EAS 4803KF/8803KF
TECTONICS, CLIMATE, AND LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION
Fall, 2009
INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Kurt Frankel
ES&T 2232
kfrankel@gatech.edu
(404) 894-4008
Course Assignments and Lecture Material (GA Tech only)
COURSE MEETING TIME:
Tuesday and Thursday, 9:35 to 10:55 am, ES&T L1116
OFFICE HOURS:
Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm and by appointment
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course designed to investigate the complex interactions and feedback mechanisms between plate tectonics and climate that act to sculpt Earth’s surface. Students will develop the skills necessary to understand and interpret the landscape, predict how a landscape might respond to human and natural forcing, improve their ability to concisely summarize and present scientific research, learn geomorphic data collection (field and lab-based) and analysis techniques, and understand the principles and tools of geomorphology. The information presented in this course is useful for a wide range of natural and anthropogenic topics, including: plate tectonics, structural geology, earthquake occurrence, hydrology, groundwater resources, paleoclimate, natural hazards (landslides, floods, etc.), and human impact on the environment. We will examine fluvial processes and sediment transport, hillslope processes and mass movement, soil development, physical and chemical weathering, glacier mechanics and erosion, and rates and timing of landscape change.
REQUIRED TEXT:
Process Geomorphology (4th edition - 2002) by D.F. Ritter, R.C. Kochel, and J.R. Miller
The above text will be supplemented with the excellent (and free!) electronic textbook The Little Book of Geomorphology by R.S. Anderson (available at: http://instaar.colorado.edu/~andersrs/publications.html#littlebook). From time to time, articles from scientific journals may also be assigned to help reinforce concepts discussed in class. In addition, the following texts serve as excellent resources for the topics that will be covered:
Fluvial Processes in Geomorphology by L.B. Leopold, M.G. Wolman, and J.P. Miller
Geomorphic Responses to Climatic Change by W.B. Bull
Tectonic Geomorphology by D.W. Burbank and R.S. Anderson
Experimental Fluvial Geomorphology by S.A. Schumm, M.P. Mosley, and W.E. Weaver
Soils and Geomorphology by P.W. Birkeland
A View of the River by L.B. Leopold
COURSE COMMUNICATIONS:
You will occasionally receive class information via email. Because this information may not be communicated in class, you should be sure to read these e-mail messages. Please make sure the e-mail address you regularly use is the same as the one that is registered with Georgia Tech. I will use the e-mail addresses provided to me on the “T-Square” utility to post assignments, send e-mail, and facilitate discussion among those registered for this course
GRADING:
Your final grade will be determined based on five problem sets, field exercises, one mid-term exam and a final exam. There will be no opportunities for extra credit.
Midterm Exam - (October 8th) - 20%
Final Exam - (December 9th) - 25%
Problem Sets and Field Exercises - 50%
Participation - 5%
FIELD TRIPS:
Field trips are an important and MANDATORY part of this course. My apologies in advance for having to schedule one for a home football game weekend.
Field Trip 1: Sunday, Sept. 6th
Field Trip 2: Friday, Nov. 6th to Sunday, Nov. 8th