| Geomorphology James S. Aber |

| Course requirements | 2009 project summary |
| Geomorph introduction | Geomorph weblinks |
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Syllabus attachment
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All course curriculum is presented via this webpage.
Blackboard is not used for this course.
The course is taught in a three-day field trip during the fall break, Oct. 9-11; students work independently for the remainder of the course. Students must be available to participate in the field trip. There are no other required class meetings; students may consult with your instructor individually as needed.
A special fee of $35 covers accomodations and some meals (breakfast & lunch); students pay for dinners on their own. Transportation is furnished free. The fee is due by Sept. 18th; make checks out to "ESU field geomorphology, c/o J.S. Aber" and give to your instructor.
The processes that shape landforms can be categorized as endogenetic or exogenetic. Endogenetic processes are related to plate tectonics and to the surface effects of plate movements, both horizontally and vertically, as well as to other processes originating from the Earth's interior. Exogenetic processes develop at or above the surface in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, or biosphere. They involve wind, water, ice, mass
movements, or living organisms that modify landforms. Impact and accumulation of extra-terrestrial materials (meteorites, comets, etc.) are also exogenetic processes.
Endogenetic and exogenetic processes combine with structure and time to produce the observed landforms at the Earth's surface. Most landforms involve a considerable mass of material--bedrock and sediment, and so are slow to adapt when environmental changes take place. The geomorphology of a region, therefore, represents a long-term integration of environmental conditions and trends. A region's geomorphology is, thus, a reflection of both past and present environments.
ES 546 requirements
ADA statement: Emporia State University will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students need to contact the Director of Disability Services and the professor as early in the semester as possible to ensure that classroom and academic accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. All communication between students, the Office of Disability Services, and the professor will be strictly confidential.
Trails End cabin at Camp Aldrich. The cabin includes a full bath and kitchen; a shower house is located next door. Photo date © J.S. Aber.
Instructions for preparing student webpages.
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Geomorphology is the study of the Earth's surface landforms both on land and on the sea floor. This study is both descriptive and quantitative; it deals with morphology, processes, and origins of landforms. The ultimate goals of geomorphology are to understand the way in which landforms are created and to document the evolution of landforms through time. The geomorphology of any region or site is the result of interplay involving three factors.
Introduction to geomorphology
All Earth surfaces are subject to diverse processes that operate at greatly varying rates. Static landscapes do not exist; all landscapes undergo constant modification--some quite slowly, others rapidly, and almost instantaneously in certain cases. The active processes also change through time, so that every landscape is subject to continual evolution.
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Useful geomorphology websites

Please send your comments to the course instructor.
J.S. Aber, e-mail: jaber@emporia.edu.
Last update: October 2009.