GEOGRAPHY 208

Physical Geography of the National Parks

Fall 2005

Instructor: Dr. Randall Schaetzl

Office: 128 Geography Bldg

Phone:

             office: 353-7726 cell: 648-0207

Email: soils@msu.edu

Lectures: 9:10-10:00 M,W in room 108 Kresge Art Center

Texts:

Harris, A.G., Tuttle, E., and S.D. Tuttle. 2004. Geology of National Parks. Kendall-Hunt Publ., Dubuque, IA. 882 pp. REQUIRED

             Quick Reference United States Atlas, Rand McNally Publ. 64 pp. RECOMMENDED

National Park System Map and Guide. Available from Dr. Schaetzl for $1.00. RECOMMENDED

Course Goals: This course is designed to provide an introduction to physical geography and natural history through an examination of the landform/landscape/vegetation assemblages contained in the US national parks, monuments, lakeshores, etc. As examples, a discussion of Glacier National Park will be used to examine glacial landforms and their potential for land use and scenic appeal. The discussion of Big Bend National Park will highlight desert vegetation and its adaptations to dry conditions.

             The goal of the course, therefore, is to strengthen the scenic appeal of the US national parks by providing students with a better understanding of exactly what they are viewing, and how that particular landscape has evolved and formed. Historical development, human impacts, and human resource utilization of the parks is woven into the course content.

EXAMS:  There will be two hourly examinations and a final exam. Dates are provided below.  These will usually consist of T/F and multiple choice questions, as well as a few short essay questions.  Map (location-type) questions should also be expected. Both exams will be of similar format.  The final exam is comprehensive, but stresses the material covered in the latter section of the course. 

GRADING: There are 350 possible points to be earned in Geography 208. Cumulative point totals will be curved to arrive at a final course grade. A total of 175 points (50% of possible) is required for a passing grade in Geography 208; there are no exceptions.

Exam 1:        100 points

Exam 2:            100 points

Final Exam: 150 points

           Total: 350 points

LECTURE AND READING OUTLINE

DATE   TOPICS                                                                            PARKS FEATURED                                     READINGS

Aug 29  Introduction, course goals and approaches                                 none                                                                xiv

types of US national “parks”

Aug 31  Geologic concepts and the geologic timetable                            none                                                                13-15; inside frt cover

Sep 7     Fluvial processes in arid regions                                                 Badlands, Teddy Roosevelt                            1-6; 115-124; 129-134

Sep 12   Fluvial processes in arid regions                                                 Canyonlands, Grand Canyon,                         7-19

                                                                                                                                 Monument Valley 

Sep 14   Geology of the Grand Canyon                                                    Grand Canyon                                                19-28

Sep 19   Rock types and weathering concepts                                          Bryce Canyon, Zion                                       29-35; 43-52;

Box 25.1

Sep 21   Rock structure and weathering                                                    Arches, Natural Bridges                                 79-86

Sep 26   Faulting and folding of rocks                                                      Grand Teton                                                   644-657

Sep 28   Basin and Range landscapes                                                       Death Valley, Great Basin                              663-669; Box 45.1

713-733

Oct 3     Exam 1

Oct 5     Continental glaciation: principles and processes                         none                                                                289-294

Oct 10   Exams back; Continental glaciation: erosion                              Acadia                                                            321-332

Oct 12   Alpine glaciation                                                                         Glacier, Yosemite, Glacier Bay,                     357-367; 385-397

Rocky Mountain

Oct 17   Plate tectonics principles, vulcanism via tephra                          Craters of the Moon                                       37-39; 506-510

Oct 19   Explosive vulcanism                                                                   Mt. Ranier, North Cascades, Crater Lake,      511-516; 527-532;

                                                                                                                                 Lassen, Craters of the Moon            536(last part)-539

Oct 24   Non-explosive vulcanism                                                            Big Bend, Hawaii Volcanoes, Haleakala       575-585; 593-598

Oct 26   Old, old, vulcanism in the midwest                                             Isle Royale                                                      307-319

Oct 31   Copper and copper mining                                                          Keweenaw Historic Park                                ---

Nov 2    Geothermal processes and geysers                                           Yellowstone                                                   619-633

Nov 7    Exam 2

Nov 9    Karst and cave formation                                                            Mammoth Cave                                              187-204

Nov 14   Exams back; Karst and cave formation                                     Wind Cave, Carlsbad Caverns                       209-215; 221-229

Nov 16  Coastal processes: erosion                                                          Olympic, Acadia, Point Reyes,                      429-434

                                                                                                                                 Pictured Rocks 

Nov 21  (YES we are having class) Coastal processes: deposition          Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout,                        ---

Wright Brothers

Nov 23  Eolian processes                                                                          Great Sand Dunes, Sleeping Bear Dunes,      149-159

White Sands

Nov 28  Biogeography of deserts                                                             Big Bend, Saguaro, Organ Pipe, Joshua Tree, 675-676; 693-699

                                                                                                                                 Great Basin                                       704-710; 791-796

Nov 30  Biogeography of deserts                                                             Big Bend, Saguaro, Organ Pipe, Joshua Tree, ---

Great Basin

Dec 5     Biogeography and ecology of the big trees                                 Redwood, Sequoia, King’s Canyon               739-744; 769-772

Dec 7     Grassland biogeography and the Great Plains                             Teddy Roosevelt, Tallgrass Prairie                ---

FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, Dec 13, 7:45 am