SYLLABUS, LANDSCAPES AND WATER: Geog 1011

Instuctor:Mark Williams

Telephone:492-4794 or 492-8830

Room: Guggenheim 207 (next to elevator)

Office Hours: MW 2-4 pm

E-mail: markw@snobear.colorado.edu

Web Address: snobear.colorado.edu/Markw/mark.html

Teaching Assistants

About the class

There are several reasons for students to take this course. Students who are interested in the human, social and economic aspects of our environment should take this course to have an understanding of the physical processes that underlie many of these societal issues. Students who plan to continue on in physical sciences will obtain a broad overview of earth system processes. Geography 1011 fulfills a core requirement for Arts and Sciences major; it is required for all Geography majors. Geography 1011 has no prerequisites. There is a MANDATORY LABORATORY CLASS; all students in Geography 1011 MUST take the lab class.

The course will focus on physical, chemical and mechanical processes that shape the earth's surface. We will first build the earth's surface, investigating such processes as plate tectonics, mountain building, volcanism and earthquakes. We will then erode these structures with water, glaciers and wind, to form soils, river valleys, and other landscape features. We will also discuss the importance of natural hazards. Throughout the course we will weave in information on the consequences to the natural environment of our ongoing manipulation of these processes. The role of water will be a consistent theme througout the class.

Exams will cover material from lectures, text, and supplemental readings. Supplemental readings are on reserve at the new Earth Sciences Library. Exams will emphasize lecture material and there will be some questions from the assigned readings that are not covered in lecture. Test questions will be muliple choice, true-false, and matching. There are NO make-up tests for the midterms.

LABORATORY CLASS

The 2-hour laboratory class is mandatory. Laboratory classes start the week of 26 January. Three of the labs are required field trips; we may make some schedule adjustments due to weather.

TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER READINGS