Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - EVSC 495 D100

Special Topics in Environmental Science (3)

Morphodynamics

Class Number: 4078

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A specific topic within the field of Environment not examined in depth in regular courses. This course will provide students with understanding, perspective and experience in emerging and important areas of environment. Variable units: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

COURSE DETAILS:

Morphodynamics is the science of how physical environments evolve in response to the action of fluid forces. Environmental systems are built upon sediment; chunks of rock broken away from canyon walls, crushed by glaciers, and worn round by rivers, waves, and wind. Changes in physical environments can be predicted from conservation of mass equations for the sediment and rock that make up the physical environment. These equations are known as the Exner Equations and predict changes in the morphology of the sediment making up the physical environment that are driven by spatial gradients in sediment transport caused by fluid flow patterns.
Morphodynamics is an emergent field that uses the Exner equations, conservation of momentum and mass equations for fluids (Navier-Stokes Equations), and a dizzying array of empirical and theoretical models to predict how sediment moves to predict the evolution of the sediment and rock that makes up the physical environment.
In this course, students will learn the core underlying theory used to make predictions about how the physical environment evolves in response to fluid flow. They will develop the ability to make simple morphodynamic predictions of physical environmental change. This version of the course will focus on the morphodynamics of rivers, but the underlying methods can be applied to any environment composed of sediment and/or rock subjected to fluid flow.
The course is suitable for students in Environmental Science, Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, and Biology with a basic understanding of calculus and who enjoy working on simple mathematical and physics problem sets.

Course Format
This course will consist of a weekly three-hour lecture. There will be weekly readings assigned. There are 10 homework assignments and a major project due at the end of the term. There are no exams.

Grading

  • Homework 50%
  • Major Project 50%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

J.G. Venditti (2025). Morphodynamics course notes. River Dynamics Laboratory. 251 p.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.