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DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED GEOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS

SYLLABUS FOR CORE COURSES – M.Sc. APPLIED GEOLOGY
FIRST SEMESTER

EAS – C301 GEOMORPHOLOGY 4 0 0 4

Objective: To provide in depth knowledge of the science of Geomorphology and its applied aspects.

Unit 1: Scope and objectives – Geodynamic energy and landform evolution: role of solar energy, internal heat energy and gravitational energy in the formation of landforms; Role of climate and rock structure in landform evolution; basic geomorphic concepts of landform evolution; Geomorphic system, its components and parameters; Landform orders. Exogenic processes – Weathering and geologic controls in weathering, mechanical weathering and products; Chemical weathering processes and products; Weathering and landform alteration. Soil formation and types; Soil profile, horizons and soil types.

Unit 2: Fluvial system and processes – Drainage basin, basin and stream characteristics, morphometric analysis, stream initiation and development, stream flow, hydrographs, flood frequency analysis, drainage types and patterns, erosion, transportation and deposition by running water, erosional landforms, depositional landforms; Fluvial landforms in arid areas – Pediment and inselbergs; eolian processes – erosion by wind and erosional landforms, depositional landforms such as sand dunes and loess, types of dunes and mechanics of dune formation; Glacial processes, types of glaciers and glacial landforms.

Unit 3: Endogenetic landforms – Internal heat source, concept of plate tectonics and evolution of landforms, earthquakes and related landscape alterations, volcanic landforms, mountain building, rift valley formations; oceanic landforms.

Unit 4: Coastal geomorphic processes – Classification of coasts; Wave formation and wave dynamics, tides and tide formation; Erosional landforms, depositional landforms, estuaries and lagoons.

Unit 5: Applied geomorphology – Geomorphological studies in exploration for... [continues]

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