Course Code                                                              Title                                                                           Credit Hours

GEOG-302                                   Geomorphology                     GEOG-302                                                            Geomorphology                                                                          03

Description:

This course provides an introduction to the basic principles and concepts of geomorphology. The study of geomorphology is qualitatively means the description of landforms and quantitatively describes the processes and how these geomorphologic processes responsible for the origin/evolution and modification of various landforms through time. This subject basically involves a comprehensive understanding of structure, process and stage as well as types of relief features that are found on the Earth and created by various agents such as rivers, glaciers, wind and ocean etc. Throughout the course we will explore the nature and dynamics of geologically controlled landforms such as weathering, mass wasting and tectonic landforms in which plate tectonics will be discussed in detail as befits its status as one of the key areas of study in the earth sciences.

Learning Outcomes:

            It is the goal of this course that, by the end, student will:

• Evaluating how a geomorphic process controls the development of distinctive landforms.
• Analyzing the relationship between folding, faulting, volcanic activity, and plate tectonics
• Comparing, contrasting, and differentiating between the processes of physical and chemical weathering and erosion, including examples of each process.
• Understand the processes of mass wasting and giving examples of structures developed by mass wasting.

Course Contents:

1. Scope and status of geomorphology
2. Introduction to geomorphic concepts/principles
3. Factors of landform development; structure, process and geological time scale
4. Endogenic Processes
5. Isostasy
6. Diastrophism
7. Continental drift
8. Plate tectonic
9. Volcanism
10. Earthquakes
11. Exogenic Processes
12. Weathering; mass wasting and their types
13. Cycle of erosion: fluvial , glacial, eolian and Karst
14. Fluvial erosional landforms, transportation mechanisms of running water; fluvial depositional landforms, types of drainage patterns and structure
15. Glacier formation, glacier as geomorphic agent: glacial erosion and depositional landforms; glacio-lacustrine and glacio-fluvial features
16. Eolian landforms: wind as geomorphic agent; eolian erosional landforms, transportation by wind; Eolian depositional landforms
17. Ground water: porosity and permeability of rocks; aquifers
18. Karst topography and associated landforms
19. Sea wave as geomorphic agent; erosional and depositional landforms
20. Soil development: factors of soil formation, physical and chemical properties of soil, soil profile, texture and structure; types of soils  

Recommended Books:

1. Holden, J. (2012). An introduction to physical geography and the environment (3rd ed.). UK: Pearson Education.
2. Hagget, R. J. (2011). Fundamentals of Geomorphology (2nd ed.).  London: Routledge.
3. Carlson, D. H., Plummer, C. C., & McGeary, D. (2008). Physical geology: Earth revealed ( 9th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
4. Thompson, G. R., & Turk, J. (1998). Introduction to physical geology. USA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.

ØSuggested Books:

1. Tarbuck, E. J., & Lutgens, F.K. (2008). Earth: An introduction to physical geology. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall.
2. Stringer, E. T. (2004). Modern Physical Geography. New York: John Wiley.
3. Thornbury, W. D. (2004). Principles of Geomorphology. New York: John Willy & Sons.
4. Thornbury, W.D. (1969). Principles of Geomorphology (2nd ed.). New York: John Wiley.
5. King, C. (1976). Techniques in Geomorphology. London: Edward.