Photographic Field Journal Brandon Thrakulchavee Geography 5 Prof. L. Schmidt May 6, 2011 Fontana Lab: April 2 & April 15-17
Transcript
Photographic Field Journal
Fontana Lab: April 2 & April 15-17
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Geography 5
Prof. L. Schmidt
May 6, 2011
Field Trip 1
Coso Volcanic Range
Fossil Falls
Mormon Rocks
Coso Volcanic Range
Cinder Hill is one of the most prominent features in this range of
young volcanoes. It is an example of a composite cinder cone and
rises over a field of lava beds. One can find formations of
intrusive basalt and extrusive lava flows. These signature volcanic
features can be seen across the valley to the Sierra Nevada
Mountains in the West and to the Inyo-White Mountains to the
East.
Cinder Hill
Basaltformation
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Coso Volcanic Range
The two photos below show some more unique features in the volcanic
area. On the left, an extrusive lava flow is circled. You can also
see evidence of the landscape changing where the basalt has eroded
away to form a gorge at the edge of the desert; and, the grasses
growing in an intrusive basalt formation.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Eroded Basalt
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Root Wedging
Fossil Falls
Where the Owens River once flowed is a scarred ecosystem. One of
the endangered species- water, actually became extinct in the
floodplain. What it left behind were these amazing fossils of a
former water fall, where the Owens once majestically dropped 200
feet before meandering to Owens Lake. The unique and beautiful
shapes at Fossil Falls are due to the once rushing water pounding
and smoothing the volcanic basalt.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Fossil Falls
Before Los Angeles grew to be a major metropolis, the Owens River
once flowed through here. Without running water some parts of the
stream bed are beginning to fade into the surrounding landscape.
However, this picture clearly shows the banks of the former flood
plain.
Owens River (dry) stream bed and flood plain
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Fossil Falls
Examples of metate holes. These were created in the falls by rocks
which were captured by a current subsequently weathering the basalt
into a pot like hole.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Fossil Falls
The area around Fossil Falls was inhabited by Paiute and Shoshone
peoples. They lived a nomadic lifestyle, spending the warmer months
in the Sierra foothills and the cooler months near the Owens River.
Evidence of their native way of life can still be seen today.
Petroglyphs
(drawings) can be
found on rocks
nearby.
This one depicts
several Big Horn
sheep.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Fossil Falls
Shown here is the foundation for a Native dwelling, known as a
house ring. When covered with reeds, this would have provided
shelter for the hunter-gatherers.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Fossil Falls
Among the stones found around Fossil Falls are many pieces of
obsidian. This igneous rock is created when hot magma cools. It
looks and feels like glass, and was used as a valuable tool by the
Paiute and Shoshone. You can also see examples of other igneous
rocks: basalt (black stones), scoria (red stones), pumice
(inset).
PUMICE
BASALT
SCORIA
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Obsidian Flake
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Mormon Rocks
Officially designated The Rock Candy Mountains, the more common
name for these sandstone rock outcroppings is Mormon Rocks. These
sandstone rock fault blocks are formed as the pressure of the N.
American plate and Pacific slide past each other. The unique shape
and pockmarked (inset) texture made this formation an easy sign to
travelers ending their journey across the Mojave Desert and into
the San Bernardino Valley The moniker honors the early Mormon
settlers who found the route through Cajon Pass more pleasing than
the original Mojave Indian Trail.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Mormon Rocks
This photo shows a closer image of the granular structure of the
Mormon Rocks. This sandstone is more resistant to weathering than
the sediment rocks which were around it, making them a prominent
geographic feature of the area.
SEDIMENT LAYERS
Brandon Thrakulchavee
POCKMARK
Mormon Rocks
This photo shows the stream bed of Cajon Wash the seasonal river
which flows past Mormon Rocks.
Of interest, also, is the railroad bridge which crosses the river
and suggests the flow of water here can be enough to disrupt our
human landscape.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Cajon Wash dry stream bed
Mormon Rocks
While this may look peaceful and iconic, you are actually viewing
of photo of one of the most geologically active areas in the world.
