Week 10Week 16Week 17GGCCUU 222211,, GGEEOOGGRRAAPPHHYY OOFF AARRIIZZOONNAA INSTRUCTOR: Steven Emrick CLASS HOURS: M W 5:45 P - 7:00 P PHONE NO.: 623.845.3697 OFFICE HOURS: M W 1:30 P - 2:30 P OFFICE: 05-138 T Th 3:00 P - 4:00 P E-MAIL: [email protected] COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class is intended as an introduction to the physical and cultural landscapes of Arizona. Geography as a science has historically attempted to study humans and their environment in interaction. It attempts to do this by describing the distribution of the natural phenomena which affect human inhabitation of the earth and the manner in which they have affected patterns of human settlement and exploitation. This semester we will begin with a study of the physical geography of Arizona, the environmental/ecological infrastructure that supports human society. We will first discuss the landforms (mountains, plateaus, canyons, valleys, dry lakes, volcanoes) that give Arizona its incredibly diverse appearance. Arizona is well known for its dry sunny skies. We will investigate the causes of Arizona's hot dry weather as well as the factors that lead to the sticky humid late summer conditions known as the "monsoon". There is relationship between climate and the diverse landforms in Arizona. An attempt will be made to elucidate the effects of elevation and mountains on temperature and precipitation. The first half of the class will wrap up with a look at the various vegetation types that are found in the state. Arizona contains plants that also grow in the warm forests of Central America as well as those that grow in the polar regions of Canada and Alaska. This plant diversity will be linked to Arizona's diverse climates and landforms. The second portion of the course will be devoted to the cultural geography of Arizona. We want to emphasize how the physical geography of Arizona has had an impact on human occupation through time. How have human occupations dealt with the challenges and opportunities presented by Arizona's soils, minerals, climate, vegetation, and landforms? Just as important is the impact of humans on the natural landscape. How have humans abused or used wisely the natural resources provided to them. We will examine not only the present patterns of human occupation in Arizona, but the geographies present at the time of the Spanish conquest, Mexican occupation, and early Anglo settlement. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Your grade in this class will depend upon your performance on exams and on map quizzes. There will be five exams and four map quizzes during the semester. All exams will consist of multiple choice questions, short answers, diagrams, and maps. The map quizzes will be given at various points during the semester at dates yet to be determined. I will supply Arizona maps covering topics such as cities, counties, rivers, mountains, vegetation, climate, etc. These maps will be yours to study from, memorize, and know. Four times during the semester you will take a quiz on one or more of these maps. GRADING: Points Letter Grade Exam 1 100 points 630 - 700 A Exam 2 100 points 560 - 629 B Exam 3 100 points 490 - 559 C Exam 4 100 points 420 - 489 D Exam 5 100 points Exam 6 100 points Map quizzes (4 x 25 points) 100 points fewer than 420 F TOTAL 700 pointsCOURSE ATTENDANCE: It is your responsibility to attend all classes. As stated in COURSE REQUIREMENTS, quizzes and exams done in a class from which you are absent cannot be made up unless you give me prior notice. If given prior notification a make-up exam will be arranged. Make-up exams are more difficult than regular exams however. Your attention is directed to the attendance policies in the student handbook/catalog. Missing more than three lectures may be grounds for dismissal from the course. If you have a good reason for being absent, notify your instructor prior to the class meeting so that your absence will be excused. Lectures will begin on time. Be in the classroom at the scheduled time so that your arrival will not disrupt the rest of the class. If you wish to be withdrawn from class for whatever reason, you must start withdrawal proceedings. DO NOT just stop attending class and expect your instructor to withdraw you. SCHEDULE CHANGES: Course content may vary from this outline to meet the needs of this particular class. Students will be notified in class by the instructor when adjustments to this syllabus are required. DISABLED STUDENT RESOURCES: Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate disabled students. Students who require special assistance and/or accommodations should consult the instructor. Disability Services and Resources (845-3080), located in the SPS Building, can be of assistance. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR CLASSROOM LECTURES Week 1 M 19 Jan MLK Day - No Class Meeting W 21 Jan - Introduction Week 2 M 26 Jan - Basin and Range Geology and Landforms - basin and range disturbance - basin and range topography W 28 Jan - Basin and Range Geology and Landforms - groundwater aquifers - metamorphic core complexes - porphyry copper deposits and mineral-rich solutions - caliche and other hardpans - desert pavement and desert varnish Week 3 M 02 Feb - Early Hispanic Arizona W 04 Feb - Hispanic Architecture in Arizona Week 4 M 09 Feb - EXAM I W 11 Feb - Colorado Plateau Geology and Landforms - sedimentary rock geology - marine transgressions and regressions - folding (anticlines, synclines, monoclines) - canyon cuttingWeek 5 M 16 Feb PRESIDENTS’ DAY – No Class Meeting W 18 Feb - Colorado Plateau Geology and Landforms - special topics - coal formations - oil and gas wells - Petrified Forest National Park - fossils and dinosaurs - ancestral Colorado River and Lake Bidahochi Week 6 M 23 Feb - Route 66 W 25 Feb - EXAM II Week 7 M 01 Mar - Central Highlands & Volcanism in Arizona - San Francisco volcanic field - San Francisco Peaks - SP crater - Sunset crater - Superstition Mtns and calderas - Chiricahua Mtns W 03 Mar - Volcanism in Arizona (cont.) Week 8 M 08 Mar - Mormon Arizona W 10 Mar - EXAM III Week 9 M 15 mar SPRING BREAK W 17 Mar Week 10 M 22 Mar - Introduction to Climate - temperature - radiation budget - climate factors - Arizona Temp. data W 24 Mar - Arizona Climate -