tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805235459951733982024-03-05T08:26:57.682-08:00Liberty, Equality, and GeologyHelena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-50211181099073493632015-04-25T10:46:00.000-07:002015-04-25T11:02:11.395-07:00from: Hester MalloneeHi
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<br>Sent from my iPhoneHelena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-86723118300141004492015-03-24T08:55:00.000-07:002015-03-24T08:56:01.674-07:00from: Hester MalloneeHi
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<br>Sent from my iPhoneHelena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-91104209330297431832013-01-31T05:34:00.002-08:002013-01-31T05:34:48.897-08:00Moving!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This blog has a new home! </div>
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I've been thinking about and working on this move for some time now. (Like, a year.) Wordpress just seems to be more common, and I wanted to learn how to use that blogging platform. (I also could never get the layout quite right in blogger, and I'm picky that way.) I also kind of wanted a fresh slate and my own domain.</div>
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So, please update your bookmarks and feed readers to: <a href="http://www.libertyequalitygeology.com/">http://www.libertyequalitygeology.com</a> !</div>
Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-85571096383508178692012-02-26T11:43:00.001-08:002012-02-26T11:43:43.503-08:00Captain Kirk and Object Oriented Programming, According to my Dad<p>I’m taking a Java class right, and having a little bit of trouble wrapping my head around the concept of object-oriented programming and how to implement it. So, I asked my dad for some advice, and this is how he responded:</p> <p>"Object oriented thinking:</p> <p> <br />Imagine a planet, any planet. How do you describe a planet? These are the properties. <br />The planet has it's own gravity, <br />It's own sky color, <br />It's own funny looking, sexy locals - if it is a 'star trek' type of planet <br />It's own monsters.</p> <p> <br />What do you do on the planet? These are the methods. <br />Look at the sky, <br />Chase the women <br />Run from the monsters</p> <p> <br />So Capt Kirk lands on Boiseity, what does he find? <br />Gravity - normal <br />Rainfall - dry <br />Local women - nice clean cut Mormons <br />Local monsters – chipmonks</p> <p> <br />These are the unique properties of the Boiseity planet. <br />Now Capt. Kirk lands on CapitolHillia, what does he find? <br />Gravity - .95 earth normal <br />Rainfall - wet <br />Local women - grunge <br />Local monsters – panhandlers</p> <p> <br />CapitolHillia and Boiseity are both unique objects of class Planet.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&authuser=0&biw=903&bih=391&tbm=isch&tbnid=PiiXRkZEf_SR3M:&imgrefurl=http://captainawkward.com/2011/11/23/guest-post-i-dont-have-a-friend-zone-question-140/&docid=g_oPvwWQowAr1M&imgurl=http://captainawkwarddotcom.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/captainkirk.jpg&w=450&h=341&ei=aIZKT7NJ89mIAtL3oN4N&zoom=1"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="captainkirk" border="0" alt="captainkirk" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-n947_HaEhbk/T0qLbGNyudI/AAAAAAAABhs/fHvOqAjGL7o/captainkirk%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="356" height="271" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="1">Fighting aliens makes so much more sense than withdrawing funds from a bank account.</font></p> <p align="left">Hilarious, right?</p> Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-49367459148749748132012-02-22T00:56:00.003-08:002012-02-22T01:01:25.436-08:00Ten Things I Love About Studying GeologyThere’s a wee bit of a geomeme going on about what one likes most about one’s geologic field of interest. It started with <span style="background-color: yellow;"></span>Erik Klemetti’s post on “<a href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/02/the-top-10-reasons-i-love-volcanoes-and-you-should-too/">10 Thing I Love About Volcanoes</a>,” and was quickly followed up by Siim Sepp’s post on <a href="http://www.sandatlas.org/2012/02/the-top-10-reasons-i-love-sand/">“The Top Ten Reasons I Love Sand</a>,” Callan Bentley’s post on <a href="http://blogs.agu.org/mountainbeltway/2012/02/04/the-top-10-reasons-i-love-structure/">The Tope 10 Reasons I Love Structure</a>,” Silver Fox’s post on “<a href="http://highway8a.blogspot.com/2012/02/top-10-reasons-i-love-detachment-faults.html">Top 10 Reasons I Love Detachment Faults</a>,” Hollis’ post on “<a href="http://plantsandrocks.blogspot.com/2012/02/top-10-reasons-i-love-wyoming-geology.html">Top 10 Reasons I Love Wyoming Geology</a>,” and then Garry Hayes's post on “<a href="http://geotripper.blogspot.com/2012/02/10-reasons-i-love-teaching-geology-at.html">10 Reasons I Love Teaching Geology At Community College</a>.”<br />
Since I’m a geo-baby, I thought I’d talk about what I love about being a geoscience student!<br />
