Geography 111Physical Geography Lab

Ref 0527

Thursday 1:30-4:20 PM

Professor Lisa Schmidt

What is Geography?

• The study of the earth and its features and of the distribution of life on the earth, including human life and the effects of human activity.

Fields of Geography

• Human or Cultural Geography• Deals with social,

economic, and behavioral processes

• Physical Geography• Examines the natural

processes occurring at Earth’s surface that provide the physical setting for human activities

Branches of Physical Geography

• Biogeography• Climatology• Coastal Geography• Environmental Geography• Geomorphology• Glaciology• Hydrology• Oceanography• Paleogeography

Branches of Human Geography

• Cultural Geography• Developmental Geography• Economic Geography• Medical Geography• Historical Geography• Political Geography• Population Geography• Demography• Transportation Geography• Urban Geography

Tools Geographers Use

• Maps• Paper representations of space showing point, line, or area data

• Or more simply put, locations, connections, and regions• Remote Sensing

• Aircraft or spacecraft provide images of earth’s surface• GIS or Geographic Information Systems

• Powerful computer mapmaking software connected to data bases• Mathematical Modeling and Statistics

• Used to understand natural and human phenomenon

Course Description• Physical Geography laboratory is an

investigation of earth-sun relationships, weather, climate, vegetation, soils, rocks, minerals, earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers, the world oceans, tectonic forces, and landforms.

• Maps, charts, and laboratory equipment will be used to arrive at conclusions about how these environmental phenomena interrelate.

Course Objectives• When you have completed this course, you should be able to:• 1. Explain absolute and relative location systems• 2. Recognize and utilize the Public Land Survey system• 3. Recognize and discuss the three types of map projections• 4. Locate a place on a map projection, utilizing latitude and longitude• 5. Utilize and analyze reference material to collect and report geographic data• 6. Analyze data using GIS and GPS methods• 7. Identify and diagram atmospheric pressure and winds• 8. Construct a general map view and vertical model of atmospheric circulation patterns• 9. Identify and explain the gain and loss of moisture by condensation and precipitation and• evaluate the changes that occur within the hydrologic system• 10. Utilize weather reports to map and delineate air mass source regions and identify• potential atmospheric disturbances• 11. Identify, locate and evaluate the world climatic regions• 12. Identify, locate and compare the major terrestrial biomes with their perspective climatic• regimes• 13. Identify and discuss Plate Tectonic boundaries, the Earth's crust, and geomorphologies• that result from these processes• 14. Examine, locate and discuss the surface processes that contribute to regional• geomorphology

Prerequisite/Corequisite

• Concurrent enrollment in or completion of Physical Geography (Geog 110)

Required Materials

• Internet Access• Pencils• Pens• Paper• Calculator

Grading

Note: You must earn at least 60% to pass this class. You may be dropped for falling below 60%. Please refer to your syllabus.

Labs and Exams• Each class will consist of a short explanation of

the lab exercise for the day and time in class to complete each assignment.

• You will need to submit your lab answers on Blackboard.• You will have one week to submit your answers.• Labs will close at 1:00 PM on their due dates.

• Exams will consist of problems taken directly from the lab worksheets and will also be given using Blackboard.

Late Work and Exams

• Late work will not be accepted. • There will be no make-ups of missed

exams.

Field Trips

• There are two field trips planned for this class.• October 28, 2010: Etiwanda Nature

Preserve, Mormon Rocks• November 18, 2010: ESRI

Absences and Tardiness• I reserve the right to drop students who miss class twice. • If you have to miss class, you should stay in contact with me. • You may be dropped for excessive tardiness. • If you are going to be late, come in quietly and take a seat WITHOUT

interrupting lecture. • Excessive tardiness is being more than five minutes late more than three times.

• Directions for completing lab worksheets will be given at the beginning of

class and WILL NOT be repeated.

Extra Credit• There may be some extra credit

opportunities. • These will be given in class and your

attendance is required to take advantage of them.

E-mailing Assignments/My Mailbox

• Assignments will NOT be accepted by e-mail.• Assignments can be taken to my mailbox

located in the library.

Dropping

• If you decide to drop, you must do it formally.

• If you stop coming to class, I have no way of knowing if you want to drop or receive and F.• I will give F’s, it is your responsibility to

drop.

Graded Work

• It is your responsibility to pick up graded work.

• You should keep all of your graded work until you receive your final grade. • Not only for this class but all of your

classes!• All graded work will be held for 30 days

after the end of the semester then discarded.

Academic Honesty• Cheating of any kind will not be

tolerated. • Any incidences of cheating or plagiarism

will be reported to the deans office. • Please refer to Victor Valley College’s

policy on academic honesty.

Cell Phones and Texting• Use of cell phones for talking or texting during

class is inappropriate. • You may be asked to leave the classroom if

you are talking or texting on your phone during lecture.

• Phones should be set to silent mode when in class.

Blackboard

• Blackboard will be used for this class.• You MUST use Blackboard to submit your

labs and to take your exams!• You will also find PowerPoint lectures, study

guides, and grades on Blackboard.• There is a login ‘button’ on Crafton’s main

webpage.• http://blackboard.sbccd.cc.ca.us/webapps/login/

• If you have questions about blackboard, stay after class, I am here to help.

Disabilities

Contact Information

• The best way to reach me is by e-mail.• My e-mail address is:

Lisa_M_Schmidt@yahoo.com• My mailbox is located the library.