Geography 1 Physical Geography Syllabus, Spring 2016
L.A. Harbor College, Dr. Melanie P. Renfrew, renfremp@lahc.edu
We explore the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere. Major
topics are earth-sun relations, mapping, weather and climate patterns, ecology,
soils, plate tectonics, landform development, and human impacts on the
environment. Nature walks & field trips are regular parts of the course.
Required books and materials (Please buy books in LAHC bookstore if you can. If you need
help, inquire in Financial Aid Office.)
1. DK Smithsonian EARTH Definitive Visual Guide, 2nd Edition (2E), Ed. James Luhr. 2013:
Study major physical features on tectonic plate maps on pp. 490-503.
2. Physical Geography, A Self-Teaching Guide (PGSTG), M. Craghan, 2003: Wiley.
3. Access to the Internet + a working printer, for homework (Assignments must be on paper.)
4. +10 Scantron 883’s (matching on back), 24 colored pencils (please no markers or crayons).
5. We will have some outdoor class nature walks, so please be prepared with a hat or cap,
walking shoes (no open-toed sandals), lightweight layered clothing, sunglasses, bug repellant,
sunscreen, water, food, notebook, camera if desired. Please carpool if we meet near campus.
Course Topics, Required Readings, & Tentative Test Dates: Expect quizzes many Thursdays.
Announcements about tests and homework will be on the board: please check each time.
I. ATMOSPHERE, Introduction to Physical Geography, Latitude & Longitude, Seasons
EARTH 2E Climate & Weather 442-485; P.G. Self-Teaching Guide (PGSTG): 1st read 103-108
about Climate, then go back & study Chapters 1-6, + Self-Tests. (You may skim 42-43, 56-63.)
Start learning directions from the sky & shadows: in our Northern hemisphere in winter, your
shadow will point to the NW in a.m., NE in p.m. Watch the sky, clouds, wind directions &
changes by flags & trees, temperature changes, dew & evaporation. Follow weather news.
For ‘A’ Students: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/studyguide_ch7.html
Test 1 Date: March 1 or 3
II. HYDROSPHERE: Earth’s waters. PGSTG Read Chapters 3, 11-15. EARTH 2E: pp.106-11;
Water erosion & deposition 92, 94, 240, 436-7; Rivers & lakes 196-239; 318-320; Oceans &
seas 380-439. Memorize world map locations of major rivers, seas, big bays & gulfs.
‘A’ Students: www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/studyguide_ch8.html (not vocabulary)
Test 2 Date: March 22 or 24
III. LITHOSPHERE: Earth’s crust & upper mantle PGSTG: Chapters 8-11, review Ch. 12-15.
EARTH 2E: Skim 36-41, 62-78, Study 86-9, 90-97, 108-9, 122-5, 128-131, 136-140, 144, 150-1,
154-7, 169, 178; Rivers shaping land: skim 197-203, Karst landforms: study 240-1; skim 242-9;
Glacial landforms: skim 252-5; Desert (arid) landforms: study 278-9; skim 280-297; Coastal
landforms: skim 430-7, 396-7; Plate Tectonics Map 488-9, major physical features 490-503.
Test 3 Date: (April 28, May 1 or 3)
IV. BIOSPHERE Geography of LIFE. EARTH 112-117, Deserts, Forests, Wetlands, Grasslands,
Tundra, Agriculture: study overview pages 276-351, skim examples. PGSTG Review Ch. 7.
Test 4 (Part 1 of Final, includes review) Date: May 26.
Final Exam Part 2 (all 4 spheres, maps) Date: May 31 or June 2 (LAHC Final Exam schedule)
Dr. Renfrew’s Office Hours, SCC 107/109: TTh 12:35-1 (+ longer if needed), TTh 4:15-5:15,
W 5:30-6:50, by appointment, & at end of evening classes. renfremp@lahc.edu, 310-233-4557.
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of Geography 1, students will be able to:
1. Identify locations with Earth’s reference grid of latitude and longitude; relate latitude with
incoming solar radiation and climate types. (Introduction, Atmosphere)
2. Differentiate common patterns of temperatures, high and low pressure, global and local
winds, humidity and precipitation. (Atmosphere, Hydrosphere)
3. Correlate world maps of plate tectonics, volcanoes and earthquakes; and distinguish
landforms associated with convergent, divergent, and transform (transverse) plate tectonic
boundaries. (Lithosphere)
4. Recognize and illustrate the roles of water and wind in shaping vegetation patterns, and
fluvial (river), coastal, Karst (groundwater in solution), desert, and glacial landforms.
(Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere, Lithosphere)
5. Compare and contrast Earth’s climates and biomes on a world map. (Atmosphere,
Hydrosphere, Biosphere)
Grading, Policies: Keep track of your point totals & letter grades, & learn from test mistakes.
About 600 points are possible, but %’s will be calculated out of 550:
A 495-600 points; B 440-494 (80%); C 369-439 (67%); D 330-368 (60%); F < 329 (<59%)
• 420 points (about): 5 Tests @50-100 pts., quizzes @15-20 pts.
• 65 points GEOGRAPHY NOTEBOOK: Keep a neat folder with pockets with handouts, notes,
class activities, maps, & drawings, which will be graded once or twice during the semester.
• 65 points One weekend FIELD TRIP REPORT is required, about 2½-4 typed (double-spaced)
pages of writing (worth 50), + 3 labeled drawings (15 pts.) of 1 specific plant showing its
characteristics, 1 specific rock, & 1 landscape or landform. Reports describe our observations
(not internet, not copied) of Earth’s 4 spheres in that location: weather characteristics, water
features, vegetation, animals, landforms, rocks, soil, & human activity in the area.
• 50 points EFFORT (10% of grade): 1) participation in activities, 2) effort, 3) improvement on
scores, 4) respect for professor, classmates, & the classroom as a learning atmosphere: no cell
phones unless instructed, no swearing, interrupting, walking in & out of class. One in 5 people
have allergies, so avoid all strong scents that hinder oxygen intake & concentration.
• LA Harbor College is a non-smoking campus, and please don’t bring skateboards to class.
• Science Complex building rule is “No food or drinks except water in clear bottles with screw
tops.” Our brains need fuel and water, so eating outside before class is good.
• No cheating or copying, ever: see LACCD Board Rule 9803.28 on Academic Honesty.
• No make-up tests without emergency or illness: notify me that day. No make-up quizzes. If
you miss a test, you still need to know the content for the cumulative final exam.
• EXTRA CREDIT only counts if you improve on tests, and Final Exam scores are C or above.
• If you need help, see me or the Special Programs & Services office nearby.
Los Angeles Harbor College Mission: Los Angeles Harbor College promotes access and
student success through associate and transfer degrees, certificates, economic and workforce
development, and basic skills instruction. Our educational programs and support services meet
the needs of diverse communities as measured by campus institutional learning outcomes.
Latitude and Longitude:
N-S Latitude (measured with parallels) and E-W longitude (measured with meridians) form a
grid system for finding specific locations on Earth with coordinates. GPS (Global Positioning
Systems) locate with L & L: Los Angeles = 34°N latitude, 118°W longitude.
A. Latitude measures 0°-90° North & South of 0° equator, the line of Earth’s maximum rotation
(which divides all meridians [longitude lines] in half).
• Latitude lines are parallels: they go E-W across map & show positions N & S of equator.
• Climates are based on latitude because the most intense sun is in the “low latitudes,” 0°-30°
N & S: Direct sunlight falls in the “tropics” between 23.5° N (Tropic of Cancer, June 21
solstice) & 23.5° S (Tropic of Capricorn, Dec. 21 solstice). Fall and spring equinoxes occur
when sun’s direct rays are on the equator, when all places on Earth have equal day & night.
• 30°-60° N & S = Mid-latitudes have seasons and more varied weather (where we live).
• 60°-90° N & S = High latitudes (near poles) include Arctic and Antarctic Circles, 66.5° N & S.
B. Longitude measures 0°-180° E & W of 0° Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England (U.K.).
• Longitude lines are meridians & are not parallel, but converge at the poles.
• Meridians go N-S on the map, but measure East & West longitude increasing from 0°-180°.
• World time zones are based on longitude, centered on GMT, Greenwich Meridian Time (also
called Zulu or UTC – Universal Time Coordinated). Hours to the East are written as + (later
than Greenwich/London), & hours in Western hemisphere are written as – (earlier than GMT).
• The International Date Line zigzags near 180° meridian in Pacific Ocean: Earth’s new day
starts at midnight there. If you cross it going Westward (California to Asia), add a date (go to
‘tomorrow’), and if going East (Asia to Americas), go back to the day before.
C. On your world map, label Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic & Antarctic Circles
(note each has 2 ‘c’s’ in English), equator, Prime Meridian, & 180° meridian. At the map edge,
bracket and label Low 0°-30° N & S, Middle 30°-60° N & S, and High latitudes 60°-90° N & S.
D. Memorize this latitude & longitude system, because many people mix the two up.