GIS–Enhanced Geomorphology Labs for Undergraduate Geology and

Environmental ScienceDavid A. Franzi

Center for Earth and Environmental ScienceState University of New York at Plattsburgh

Academic Setting SUNY Plattsburgh

Center for Earth & Environmental Science

Role of Geomorphology in Center Curricula

Geomorphology Laboratory Exercises Approach and Expectations

Laboratory Format

GIS Component

Example: Yellowstone Hotspot and the Eastern Snake River Plain

SUNY Plattsburgh

One of thirteen four-year liberal arts colleges in the State University of New York System

Offers more than 60 major programs

Enrolls approximately 5,700 students

Academic Setting

CT

NJPA

NY

ON PQ

VT

NH

MA

RI

MEPlattsburgh

Montreal

Boston

New York0 100 km

44o

42o

74o 72o

Location Map

ENV SCI ECOLOGY GEOLOGY STUDIES0

20

40

60

80

100

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140

Center for Earth and Environmental Science

Created in 1982 by merging the Geology, Environmental Science and Geography Programs

Currently serves more than 230 majors

Undergraduate Degree Programs→ BA, BS Geology

→ BA Environmental Geology

→ BA Earth Science

→ BA, BS Environmental Science

→ BA Environmental Planning & Management

→ BS Ecology

→ BA Environmental Studies

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dcou

nt (2

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Academic Setting

CEES Majors

Role of Geomorphology in the CEES Curricula Required for BS Environmental Science

Elective class for BA, BS Geology; BA Earth Science; BA Environmental Geology; BA Environmental Science; BA Environmental Planning and Management; BS Ecology

Not listed as a required or elective course in theBA Environmental Studies program

Course Details

Audience: sophomore to junior level

Enrollment: ≈20 students (60‒65% environmental science; 35‒40% geology)

Frequency: every semester

Academic Setting

Geomorphology Laboratory Exercises

Approach: Combine traditional topographic map and aerial image analysis and GIS technology with process-oriented regional geomorphology

Expectations: By the end of the semester students will be expected to:

Recognize the geomorphology of the major physiographic regions in the US

Use GIS technology to;→ Find sources or create new spatial databases for use with GIS software; → Extract morphometric data from GIS databases to measure linear dimensions, areas,

volumes, elevation, relief and slope of landforms;→ Construct topographic and shaded relief maps;→ Construct topographic profiles and determine vertical exaggeration;→ Export data from GIS databases for analysis by other analytical software (e.g.

spreadsheets, visualization or modelling software); → Create accurate and effective graphics for presentations or final reports.

Effectively communicate their understanding of geomorphic features and processes

Laboratory Format (report template provided)

Introduction

Students address questions that are designed to review basic concepts and terminology and reinforce their understanding of the geologic setting and geomorphic evolution of the subject landscape.

Geomorphic Analysis (Greek: analuein → unloose, break apart)

This section examines specific landforms or landscapes in the study region. Students are evaluated on the overall quality of their responses as demonstrated by their level of preparation (literature review), breadth of comprehension and the quality of the graphic elements.

Geomorphic Synthesis (Greek: suntithenai → to place together)

Students bring together data from multiple landform analyses and answer questions that address geomorphic system function and landscape evolution.

LandformAnalysis

ConceptModel

LiteratureReview

Geomorphology Laboratory Exercises

GIS Component

The Challenge To introduce and use GIS technology as a tool to enhance understanding of geomorphological principles and concepts without becoming a GIS course

Considerations

→ Recognize the diversity of students’ academic backgrounds and experience;

→ Provide subject material that is interesting and relevant to a diverse audience;

→ Establish reasonable expectations and communicate them clearly to the students at the onset of the exercise

→ Provide an organized template for reporting that guides students through the exercise

Geomorphology Laboratory Exercises

GIS Advantages Many useful applications can be

performed with minimal prior GIS experience;

Mitigates time lost due to repetitive and mundane or time-consuming tasks;

Allows the student to work effectively at different spatial scales, thus enabling the student to observe the fine details of individual landforms and develop a synoptic understanding, both temporally and spatially, of the landscape;

Geospatial data are easily exported for use by other analytical or presentation software;

Facilitates application of simple mathematical models.

Geomorphology Laboratory Exercises

Geomorphology Laboratory Exercises

Introduction to topographic maps, Geographic Information Systems and Physiographic Regions of the US

review topographic map analysis skills, geology and physiography

Piedmont Landscapes of the Basin and Range

piedmont landforms, stream capture, supply-limited and transport-limited fluvial systems, effects of climate change, relict landforms, landscape evolution

The Nevadaplano and Origin of the Basin and Range

Cenozoic tectonics in the western US, crustal delamination, crustal extension and isostatic response, inverted topography

The Yellowstone Hotspot and Eastern Snake River Plain

hotspot tectonics, phreatomagmatic eruptions, maar-diatreme pyroclastic cones, flood basalts, calderas, isostatic adjustments, fluvial drainage patterns, eolian dune classification, response of fluvial and eolian systems to climate change

The Colorado Plateau; Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Arches

Cenozoic tectonics in the western US, crustal delamination, isostatic adjustments, salt tectonics, foreland basins, inverted topography

Mammoth Cave and the Interior Low Plateaus

karst landforms, origin of caves, karst hydrology, entrenched rivers, foreland basins, sinking streams, stream networks and drainage density

Morphometry of Watersheds in the Appalachian Plateau

watershed delineation, network topology, hypsometry, entrenched rivers, stream piracy, landscape evolution

2014 Laboratory Exercises Geomorphological Content

Geomorphology of the Eastern Snake River Plain

Map showing the northeastward apparent motion of hotspot migration and the ages of the various calderas (Modified from; Barenek et al., 2006; Link et al., 1992; Pierce and Morgan, 1992).

