Download Mountain Geomorphology of British Columbia

University of Victoria
Department of Geography
GEOG
476
Mountain Geomorphology of
British Columbia
Instructor:
Dan Smith
email: [email protected]
Lectures:
Monday, 1430-1720 hrs; Rm: COR A129
Spring
2013
Department of Geography Information
Geography Department website: http://geography.uvic.ca
GEOGPLAN degree planning guide: http://www.geog.uvic.ca/moodle [Log in as a guest]
Undergraduate Advisor: Dr. Phil Wakefield ([email protected])
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The intent of this course is to examine the mountain geomorphology of British
Columbia. In this course we will explore how Quaternary climates and events have
influenced geomorphic processes in this setting, and explore how this mountainous
landscape has responded. We will use key landforms to focus attention on regional and
site-specific processes of mass wasting, mountain hydrology and river processes, slope
form and evolution, and glaciation.
The Cordillera in British Columbia consists of three broad units the:
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Western System,
the Interior System of scattered plateau and mountains, and
the Rocky Mountain System in the east.
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The Western System consists of:
1. the Insular Mountains appearing in the Queen Charlotte Islands and Vancouver
Island, and the St. Elias Mountains in the northwest corner of the province where
Mt. Fairweather (4,663 m asl ), the highest peak, is found;
2. the Coastal trough forming the east coastal plain of Vancouver Island and the
delta plain of the Fraser River;
3. the Coast Mountains which extend northwesterly and average 160 kilometres
wide; and
4. the Cascade Mountains which rise to the east and south of the Fraser River in
the southeast corner of the Western System.
The Interior System is further inland and is dominated by the extensive Interior Plateau.
1. The southern section of the Interior Plateau is 50-65 km wide and ranges
between 1,200 and 1,800 m asl. It extends 800 km in a northwesterly direction,
broadening to 320 km and ranging between 600 and 1,200 m elevation in the
northern section. It is bordered on the east by the Columbia Mountains and the
Rocky Mountain Trench, and on the west by the Coast and Hazelton
Mountains.
2. The northern third of the Interior System, surrounded by a series of mountain
systems, comprises the smaller Yukon and Stikine Plateaux. The Rocky
Mountain Trench runs in a northwesterly direction to the Yukon border from the
southeast sector of the province. It is 3 to 25 km wide and contains a series of
rivers and lakes as well as the Peace River reservoir (Lake Williston) and Mica
reservoir (Kinbasket Lake).
The Canadian Rocky Mountain System forms the eastern wall of the Trench and
separates the province of Alberta from British Columbia south of the 54 th parallel.
Mt. Robson, reaching an elevation of 3,957 m, is the highest peak in the British
Columbia portion of the Rockies. The northeast corner of the province east of the
Rocky Mountains is a relatively flat region and is part of the Great Central Plains
of North America.
COURSE OUTLINE
What is this course about?
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Alpine sediment system
Geocryological inputs
Sediment transfer processes
2
Physical Geography of the Mountains of British Columbia
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Landforms and physiography
Hydrological context
Climatology and Biogeography
Mass Wasting Landforms
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Hillslope processes
Landslides, avalanches and hazards
Fluvial Landforms
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Hydrologic processes, Fluvial forms, processes
Channel geomorphology
Climate change effects and hazards
Glacial Landforms
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Glacier sediment transfer
Subglacial sediment system
Hazards
Tectonic Landforms
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Mountain building and topographic expression
Volcanic landforms
Karst Geomorphology

Landscapes, vulnerability and hazards
COURSE EVALUATION
Evaluation
Mid-term Mini-Paper and Presentation
25%
Research Paper
40%
Final Examination
35%
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UNIVERSITY GRADING AND POLICY INFORMATION
Undergraduate grading information (2012-2013 UVic calendar).
Grade
Grade point
value
A+
A
A-
9
8
7
B+
B
B-
6
5
4
C+
C
3
2
D
1
F
0
Description
Exceptional, outstanding and excellent performance. Normally achieved
by a minority of students. These grades indicate a student who is selfinitiating, exceeds expectation and has an insightful grasp of the subject
matter.
Very good, good and solid performance. Normally achieved by the
largest number of students. These grades indicate a good grasp of the
subject matter or excellent grasp in one area balanced with satisfactory
grasp in the other area.
Satisfactory, or minimally satisfactory. These grades indicate a
satisfactory performance and knowledge of the subject matter.
Marginal performance. A student receiving this grade demonstrated a
superficial grasp of the subject matter.
Unsatisfactory performance. Wrote final examination and completed
course requirements; no supplemental.
The grading scale (which percentages equal which letter grades)
A+
90-100%
A
85-89%
A80-84%
B+
75-79%
B
70-74%
B65-69%
C+
60-64%
C
55-59%
D
50-54%
F
49% or
Less
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