• Lectures are held each Tuesday at 8 am in E7BT5 and Wednesday at 2 pm in E7BT5
• Each internal student must attend one of three weekly 3 hour practical sessions, usually held in E5A240
• There are two compulsory 2 day fieldtrips for all students: 7-8 April, and 19 & 20 May

LECTURES are designed to provide you with a framework with which to focus your study of the subject and are an essential and important component of the course.  They are by no means exhaustive on each and every topic, and you are expected to supplement them by reading especially from the textbook but also from the current journals, where the most up-to-date information can be found.  There is a reading list for you to use as a starting point later in this document, and additional material will be referred to during the lecture program.  Lecture slides are available on-line through https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/ for viewing and/or printing but they are designed to enhance the lectures, not to be a replacement for attending lectures. 

PRACTICAL CLASSES comprise a practical exercise, including map and air photo interpretation, numerical analysis, examination of rocks and sediments or local fieldwork.  Practicals provide greater depth to the related lecture materials and are designed to assist learning by encouraging your active participation.  You will usually complete the practical within the class time.  The venue of the practical classes varies (see page 5).  The week 1 practical is held in E5A240 and some other practicals will be held in the field within a short distance from the university.  Important material for the practical classes is included in this book.  Additional material may be posted on iLearn for download. Each student must bring the appropriate equipment to the practical session and pre-read the practical description.  Equipment may include; pencils, ruler, calculator, field note book.  You should also wear appropriate clothes for the laboratory (week 1) and field: closed shoes, sun protection etc.

FIELD WORK There are two compulsory weekend fieldtrips in this unit during which a range of natural and human-modified landscape features are examined.  Each of these fieldtrips reinforces and extends the content of the Soils and Coasts modules (first fieldtrip) or Catchment and Fluvial Processes module (second fieldtrip). The major assignments are based on these field trips.  In addition, three of the weekly practicals (Weeks 2, 3 and 9) will be conducted in the field within the normal practical class times.  The assignments and fieldtrips are described in detail elsewhere in this book.  Equipment and safety issues for field work are described below.

TEXTBOOKS and ESSENTIAL READINGS

The following texts are suggested as being valuable reading. You are not required to purchase them, but may find them useful.  There are some copies in the library.

• Paton TR, Humphreys GS and Mitchell PB, 1995.  Soils: A New Global View. UCL Press.
• National Committee on Soil and Terrain, 2009. Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbook, 3^rd edition. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.
• Fryirs KA and Brierley GJ, 2013. Geomorphic analysis of river systems. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-4051-9274-3.

To keep up with lecture materials and also some of the practical classes and the fieldtrips you should complete all ‘essential’ reading BEFORE the lectures each week.  Essential readings are shown on the timetable on page 5.

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

You will require access to a computer for parts of this unit. You can gain access to slides used for each lecture by visiting the iLearn page for ENVS266 (https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/). iLearn may be used by staff to send reminders and notices concerning fieldtrips, practical classes and lectures. You should check the site regularly, especially the day before lectures/pracs. There is also the space for a bulletin board discussion between students; please feel free to use this to discuss issues relating to any aspect of the unit and geomorphology in general.  For specific questions of the lecturers, email them directly (see front cover).  For practical 4 you should use ArcMap GIS software.  You will be able to access this on University laptops in the pracs, in the E5A computer labs after hours, or through iLab off campus. You may also be able to install a copy on your own computer (not on Macs), requiring a licence code issued by the University.

The major assignments must also be submitted electronically through Turnitin, via the iLearn page for this unit. This software provides a means of gauging the timing of submission, an originality checker to test for potential plagiarism and a paperless grading system, more information on this program can be found at (http://turnitin.com/) and (http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/assignments.htm) and a ‘quick guide’ in ilearn next to the Turnitin link. Many of the readings (scientific papers) are available on-line from the library.

ENVS266 Earth Surface Processes –TIMETABLE 2018

LECTURE AND PRACTICAL CLASS TIMETABLE

Scaffolding of lectures, practicals, fieldwork and assessment

The weekly practical classes are specifically designed to build on topics introduced in lectures that week. 

You should attend lectures each week BEFORE the practical class. 

Lecture recordings are not normally available for this unit (because it is not an external unit). 

The fieldtrips build on knowledge, concepts and skills developed in the lectures and practicals.  You should prepare for each fieldtrip by reading the recommended papers, attending the lectures and practicals.

Four practicals and the fieldtrips (field reports) are directly assessable.  Knowledge and understanding of lecture content is assessed in the mid-year examination.

We always tinker a little to try and make things better and this year there are some changes necessitated by the fall of Easter in term time. This unit will be offered in 2018 in much the same format as 2017. 

In 2018 this unit is being co-taught as ENVS666 for the first time.  All students in ENVS266 should make themselves known to the Convenor at the beginning of semester to discuss the modified assessment criteria.

We have introduced some basic GIS (geographical information systems) use in practical 4 to consolidate skills many students will have learned in ENVS117 and may be studying this semester in ENVS264. We have restructured practicals 6 and 7 so that practical 7 is now a field prac, to help you get more exposure to fluvial landforms and processes before the second fieldtrip.

In 2018 the unit is not offered externally.  That means that lecture recordings are not normally available, except in exceptional circumstances.

