Courses

ESS/Ocean 230: Rivers and Beaches

Source to SinkMontgomery, Nittrouer
Introduction to Earth surface environments, the processes that shape them, how humans affect them and are affected by them. Weekend field trips examine mountains, rivers, deltas/estuaries, beaches, and environments beyond. Focus on linkages between these environments to illustrate coupling between landscapes and seascapes.

Syllabus

Lectures (Powerpoint files)

  1. Introduction
  2. Source to Sink
  3. Weathering
  4. Soil
  5. Erosion
  6. Puget Sound Lecture
  7. Ocean Basin Lecture
  8. Marine Sedimentation Lecture
  9. Estuarine Processes Lecture
  10. Estuarine Processes Lecture
  11. Materials and Sediment Transport
  12. Alluvial Rivers
  13. Bedrock Rivers
  14. Floodplains
  15. Channel Response
  16. River Restoration
  17. Beach Processes Lectures
  18. Beach Processes Lectures
  19. Beach Processes Lectures
  20. Beach Processes Lectures
  21. Beaches: Sedimentation
  22. Beaches around the World
  23. Beaches around Washington
  24. Environmental History: Rivers & Beaches
  25. King of Fish
  26. DIRT: Erosion of Civilizations

Field Trips/Labs

ESS 326: Introductory Geomorphology

Montgomery
Introduction to landforms and surficial deposits. Emphasis on landscape-forming processes. Intended for students who wish to take additional courses in geomorphology. Prerequisite: either PHYS 114 or PHYS 121.

ESS 426: Fluvial Geomorphology

Montgomery
Hydraulic and morphological characteristics of streams and valley floors. Landscape evolution by stream erosion and deposition. Field exercises emphasize quantitative analysis of fluvial processes, channel forms, acquisition of various skills, such as mapping, topographic surveying, report writing. Prerequisite: either ESS 311, ESS 326, GEOL 392, or GEOL 411.

ESS 490/590: Advanced Geomorphology

Montgomery
Review of current literature in geomorphology and graduate student research with faculty participation. Credit/no credit only.

ESS490/590 Reading Lists