GEOL484-14S2 (C) Semester Two 2014

Special Topic

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2014
End Date: Sunday, 16 November 2014
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2014
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 12 October 2014

Description

Special Topic

Geomorpholoogy - concepts and systems
This course contains two parts: Part 1 is the first part of ENGE415 (Engineering Geomorphology) and covers general aspects of geomorphology like an overview over geomorphic systems, landform interpretation, fluvial geomorphology and mass movements. It also deals with aspects of geomorphic risk assessment, remediation and mitigation of geomorphic hazards e.g. landslides. Part 2 introduces some more advanced topics of geomorphology like the complex interaction of different geomorphic systems in time or the influence of climate on geomorphology. Applied aspects are concepts of geomorphological mapping and geomorphology and outreach. The course as a whole covers several important aspects and principles of geomorphology and landforms evolution. It provides a basis for various applied tasks and problems in the wide field of geosciences.

Learning Outcomes

Students successfully completing this course will:

1. Have a basic understanding of the drivers of and constraints on landform evolution.
2. Have an understanding of the concept of geomorphic process systems.
3. Be able to analyse the present geomorphology on a site and deduce  its geomorphic history.
4. Be able to infer the likely geomorphic future of the site.
5. Be able to report on the likely practical implications of future geomorphic activity at the site.
6. Have a basic knowledge on important theoretical concepts of geomorphology and its importance for palaeoclimatic interpretation.
7. Have an insight into the concept of geomorphological mapping and its application.
8. Have an understanding of what position geomorphology could have within outreach and education.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of Department.

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Stefan Winkler

Lecturer

Tim Davies

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Landform interpretation exercise 09 Aug 2014 20% Landform interpretation exercise
Field mapping & investigation exercise 13 Sep 2014 30% Field mapping & investigation exercise
Oral presentation on a given topic 25% Oral presentation on a given topic (due at workshop, end of week 41)
Written report on the given topic 17 Oct 2014 25% Written report on the given topic

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Anderson RS & Anderson SP; Geomorphology ; University Press, 2010.

Burbank, Douglas West. , Anderson, Robert S; Tectonic geomorphology ; 2nd ed; J. Wiley & Sons, 2012.

Panizza, Mario; Environmental geomorphology ; Elsevier, 1996.

Schumm, Stanley Alfred; The fluvial system ; Wiley, 1977.

Summerfield, M. A; Global geomorphology : an introduction to the study of landforms ; Longman Scientific & Technical ; Wiley, 1991.

Notes

Recommended Preparation
Prior familiarity with geomorphology will be useful but is not required. Acquaintance with physical geology and physical geography, or of analysis of geomorphic processes such as river flow or mass movement, is advised.

Field trip/exercise: one day, 16 August
This will involve mapping an active geomorphic site in Canterbury, and associated data interpretation and analyses (details & costs to be advised).

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

Class Schedule
Week # Week starting Lectures                     Labs
Topics
29 14th July Introduction TRD
30 21st July Geomorphic systems TRD
31 28th July Interpreting landforms TRD
32 4th Aug River Behaviour TRD
33 11th Aug Geomorphic risk assessment TRD Day trip (full day Saturday 16 August)
34 18th Aug Summary TRD


37 8th Sept Geomorphology and time SW
38 15th Sept Geomorphology and climate SW
39 22nd Sept Geomorphology and climate/complexity SW
40 29th Sept Geomorphology  and complexity SW
41 6th Oct Geomorphology and mapping SW Workshop (1 day, Sat. 11 Oct) student presentations
42 13th Oct Geomorphology and outreach/education SW

Marks and Grades
The Department of Geological Sciences uses the following scale to convert marks into grades:
100 – 90 A+ 75 – 79 B+ 60 – 64 C+
89 – 85 A 70 – 74 B 55 – 59 C
84 – 80 A- 65 – 69 B- 50 – 54 C-
Below 50 D/E
The Department of Geological Sciences reserves the right to adjust this mark/grade conversion, when deemed necessary.

Late Work
Late work should be accompanied with a short note explaining why the work is late. The work will be marked and marks will be subtracted for each day the work is late. Days late include week-ends and holidays.

Aegrotat Applications
If you feel that illness, injury, bereavement or other critical circumstances has prevented you from completing an item of assessment or affected your performance, you should complete an aegrotat application form, available from the Registry or the Student Health and Counselling Service. This should be within seven days of the due date for the required work or the date of the examination. In the case of illness or injury, medical consultation should normally have taken place shortly before or within 24 hours after the due date for the required work, or the date of the test or examination. For further details on aegrotat applications, please refer to the Enrolment Handbook. You have the right to appeal any decision made, including aegrotat decisions.

Missing of Tests
In rare cases a student will not be able to sit a test. In such cases, the student should consult with the course co-ordinator or the Head of Geological Sciences to arrange alternative procedures. This must be done well in advance of the set date for the test, unless the situation is covered by the aegrotat regulations.

Reconsideration of Grades
• Grades for individual items of coursework may be reassessed, and in the first instance students should speak with the course coordinator. If an agreeable solution cannot be reached students should then speak to the Head of the Geological Sciences Department. Reconsideration should normally be requested within 4 weeks of the test or the return of the item of assessment.
• Grade reconsideration for courses as a whole can be obtained by applying to the Registry within 4 weeks of the date of publication of the final results. Students should refer to UC Calendar under general course and examination regulations for details of the appeal process.

Academic Liaison
Tom Brookman and Tim Stahl currently share the Chairperson role on the Postgraduate Liaison Committee. A student representative is appointed to the Liaison Committee at the start of the semester. Please feel free to talk to Tom, Tim or the student representative about any problems or concerns that you might have.

Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities should speak with someone at the Disability Resource Service. Inquire in the first instance at Level 3 Rutherford Building  Email: disability@canterbury.ac.nz

Policy on Dishonest Practice
Plagiarism, collusion, copying and ghost writing are unacceptable and dishonest practices.
• Plagiarism is the presentation of any material (text, data, figures or drawings, on any medium including computer files) from any other source without clear and adequate acknowledgement of the source.
• Collusion is the presentation of work performed in conjunction with another person or persons, but submitted as if it has been completed only by the named author(s).  
• Copying is the use of material (in any medium, including computer files) produced by another person(s) with or without their knowledge and approval.
• Ghost writing is the use of another person(s) (with or without payment) to prepare all or part of an item submitted for assessment.  
In cases where dishonest practice is involved in tests or other work submitted for credit, the student will be referred to the University Proctor. The instructor may choose to not mark the work.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $909.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Geological Sciences .

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