Ideas for Teaching

Vignettes

Vignettes are stand-alone, illustrated electronic case studies that teach about geomorphology, surface processes, and/or Quaternary history. They are short, place-based examples that allow instructors to customize their class' approach to learning. Click here to browse the full collection of Vignettes.

Marine Geomorphology: Geomorphic Processes, Hazards, and Paradoxes in Monterey Canyon.
While traditional geomorphic studies focus on the geologic processes and products that shape our terrestrial topography, there are equally exciting opportunities to explore the other 71% of the planet lying below sea level. This vignette deals with modern studies of Monterey Canyon, which cleaves the central California Coast.

Megathrust earthquakes, coastal uplift, and emergent marine terraces of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula
Catastrophic earthquake events are notable for the sudden geomorphic change that they bring to coastlines through coseismic uplift and subsidence. Understanding how these sudden changes affect the long-term growth and decay of coastal topography is an intriguing puzzle for geomorphologists.