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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Introduction to Physical Geography
Course: GPH113

First Term: 2018 Fall
 Lecture   4.0 Credit(s)   3.0 Period(s)   3.0 Load  
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: T - Lab Load


Description: Spatial and functional relationships among climates, landforms, soils, water, and plants.



MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Use the metric system. (I)
2. Describe the face and form of the earth and its place in the solar system. (II - IV)
3. Locate places on the earth using the geographic grid system and the United States Land Survey grid. (V)
4. Read topographic maps using map symbols. (VI)
5. Explain the relationship between the earth and sun in regard to the length of days, seasons, time, and solar energy. (VII)
6. Make time zone calculations. (VII)
7. Identify basic landform types, and explain the basic geologic theory behind the development of landforms. (VIII)
8. Describe the classification of minerals and rocks, and identify common rocks. (VIII)
9. Describe geologic hazards such as floodplains, mass wasting zones, volcanic areas, etc. (VIII)
10. Describe the basic weather elements. (IX)
11. List the basic weather controls, and appraise the effects of these controls on the weather elements. (IX)
12. Display on a map the geographic pattern of temperature, pressure, wind, precipitation, and storms. (IX)
13. Describe major storm types. (IX)
14. Explain the climatic controls. (X)
15. Describe the classification of world climates. (X)
16. Display the world climate pattern on a world map. (X)
17. Display the world vegetation pattern on a world map, and describe the relationship between climate and vegetation. (X)
18. Describe soil problems and the relationship between climate and soils. (X)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Metric System
II. Place of the Earth in the Solar System
III. Face of the Earth
   A. Smooth/relief
   B. Land masses
   C. Parts unusable
IV. Form of the Earth
   A. Shape and dimensions
   B. Interior
V. Location of Points on the Earth
   A. Spherical coordinates: geographic grid
   B. Plane coordinates
   C. Metes and bounds
   D. Unites States Land Survey
VI. Maps
   A. Projections
      1. Properties
      2. Classification
      3. Problems
   B. Topographic maps
      1. Symbols
      2. Contours
      3. How to read and use
VII. The Earth/Sun Relationship
   A. Rotation
   B. Revolution
   C. Inclination of the earth`s axis
   D. Length of day
   E. Seasons
   F. Special lines
      1. Equator
      2. Tropics
      3. Circles
   G. Time
      1. Apparent solar time
      2. Mean solar time
      3. Sidereal time
      4. Local time
      5. Standard time and time zones
      6. Time problems
VIII. Landforms
   A. Methods of study
   B. Minerals
   C. Rocks
      1. Classification
      2. Identification
   D. Endogenous processes
      1. Bending, folding, and faulting
      2. Earthquakes
      3. Volcanoes-surface and subsurface
      4. Plate tectonics
   E. Exogenous processes
      1. Weathering
      2. Gravity as agent of erosion
      3. Running water as agent of erosion
      4. Ground water as agent of erosion
      5. Wind as agent of erosion
      6. Ice as agent of erosion
      7. Oceans as agent of erosion
IX. Weather
   A. Weather elements
      1. Temperature
      2. Pressure
      3. Winds
      4. Moisture
      5. Solar radiation
      6. Air pollution
   B. Weather controls
      1. Latitude
      2. Land and water distribution
      3. Ocean currents
      4. Altitude
      5. Mountain barriers
      6. Pressure and wind
      7. Storms
      8. Solar radiation
      9. Air pollution
      10. Local topography
   C. Temperature
      1. Temperature and structure of the atmosphere
      2. Controls of solar radiation
      3. How the atmosphere is cooled and heated
      4. Heat balance
      5. Differential heating of land and water
      6. Daily cycle of air temperature
      7. Annual cycle of air temperature
      8. World distribution of temperature
   D. Pressure and wind
      1. Atmospheric pressure and measurement of air pressure
      2. Pressure differences and their origins
      3. World distribution of pressure
      4. Forces that produce wind
      5. The world wind system
      6. Local wind systems
   E. Ocean currents
      1. Causes
      2. Importance
   F. Atmospheric moisture and precipitation
      1. Humidity
      2. Condensation
      3. Precipitation
      4. Storms
X. Climate of the World and Their Associated Vegetation and Soils
   A. Importance
   B. Classification of climate types and their locations
   C. Tropical moist climates
      1. Tropical rainforest
      2. Tropical monsoon
      3. Tropical savanna
      4. Problems and potential of tropical climates
   D. Dry climates
      1. Reasons for lack of precipitation
      2. Distribution of dry climates
      3. Problems and potential of dry climates
   E. Moist, mild winter climates
      1. Humid subtropical
      2. Mediterranean
      3. Marine west coast
      4. Problems and potential of moist, mild winter climates
   F. Moist, severe winter climates
      1. Effects of snow
      2. Humid continental
      3. Subarctic
      4. Problems and potential of moist, severe winter climates
   G. Polar climates
   H. Highland climates
 
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: April 25, 2017

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.