EES 3042/5042 Department of Earth and Environmental Science Spring 2018

Coastal Processes and Geomorphology Professor: Ilya Buynevich coast@temple.edu Class Meeting: MW 12:00-1:50 pm, Beury 305 Office: Beury 313 Office Hours: one hour before class or by arrangement Tel: 215-204-3635 Prerequisites: EES 2001 and EES 2021 or EES2097 Textbook: Masselink, Hughes, Knight, 2011. Introduction to Coastal Processes & Geomorphology.

Course Description

Coastal environments are among the most dynamic natural systems. Nearly 70% of the world’s population, with increases predicted in the coming decades, is concentrated within 100 km of the shoreline. Understanding the behavior of coastal systems and their response to changing sea level, storm patterns, and population pressures is based on our knowledge of the physical processes operating at time scales from seconds to millennia and encompassing areas from a few centimeters to regions hundreds of kilometers long. Only by studying the dynamic processes that shape the margins of continents and islands and by reconstructing the recent evolution of a particular shoreline will we be able to predict future geomorphic states and to properly adapt to changing landforms and ecosystems.

The course will apply a process geomorphological approach to understanding coastal behavior, focusing on the dynamic sand-dominated systems. We will address many subjects from the global distribution of various types of coasts within the framework of Plate Tectonics and quantitative aspects of wave propagation and tidal hydraulics, to the state-of-the-art scientific techniques of analyzing sea-level and storminess trends and their impact on continental and insular coasts. Lecture material will be complemented with laboratory exercises, emphasizing quantitative aspects of empirical and experimental datasets to investigate the underlying processes and factors. During a day-long field trip, we will utilize the morphodynamic approach to explore a diverse suite of landforms and reconstruct their Holocene evolution (including the impact of Hurricane Sandy), culminating in a field report (3042 section). A term paper for graduate students (5042 section) will be based on a quantitative analysis of a scientific database relevant to one of the class topics.

EES 3042 Mid-term Exam – 24% Final Exam – 28% Labs – 38% Field Report – 10% EES 5042 Mid-term Exam – 23% Final Exam – 27% Labs – 35% Term Paper – 15%

Exam format: slide interpretation, short and long answers, quantitative problems, and short essays. Late assignments not accepted. No extra credit (beyond one question on each test).

Final Grading A = 93-100 A- = 90-92 B+ = 87-89 B = 83-86 B- = 80-82 C+ = 77-79 C = 73-76 C- = 70-72 D+ = 67-69 D = 63-66 D- = 60-62 F < 60

Academic Policy Statement

I emphasize the importance of your knowledge of, and adherence to, the Temple University’s Conduct Code, especially those portions concerned with plagiarism and cheating.

Disability disclosure statement Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability (learning or physical) should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at 215-204-1280 (100 Ritter Annex) to coordinate reasonable accommodations for documented disabilities. I must have a copy of your DRS letter before granting accommodations.

Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities Policy (#03.70.02) Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has a policy on Student and Faculty and Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy #03.70.02), which can be accessed through the following link: http://www.temple.edu/bulletin/Responsibilities_rights/responsibilities/responsibilities.shtm#honesty

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week Topic Textbook Chapter/ *additional reading 17 Jan 1a. Introduction to Coastal Environments and Processes. Ch. 1 Qu/est Self-study: Coastal Geographic Literacy 22/24 Jan No classes – Coastal Fieldwork

29 Jan 1b. Qu/est (5% of Lab grade). Morphodynamic Approach/Equilibria Ch. 1

31 Jan/5 Feb 2. Primary vs. Secondary Types. Paraglacial Coasts Ch. 1 & 5 Lab 1: Topographic/Bathymetric Profiles (ALL LABS ARE DUE IN 2 WEEKS – NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS ACCEPTED) 7 Feb 3. Tectonic Controls on Coastlines Ch. 1* 12 Feb 4. River-dominated Coasts and Deltas Ch. 6 14 Feb 5a. Sediment Transport I: Grain Characteristics and Hydraulic Properties Ch. 5

Lab 2: Flow Regime and Bedform Analysis 19 Feb 5b. Sediment Transport II: Flow Regime and Bedforms Ch. 5

21 Feb 6a. Wave Characteristics I: Propagation Ch. 4 Lab 3: Wave Equations and their Applications 26 Feb 6b. Wave Characteristics II: Breaking Ch. 4 28 Feb Mid-Term Exam (topics 1-6 covered)

5/7 March Spring Break

12/14 Mar 7. Hydrographic Regime and Barrier Coast Morphology Ch. 8.5* 19/21 Mar 8a. Beaches: Morphological Elements Ch. 8.3 Lab 4: Beach Morphodynamics

26/28 Mar 8b. Beaches: Paleo-Energy Indicators Ch. 8.3

2/4 Apr 9. Tidal Inlets: Morphodynamics and Stability Ch. 7 & 8.5* Term Paper Topic Due/Field Report Guidelines

9/11 Apr 10. Aeolian Processes along the Coast Ch. 8.4 Lab 5: Comparative Dunescape Evolution

14 April Field Trip: Paleo-landscapes and processes of central New Jersey coast

16/18 Apr 11. Sea-Level: Trends and Impacts on Coastlines, Bio-indicators Ch. 2

Lab 6: Sea-Level Trends and Coastal Impacts 23/25 Apr 12. Storm & Tsunami Geomorphology, Paleotempestology Ch. 4*

30 Apr Final Review (Field Report/Term Paper due) 7 May Final Exam (non-cumulative; topics 7-12 covered)