38/42:278 Geomorphology
Instructors: Lecture, 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, 4th ed., McGraw-Hill. 2) Easterbrook, Surface Landforms and Processes, 2nd 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.