Physical Geography GES 110 Spring 2010 Lewis/Baker

Physical Geography Geography and Environmental Systems 110 & 110Y Spring 2010
Instructors: Dr. Laura Lewis Phone: 455-3054 or 455-2002 Email: ljlewis@umbc.edu Office: 211-G Sondheim Hall Hours: M & W: 2:30-3:30pm Dr. Matthew Baker Phone: 410-455-3759 Email: mbaker@umbc.edu Office: 211-K Sondheim Hall Hours: Th 11-12, Fr 12-1 Course time: Course location: Required Text: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 11 11:50am Lecture Hall 3 (AD) Strahler, A. & Z. Merali. 2008. Visualizing Physical Geography. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ. 592 pages.

Course description: This course focuses on the physical environment of our planet and its related spatial and temporal phenomena. Patterns and processes associated with the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere will be covered throughout the semester. Students will gain perspective on the inter-relatedness of these systems. Course objectives: The primary aim of this course is to inform you about the physical environment and to facilitate critical thinking about the subject material, including but not limited to, relating the course material to current events and life experiences. This course will also lay the foundation for many future courses you may take in the natural sciences. Course requirements: There will be four exams and four Bb quizzes. If you fail to take an exam without prior approval you will not be able to make up that exam. If you miss the exam because of an illness you will need a note. If you miss 40% of class lectures you will automatically fail the course. You are expected to come to class on time and to be alert and prepared. This means taking notes. Lecture presentations will be posted AFTER lecture. Students are encouraged to ask questions and to bring in articles and other materials that are related to the course. There will be no cellphones, laptops, or other personal devices allowed without approval of the Instructor. Rude and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated towards the instructors or classmates.

Physical Geography GES 110 Spring 2010 Lewis/Baker

Grading system: Exam 1: 20 points Exam 2: 20 points Exam 3: 20 points Exam 4: 20 points Bb Quiz 1: 5 points Bb Quiz 2: 5 points Bb Quiz 3: 5 points Bb Quiz 4: 5 points Total: 100 points Grades will be awarded on a straight scale basis no curving. 90-100% = A 80-89.9% = B 70-79.9% = C 60-69.9% = D Blackboard: Everything relevant to the course will be posted on Blackboard Blackboard Quizzes: There will be four on-line quizzes through Bb worth 5% each. These quizzes will be administered during each of the courses four UNITS of study (see schedule) and will be announced in lecture. GES 110Y: Some of you are also enrolled in the GES110Y section of this course. You will have an additional class hour each week with a Y instructor (GES 110Y is a four credit course). Academic Integrity: There will be no tolerance of ANY academic misconduct. Students found guilty of such conduct will be turned over to academic affairs. Repercussion for such behavior will result in a failing grade for the exam or quiz as well as possible failure of the course. This means cheating, fabrication, and plagiarism or helping others in the class to commit these acts. Please see statement on final sheet and sign your name showing that you have read all of the information in the syllabus.

Physical Geography GES 110 Spring 2010 Lewis/Baker

Course schedule: UNIT I: ATMOSPHERE Date 01/27 01/29 02/01 02/03 02/05 Lecture 1 2 3 4 Film Topic Course Orientation & Introduction to Earth Earths Global Energy Balance Air Temperature and Insolation Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation National Geographic: Strange Days on Planet Earth: The One Degree Factor Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation Winds and Global Circulation Weather Systems Weather Systems Planet Earth: From Pole to Pole Global Climates EXAM 1 7 4 5 6 6 Chapters 1 2 3 4

02/08 02/10 02/12 02/15 02/17 02/19 02/22

5 6 7 8 Film 9

UNIT II: LITHOSPHERE 02/24 02/26 03/01 03/03 03/05 03/08 10 11 Film 12 13 Film Earth Materials and Plate Tectonics Earth Materials and Plate Tectonics NOVA: The Magnetic Storm Tectonic Landforms Volcanic Landforms National Geographic: Galapagos 9 9 8 8

Physical Geography GES 110 Spring 2010 Lewis/Baker

Date 03/10 03/12

Lecture 14 15

Topic Weathering Mass Wasting

Chapters 10 10

Spring Break: 03/14 03/20 03/22 03/24 16 Aeolian Processes and Landforms EXAM 2 13

UNIT III: HYDROSPHERE 03/26 03/29 03/31 04/02 04/05 04/07 04/09 04/12 04/14 04/16 04/19 UNIT IV: BIOSPHERE 04/21 04/23 04/26 25 26 27 Soils Global Soils Global Soils 15 15 15 17 18 Film 19 20 21 22 Film 23 24 Hydrosphere Fresh Water of the Continents Planet Earth: Fresh Water Fresh Water of the Continents Fluvial Geomorphology Fluvial Geomorphology Karst Geography NOVA: The Mysterious Life of Caves Coastal Processes and Landforms The Pleistocene and Glacial Landforms EXAM 3 13 14 11 12 12 11 4,11 11

Physical Geography GES 110 Spring 2010 Lewis/Baker

Date 04/28 04/30 05/03 05/05 05/07

Lecture 28 Film 29 30 Film

Topic Biogeographic Processes The Incredible Journey of Butterflies Biogeographic Processes Global Biogeography National Geographic: Strange Days on Planet Earth: Invaders Global Biogeography EXAM IV

Chapters 16

16 17

05/10 05/12

31

17

Please come to class prepared for each lecture. If we have a film that day, you will be responsible for questions on the exams that refer to those films.

Physical Geography GES 110 Spring 2010 Lewis/Baker

Signature page: By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an active participant in UMBC's scholarly community in which everyone's academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and helping others to commit these acts are all forms of academic dishonesty, and they are wrong. Academic misconduct [WILL] result in disciplinary action that may include, but is not limited to, suspension or dismissal. To read the full Student Academic Conduct Policy, consult the UMBC Student Handbook, the Faculty Handbook, or the UMBC Policies section of the UMBC Directory By signing below you are acknowledging receipt of this statement regarding academic integrity and your time in my course here at UMBC

Student Name Printed: ___________________________________

Student Signature: ______________________________________

Date: ________________

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