38/42:278 Geomorphology

Instructor: Dr. Dion J. Wiseman
Offices: Brodie Room 4-07
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm; or by Appointment
Phone: 727-9774
Email: wiseman@brandonu.ca

Course Resources

Recommended Text: Bierman & Montgomery (2020) Key Concepts in Geomorphology, 2nd ed. Macmillan.

Additional Readings: 1) Ritter, et al., Process Geomorphology, 4^th ed., McGraw-Hill. 2) Easterbrook, Surface Landforms and Processes, 2^nd ed., Prentice Hall 3) Trenhaile, Alan S. Geomorphology: a Canadian Perspective 4th ed., Oxford.

Course Description

Geomorphology is the study of landforms and the processes that create and reshape them. The objectives of this course are to understand why landforms and landscapes look the way they do and what processes are responsible for their formation. Landscapes can be studied at different scales, so we will look at processes that impact large continental-scale areas such as mountain building due to plate tectonics, as well as much more local and regional-scale processes such as mass wasting events on hill slopes. Landforms evolve in response to a combination of natural and anthropogenic processes and every landscape is a representation of its history.

Grading Scheme

Midterm*	30%	> 90%	A+	70 – 72%	B-
Final*	30%	85 – 89%	A	67 – 69%	C+
Presentation	20%	80 – 84%	A-	63 – 66%	C
Assignments	20%	77 – 79%	B+	60 – 62%	C-
Total	100%	73 – 76%	B	50 – 59%	D
	var. wt. +/- 5%			< 50%	F

Assignments

There will be three to five relatively short practical exercises assigned throughout the course. They will include activities such as map and/or air photo, or using Google Earth to measure, quantify, and describe various landforms and/or landscapes discussed in class.

Tentative Course Outline

Introduction
- What is Geomorphology?
- Historical vs. Process Oriented
- Systems and Equilibrium
- Complex Systems and Scale
Basics Concepts
- Equilibrium, Driving and Resisting Forces
- Thresholds and Complex Responses
- Linkages
- Time
Endogenic & Climatic Effects
- Primary External Controls
- Tectonic Geomorphology
- Climatic Geomorphology
Weathering and Soils
- Physical & Chemical Weathering
- Rates of Weathering
- Basic Pedogenic Processes
- Soil Horizons and Formation Factors
Slope Stability and Mass Wasting
- Forces Acting on a Slope
- Types of Mass Wasting Events

MIDTERM to HERE – Thursday, November 9th

Fluvial Processes
- Discharge, Laminar vs. Turbulent Flow
- Slope, Friction, Roughness and Velocity
- Erosion, Transport and Deposition
– Fluvial Landforms
- Drainage Basins and Drainage Patterns
- Meandering vs. Braided Streams
- Graded Alluvial Channels
- Floodplains, Alluvial Fans, and Deltas
- Stream Terraces
Eolian Processes and Landforms
- Entrainment and Transport
- Erosional Landforms
- Deposition, Dunes and Sand Sheets
Glacial Processes
- Types of Glaciers
- Formation of Glacial Ice
- Glacial Movement and Mass Balance
- Erosion, Transport and Deposition
Glacial Landforms
- Erosional & Depositional Landforms
- Stagnant Ice Landforms
- Proglacial Lakes & Spillways
- Pleistocene Deglaciation

Final Exam – Saturday, December 16th, 2 pm

Presentations

Each student will be required to give a 10-minute annotated poster presentation on a topic of their choice (approved by the instructor) or a topic selected from the list provided below. A topic sign-up sheet will be posted. There will be no duplication, however, it may be possible for students to work in groups of two.

Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene History of Glacial Lakes Souris-Hind
Paleochannels of the Assiniboine River
Origin of the Brandon Hills
Development of Large Meltwater Channels on the Northern Plains
Glacial Lake Agassiz (Origin of, Beaches, Drainage, Deltas, etc. )
Eolian Landscapes of the Canadian Prairies
Origin of the Lauder Sand Hills, Carberry/Brandon/Sprucewoods Sandhills
The Elbow of Capture on the Souris River
Karst Landforms of Manitoba
Channel Formation and Abandonment on the Assiniboine River
Mass Wasting on the Manitoba Escarpment
Periglacial Landscapes of the Hudson Bay Lowlands
The Riding Mountain Uplands
Terraces of the Assiniboine River
Origin of Linear Striations in the Red River Valley
Something on Types of Glacial Till
Meandering vs. Braided Streams
Geomorphic Systems and Equilibrium Theory
Climatic Influences on Geomorphic Development
Weathering and Soil Formation
Anthropogenic Influences on Geomorphic Systems
Hazards and Geomorphic Processes
Where Do Streams Begin?
Dating Techniques
Geomorphic Cycles: a Review
A Landform(s) in or around your hometown.
Other selected topics from the textbook.
One of the virtual fieldtrip stops.

Microsoft Teams

In addition to the course website, I will use Microsoft Teams to manage the course. This includes distributing lecture notes prior to class, posting and receiving assignments, giving tests, and responding to questions outside of class time. I will provide you with an access code and instructions on how to join our Geomorphology Team via your BU email prior to the first class.