Earth Planetary Sciences 650
Seminar in Geomorphology
In leading the Seminar in Geomorphology (Geography-Earth and Planetary Sciences 650), I first want to find out what approaches and topics will benefit the assembled group the most. We select a central topic - or a group of theme-related topics - and approach them as a small community of scholars bent upon finding out what is known, using a survey of published research. Each class member, including the instructor, then selects a focused area to explore in depth, conducts a bit of new research, and reports upon the findings. (The "report" consists of an oral presentation accompanied by an electronic file and paper copy of the findings.) And, of course, we always find some good reasons to go into the field and do some topic-related field work!
General topical areas chosen from several recent Seminar offerings followed by specific examples (in parentheses) include:
The history of geomorphology:
(Theories of landscape evolution and their chief proponents)
Overview of field techniques in geomorphology:
(Measurement theory in geomorphology and some specific applications)
Modeling in geomorphology:
(Positive and negative feedback loops)
Dating technique employed in geomorphology:
(Using biogeomorphology: dendrogeomorphology)
(Dating geomorphic surfaces)
Sediment in process geomorphology:
(Sediment genesis)
(Weathering of sediment)
(Sediment transport processes)
(Measuring sediment transport)
Climatic geomorphology:
(Antecedent effects of weather or climate)
Hillslope geomorphology:
(Unchannelized flow)
(Erosion surfaces of hillslope origin)
(Gullying)
Hydrogeomorphology:
(Fluvial process geomorphology)
(Urban hydrogeomorphology)
(Disturbed lands by fluvial processes)
(Erosion surfaces of fluvial origin)
Coastal geomorphology:
(Fundamental and second-order causes of sea level change)
G. Michael Clark
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
1412 Circle Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-1410
Phone: (865) 974-6006
Email: clarkgmorph@utk.edu