Geol 1060: Geomorphology Laboratory Spring 2011 Instructor: Matt Finkenbinder Email: [email protected] Office: SRCC 316 Phone: (412) 624-8731 Office Hours: Office Hours/Open Lab: TBD Class Time: SRCC 210, Monday 4:00-5:50 PM Website: http://www.pitt.edu/~msf34/ Purpose: The goal of this intermediate to advanced level course is to provide you with the basic knowledge and tools to understand surficial processes including: (1) erosion and deposition by water, ice, wind, and gravity, (2) physical and chemical weathering, (3) mass wasting and hill slope evolution, (4) soil development, and (5) fluvial and land form evolution. Students will utilize topographic maps and aerial photographs to develop an understanding of Earth surface processes and landforms. Lab exercises are very important to a satisfactory performance in this class, constituting 30% of the final grade. Most students will not have occasion to work as a geomorphologist, but nearly everyone enrolled in the class will have to use maps and images to interpret landscapes in one form or another. Good attitudes are imperative, so are good work habits. Schedule (**Subject to Change**): Materials: Each student is required to bring the following materials to lab each week: (1) ruler with millimeter scale, (2) scientific calculator, (3) notebook, and (4) Dictionary of Geologic Jan 10 Lab 1 – Online Map Resources and Physiographic Provinces Jan 17 No Class – Martin Luther King Day Jan 24 Lab 2 – Topographic Maps I Jan 31 Lab 3 – Topographic Maps II Feb 7 Lab 4 – Soils Feb 14 Lab 5 – Drainage Analysis Feb 21 Exam I Feb 28 Lab 6 – Flood Frequency Mar 7 No Class – Spring Recess Mar 14 Lab 7 – Desert Landforms Mar 21 Lab 8 – Glaciers as Landforms Mar 28 Lab 9 – Glacial Landforms Apr 4 Lab 10 – Coastal Landforms Apr 11 Local Field Trip Apr 18 Exam IITerms (optional). Grades: Grades will be based on weekly lab assignments and two in-class exams. Lab grade accounts for 30% of your overall course grade. Lab assignments are due at the beginning of class one week after they were assigned. Each lab will be worth a total of 20 points, totaling 220 points including the field trip. Late assignments will be deducted 5 points every day the lab is late. The in-class exams will be worth 100 points each, totaling 200 points. The overall total points for the lab class will be 420. No quizzes and no extra credit. Attendance: Attendance is mandatory, and you must arrive on time. There is only 110 minutes for each lab, and I will not lecture twice for those who arrive late. If it is necessary for you to miss class, you must make arrangements with me before you miss class. Disabilities: If you think you may need extra accommodations, please talk to the instructor! Cheating: You are expected to work through the lab assignments on your own. If you do the work, you learn the material. However, when something puzzles you, you are encouraged to consult with each other and me as necessary, in order to resolve the question. Copying answers or using someone else's assignment from previous years is cheating, and will be prosecuted as such. Cell Phones: Use of cell phones (this includes talking, texting, or using the internet) is NOT allowed in class. Before class starts, turn your phone off or put the ringer on silent. Email Policy: The best way to contact me is via email. I will try and respond to any questions or concerns regarding class within 24 hours. Do not hesitate to ask questions if you need help or are confused. Please remember to review your email correspondence for grammatical and spelling errors. Make sure to include a concise subject, salutation, body text, and your name. A succinct and well-written note is much