LEARNING MODULE 08 – GEOGRAPHY of UTAH
Geosphere 1 (of 3)
LM08CC00 – module overview
Where are we in the course?
LOGISTICS announcement…
 3 Learning modules on the GEOSPERE and Utah’s geography (phys prov; hazards,
resources).
 1 Field trip – natural hazards (HW14)
 2 Atlas chapters (HW10 = Atlas Chapter 4 – Utah’s physiographic provinces; HW11 =
Atlas Chapter 5 – Geosphere… scenery, resources, and hazards.
About the field trip…
Section 001(face to face) - we’ll walk it in a class session… from OSH, to Fault Line Park, and
map the Wasatch fault back to campus. Dates: Feb 8, 10, or 15. I can’t schedule it until I get a
sense of weather patterns.
Section 090 (on-line) – you’ll create your own natural-hazards-related field trip (in HW14-web
instructions) or… you can come on a SATURDAY alternative with me. I’ll run the Wasatch
fault mapping exercise from OSH parking lot back to OSH parking lot on SATURDAY morning
FEBRUARY 12. Please arrive at 9:15 AM at the parking lot for a 9:30 AM departure. We’ll be
back to the northwest edge of campus by 11:30AM and to OSH parking lot surely by noon…
perhaps a little earlier. It’s Okay for Section 001 folks to join the section 090 folks. You MUST
sign the UofU waiver. I’m so sorry but no spouses or kids can tag along. I’ll run it rain or shine.
Wear sensible clothes, walking shoes. Make a preventive pit stop before we set out.
About the Atlas… revamp of how to post… all logistics… content the same
BACK TO CONTENT…
THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS MODULE IS:
Geography of Utah and the GEOSPHERE –
The GEOSPHERE is the foundation of the geography of Utah, determining TOPOGRAPHY and
RELIEF; and largely determining Utah’s natural resources, natural hazards and scenery.
WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW IS:
17 words… and we’re in Part II of course is UTAH’S PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY – the five
subsystems of Earth systems.
BIG CONCEPTS from this Learning Module
GEOSPHERE thoughts… materials, landforms, process… keep all three in mind… always.
TECTONICS sets the scene… erosion and deposition act on it
ROCK CYCLE bedrock versus sediment … resources
SCENERY, RESOURCES, HAZARDS
UTAH IN THE NEWS
Where to locate the extension of Legacy Highway northward… what to consider…
LINKS (LM = learning module; CC = content chunk)
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Lecture Notes
Module Overview
Geosphere: terms, definitions
Look different… how different
Look different… why different
Materials – process = rock cycle
Tectonics – global and regional
Don’t confuse present and past
Utah’s 3 physiographic provinces
Geosphere – 7 perspectives soc-beha
Calendar exercise
Self Quizzes: not active
Download the
MSWord file,
in .doc format.
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LINKS to
lecture chunks
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MP3 only
Not active
LM08CC01 Some terms
17 words LINK
Terms to know LINK
Regions (last Thursday’s theme) are large areas with important similarities: continuous,
contiguous, and cohesive. Next time we'll discuss Utah's three physiographic provinces.
Physiographic provinces are regions based on landforms.
Landforms are the product of tectonics and erosion / deposition. Tectonics sets the scene
(determines elevation and differences in elevation). Erosion / deposition sculpt the scene into
scenery.
Topography … from the Greek for position or place… that word again
Elevation…
Landmark
Landscape = a composite of physical and biological features that form a scene. From the
Glossary of Geology (Jackson, 1997, p. 357): “The distinct association of landforms, esp. as
modified by geologic forces, that can be seen in a single view, e.g. glacial landscape.”
Landform: a physical feature that is a component of a landscape. It can be as big as a continent or
as small as a ripple of sand of a stream bed. From the Glossary of Geology (Jackson, 1997, p.
357) “Any physical, recognizable form or feature of the Earth's surface, having a characteristic
shape, and produced by natural causes; it includes major forms such as plain, plateau, and
mountain, and minor forms such as hill, valley, slope, esker, and dune. Taken together the
landforms make up the surface configuration of the Earth. Also spelled: land form.”
Descriptive geomorphology: observations and analysis of shapes and forms on Earth's surface.
Process geomorphology: analysis of the processes that shape features on Earth's surface.
Landscape components: parts of the landscape that can be examined independently and in the
context of others.
SUMMARY
For GEOG3600 … Landform = a feature of the landscape… big or small… On Earth’s surface…
characteristic shape, characteristic materials, and characteristic processes formed it.
For GEOG3600 … Physiographic provinces are regions based on similarity of landforms.
LM08CC02 Look different, how are they different?
Thought questions – What would make sense as a classification scheme based on the geosphere?
Geologic units? Elevation? Relief (the difference in elevation? Landforms?
Content
Here’s a satellite view of Utah. ATLAS LINK What “regions” would you draw?
Here’s a geologic map of Utah. HINTZE LINK What regions?
Here’s a map with shades showing elevations USU LINK
Here’s a digital elevation model DEM LINK. What regions