I originally studied classical literature, philosophy, math, and science at a liberal arts college. While that experience has deeply shaped me, the most important thing it taught me was what I really want to study – the world! Geology is the best way to study the world that I’ve found, so I happily switched majors!<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-s9X-rbKuaEA/T0Stj-xWK1I/AAAAAAAABe0/9VkzXCBd8-Y/s1600-h/IMGP08196.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0819" border="0" height="356" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kaxsE_HX-zw/T0StkpULGtI/AAAAAAAABe8/VY2s8bENzxI/IMGP0819_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0819" width="268" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Woo, rocks! My excitement face shortly after switching majors.</span></div>I’m just getting into upper-division coursework, and I decided to take a geophysics major, so I have quite a challenge ahead of me! But I’m excited to have the opportunity to study so many cool things, for the following reasons:<br />
<strong>1. Real facts.</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Selections-Keplers-Astronomia-Classics-Humanities/dp/1888009284/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329892426&sr=1-1"><img alt="2012-02-21 23.17.54" border="0" height="381" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j2tcPlLr8Z8/T0Stlft6evI/AAAAAAAABfE/PkQWGXKpJKA/2012-02-21%25252023.17.54%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2012-02-21 23.17.54" width="506" /></a><br />
<blockquote><div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The movement of Mars, over 16 years, according to the folks before Kepler.</span></div>The Earth revolves around the Sun.<br />
Atoms exist.<br />
The “heavenly spheres” are the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere. Sometimes the magnetosphere and the galaxy come up. None of them play music, or have anything to do with the divine.<br />
Promise.</blockquote><strong>2. Whiteboards > Chalkboards</strong><br />
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<blockquote>Chalk dust gets everywhere: in your nose, in your hair, on your pants. It may look hip and old-school, but it’s kind of a pain.<br />
Whiteboards, on the other hand, only leave black smidges on your fingers.</blockquote><strong>3. Arts & Crafts Time.</strong><br />
<blockquote>Recently, I was talking to a computer science student about how much I like graphics. His response? “But I thought you were into, like, geology.”<br />
But the geosciences are filled with pretty pictures! There are nifty geologic maps and psychedelic polarized thin sections. There are colorful charts and graphic graphs. And, of course, the “reference photos.”<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1J7ow5iMwV0/T0StoM10hXI/AAAAAAAABfc/vg-OaKt9qVA/s1600-h/P9261055%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P9261055" border="0" height="506" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Kr0CKioBA0o/T0Sto-K2l9I/AAAAAAAABfk/g0tnSNJaKG8/P9261055_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P9261055" width="381" /></a></blockquote><div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Look at that rhyolite! Sunset for scale.</span></div><strong>4. Interesting lectures.</strong><br />
<blockquote>I love listening to people explain things I know nothing about! It’s a great way to explore the field, learn more about the world, and make connections to things I’m studying. I’m most comfortable when I’m a little bit confused.</blockquote><strong>5. Fancy equipment.</strong><br />
<blockquote><img alt="PC150297" border="0" height="268" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IEO8C6bt3xc/T0StphTTYHI/AAAAAAAABfs/w96LMHjlD_E/PC150297_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="PC150297" width="356" /> <br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Or not so fancy equipment.</span></div>I can’t even properly pronounce magnetometer, but I’ve used one (briefly.) Seismometers are currently blowing my mind, and I’m really excited for the vibrating trucks while studying active seismology. I also love using fancy technology like remote sensing satellite data and excessive computing power. The toys are awesome.</blockquote><strong>6. Fieldwork.</strong><br />
<blockquote>Homework for a liberal arts major:<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xbvPdqzj7GQ/T0Stp-NRjtI/AAAAAAAABf0/MCiMmK6z8rc/s1600-h/Stacks144.jpg"><img alt="Stacks14" border="0" height="268" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pFKruGUpVCA/T0Stqgu9iBI/AAAAAAAABf8/Fj7dZdWShvo/Stacks14_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Stacks14" width="356" /></a><br />
Homework for a geoscience major:<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8TI1D2WaRZg/T0StrPF3CGI/AAAAAAAABgE/zypy35lzdUM/s1600-h/P92510334.jpg"><img alt="P9251033" border="0" height="268" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-igQrHbSCU1E/T0Sts6JQDyI/AAAAAAAABgM/s1cFxzUNva8/P9251033_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P9251033" width="356" /></a><br />
