Rivers and Beaches ESS Ocean 230 Dave Montgomery 341 Johnson Hall 685 2560 dave ess washington edu Isaac Larsen 362 Johnson Hall larseni u washington edu Chuck Nittrouer 111 Marine Sciences Building 543 5099 nittroue ocean washington edu Geomorphology Professor Dept of Earth Space Sciences Ph D University of California Berkeley Dave Montgomery studies the evolution of topography and the influence of geomorphological processes on ecological systems and human societies His work includes studies of the evolution and near extirpation of salmon fluvial and hillslope processes in mountain drainage basins the evolution of mountain ranges Cascades Andes and Himalaya and the analysis of digital topography of Earth and Mars Marine Geology and Geophysics Professor School of Oceanography and Dept of Earth Space Sciences Ph D University of Washington Chuck s research interests include the modern and ancient formation of sedimentary strata in continental margin environments and the effects of physical and biological oceanic processes on sedimentary characteristics Ongoing research includes coastal areas of New Guinea Australia the Mediterranean and US west coast Other recent studies have been completed at the mouths of the Amazon River Asian rivers and off Antarctic and Alaskan glaciers Topics to be covered Earth Surface Processes Mountains Rivers Beaches Ocean Holistic view including 1 Solid Earth 2 Atmosphere Linkages of all these will be an emphasis of the course In order for there to be mountains rocks must be uplifted above sea level If uplift continued unopposed there would be no limit to how high mountain ranges can get Erosion counter balances rock uplift Mountain streams receive material from hillslopes and transport it to rivers Rivers transport material to the coast Nearshore processes redistribute sediment along beaches and coastlines Types of beaches reflect differences in sediment sources and transport Earth Surface where we live Recent Dramatic examples Centralia rainfall landslides flooding New Orleans Galveston hurricane wind storm surge Indonesia earthquake submarine landslide tsunami emphasis on understanding fundamental processes but shock and awe will come with some examples Rivers and beaches are part of sediment transfer systems What forms them What are the processes that maintain them Why are there different types of rivers and beaches What controls their distribution across Earth s surface We ll use 1 equation in this class I O S Input minus output equals change in storage Also known as conservation of mass means change in something Time and Place Lectures M W F 1 30 2 20 Labs 5 credit W 2 30 3 20 Lab Fee 75 Johnson Hall 111 Johnson Hall 50 3 or 5 credits Natural World Website http gis ess washington edu grg courses09 10 ess230 index html Exams and Grading 9 Nov M 14 Dec M Mid Term Exam during class Final Exam 2 30 4 20 PM Grading 3 credits midterm 40 field trip labs 20 final 40 No make up field trips No extra credit 5 credits 35 30 35 Field Trips A1 A2 B C 10 Oct Sat 17 Oct Sat 21 Oct Wed 21 22 Nov Sat Sun Nisqually River watershed Nisqually River watershed Puget Sound cruise Olympic Peninsula Beaches For 3 credits fieldtrip A is required You are welcome to participate in additional field trips if space is available For 5 credits all field trips required Email Andy to reserve your space on trip A larseni u washington edu Labs Field Trip Write Ups A field trip write up is due after each field trip as indicated on the course syllabus Field Trip A Trip from Mt Rainier downstream to Nisqually River delta Either Saturday October 10 or Saturday October 17 All day Start at glaciated flank of Mt Rainier Nisqually River Delta Mt Rainier Field Trip A Follow river system down through mountain streams and into large rivers Field Trip A End at delta system where Nisqually River empties into Puget Sound Field Trip A Field Trip B Working cruise on Puget Sound with Research Vessel Thompson UW s oceanographic research vessel Wednesday 21 October All day no class or lab Cruise on Puget Sound in Elliot Bay Sample bottom sediments measure water salinity and temperature and map bathymetry depth in m Duwamish delta 4 m resolution 5x VE depth in meters Nisqually Delta 5x VE 3 m resolution looking SW Field Trip C Beaches of the Olympic Peninsula 21 22 November Saturday and Sunday Overnight camping in the field on Saturday night Field Trip Tips Bring clothes for bad weather rain cold wind even if it doesn t seem like you ll need them Get UW supplemental field trip insurance it s only 0 85 per day www washington edu admin risk documents Domestic Trip Coverage pdf Field Trip Commitments You must email Isaac by this Friday with your preferred date for field trip A larseni u washington edu Space will be filled on a first come basis If you are 3 credit and would like to go on more than one trip clearly indicate this Constraints limited space for 3 credit people on Thompson cruise field trip B Field Trips A1 10 Oct Sat A2 17 Oct Sat B 21 Oct Wed C 21 22 Nov Sat Sun Nisqually River watershed Nisqually River watershed Puget Sound cruise Olympic Peninsula Beaches For 3 credits fieldtrip A is required You are welcome to participate in additional field trips if space is available For 5 credits all field trips required Email Isaac to reserve your space on trip A larseni u washington edu Source to Sink A different way of seeing landscapes The Big Picture The Rock Cycle The Rock Cycle Material eroded from mountains enters streams and rivers and is delivered to coastal environments from where it is moved to deeper sedimentary basins that get shoved back into mountains through processes of rock uplift The Rock Cycle Erosion in the Rock Cycle What we see as rivers and beaches are rest stops for sediment moving through the eroding half of the rock cycle Framework for this Class Rock uplift Mountains Mountains Mountain Streams Mountain Streams Rivers Rivers Estuaries Estuaries Beaches Beaches Off shore depositional basins Off shore depositional basins Rock uplift
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