This is the place where the North American Plate and Pacific Plate
meet and slid past one another. The action of this strike/slip,
known as the San Andreas, created the rift valley below.
San Andreas Rift Zone
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Field Trip 2
Diaz Lake
Mt. Whitney Visitors Center
Keoughs Hot Springs
Mono Lake
Convict Lake
Owens River
Eastern California Museum
Manzanar
Diaz Lake
Diaz Lake is a feature known as a sag pond. A sag pond is created
when a large earthquake displaces land and causes it to sink. The
land displaced by the 1872 earthquake was enough that the lake
filled as Diaz Creek flowed into the sag. Several springs and run
off from the nearby Alabama Hills also feed the lake.
Inyo-White Mountains
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Diaz Lake
The area around Diaz Lake is representative of what the Owens
Valley looked like prior to the export of its river water. This
grove of Cottonwood trees is a tell that water is nearby. Also, in
this picture are the Alabama Hills which trace to location of the
Lone Pine Fault. The dark line along the base of the hills is the
Los Angeles Aqueduct.
LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT
LONE PINE FAULT
COTTONWOOD TREES
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Mt. Whitney Interagency Visitor Center
At 14, 505 feet, Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the contiguous
forty-eight United States. It is deceiving in the picture, as Mt.
Whitney looks lower. However, this is caused by the near Lone Pine
Peak looking taller.
Inyo-White Mountains
Mt. Whitney
Alluvial Fan
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Sierra Nevada Range
The Inyo-White Mountains form
the eastern side of the Owens
Valley. The key difference
Between the Sierra Nevada and
the White Mountains is their weathering.
The v-shaped valley on the Whites indicate
water erosion, while the u-shaped valleys
on the Sierra Nevada indicate glacial erosion.
Alabama Hills
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Mt. Whitney Interagency Visitor Center
From near Big Pine, CA the most southern glacier can still be seen.
The Palisades Glacier is currently in retreat.
Palisades Glacier
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Keoughs Hot Springs
The hot creek and pools is fed from a spring in the Alabama
Foothills. The water is warmed underground through geothermal
processes.
Alabama Hills
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Hot Spring
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Mono Lake
Mono Lake at one time covered nearly 1000 sq. miles. Through
drought, evaporation, and recently, diversion Mono Lake currently
covers about 66 sq. miles. Protected from diversion, three streams
feed this terminal lake. Also, the two islands at the north shore
provide a safe breeding ground for seagulls who feed on alkali
flies and brine shrimp.
Brine Shrimp
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Negit Island
Paoha Island
Mono Lake
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Mono Lake
Mono Lakes beauty and unique chemistry helped save it from the fate
shared by many others in the Owens Valley. The lake and its
watershed are protected and will continue to be an important
Eastern California ecosystem.
Ancient Shoreline
Historical shoreline: 6417
Current shoreline : 6383
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Mono Lake
Mono Lake is a terminal lake, meaning it has no natural outlet but
evaporation. As lake levels dropped these amazing tufa formations
were exposed. Tufas are created where a spring vents into the lake.
The mixture of fresh water into the lakes unique alkaline, saline,
and arsenic rich water creates the otherworldly feature.
Tufa formation
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Mono Lake
Glaciated Valley
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Panum Crater
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Convict Lake
Convict Lake is found between in a cirque left by a glacier. Unique
to this area is where uplift has exposed the Sierra Nevadas oldest
rocks.
Oldest rocks in
the Sierra Nevada
Convict Lake
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Convict Lake
Moraines are left behind whena glacier retreats. They are the
debris and rock which a glacier has carved out of the mountains and
deposits along the advancing ice.
Terminal moraine
Lateral moraine
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Owens River
As Southern California conserves water, more is left to flow
naturally. Here is the Owens River near Bishop, CA
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Brandon Thrakulchavee
This benchmark is an official geodetic survey marker, used for
mapping and property purposes.