Here’s a map showing landforms RIDD LINK What regions
A physiographic province, by definition, is based on landforms… more similar within a region
than outside. RIDD-Atwood LINK
Others of the past:
Fenneman LINK
Stokes LINK
Hunt LINK for US+Canada; LINK for western US; LINK for Utah
REGIONS – major theme of geography
Physiographic provinces are (by definition) regions based on LANDFORMS. LINK to
HUNT; UT-HUNT
Raisz LINK for US; LINK for Utah
Chronic LINK for Utah
RIDD-Atwood for Utah
STOKES Contrasts across the Wasatch Line - Stokes
LM08CC03. Look different WHY different
Earth processes, landforms, materials
EARTH is DYNAMIC and the uneven heat inside Earth drives tectonics. LINK to GA sketch
The processes that affect Earth are generally (1) those driven by uneven distribution of heat
WITHIN the Earth versus (2) those driven by uneven distribution of heat on the OUTSIDE of the
geosphere. The ones WITHIN Earth drive TECTONICS, the processes by which portions of the
crust move with respect to each other. The one OUTSIDE the geosphere are the ones that affect
EROSION and DEPOSITION. LINK to Summerfield
STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH – LINK Two good link to USGS basic information about
Earth’s structure: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/inside.html And concepts of tectonics
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/dynamic.html
LINK SkinnerPorter – Architecture of Earth
Draw on whiteboard, structure of Earth. Radius… 6378 km… call it about 6000 km or about
Earth’s crust is the solid, brittle, rocky outer layer of the geosphere (solid Earth). Earth’s crust
ranges from approximately 10 km (5-10 mi) thick under oceans, to 35 km (20-25 mi) thick under
continents. Lithosphere means… lith + sphere … the solid bedrock part of Earth’s crust (this
lecture). There are two major types of CRUST: oceanic and continental. Continents are megalandforms:
So What? We live on Earth’s surface, so, naturally it matters to us a lot. We generally think of
Earth’s crust as thick and say things like: finding resources deep within Earth, or earthquakes
deep within Earth. But, Earth’s crust is to the skin of an apple as Earth is to the size of an
apple… not the skin of an orange.
So what: Earth’s crust is our friend… our habitat.
LM08CC04 – Earth’s materials… Bedrock versus Sediment
GEOG3600 is not a course in geology…
Not need to learn the rock cycle
But… good to know the two, often not even discussed because so “obvious” different Earth
materials… bedrock vs sediment
Bedrock means…. Firm, coherent, attached as a continuous solid mass to Earth’s crust.
Sediments mean… Not firm, not coherent, and not attached continuously as a solid mass to
Earth’s crust.
Soils are sediments. Not all sediments are soils.
Example… imaginary hole through OSH; through GSL; through Mt Everest;
ESE – Rock cycle handout.pdf LINK
ESE – Animated rock cycle
Hamblin LINK bedrock vs sediment – Tule Valley
Hamblin LINK bedrock vs sediment – Monument Valley
Hamblin LINK bedrock vs sediment – Uinta Mts
So What?
GEOGRAPHY of UTAH… you should be able to recognize bedrock vs sediment… matters to
SCENERY, RESOURCES, HAZARDS.
LM08CC05 - Tectonics – global, regional
Review again… REGIONS – major theme of geography
Physiographic provinces are (by definition) regions based on LANDFORMS. LINK to
HUNT; UT-HUNT Landforms result from processes of TECTONICS and
EROSION/DEPOSITION … usually both sets of processes working in tandem. Reminder...
LINK
TECTONICS is the Great Cause of Earth’s Uplifts (and down-warps, down-drops… but
not down-cuts)
ISOSTASY (floats like an iceberg) is included in TECTONICS as is volcanism and other
igneous activity. LINK http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/structure/dynamicearth/topo/isostasy.htm
LINK re NAm; LINK re Bonneville
So… today… we’ll discuss
TECTONICS
Global -Regional -Local –
Global – USGS Dynamic Planet; DETAIL plates, USGS Plate Boundaries -- Look at the map.
Dance of the Plates.
Regional – UNAVCO LINK And underlying mantle LINK and the result LINK
Local – evidence of GPS; evidence of seismic activity LINK; evidence of faults LINK Little
Cottonwood; LINK to Utah Faults
So what?
HAZARDS… and scenery.
LM08CC06 – GEOGRAPHY of today … versus the past
GEOLOGY is geography of the past… kind of sort of
Expressions of tectonics – landforms of TODAY… physiographic provinces of TODAY
In the past Utah looked different… we’ll discuss that next week.
Sediments record the present.
Bedrock records the past LINK HINTZE
Old rocks… young landforms.
So What?
Geology of the past bring RESOURCES of today… (but that’s not the lecture of today)
LM08CC07 Utah’s 3 physiographic provinces
RiddAtwood; Ridd landforms, GA provinces.
BandR; RckyMth, ColoPlateau
I. Basin and Range physiographic province
Tectonic setting – extensional and active… thin crust being ever stretched out and broken
BLOCKS
Landforms:
Big expressions: basins and ranges ... wonderful images by BOWEN (Wendover
looking east) or could do GOOGLE EARTH and, of course HAMBLIN House Range
Local expressions:
 closed basins (and closed basin lakes, sediment depo-centers, shorelines, etc)
LINK
 fault related (scarp, chopped off mountain fronts with chopped off whateverwas-in-the-way, triangular facets, greatest snow on Earth, etc)
