Department of Geography

Earth Environments 1: Geomorphology and soils

• Credits: 3
• Level: Undergraduate, Year 1
• Semester: 1
• Status: Core course
• Pre-requisites: CAPE Geography (Units 1 & 2) at grade 3 or above, OR equivalent.
• Course coordinator: Prof. Paul Shaw

Course coverage

Earth systems, earth surface processes, geomorphology & landforms, soils development, classification & properties.

Significance/Rationale

Level I Physical Geography introduces students to university-level geography and provides a broad foundation to help them critically understand the world in which they live. This course introduces basic knowledge, ideas, theories and concepts appropriate to first year university physical geography and exposes students to a range of methods and techniques to enhance their learning experiences. The UWI Geography degree allows for the progressive intellectual development of students through Levels I to III, so this course is an essential foundation for Level II Geography.The course contributes to the preparation of UWI geography graduates for the 21st century, by exposure to critical thinking, effective communications and self-motivated learning. The course provides students with wide-ranging knowledge relevant to Earth systems and the physical environment.

Course description

The course introduces modern approaches to an introduction to geomorphology and soil science. It examines the main geomorphic processes in the context of endogenic and exogenic systems from a global perspective. The first part of the course is an examination and description of endogenic systems and processes. It examines the internal structure of the Earth and explains the geographic patterns of global relief of the solid surface in the context of plate tectonics. The relationship between global tectonics and the patterns and styles of volcanic activity is discussed. The passive control of rock type and geological structure is described in relation to landscape form and process. The second part of the course examines and describes the main exogenic systems and processes. The geographical patterns and types of weathering are discussed and the products of the physical disintegration and chemical decomposition of rocks are examined. The course introduces aspects of soil science from a geographical perspective through an examination of the main soil forming factors, and analysis of soil physical; and chemical processes. Key soil types are described and the several approaches to the classification of soils are examined. Exogenic systems in relation to the main geomorphic agents of water, wind and ice are introduced in the context of fluvial, slope, aeolian, karst, coastal, glacial and periglacial systems. The course provides a solid framework for students to advance to Level II and III courses in geomorphology and landform change.