Introduction

Physiographic setting of the Eastern Snake River Plain;

Hotspot tectonics, isostatic adjustments and climate change;

Phreatomagmatic eruptions.

Climate

Tectonics Gravity

SystemControls

Geomorphic Analysis

Menan Buttes

→ Morphology of maar-diatreme cones

→ Volume of pyroclastic ejecta

Fluvial Geomorphology

→ Regional Drainage Network Patterns

→ Channel pattern, sinuosity and stream gradient

St. Anthony Dune Field

→ Dune classification

→ Composition and provenance

→ Relict dunes

→ Loess

The Eastern Snake River Plain. NASA Earth Observatory image created by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using EO-1 ALI data provided courtesy of the NASA EO-1 team.

Geomorphology of the Eastern Snake River Plain

Menan Buttes

St. Anthony Dune Field

Snake

River

River

Teton

Henry’s

Fork

SnakeR

iver

44o N

112o W

Geomorphic Analysis – Example Data

Menan Buttes ‒

Map and Data from: P. Montouri, GEL 341, 2014)

Controls on Pyroclastic Cone Morphology

The volume of a maar frustrum (including the crater volume) is given by the equation;

And the volume of the crater frustrum is given by the equation;

where R1, R2 and R3 are the average radii of the upper and lower surfaces of each frustrum and Hm and Hc are the heights of the maar and crater frustra, respectively. The volume of the pyroclastic material that comprises the buttes is the difference between the maar and crater frustra;

Table 2. Estimates of the volume of pyroclastic material in the Menan Buttes.

Cone Volume(measured)

Cone Volume(estimated from

Sato and Taniguchi (1997) equation)

North Menan Butte 9.29 x 108 m3 2.16 x 108 m3

South Menan Butte 3.80 x 108 m3 2.50 x 108 m3

Figure 6. Variables used to calculate the volume of pyroclastic material in the Menan Buttes.

Geomorphic Analysis – Example Data

Menan Buttes ‒ Ejecta Volume

Data from: P. Montouri, GEL 341, 2014)

Sato and Taniguchi (1997) equation: D = 0.97V0.36

Where D = average cone diameter.

Snake River:Network: Distributary (alluvial fan) and Anabranching (to south)

Teton RiverNetwork: Distributary (alluvial fan) and

Anabranching (near Henry’s Fork)

Henry’s Fork:Network: Anabranching and Agricultural

Eastern Uplands:Network: Dendritic

Northwest of Menan Buttes:Network: none

(Map from H. Affinati, GEL341, 2014)

Menan Buttes

St.AnthonyDunes

Geomorphic Analysis – Example Data

Controls on Regional Drainage Patterns

SnakeRiver

Henry

’s

Teton River

No. Branch

So. Branch

Fork

Snake River

Geomorphology of the Eastern Snake River Plain

Geomorphology of the Eastern Snake River Plain

Geomorphic Analysis

St. Anthony Dune Field

→ Effects of wind direction and sediment supply

→ Relict dunes and climate change

The Eastern Snake River Plain. NASA Earth Observatory image created by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using EO-1 ALI data provided courtesy of the NASA EO-1 team. Caption by Holli Riebeek with information from Idaho State University geologist, Paul Link.

Geomorphology of the Eastern Snake River Plain

Geomorphic Synthesis

Geological context for Cenozoic eruptions

Eruptive energy of maar-diatreme volcanoes

Tectonic, isostatic and climate controls on channel and drainage network patterns

Effects of climate change on fluvial and eolian systems

Menan Buttes

St. Anthony Dune Field

Snake

River

River

Teton

Henry’s

Fork

SnakeR

iver

44o N

112o W

SummaryGeomorphology Labs for Environmental Science and Geology

Considerations and Points of Emphasis

Analytical Skills: Provide relevant knowledge and skills to diverse student audience.

→ Traditional topographic map and aerial image interpretation

→ Introduction to GIS technology

→ Knowledge of Regional Geology (Ecoregions) of the United States

→ Effective communication

Geomorphic Synthesis: Bring the pieces together

→ Temporal and spatial scales in geomorphology

→ Geomorphic Systems Approach

→ Response of Geomorphic Systems to changes in climate, tectonic or gravitational forcings

Laboratory Outline and Key Topics and Concepts

I. Introductiona. The Appalachian Foreland Basinb. Teays River c. Controls on limestone dissolutiond. Karst landforms

II. Geomorphic Analysis

a. Surface and subterranean drainage systems

III. Geomorphic Synthesisa. Vadose and phreatic groundwater flow pathwaysb. Drainage changes in the Green River basinc. Anthropogenic influences on karst ecosystems

Map from: P. Montouri, GEL 341, 2014)

Topographic profile data from: P. Montouri, GEL 341, 2014)

Vertical exaggeration = 8x

Sawtooth and Giant Mtns. From Allen Mtn. Photo: D. Franzi, 2009