Geo 440: Field Techniques

Grades will be based on a minimum of 90 (A), 80 (B), 70 (C), 60 (D). Plus/minus grades may be given to scores ± 3% from these values.

Grades will be based on a portfolio to be handed in at the end of the course (due 9:00 AM June 20).
Absolutely NO portfolios will be accepted after this deadline.

The portfolio must contain:
• field notes of all projects conducted during the course (can be group work performed collaboratively)
• brief description of your personal contribution to each field project
• required data plots, written reports, etc. as assigned, including:

• Pace-and-Brunton map (7 points)
• Strike and dip, slope and aspect data (3 points)
• Cross sections from hand leveling (with GPS coordinates) (7 points)
• Topographic map from total station (with GPS coordinates) (12 points)
• GPS exercise and map (6 points)
• Clinometer exercise (4 points)
• Stream discharge measurements and rating curve (8 points)
• Report on meteorology data (14 points)
• Report on water quality (16 points)
• Soil description (8 points)

• Quality of field notes (5 points)
• Overall portfolio presentation (10 points)

Field Mapping	Surveying • total station • hand leveling • pace and Brunton	GPS • latitude • longitude • elevation • orienteering	Topographic Mapping • Creating topographic maps with ArcView GIS	Brunton Compass and Clinometer • analyze strike, dip, and aspect • estimating slope and height of objects
Soils	Soil Sampling • excavated pits • auger • soil probe	Field Description • horizons • color • texture • structure • consistence	Site Comparison • Field trip to evaluate influence of geoenvironmental factors on soil characteristics
Hydrology	Stream Discharge Measurement • wading rod current meter (manual and electronic) • establishing a rating curve	Stage Measurement • direct • remote	Water Quality Monitoring • spectrophotometer • remote sonde • hand-held probes • temperature • pH • conductivity • turbidity • hardness • nitrate	Watershed Analysis • geologic and land use influences on water quality
Meteorology	Acquiring data from field instruments • radiation • temperature • humidity • dew point • wind speed	Use of Hobo data loggers

JUN 6	Introduction to field research Introduction to field mapping techniques	• strike, dip, and aspect • introduction to total station
JUN 7	Field mapping • geomorphic cross sections • detailed topographic mapping • establishing absolute location with GPS • estimating slope, height of an object	• total station • GPS, Brunton compass, and clinometer • hand leveling
JUN 8	Field mapping (continued)	• total station • GPS, Brunton compass, and clinometer • hand leveling
JUN 9	Field mapping (continued)	• total station • GPS, Brunton compass, and clinometer • hand leveling
JUN 13	Water quality monitoring Meteorology instruments Software demonstrations and data analysis	• upload water quality data from YSI sonde • calibration procedures • Hobo data loggers • Boxcar and Ecowatch
JUN 14	Water quality monitoring Field trip through Burd Run watershed examining influence of geology and land use on discharge and water quality	• use of spectrophotometer • use of hand-held probes
JUN 15	Stream discharge measurements	• manual and electronic wading rod techniques for measuring stream discharge • establishing a rating curve
JUN 16	Soils description and soil sampling field trip Describing soil characteristics and comparing soil type with respect to geoenvironmental factors (geology, vegetation, microclimate, topography, landscape stability)	• horizons • color • texture • structure • consistence