UNIT DESCRIPTION- ENVS666 3cp

Understanding how and why the Earth's surface looks and changes in the way it does is fundamental to effective environmental management. This unit examines earth surface processes from a catchment perspective: hill slopes and soils; rivers and floodplains. We draw on Australian and overseas examples from diverse environments to demonstrate how biophysical processes shape our landscape. Students gain practical, laboratory and field based skills that help them interpret the landscape. These are taught in both on campus sessions and weekend field trips. This unit builds on themes introduced in ENVS117 Biophysical Environments and GEOS112 The Planet Earth, and provides a sound conceptual background for students continuing in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management and programs in ecology, biology, geology and archaeology.

AIMS AND SCOPE

Welcome to ENVS266/666 Earth Surface Processes.  ENVS266 aims to present a unified picture of processes, materials and forms occurring at the surface of the earth.  That means how and why the earth's surface looks and behaves as it does and includes the soils, sediments and landforms as well as the processes important to them.  Given its antiquity, along with its geographic, tectonic and climatic character, Australia has a distinctive and diverse landscape.  The unit therefore draws unashamedly on Australian, and often local, examples which have immediate relevance to Australian environmental problems.  The principles and ideas, however, are certainly global and possibly universal (at least applying to the solar system).  We aim to give you the 'tools' to understand landscape processes no matter where you are.  Time constraints prevent coverage of all aspects of geomorphic enquiry.  Emphasis is placed on soil materials, slope, river and coastal environments, although the arid interior of Australia and other exotic places are also examined briefly and the role of human activities is examined.  Connections between various aspects of the landscape will be stressed, aiming to provide an integrative perspective on surface processes.

FIELDWORK

Weather: We never cancel fieldtrips for bad weather!  You must be prepared to work in the rain with the appropriate clothing.  Likewise you should always protect yourself from the sun and dehydration.

Transport: You will need to arrange your own transport for these fieldtrips.  Ideally you should arrange to drive to each site with several other students from your practical class. There are usually a limited number of spaces available in staff vehicles.

Arrival: Both fieldtrips start at 8 am on the Saturday morning and therefore you should arrive the previous afternoon.  We book accommodation for the Friday and Saturday nights.

Cost: You must cover your own food and transport costs and pay for accommodation.  We book accommodation on behalf of the group and you must pay your money to the Cashier using the payment slips found on the iLearn page BEFORE THE TRIP.

Food: You should bring food for breakfast (2 days) and lunch (2 days - to be carried into the field).  You should cater for your own dinner on the Friday night and we will organise a BBQ on Saturday night.

Accommodation: Field accommodation is in bunk rooms with communal kitchens, dining, bathroom/toilet and work areas.  You should bring (apart from the gear listed below) a sleeping bag, pillow and towel. 

Departure: We aim to leave the field by 4pm on the Sunday afternoon, after all field equipment is returned and the accommodation cleaned.  You must sign off before returning home.

Personal Field Equipment: Each student should bring the following aids/comforts on each field trip:

• sturdy shoes - no sandals, thongs, or high heels! (no visible skin below the ankles)
• water bottle (at least 1 litre)
• wet weather gear - we go whatever the weather!!!  Cheap plastic ponchos will not survive walking through scrub.
• hat (with a wide brim, front and back) and sunscreen
• field note book and pencils (see note below)
• calculator, hand lens, small pocket knife
• camera
• your lunch, drinks & snacks for the day - we do not stop at shops!!!
• a back pack to store it all in

FIELD EQUIPMENT YOU SHOULD PURCHASE

• Field notebook
• Hand lens

Each student MUST purchase a small hardcover notebook for use in the field.  It should be bound down the spine on the left side, or across the top (but NOT spiral bound). The notebook does not necessarily have to be used only for this unit (you may have used it on previous trips) but it should be good quality and able to withstand a week in the field – in what may be wet conditions.  The best, and most expensive, option is a waterproof Rite-in-the-Rain, Markrite or Chartwell notebook. There are several versions but the best options are 1. Geological (Rite in the Rain 540F), with columns, lines and grids (good for sketching and data), included classifications; 2. Small Rite in the Rain notebook (200T) which can be inserted in a hard cover (200C).  The first will last you several fieldtrips (and units), the second will probably last you this Unit.

These items can be bought online, for example, Prospectors Supplies.  They can be used in many ENVS, BIOL and GEOS units.

SAFETY IN THE FIELD AND LABORATORY

Any student who has a disability that may limit their participation in field work or that could result in a medical emergency in the field should notify the unit convenor immediately.  As a general guide to the level of physical fitness required, you should be able to walk 10 km over open undulating terrain in 3 hours.

Each student must ensure his/her own safety at all times during field excursions.

• Do not undertake fieldwork alone.  You must work with at least one other person.
• You must be adequately equipped to undertake fieldwork, including wet weather clothing, warm clothing, hat and sun protection, protective footware (closed toe boots or shoes).
• You should bring a first aid kit if you have one (they will be provided to each group but do not include any drugs/creams etc).
• Do not undertake any activity you feel to be unsafe.  Discuss with the fieldtrip leader any concerns you have about particular tasks.
• Be watchful of the safety of your fellow students, if they become separated from the group or are at some other risk.  Tell the fieldtrip leader as soon as you notice a potentially dangerous situation.
• If you have any medical condition (including allergies) that require medication then you should bring medication with you.  We do not have and cannot provide any medication (including non-prescription).

Laboratory work in this unit does not involve hazardous chemicals.  Nevertheless, in the laboratory you must wear safe (closed) footwear and generally follow safe practice.  Where items of equipment are to be used, do not use them until you have received adequate training.