 ranges (run north south because extension pulls east west, low at both ends and
high in the middle, usually one side steeper than the other because range front
faults are usually not equally active)
 Low is depositional = basins with basin fill
 Basin and Range characteristics LINK
II. Rocky Mountain physiographic province
Tectonic setting – very stable, thick crust, isostatic equilibrium… (does not play well with
others)
Landforms: (plastic relief map) BOWEN Uintas looking west; HAMBLIN Uintas ; Google
Earth (active)
Big expressions: major massive mountainous terrain with broad “parks”
Local expressions:
 Mountains of many shapes and sizes (depending on erosion/deposition histories)
 Drainages of many shapes and sizes
 Lots of glacial activity (more farther north)
 Both erosion and deposition. Both bedrock and sediments.
 Low and erosional = valleys, “open” not closed, marshes, fresh water lakes
III. Colorado Plateau physiographic province
Tectonic setting – very stable…. And rising isostatically (not fast and pretty evenly)
because so much material is being eroded, the “base of the iceberg” rises … may be
confusing… land surface gradually lowering, but rock units rising. Careful… the upwarps
and downwarps pre-date “today’s” conditions. HAMBLIN - Grand Staircase; HAMBLIN Gr Staircase Sketch; HAMBLIN Monument Valley; BOWEN Grand Co; BOWEN San Juan;
Google Earth (live)
Landforms:
Big expressions: big bold brassy red extensive, nearly-flat lying, relatively
undisturbed, layered sedimentary bedrock exposed as plateaus, mesas, etc.
Local expressions:
 Mesas, etc
 Low and erosional = canyons
BIG QUESTIONS:
How did the high country get high? – By province…
How did the low country get low? – By province…
Is the high country getting higher?
Is the low country getting lower?
Tectonics sets the stage…
Erosion / deposition act on it.
So what?
3 physiographic provinces… due to geologic past and present
3 sets of scenery
3 sets of hazards
3 sets of resources
… think like a geographer… 17 words.
LM08CC08 – GEOSPHERE… Connections – 7 perspective of Soc/Behav Science
Could have a chart… GEOSPHERE… and lines to each of the 7 fields of social and
behavioral sciences… anthro, econ, fam/consum, geog, poli, psych, soc
Today…
Topography LINK USU; LINK ESE;
and LAND OWNERSHIP By county percent BLM; LINK land admin.
Private LINK; LINK LINK
9 Calendar exercise
Before you memorize the physiographic provinces ... OBSERVE the obvious… and the subtle.
CALENDAR exercise... also images from Hamblin: Colorado Plateau p 10-11; Basin and Range
p 228-229; Rocky Mtn phys prov 213
Your objective is to analyze differences in Utah's geosphere (one of the five subsystems of Earth
systems... physical geography). You're to distinguish... materials, landforms, and process on
images of Utah calendars put out by Utah's Travel Council
Distinguish: bedrock versus sediment
Recognize: How important these factors are to humans… resources, transportation corridors,
hazards, scenery, quality of life.
Observe differences in landscapes – FOCUS ON THE GEOSPHERE (meaning, try to not be
distracted by vegetation. Observe differences among Utah’s landscapes. Look through the
calendars. Classify the images based on: LANDFORMS, ROCK TYPES, LAYERING OF
ROCKS, PROPORTION OF SEDIMENTS VERSUS BEDROCK, COMPLEXITY of elements
of the GEOSPHERE, PATTERNS OF TOPOGRAPHIC FEATURES.
In-CLASS ACTIVITY
On-Line activity (OPTIONAL)… go to KSL website for photos of Utah.
Observe differences in landscapes – FOCUS ON THE GEOSPHERE (meaning, try to not be
distracted by vegetation. Observe differences among Utah’s landscapes. Look through the
calendars. Classify the images based on: LANDFORMS, ROCK TYPES, LAYERING OF
ROCKS, and PROPORTION OF SEDIMENTS VERSUS BEDROCK, COMPLEXITY of
elements of the GEOSPHERE, PATTERNS OF TOPOGRAPHIC FEATURES.
1) IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF THE IMAGE. LINK to handout. LINK to map of
counties For GEOG3600-Section090 on-line… totally optional… modify for your own needs.
Read through this and imagine your doing this. For GEOG3600-Section 001, work in threes…
or twos, not fours… too big for everyone to have to think all the time. Make sure that folks
who are not geography or environmental studies majors have buddies who know Utah terrain
(hike, bike, ski, visit parks, etc.). The purpose is to recognize evidence of contrasting
characteristics of Utah's physical geography, specifically, the geosphere. Write really small on
your county maps... for example 2/04 is the image for February 2004. Some images don't have
dates. Okay to use an abbreviation that makes sense. These calendar images serve several
purposes... they are visual and packed with information about Utah geography... both human
and physical. It is likely that I will ask midterm and exam questions about some of their
images. You won't have time to finish... just talk and think and observe and discuss.
2) DISCUSS 2 or 3 images so you and the colleagues understand the following questions,
concepts and contrasts. Coaching… perhaps have one person say… “observation? Or
interpretation?” and another of the threesome say “why” until it is kind of annoying. In
GEOG3600 – Geography of Utah… for life, I hope I never give an impression that asking why
is annoying… even if it seems to derail. … Why?

