Introduction
The geomorphology of Earth’s surface evolves over time through various processes.  Sometimes small, incremental changes add up to significant differences over time.  At other times large events change the landscape in short bursts.  As a short lived species, we as humans have to use the evidence left behind to determine how long ago events took place, what process was involved and when these events might occur again.  To recognize this evidence we must practice our observation and interpretive skills.

Methods
In this lab we will build our basic observation and interpretive skills using a video-based virtual tour.  Our study site is Owl’s Head just to the east of Fundy National Park and the village of Alma, New Brunswick.  It is a coastal location that is less than 50 km down the Bay of Fundy from Sackville.  Since you cannot access the site to take direct measurements, you’ll have to observe the evidence present in the video tour and use information from our text book or previous labs, to answer the questions in this lab.
Part I – Climate Zone
The amount of precipitation and the temperature range in each climate zone determines the degree of weathering that takes place.  Physical and chemical weathering processes are driven by the number of thaw/freeze events and by how much water/heat are present.

Name the climate zone of our study location based on the system used in our text book. (1)

How many months of thaw/freeze weather do we have at our study site? (1)

What is the average temperature and average annual precipitation at our study site? (1)

Using the Climate and Weathering chart (11.17) in our text book, which weathering regime does our study site fall into? (1)

Part II – Rock Type
The strength of a rock or its resistance to erosion is determined by its type.  Sedimentary rock is cemented together with some forms being more resistant then others depending on the process that cemented it together.  Igneous rocks are generally harder and more resistant as the crystallization of the solidifying magma locks the individual grains into solid rock.  Metamorphic rock is generally as resistant as most igneous rock due to the heat and pressure of formation recrystallizing its elements.  Depending on which of these main forms of rock and subclass, the resistance to erosion and weathering can be vastly different.  We would expect a soft sedimentary rock type to erode, round-off and disintegrate quickly, when a hard mineralized rock made of lots of quartz could take several orders of magnitude longer to weather to the same degree.
When looking closely at the rock surface, what characteristics are present (highlight one) (1) -  Fine-grained with many layers, Cemented sand grains, Cemented pebbles and small rocks, Course-grained mineral mix, Fine-grained mineral mix, Course-grain swirling bands

What main type of rock is this, sedimentary, igneous or metamorphic? (1)



What subclass of rock is this? (1)  
Part III – Rock Shape
Weathering wears and breaks rock using physical means, while it oxidizes, hydrolyzes and dissolves rock using chemical means.  When rock is quarried and crushed, then used as gravel in driveways and roads, it has sharp edges.  After many hundreds of years we would expect that the erosion of physical and chemical weathering would round-off the sharp edges and make the individual pieces of gravel smaller.  By observing the condition of the edges and the size of the rock pieces, we can get an idea how long the rocks have been exposed to weathering.
What are the edges of the rocks like at our study site?  Are they (highlight one) (1)-Angular with sharp edges, Angular with rounded edges, Rounded, or Flat
Part IV – Surface conditions
Another method of estimating how long a rock has been exposed and undisturbed on the surface is by observing the oxidization of its surface.  How dark is the rock, because once atmospheric or hydrospheric oxygen has had access to the rock, usually oxidization will create darker oxides.  Also, when a rock has been exposed at the surface and not been rotated or flipped in a while, the biosphere will begin to take hold.  This will likely start with the colonization of lichens, and mosses if it is wet enough, then soils may start to accumulate and some large enough rocks end up with huge trees growing on top of them.  This tells us the rock has been there for a long time without being disturbed.  When a rock is in a marine ecosystem we can expect different organisms to grow on them like algae, barnacles, corals, etc.
How dark are the surfaces of the rocks at our study site?  Have they had much time to oxidize?  Highlight one of the following (1) -  Light, some dark patches, all dark

Is there any evidence of organisms growing on the rocks?  Be sure to examine the terrestrial and marine areas of the mass wasting colluvium.  Are there (highlight any) (1) - Lichens, mosses, living trees, algae, barnacles

Part V - Slope inclination and colluvium travel
Weathering causes many small individual erosion events to take place.  We can think of this as bits of rocks falling off a cliff face one by one and piling up in a talus slope at the bottom of a cliff.  Mass wasting on the other hand, is a mass movement of many pieces of soil and/or regolith all at once, resulting in an accumulation of colluvium at the base of the slope.  In both cases this downhill movement is caused by gravity.  Your text book discusses the differences between various forms of mass wasting including soil creep, earth flows, rotational slumps, mudflow/debris floods, landslides and rockfalls (pages 342 -346).  Variables such as material type, rock strength, soil moisture, temperature, and slope inclination will affect the type of mass wasting event.  They will also affect the travel distance of the colluvium.  Factors such as the amount of water present will affect the distance colluvium can flow, but in other situations the material type and thickness can trap a layer of air beneath itself, which will increase the distance it can