FLUVIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY EXERCISE
Initial Publication Date: December 22, 2017
Summary
After an overview exercise comparing current fluvial settings students measure geomorphic features of the modern Mississippi river and use equations to estimate its discharge. Students then measure geomorphic features of the Pliocene Mississippi River and use the same equations to estimate its discharge. Finally, students compare and contrast the modern and Pliocene Mississippi River discharge.
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Context
Audience
Landforms (introductory non-majors)
Geomorphology (undergraduate Earth Science majors)
Geomorphology (undergraduate Earth Science majors)
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
math level - arithmetic, understand exponents
How the activity is situated in the course
stand alone exercise needs to be preceded by a lecture on fluvial processes.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Goals - understanding processes and consequences of varied fluvial regimes
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Thinking skills - compare and contrast modern and ancient fluvial systems
Other skills goals for this activity
Students may work alone or in pairs
Description and Teaching Materials
FLUVIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY EXERCISE
The morphology of a river channel, near-channel, and out-of-channel (floodplain) depositional subenvironments is in general equilibrium with discharge, sediment load, climate, and tectonic factors in alluvial rivers. After an overview exercise comparing current fluvial settings students measure geomorphic features of the modern Mississippi river and use equations to estimate its discharge. Students then measure geomorphic features of the Pliocene Mississippi River and use the same equations to estimate its discharge. Finally, students compare and contrast the modern and Pliocene Mississippi River discharge.
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The morphology of a river channel, near-channel, and out-of-channel (floodplain) depositional subenvironments is in general equilibrium with discharge, sediment load, climate, and tectonic factors in alluvial rivers. After an overview exercise comparing current fluvial settings students measure geomorphic features of the modern Mississippi river and use equations to estimate its discharge. Students then measure geomorphic features of the Pliocene Mississippi River and use the same equations to estimate its discharge. Finally, students compare and contrast the modern and Pliocene Mississippi River discharge.
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Teaching Notes and Tips
Supplemental files provide instructors with representative data
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Assessment
Compare student answers to answers in the instructor guide.
References and Resources
Process Geomorphology by Ritter, Kochel and Miller, 4th ed., page 219