EAS 3150 - Geomorphology

(crosslisted) ASTRO 3150
(OPHLS-AG, PBS-AS)

Spring (offered alternate years). 3 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: calculus, calculus-based physics, and at least one course in earth sciences, or permission of instructor.

S. Birch, A. Hayes.

This course is focused on a subset of the processes that can modify a planetary surface, with an emphasis on exogenic (erosional/depositional) processes.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to derive the fundamental equations that govern how various processes shape a planetary surface, and then apply that knowledge to real landscapes, both on Earth and across the solar system.

Outcome 2: Students will be able to understand the processes that shape planetary surfaces well enough to determine the dominant surface process that shapes a surface, either in the field or with remote sensing data.

Outcome 3: Students will be able to discuss how a given surface feature may evolve (across multiple scales) and understand the fundamental questions that remain to be addressed.

Outcome 4: Students will be able to analyze thoroughly, and rigorously, models proposed in the scientific literature.