Owens River
As Southern California conserves water, more is left to flow
naturally. Here is the Owens River near Bishop, CA
Swallow nests
Tule Reeds
Owens River
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Owens River
The oldest living tree on the planet is native to the Inyo-White
Mountains. A bristlecone pine can live over 4500 years. Here is the
view of the Bristlecone Pine forests above Bishop, CA
Collection of the Eastern California Museum
Closer image of Bristlecone Pines
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Eastern California Museum
I felt this was an interesting artifact because it demonstrates how
little control over the local economy and ecology the residents of
the Owens Valley have. Its unfortunate how they were taken
advantage of by Los Angeles, and how the way of life was altered. I
think that the lessons learned from the Owens River/LA Aqueduct
should resonate for future generations and how important
sustainability is to our survival as a culture and as humans.
The Mono Lake Committee
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Collection of the Eastern California Museum
Manzanar
During WW II about 10,000 Americans of Japanese decent were ordered
to this concentration
camp for their safety and the fear of their threat to
America.
This would have been the location of the warehousing district
inside Manzanar.
There were dry and refrigerated storage facilities for imported and
exported good.
Manzanar was a working apple orchard.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Manzanar
During WW II about 10,000 Americans of Japanese decent were ordered
to this concentration
camp for their safety and the fear of their threat to
America.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Brandon Thrakulchavee
A glimpse into the life in the camp.
Check Station built by Japanese
In-Transit & Other
Flora
Fauna
Urban Sprawl
Doppler Radar
Rand District
Garlock Fault
Playa
SETI
Water & Power
Solar Plant
Cucamonga Fan
Flora
Burroweed grass
Creosote Bush
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Desert Wildflowers
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Lilac
Joshua Trees
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Yucca Tree
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Sage
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Urban Sprawl
Leap frog developments are those where the human environment takes
advantage of open space by building ahead of and away from current
urban areas. This method impacts the natural environment by the
inefficient use of space for human comfort.
Leap frog tracts
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Introduction of non-native
vegetation
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Doppler Radar Tower
The Doppler Radar was first discovered in 1842. Development and use
of the technology has been in the fields of aeronautics and
meteorology.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Rand Mining District
The Rand Mining District was once a lead producer of gold in
California. 20% of the states gold deposits were located at the
site. The living ghost towns of Randsburg and Johannesburg line
Highway 395, as do these examples of the tailings (useless) dirt
and ore from the mines.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Garlock Fault
The Garlock Fault is the second largest fault in California.
Apx. location of fault
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Playa
A playa is the remains of a lake bottom. The soil is typically
barren and hard, impervious to new plant growth.
Koehn Dry Lake
Brandon Thrakulchavee
SETI Site
The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence Institute operates a
site in the Owens Valley. The location far from civilization and
between the Inyo-White and Sierra Nevada Ranges creates a sort of
quiet zone for listening at the stars.
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Water & Power
The California Aqueduct brings water from Central California into
the Inland Empire and is part of the tremendous effort by Southern
Californians to supply this vital resource to the arid south. Other
notable aqueducts in this system include the Los Angeles Aqueduct
and the Colorado River Aqueduct.
Part of the Owens River/L.A. Aqueduct system, is the development of
geothermal- and hydro-power. The generated electricity is carried
south power high tension power lines.
DWP High Voltage
Transmission Lines
CA Aqueduct
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Water & Power
.
Relief map showing LA DWP
influence in the Owens Valley
A section of steel pipe used to divert
Owens River water to Los Angeles
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Collection of the Lone Pine Interagency Visitor Center
Solar Power Plant
Looking like an oasis, the Solar Power plant lays out north of
Klines Corner, CA
Brandon Thrakulchavee
The solar mirrors
closer up
Brandon Thrakulchavee
Cucamonga Alluvial Fan
An alluvial fan is created at the base of ravine where water and
runoff leave a mountain valley. Over time sediments are deposited
to build this triangular feature at the foot of mountain ranges.
The Cucamonga fan, a combination of several depository fans, at the
base of the San Gabriel Mountains is the largest in
California.
Combined Cucamonga Alluvial Fans
Brandon Thrakulchavee
the end
Orographic Effect over the San Bernardino Mountains
Corona around the sun.
Where light is reflected of water vapor in upper
atmosphere