One of these will result in a Vitamin D deficiency.<br />
The other will result in a cold beer.<br />
Tough call, right?</blockquote><strong>7. The people are nice.</strong><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tmtfNeNrXII/T0SttaRJJoI/AAAAAAAABgU/KfNXUhkIXWE/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="123" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qnGgb8Qzkos/T0StuMH67hI/AAAAAAAABgc/nGlMPgI0T6w/image_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="506" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pretentious, me? Never.</span></div><blockquote>Being pretentious is a prerequisite for a philosophy scholar. Sometimes, they’re lovely, fascinating people. Frequently, they’re mean as snakes, twice as funny looking, and think they’re the coolest thing to wear tight pants.</blockquote><blockquote>Geologists are good-natured, helpful, and handy in a pinch. Also, they’re generally gorgeous – the men are handsome and handy, the women are beautiful and highly competent. I think it’s all that Vitamin D.<br />
Plus, it’s just tough to be pretentious while “examining the sagebrush.”</blockquote><strong>8. The scope.</strong><br />
<blockquote>From isotopic changes in the range of parts per billion, to the rise of immense mountain chains hundreds of kilometers long; from the earliest creation of the planet, to the future movements of continents; from the relatively slow movement of water through a watershed, to dramatic pyroclastic deposition over the course of a few minutes; from the glacial moraine in my parent’s backyard, to Arizona-sized volcanoes on Mars – geology encompasses all of these.<br />
How is that not awesome, in the truest sense of the word?</blockquote><strong>9. Real-life applications.</strong><br />
<blockquote>I LOVE the thought that, someday, I’ll be qualified to search for oil, reconstruct the tectonic history of the planet, understand hydrological changes in caves, analyze earthquakes to see the structure of the planet, make discoveries about cryovolcanism on Enceladus, or help predict volcanic eruptions.<br />
Or even just be able to pick up a rock from the river, and know what it is, and where it’s been. That’ll be pretty cool too! </blockquote><blockquote><strong>10. The fine line between “work” and “vacation.”</strong></blockquote><blockquote><div align="left">Work:</div><div align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r4dd3zcXkhk/T0StuzCXiuI/AAAAAAAABgk/7GNi9VQdXMM/s1600-h/P82206404.jpg"><img alt="P8220640" border="0" height="268" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SOpGKYtZO_4/T0Stvczdg-I/AAAAAAAABgs/Tz12Www5g_U/P8220640_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P8220640" width="356" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Exploring a’a lava at Craters of the Moon.</span></div></blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XVI7PC2x0Fw/T0StxIxyn4I/AAAAAAAABg0/9V-clT8-Cl8/s1600-h/ChalkMudPuppyIII4.jpg"><img alt="ChalkMudPuppyIII" border="0" height="268" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HscSUBrMeoU/T0StxqcShkI/AAAAAAAABg8/1E3U7PUCVtQ/ChalkMudPuppyIII_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="ChalkMudPuppyIII" width="356" /></a></span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Doing cave monitoring for the BLM at Craters of the Moon.</span></div>Vacation:<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4KtBGMkbx7c/T0StyQV4gjI/AAAAAAAABhE/4BPppESnT6Q/s1600-h/P1071427%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1071427" border="0" height="268" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rdrxP18dI5Q/T0StzUhgdsI/AAAAAAAABhM/5xrhAwvjmz8/P1071427_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1071427" width="356" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Learning about multi-colored lava underground near Mt. St. Helens.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VItVoUEZKAw/T0St0GZVBeI/AAAAAAAABhY/LsP0KPV0mUI/s1600-h/P80203459.jpg"><img alt="P8020345" border="0" height="268" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-x6bIAWqBMl0/T0St0yiyPcI/AAAAAAAABhk/LyXubo7oNR0/P8020345_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P8020345" width="356" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Examining glacial geology and learning about Idaho geology at Redfish Lake.</span></div><strong>Bonus! </strong><br />
<strong>11. New things to learn. Everyday.</strong><br />
<blockquote>Today, I learned how to analyze stress and fracturing in rocks using a wacky thing called a “Mohr’s Circle Diagram.” Then I learned about constructing three-dimensional objects just using calculus. Then I learned how to make Java applets. Then I learned how to find different rock types via satellite. Then I came home and read about ocean islands and mantle plumes. <br />
In one day. Who knows what crazy business we’re going to learn tomorrow?<br />
