Rivers and Beaches (ESS/Ocean 230)

1. Rivers and Beaches (ESS/Ocean 230) Chuck NittrouerSarah Schanz 111 Marine Sciences Building / 543-5099 432 Johnson Hall / 206-616-0799 nittroue@uw.eduschanzs@uw.edu Jonathan Beyeler 432 Johnson Hall / 206-616-0799 beyeler@uw.edu

2. Marine Geology and Geophysics Professor, School of Oceanography and Dept of Earth & Space Sciences PhD, University of Washington Chuck's research interests include the modern and ancient formation of sedimentary strata in continental-margin environments. Ongoing research includes coastal areas near the Amazon and Mekong Rivers, tidewater glaciers in Patagonia, and the impacts of dam removal from the Elwha River. Other recent studies have been completed in New Guinea-Australia, the Mediterranean, and off Antarctic and Alaskan glaciers.

3. Geomorphology Pre-Doctoral Instructor Earth & Space Sciences PhC, University of Washington Sarah studies rivers and how they change over time, specifically looking at controls on river incision rates and the formation of bedrock river terraces. Her work focuses on Pacific Northwest Rivers such as the Willapa, Satsop, Nehalem, and Teanaway Rivers.

4. Geomorphology Teaching AssistantEarth & Space SciencesPhD student Jonathan studies how landscapes change through time, from the glaciers and rivers that sculpt mountain ranges to the individual rocks that line the bed of rivers. Locally his work focuses on rivers draining Mount Rainier and the deglaciating Cascade Range.

5. Topics to be covered Earth Surface Processes Mountains RiversBeaches  Ocean Holistic view, including: 1) Solid Earth 2) Atmosphere Linkages of all these will be an emphasis of the course.

7. In order for there to be mountains, rocks must be uplifted above sea level. If uplift continued unopposed there would be no limit to how high mountain ranges could rise.

8. Erosion counter-balances rock uplift

9. Mountain streams receive material from hillslopes and transport it to rivers

10. Rivers transport material to the coast

11. Nearshore processes redistribute sediment along beaches and coastlines

12. Types of beaches reflect differences in sediment sources and transport

13. Earth Surface = where we live Recent Dramatic examples: Centralia rainfall  landslides  flooding New Orleans/Galveston hurricane  wind stormsurge Indonesia / Japan earthquake  submarine landslide  tsunami emphasis on understanding fundamental processes, but shock and awe will come with some examples (the flip side = these same environments produce most natural resources)

14. Rivers and beaches are part of sediment transfer systems. • What forms them? • What are the processes that maintain them? • Why are there different types of rivers and beaches? • What controls their distribution across the Earth surface?

15. We’ll use 1 equation in this class I - O = DS Input minus output equals change in storage. Also known as conservation of mass (D means change in something)

16. Time and Place Lectures: Tu & Th 1:30 - 2:50 014 Ocean Teaching Building Lab (5 credit): Th 3:00 - 4:20 014 Ocean Teaching Building 3 or 5 credits (Natural World) Lab Fee: $30 for 3 units; $50 for 5 units Website: http://gis.ess.washington.edu/grg/courses/ess230/index.html Reading material: Class lectures Book chapters for some topics (online) Unique material will be covered in classes

17. Exams and Grading 5 Nov (Th) Mid-Term Exam, during class 10 Dec (Th) Final Exam, during class Grading: 3 credits 5 credits midterm = 40% 35% field trip/labs = 20% 30% final = 40% 35% No make-up field trips, No extra credit

18. Field Trips A1 8 Oct (Th) Nisqually River – glacier to delta A2 15 Oct (Th) Nisqually River – glacier to delta B 29 Oct (Th) Olympic Peninsula rivers and beaches C 12 Nov (Th) Puget Sound cruise For 3 credits; fieldtrip A is required For 5 credits; all field trips are required. Email Jonathan to reserve your space on trip A (either Oct 8 or Oct 15) beyeler@uw.edu

19. Labs/Field Trip Reports A field-trip report is due after each field trip, as indicated on the course syllabus. No credit for late reports.

20. Field Trip A Trip from Mt. Rainier down the Nisqually River to its delta Either Thursday October 8 or Thursday October 15 All day

21. Start at glaciated flank of Mt. Rainier

22. Nisqually River Delta Mt. Rainier

23. Field Trip A

24. Follow river system down through mountain streams and into large rivers

25. Field Trip A

26. End at delta where Nisqually River empties into Puget Sound

27. Field Trip A

28. Field Trip B Rivers and beaches of the Olympic Peninsula 29 October (Th)

30. Elwha undammed

31. Field Trip B Working cruise on Puget Sound with Research Vessel Thompson, UW oceanographic research vessel 12 November (Th)

32. Cruise on Puget Sound Sample bottom sediments, measure water salinity and temperature, and map bathymetry

33. Field Trip Tips Bring clothes for bad weather (wet, cold, windy, dirty) -- even if it doesn’t seem like you’ll need them! Bring your lunch and beverages, also Details of Nisqually trip coming next Tuesday.

34. Please Note The course puts a high premium on the learning that comes from field observations. Participation in field trips is required to get credit for field trips. There are no make-up trips or alternate work that can be substituted for the trips.

35. If you miss one, your options are: For 3-credit registrants: 1) you can take a zero for the field trip; 2) you can drop the course. For 5-credit registrants: • you can drop to 3 credits; 2) you can take a zero in the missed trip; 3) you can drop the course.

36. If you need a note explaining your absence from other classes, please contact Chuck at least a week before the trip. (for next Th, need to know now) Info needed: name of instructor their email address course name and number Contact Jonathan (beyeler@uw.edu) to sign-up for Field Trip A on either 8 or 15 Oct. Reservations will be limited for each day, and will be accepted on a first-come basis.

37. Nisqually Trip A – 8 Oct 2015

38. Nisqually Trip B – 15 Oct 2015

39. Source to Sink A different way of seeing landscapes and seascapes

40. The Big Picture = The Rock Cycle

41. The Rock Cycle Material eroded from mountains enters streams and rivers and is delivered to coastal environments, from where it is moved to deeper sedimentary basins that get shoved back into mountains through processes of rock uplift.

42. The Rock Cycle

43. Erosion in the Rock Cycle

44. What we see as rivers and beaches are rest stops for sediment moving through the eroding half of the rock cycle.

45. Framework for this Class Rock uplift  Mountains Mountains  Mountain Streams Mountain Streams  Rivers Rivers  Estuaries Estuaries  Beaches Beaches  Off-shore depositional basins Off-shore depositional basins  Rock uplift.