FIELD METHODS IN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY                                            

Geography 420/520

 

Instructor: Dr. Keith Hadley                                    

Office: 424 M CH                                                 

Office Hours: MWF 11:30-12:30 or by appointment

Phone: 725-3078  

E-mail: hadley@.pdx.edu (Subject: Geog420/520)

Web Site:

 

COURSE OBJECTIVE:  The goal of the course is to familiarize the students with field methods commonly used in physical geography.  Course topics will include research and sample design, field measurements and mapping, data analysis, report writing, and the use of field equipment.  Fieldwork and subsequent lab and data analyses will be used to interpret natural and anthropogenic landscape patterns and processes based on data collected through vegetation sampling, soil descriptions, microclimatic measurements, and examination of geomorphologic features and processes.  Field work will take place in Oxbow Regional Park where our data will be used a part of the Park’s resource inventory.

 

PREREQUISITES:

 

8 hours of upper-division physical geography or graduate standing.

 

 

REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS:                                                  

            Lounsbury, J.F. and Aldrich, F.T. 1986.  Introduction to Geographic Field Methods and

     Techniques.  Second edition.  Merrill Publishing Co.

 

Additional readings for the class will be made available through the departmental office. 

 

Materials: Protractor, metric ruler, field notebook, graph paper, pencil and eraser, plastic bags, field clothes, water bottle, calculator, brain . . .

 

GRADING:                                                        

 

Grading:  Final grades will be based on:

             (1)   Class participation

             (2)   Collection of Historical/Background Information

             (3)   Field/Lab Reports

             (4)   Team Term Project/Team Presentation

             (5)   Field Technique Report (Graduate Students only)

 

An important requirement of the course is the completion of weekly field/ reports.  These reports will follow the standard field report format and include an introduction to the exercise/problem, a site description, the methods, results, discussion, and summary sections.  Each report will also include some data analyses involving descriptive and comparative statistics.  Graduate students will also be expected to present a summary of a particular field technique, e.g., transect sampling,

plot sampling, repeat photography, mapping techniques, use of remotely sensed data, etc.  Everyone will be expected to contribute to the collection of historical/background information and to participate in writing/presenting a final report to be given to Oxbow Park and Metro Parks and Green Space staff.   Final grades for the course will be curved.  Students who feel they have a learning disability that may affect their performance are encouraged to meet with me as soon as possible so that accommodations can be made.                 

            The following is a course outline covering the major lecture topics and reading assignments.  This is a tentative schedule which may be adjusted as the term progresses.  Note that additional outside readings may be assigned.  These readings will be available in the Geography Department Office.  

 

 

                                                TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE                    

 

  DATE                        DESCRIPTION                                               READINGS 

     

 

 

  4/5                             Introduction to Field Methods                          Chapters 1 & 3

                                    and Research Methodology                              Handouts/Reserved

   

  4/12                           Field Measurements and Mapping                     Chapter 2

 

  4/19                           Research and Sampling Design                          Chapters 5 & 6

                                    Data Analysis and Report writing                     

             

  4/26                           Microclimatology                                              Handouts/Reserved

 

  5/3                             Vegetation Sampling                                         Handouts/Reserved

 

  5/10                           Forest Structure                                                Handouts/Reserved

 

  5/17                           Soil Identification/Sampling                               Handouts/Reserved

 

  5/24                           Soils and Geomorphology                                 Handouts/Reserved

                                   

  5/31                           Fluvial Processes                                              Handouts/Reserved

 

  6/7                             Report Writing/Grant Proposals                        Handouts/Reserved

 

  6/14                           FINAL REPORTS

 

 

 

            References

 

Barbour, M.G., Burk, J.H., and Pitts, W.D. 1987.  Terrestrial Plant Ecology.  Second Edition.

      Benjamin and Cummings Publishing Co. Menlo Park, CA.

Birkeland, P. W.  1999.  Soils and Geomorphology.  Oxford University Press, N.Y.

Franklin, J.F. and Dyrness, C.T. 1988.  Natural Vegetation of Oregon and Washington.  Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, OR.

Geiger,  R. 1965.  The Climate Near the Ground.  Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

Goudie, A.S. 1990.  Geomorphological Techniques.  Routledge Press,  Routledge NY.

Harris, L.D. 1984.  The Fragmented Forest.  University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Muller-Dumbois, D. and Ellenberg, H.  1974.  Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology.

      John Wiley and Sons, New York.

National Resources Conservation Service, 1998.  Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils.  National Soil Survey Center, National Resources Conservation Service, USDA, Lincoln, NE.

Norse, E.A. 1990.  Ancient Forests of the Pacific Northwest. Island Press, Washington D.C.

Smith, R.L. and Smith, T.M. 2000.  Ecology and Field Biology. Sixth Edition.  Addison‑Wesley,  Boston, MA.

Stoddard, R.H. 1982.  Field Techniques and Research Methods in Geography.  Kendall/Hunt,

      Dubuque, Iowa