I’m sure it’s going to be incredible.</blockquote>Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-65642001335984897902012-01-22T00:19:00.000-08:002012-01-22T00:35:38.109-08:00It's a Branch, It's a Pothole - no, it's an Earthquake!For December’s <a href="http://theaccretionarywedge.wordpress.com/">Accretionary Wedge</a>, (#41!) Ron Schott <a href="http://ron.outcrop.org/blog/?p=1432">has asked us to describe</a> the most significant or memorable geologic event we have personally experienced. The first thing that sprang to my mind was the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/2001/eq_010228/waveforms/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WUAZ" border="0" height="256" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Qo0EQD6M3D8/Txu20_DOvNI/AAAAAAAABbs/3gm9Btr2JBM/WUAZ%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="WUAZ" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the seismograph from Wupatki, Arizona. There weren't many closer, and I quite liked how clearly the P-wave and S-wave showed up in this one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In February of 2001, I was 13 years old. At that time, I was half-homeschooled – I took a couple classes at the junior high in the morning, and then my mum picked me up for some homeschooling. (Reality: I’d wait until she left on some lawyer-ly errand, and then make grilled cheese and watch Wheel of Fortune. What a rebel.)<br />
On February 28, at 10:54 am, I had just been picked up from school, and we were driving in my mother’s 1870s powder-blue Camaro towards The Big Swoopy Hill. All of a sudden, the car swayed back and forth, the dashboard tilting up and down. It looked like that One Time My Dad Took the Car on the Potholed Forest Service Road Where People Go Mudding.<br />
<br />
“Mum, do we have a flat?” I asked.<br />
“No, I don’t think so. We might have run over a downed branch.” My mum looked in the rearview mirror. “Although I don’t see anything behind us…”<br />
“Mum, look at the lady parked on the side of the road!”<br />
“She’s getting back in her car, she’s ok.”<br />
<br />
After we got back home, my mother worked on some legal briefs, and I worked on my report on deciduous trees. After an hour or so, the phone rang.<br />
My mum picked it up. “Hello?”<br />
“Are you ok? Is the house ok?” my dad asked, frantically.<br />
“We’re fine… Are you?”<br />
“There was an earthquake!”<br />
<br />
We walked around the house, and, sure enough, some of the vases on top of the piano had shifted a little. The dishes had moved. <br />
<br />
The next day at school, my classmates regaled me with tales of crawling under their plastic-topped desks, all the while imagining the back half of the portable buildings sinking into the ground. One girl even declared that she’d thought it was the Rapture.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2005/15/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="fig31" border="0" height="344" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--vgexH6gcRY/Txu21KJ8uYI/AAAAAAAABb0/M-R9R4NhzV0/fig31%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="fig31" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from a school near Nisqually. Our school only had a couple lights fall down, and was otherwise fine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I tried to explain our harrowing tale to them, but even my best retelling didn’t convince them it was cooler than the Rapture.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/Viaduct/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="vroomvroom" border="0" height="404" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rHRM2hBpsuE/Txu21tsj_VI/AAAAAAAABb8/rBODuCLGOVs/vroomvroom%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="vroomvroom" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, I tried.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The 2001 Nisqually earthquake only rated a 6.8, with a depth of about 52km, and is an example of normal faulting in a subduction zone – the Juan de Fuca plate was bending (and stretching) as it was forced under the North American plate. This is possibly due to increased warmth near the mantle heating up the subducting plate, dehydrating it and making it more brittle - kind of like baked potato chips.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ff-8h_eEyVk/Txu215gbJsI/AAAAAAAABcE/oOtZHCxhmEA/s1600-h/foc%25255B4%25255D.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="foc" border="0" height="448" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-swqihBS0UHk/Txu22Syy68I/AAAAAAAABcM/xI56ddQJtd8/foc_thumb%25255B2%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="foc" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fault plane solution for the Nisqually earthquake. The little circles are dilatations, and the little stars are compression - so you can see how part of the plate extended, compressing the material to either side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/Viaduct/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="cap-lake-lspd7" border="0" height="381" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cVJd8DCbK30/Txu2211xHjI/AAAAAAAABcU/99YCaCC8Ksg/cap-lake-lspd7%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="cap-lake-lspd7" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A path near the State Capitol. One fellow looks depressed at the thought of all the work he's going to have to do. The other fellow looks like this is the coolest thing to ever happen - definitely a geologist.