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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Physical Geography: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Water, and Hazards
Course: GPH113

First Term: 2025 Fall
 Lecture   4.0 Credit(s)   3.0 Period(s)   3.0 Load  
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: T - Lab Load


Description: Earth`s physical processes and impacts on human environments via the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere. Topics and practical experiences include severe weather, climate change, biomes / ecosystems, landform processes; mountain building and erosion by rivers, glaciers, waves, wind, and using various topographic mapping data.



MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Explain the scientific foundation of physical geography along with various topographic mapping data used to illustrate geographic data. (I)
2. Analyze the spatial distribution of solar radiation and transfer of energy within the Earth-atmosphere system. (II)
3. Identify temperature controls and the spatial patterns of temperatures. (II)
4. Diagram the generalized global pressure zones, circulation cells, and wind belts of the Earth that build weather systems. (II)
5. Synthesize the spatial patterns of natural hazards including weather, climate and earth surface processes across the Earth. (II-V)
6. Analyze moisture variables, moisture controls and stability and their impact on weather in the atmosphere. (III)
7. Explain the main physical controls of climate and how climate and ecosystems can vary across the Earth. (III)
8. Identify natural and anthropogenic factors that influence climate change and address the potential for uncertainty and limitations with climate data. (III)
9. Identify the transfer mechanisms and storage locations of the hydrologic cycle. (IV)
10. Examine the relationship of plate tectonics with the spatial distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes. (V)
11. Recognize the forces for weathering and mass wasting and their consequences on the environment. (V)
12. Summarize the evolution of river channels by geomorphic processes operating in fluvial landscapes. (V)
13. Identify glacial landforms using geomorphic processes operating in glacial landscapes. (V)
14. Analyze the evolution of coastal landforms using geomorphic processes operating in coastal landscape. (V)
15. Contrast the variability of aeolian and desert fluvial landforms with the different geomorphic processes operating in deserts. (V)
16. Evaluate essential physical geographic concepts by using laboratory and/or field exercises. (VI)
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. Tools of geography
   A. Themes of geography
   B. Scientific method
   C. Maps, scale, projection
   D. Geographic Information Systems
II. Atmosphere
   A. Earth-sun relationship / radiation
      1. Spatial, temporal distribution of solar radiation
      2. Spatial, temporal distribution of earth radiation
      3. Radiative response in earth-atmosphere system
   B. Temperature
      1. Temperature controls
      2. Spatial, temporal distribution of temperature
   C. Air pressure
      1. Wind
      2. Forces on surface and geostrophic winds
      3. Spatial distribution of pressure and wind
   D. Moisture
      1. Moisture variables
      2. Moisture controls
      3. Clouds and precipitation
      4. Spatial distribution of moisture
   E. Weather systems
      1. Air masses and fronts
      2. Mid-latitude cyclones
      3. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes
   F. Hazards of the atmosphere
III. Biosphere
   A. Climate classifications
      1. Climate controls
      2. Climate change
         a. Natural
         b. Anthropogenic
   B. Ecosystems
   C. Soils
   D. Human-environment interaction
      1. Adaptation and mitigation
      2. Management through sustainability
   E. Hazards in the biosphere
IV. Hydrosphere
   A. Hydrologic cycle
      1. Storage locations
      2. Transfer mechanisms
   B. Oceans
      1. Ocean currents
      2. Wave function
      3. El Nino / La Nina
   C. Hazards in the hydrosphere
V. Lithosphere
   A. Tectonics
      1. Earth`s internal structure
      2. Plate tectonics
      3. Rocks and minerals
      4. Earthquakes and volcanoes
   B. Weathering
      1. Physical weathering
      2. Chemical weathering
      3. Biological weathering
   C. Mass wasting
      1. Forces affecting slope stability
      2. Slope failure classifications
      3. Creep, flow, and slide movements
   D. River systems
      1. Transport processes
      2. Channel structure and evolution
      3. Fluvial landforms
   E. Glacial systems
      1. Glacial movement
      2. Glacial geomorphic processes
      3. Glacial landforms
   F. Coastal systems
      1. Wave movement
      2. Coastal geomorphic processes
      3. Coastal landforms
   G. Desert systems
      1. Fluvial processes in deserts
      2. Desert fluvial landforms
      3. Aeolian / wind movement
      4. Aeolian landforms
   H. Hazards in the lithosphere
VI. Geographic laboratory topics
   A. Latitude, longitude, and time
   B. Sun angles and radiation
   C. Temperature and temperature controls
   D. Pressure and wind
   E. Moisture and moisture controls
   F. Weather, air mass, and fronts
   G. Climate and climate controls
   H. Plate tectonics, volcanoes, and earthquakes
   I. Topographic maps
   J. Fluvial landforms
   K. Glacial landforms
   L. Coastal landforms
   M. Desert landforms
 
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: December 10, 2024

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.