive for everyone, and habitual tardiness may result in exclusion from class. GETTING HELP If you are having difficulty with the concepts presented in class, I will be happy to help you. Please see me after class, during my office hours, or contact me through voice-mail or e-mail. Getting help early will assure a more successful course grade. CLASSROOM CONDUCT/ACADEMIC HONESTY Students violating college policies regarding personal conduct and academic honesty are subject to disciplinary measures. Disruptive behavior in the classroom will not be tolerated and may result in temporary (or permanent) removal from the class. Additionally, cheating, copying, plagiarism (either from another’s paper, from a pre-written assignment, or downloaded from the Internet) will result in removal from the class, a grade of F for the semester and possible expulsion from Santa Monica College. Please refer to the Standards of Student Conduct or the current Santa Monica College catalog. 1 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) DATE SUBJECT Week 1 June 18-21 Week 2 June 25-28 Week 3 July 2-5 READING Introduction to Physical Geography Representations of Earth: Maps Earth-Sun Relations Atmosphere – Energy Balance Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Atmospheric Pressure and Winds Global Circulation Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation Chapter 3 and 5 Chapter 4 NO CLASS – WEDNESDAY, JULY 4 Air Masses, Fronts and Atmospheric Disturbances: Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Hurricanes 1 1 1 2 Chapter 6 Week 4 July 9-12 MIDTERM EXAM: MONDAY, JULY 9 Earth’s Interior and Plate Tectonics Earth Materials: rocks and minerals Week 5 July 16-19 Volcanoes and Magmatic Features Folding and Faulting and Earthquakes Weathering and Mass Movement Water: Groundwater and Karst Topography Chapter 13 Fluvial Processes: Surface Water Arid Landforms and Aeolian Processes Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Week 6 July 23-26 THURSDAY – JULY 26 Chapter 11 and 12 Chapter 14 Chapter 16 FINAL EXAM PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 5 – LAB SYLLABUS (TENTATIVE SCHEDULE – SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Labs provided by Physical Geography Supplement, Vicki Drake SCHEDULE Week Exercise Reading Week 1 Map Scale Lab and Map Projections Township and Range Topographic Mapping Earth-Sun Relationships Seasons and Analemma Temperature Controls: Insolation Energy -Temperature-Heat Labs pp 39-45 pp 38-39 pp 49-53 pp 74-80 pp 80-85 pp 99-104 pp 105-113 Week 2 LAB EXAM # 1 Atmospheric Pressure Air Pressure and Winds Pressure Gradient and Wind Global Circulation pp 115-121 pp 121-126 pp 126-129 pp 129-143 2 Environmental Lapse Rates, Ocean Currents Humidity pp 136-139 pp 149-152 Week 3 LAB EXAM # 2 Adiabatic Processes: Celsius Adiabatic Processes: Fahrenheit Stability Clouds Air Masses and Fronts pp 159-160 pp 159-161 pp 160-161 pp 156-159 pp 176-179 Week 4 LAB EXAM # 3 Surface/Upper Air Analysis Thunderstorm and Hurricanes Rocks & Minerals Relative Dating Interior of Earth Plate Tectonics Plate Tectonics pp 179-188 pp 188-200 pp 362-370 pp 371-373 pp 374-377 pp 377-389 Week 5: LAB EXAM # 4 Magmatic Tectonics: Igneous Features Mantle Plumes Volcanoes Solid Tectonics: Folded Structures San Andreas Fault Seismology Lab Week 6: Weathering Mass Wasting Karst Topography: Groundwater Groundwater Pollution Assessment Floodplains River Systems: Discharge and flooding WEDNESDAY – JULY 28 LAB EXAM # 5 3 pp 401-404 pp 384-386 pp 396-401 pp 404-412 pp 409-415 pp 412-417 pp 424-436 pp 436-444 pp 448-467 pp 484-491