Is the landscape dominated by bedrock or by sediment? Your first impressions.

What is the high terrain like? (mountains, plateaus, ridges...). Understand observations
versus interpretation... I see... versus I think.

What is the low terrain like? canyon bottoms, valleys, broad basins...)... I see... versus...
I bet it's like...

How steep are the landforms (individual elements of the landscape)? Could you climb
them safely?

Describe the profile (outline, shape, and angles) of major landforms… Steep? Smooth?
Jagged? Rounded? Flat? Long? Symmetrical? Horizontal?

What erosional agents are acting on the bedrock... and might have been acting on the
scene during the more recent Ice Ages... think how Minnesota and southern Canada
look today? Meaning, what agents of change on Earth's surface are picking up pieces
of rock (meaning sediments), transporting them, and depositing them somewhere else
that could be near (a few inches away) or far (a mile or more). Is erosion dominated by
water running across the surface, or wind, or glacial ice carving out passages, or
ground failure where incompetent materials fail... or human beings?

What depositional processes have left the sediments? Remind yourself... what are
sediments versus bedrock? What is deposition versus erosion?

Describe a few landforms... characteristic natural features on Earth's surface.

How resistant are these landforms to erosion? What is your evidence?

Discuss patterns of the landscape such as colors of materials, patterns of vegetation,
patterns of drainages

What are the dominant colors the scene's bedrock? of the scene's sediments?

For our purposes we'll say that dominated by bedrock means bedrock within 1 m (3 ft)
of the land surface...

How much vegetation is supported on the bedrock? And on the sediments?

What is the proportion of bedrock versus sediment in the scene? Therefore is the scene
dominated by erosion or by deposition?
3)… INTERPRETATION… As you’re thinking about the scenery of Utah as you drive or as
you head home or head off to sleep:
What processes of erosion and sedimentation are changing the scene in today's environment...
coaching, Ice Age environments do a lot of work but I don't expect you to figure out from a
calendar of today what the Ice Age scene looked like.
4) …. ANALYSIS
Why does this matter? … to the web of relationships among people, places, and environments
of Utah… Utah’s human and physical geography?
THAT's The Big Question… and a good exam question.
A few closing geographic thoughts:
Regions (last Thursday’s theme) are large areas with important similarities: continuous,
contiguous, and cohesive. Physiographic provinces are regions based on landforms.