Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An exploration of the processes that shape Earth's surface and the landforms that result. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.

COURSE DETAILS:

Details
The landscape around us is a product of many processes; it was uplifted by tectonics, then worn down by the weather, by water, by ice and by gravity. Understanding these processes allows us to better place our societies within our physical environment. We can determine how valuable soils and sediments are created and moved around the landscape. We can better predict hazards such as landslides, floods, and coastal erosion. We can learn how past climate is recorded in the landscape, and how future climate will leave its mark.

In this course, we will explore a range of geomorphic processes, focussing primarily on the landscapes of BC and western North America. You will explore some of these landscapes on the Field Trip, for which you will produce a poster, outlining the key concepts at one of the stops. Lab exercises will focus on identifying and analysing landforms using cartography, aerial photographs and numerical data.

NOTE:   This is a quantitative course; a small number of assignments require grade 10 level mathematics (unit conversion, simple algebra and trigonometry).

Course structure
• Weekly 2-hour lecture
• Bi-weekly (x5) lab exercises
• 2-day field trip leading to submission of a poster assignment
• Group field trip pre-reading exercise introducing a key site on the trip.

Field trip details:
There is a mandatory 2-day field trip for this course over the weekend of March 11-12. Attendance of this trip is required and leads to completion of the poster assignment. If you are unable to attend this trip, you may have to consider delaying taking this course. Your mandatory supplementary course fee covers part of the transportation costs for this trip. Additionally, students should expect to pay up to $100 to the Geography Department to cover transportation (partial) and accommodation costs; this additional supplementary fee will be confirmed in the first 3 weeks of classes. Students will be responsible for their own food costs throughout the trip. Expectations and considerations regarding safety, student conduct, required equipment, meals and accommodation will be discussed in class prior to trip. Be aware that during the field trip there will be periods of hiking and walking alongside highways; students must follow all instructions from teaching and support staff. Weather conditions will be highly variable; appropriate footwear and clothing must be worn. Students must at all times remain complaint with all student responsibilities, regulations, and policies as outlined in the current Academic Calendar, as well as relevant regulations and policies as outlined in the SFU Policy Gazette. This includes, but is not limited to, expected student conduct and the maintenance of appropriate medical insurance coverage. Students will sign a field activity plan to acknowledge the trip activities and risk, and an Assumption of Risk (waiver) form. Field trip will follow SFU Covid requirements as necessary.

 

Grading

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Required Materials

• Access to CANVAS (SFU’s online learning management system) required for access to course material and submission of assignments.
• PDF viewing software.

Lectures:

• Some additional/supplementary lecture videos will be posted, requiring an internet-enabled device capable of viewing YouTube videos.

Labs:

• Google Earth (Pro download or access to earth.google.com) required on an internet-enabled device for some lab exercises
• Spreadsheet software (e.g. Excel) or scientific calculator required for some exercises

Fieldtrip:

• Warm, windproof, waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear
• Waterproof or appropriately protected (e.g. Ziploc) notebook
• Camera or smartphone

Poster Assignment:

• Software capable of basic image editing and poster creation. MS PowerPoint or similar is sufficient.

Under SFU's Education Site License, SFU students, staff, and researchers may download the following software to home computers for academic use ONLY. This includes teaching and classroom use and research purposes. 

Software available to download/install on home computers

• Microsoft 365
• ESRI Applications such as ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ESRI CityEngine, etc.
• Matlab with Named User License
• Adobe CC with Named User License*

* ONLY those who are in SFU payroll are eligible for Adobe CC with Named User License

RECOMMENDED READING:

REQUIRED READING NOTES: