General Info

This course will introduce the principles of vegetation science, the dynamics of the earth's atmosphere, the characteristics and controls of climates, and the function of these physical features in determining the types and geographic distributions of life on earth. The course conclusion will focus on environmental impacts involving climate and vegetation that result from human-environment interactions at local and global scales. Emphasis will be placed on applying concepts of climate and vegetation towards an understanding of the earth as a dynamic environmental system.

 

Class Policy

The final course grade will be based on the following:

25% Laboratory (10 labs; each 2.5%)

25% First Midterm (October 11 th )

25% Second Midterm (November 15 th )

25% Final Exam (December 15 th @ 10:30-1:00pm )

Note: All students must enroll in one lab section (consult Schedule of Courses for meeting days and times). You are not enrolled in the lecture course unless you are enrolled in a lab section.

Laboratory work is essential to the course, and must be completed as scheduled to receive credit for each lab. Each student must sign up for a lab section and attend that section. If you are unable to attend your regularly scheduled lab you need to work out an alternative solution with your TA beforehand, not afterwards . Labs start the second week of class.

NO makeup tests are given. Students who miss a test without a documented and acceptable excuse (e.g. medical), will receive a score of zero for the missed test. Students with a valid documented reason for missing a test will be given a score for the missed test equal to their average score on other tests. If you know of a valid conflict with any of the exams, please contact me in advance and arrange to take the exam early.

Statement on Disabilities : If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services at least 1 week before the test. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documents disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, and http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices/

Classroom Behavior Policy : Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are very important in the classroom and at the University. Please refer to CU policies and associated procedures at www.colorado.edu/policies/index.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code

Religious Obligations : We will make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. If you will have any such conflict, please contact me as soon as you are able and no later than two weeks prior to the conflict date. If you have any such conflicts with lab, please contact your TA as soon as you are able an no later than two weeks prior to the conflict date. Please see full details at www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html

Academic honesty : All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/

Discrimination ad Sexual Harassment : Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh and at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/discrimination.html

 

Textbook

Required text : Christopherson, R.W. 2006. Geosystems: An Introduction to Physical Geography. Sixth Edition. Prentice Hall, NJ. 689 p. [Available on Reserve at Norlin Library]

Required lab manual : Laboratory Manual for Geography 1001-010 . Holz, Fall 2007. Available online ( http://www.colorado.edu/geography/courses/geog_1001_lab )

 

Readings

Assigned readings : Electronic reserves through Norlin Library.

 

Schedules

____________________Lecture Schedule and Assigned Readings - GEOG_1001 - Fall 2007

Dates

Topic

Readings *

Aug 28

Course Introduction, Earth-sun relations I

Ch 1 & 2

30

Earth sun relations

Ch 2

Sept 4

Earth's atmosphere

Ch 3

6

Energy balance

Ch 4

11

Global temperatures

Ch 5

13

Atmospheric and ocean circulation patterns

Ch 6

18

Atmospheric and ocean circulation patterns

Ch 6

20

Water and atmospheric moisture

Ch 7

25

Weather

Ch 8

27

Water resources

Ch 9

Oct 2

Climate classification

Ch 10

4

Global climate change

Ch 10

9

Review session

----------

11

Mid-term 1

----------

16

Ecosystem essentials I

Ch 19 & reserve

18

Ecosystem essentials II

Ch 19 & reserve

23

Ecosystem essentials III

Ch 19 & reserve

25

Ecosystem essentials IV

Ch 19 & reserve

30

Terrestrial biomes I

Ch 20 & reserve

Nov 1

Terrestrial biomes II

Ch 20 & reserve

6

Terrestrial biomes III

Ch 20 & reserve

8

Terrestrial biomes IV

Ch 20 & reserve

13

Review session

----------

15

Mid-term 2

----------

20

No Class – Fall Break

----------

22

No Class – Fall Break

----------

27

Anthropogenic environmental impacts I

Ch 21 & reserve

29

Anthropogenic environmental impacts II

Ch 21 & reserve

Dec 4

Anthropogenic environmental impacts III

Ch 21 & reserve

6

Anthropogenic environmental impacts IV

Ch 21 & reserve

11

Anthropogenic environmental impacts V

Ch 21 & reserve

13

Review session

----------

15

Final Exam (Saturday, 10:30am-1:00pm )

----------

* Note: assigned readings may be changed throughout the course. Detailed listing of the Reserve Readings will be given out during the semester. These materials are on electronic reserve through Norlin Library.

Handouts

| 1-Introduction | 2-Lecture 2 | 3-Lecture 3 | 4-Lecture 4 | 5-Lecture 5 | 6-Lecture 6 | 7-Lecture 7 | 8-Lecture 9 | 9-Lecture 10 | 10-Lecture 11 | 11-Lecture 12 | * Lecture #11' slide | *Review Session* | Lecture 13 | Lecture 14 | Lecture 15 | Graphs Lecture 15 | Lecture 16 | Lecture 17 | Lecture 18 | Lecture 19 | Review Session | Lecture 20 | Lecture 21 |

Midterm_keys

| Midterm I | Midterm II: Version A; Version B; & Version C | Final Exam: Version A, Version B, Version C |

 

Field trips pictures