GEO 347 – CLIMATIC GEOMORHOLOGY

Spring 2021 Term Paper Topics 

Introduction

Term Paper: The purpose of the term paper is to give you an opportunity to explore a scientific topic related to geomorphology in more depth than we can cover in lecture. Your paper will be 2500 words and must cite at least five (5) papers from refereed journals. Additional sources may also be used provided they are properly cited. You should avoid secondary sources, such as Wiki sites, except where they direct you to suitable primary sources. The paper is due on April 28, 2021, with an “early deadline” of April 14 to allow you to revise & resubmit. The paper is worth 30% of the course grade.

Mid-term Abstract: In addition, you will complete an abstract that lists, cites, and, in one paragraph (250 words), explains how five (5) representative papers from refereed journals relate to your paper topic. An abstract includes a statement about the problem to be addressed, how it will be addressed, and in this case the anticipated results. The purpose of the annotated bibliography is to get you feedback on the direction of your paper while there is still time to correct it if necessary. This annotated bibliography is due on March 24 and is worth 10% of the course grade.

Structure of Papers

There are many ways to structure papers. Every paper should begin with some thesis statement (i.e., say what you want to say), followed by evidence supporting your thesis (i.e., say it), and then a conclusion (i.e., say what you have said). In scientific writing, it is common, but not always necessary, to have subsections with clear headings (e.g., Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, References Cited), as you will see in many journal articles. Feel free to use section headings if they make sense. In scientific writing, it is highly unusual to quote other work. Instead, cite other work to support your own point on something. Even re-writing someone else’s work in your own words is a form of plagiarism.

Ethics of Scientific Writing

In addition to the Academic Integrity explained in the course syllabus, we will also emphasize the importance of scientific integrity and ethics in the writing of term papers. We will treat papers as if they are contributions to science. To give you a sense of how scientific organizations define ethics and code of conduct of its member scientists, here is a link to the American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) document on it this:

https://www.agu.org/-/media/Files/Publications/Scientific-Integrity-and-Professional- Ethics.pdf?la=en&hash=944A3420D73B6C73FFB2BD0696A110F0855415CF

Format for references

There are many styles for citing references. If you use software to help you with this, such as EndNote, you will notice there are a large number of styles. To streamline things, I ask that everyone in this class follow the style guide provide by AGU, which is linked here:

https://www.agu.org/Publish-with-AGU/Publish/Author-Resources/Grammar-Style-Guide

Paper topics

Below are several scientific paper topics aimed at focusing your term paper. They are mostly fairly liberal in terms of how they place bounds on your creativity. Use them as a starting point. You must select one of these topics for your paper. In the interest of mitigating the risk of having a lot of duplication among papers, I will be limiting the number of students per topic to 7-9, depending on class size. Here are the topics:

1. Societies develop in geomorphic settings that pose hazards for construction and engineering projects. Discuss the extent to which the potential hazards are associated with intrinsic versus extrinsic thresholds. You may either focus on one type of landscape, in which case you would build your discussion around several case studies, or a combination of different landscapes, in which case you should compare and contrast the different types of systems.

1. Water at or beneath the water table influences numerous geomorphic processes that have direct consequences for human activities. These include the effects of ground water on land subsidence, groundwater discharge and submarine slope development, and seepage effects on sea-cliff development. Briefly discuss how groundwater processes affect the development of these landforms, how these processes create hazards for humans, and to what extent human activity affects these processes. Support your discussion with examples or case studies.

1. Vegetation growth in semi-arid areas is limited by a lack of water all-year or seasonally. Nevertheless, vegetation is an integral component in geomorphic and hydrological processes in these regions. Discuss how vegetation affects hillslope processes in semi-arid regions, and how the linkages between vegetation and geomorphic processes are altered by land use and climate change.

1. The hyporheic zone is integral to the abiotic and biotic processes occurring in stream systems. Discuss how these systems are understood to operate, and the challenges for observing their function. How are the scientific advances in this area of research getting incorporated into regulation and management of rivers?

1. The critical zone refers to an integrated system that extends vertically upward from the interface between weathered and unmodified bedrock to the atmosphere. What is the critical zone? What are its major components? Why is called a “critical zone?” Discuss what roles tectonic activity, lithology, vegetation, and climate play in the short- and long-term development of the critical zone.

1. Slope failures, landslides, debris flows, and similar catastrophic events in heavily populated areas of the western U.S. and other parts of the world clearly show us how important fire, weather, and land use affect geomorphic processes. Discuss the role of each of these factors, and their combined effects, in promoting and/or triggering such events. Use examples or case studies to support your discussion.

1. The imprint of humans on rivers occurs both within the river corridor, including flow regulation and river engineering or removal of large woody debris, and outside the corridor, such as alteration in land surface infiltration capacities and forest logging. Consequently, many river systems are altered landscapes. With this in mind, discuss how river management and