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Luckily, only one person died (as the result of a heart-attack) and 407 people were injured. It did cause significant damage to roadways near the epicenter (in the Olympia and Nisqually area.) <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/Viaduct/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="img026" border="0" height="339" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6sDZNvd0Zzk/Txu23IQ0ZkI/AAAAAAAABcc/AsNfEQuZ5ts/img026%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="img026" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highway 101 - nobody really uses the right lane, do they?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Additionally, it caused significant damage to buildings both in Olympia and Seattle – including causing a large crack in the dome of the Washington State Capitol in Olympia. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/photogalleries/localnews2014343214/16.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="2014342999" border="0" height="506" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SfyKUV2lTPg/Txu23dLWpBI/AAAAAAAABck/oNC3nc5d4RY/2014342999%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2014342999" width="344" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The exterior of the State Capitol. You can see that some of the bricks are separating from the facade. The building was shut down for quite some time as it was examined for structural stability.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/photogalleries/localnews2014343214/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo01" border="0" height="331" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--aycR-Bl8Mo/Txu236i3FqI/AAAAAAAABcs/D0VByevN7ys/photo01%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="photo01" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looters run rampant in downtown Seattle.<br />
These fellows actually just found a co-worker's purse amidst the wreckage of their van.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/photogalleries/localnews2014343214/28.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="2014343028" border="0" height="367" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BW7O4tOFfO4/Txu24FLO6dI/AAAAAAAABc0/48vspyiQYV4/2014343028%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2014343028" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> "Pssh, I've got nine lives, I ain't scared."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It also damaged the Alaska Way Viaduct in Seattle, which led to a decade of plans, negotiations, and general strum und drang about replacing it, as well as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dtjGmrPKSI&feature=related">this</a> terrifying simulation. Apparently, they’ve <a href="http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/Viaduct/">now begun construction</a> on a replacement. The earthquake resulted in $3.5 million in repairs to the viaduct, and construction of a replacement/refurbishment/tunnel/etc. is projected to cost $3.1 billion. It’s money well spent, I think, because that sucker looks like a car-sandwich just waiting to happen.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/Viaduct/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="DAMAGE_Repair4" border="0" height="506" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iHqAcjN0Nl8/Txu24sxE7PI/AAAAAAAABc8/EkdUaxvy1yg/DAMAGE_Repair4%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DAMAGE_Repair4" width="381" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some fellows braving aftershocks to repair the Viaduct so people can tempt fate.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>There were also spots of liquefaction and sand boils in both Olympia and Seattle. Liquefaction is pretty nifty, and luckily didn’t cause much damage in this earthquake. (Many portions of Seattle’s waterfront are built on fill – liquefaction could be a huge problem for those areas.)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NTmRPCaJtEo/Txu249nLIPI/AAAAAAAABdE/wtMO8CYFKjc/s1600-h/nisq-delta-6%25255B5%25255D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="nisq-delta-6" border="0" height="381" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ACz0VB6MQb8/Txu25CQD1EI/AAAAAAAABdM/FPPCEOdMeVQ/nisq-delta-6_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="nisq-delta-6" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sand boil in Olympia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>While much of the liquefaction seems to have been little sand boils, it also invaded basements. Additionally, there was a large mudslide in the Renton area, which also did significant property damage.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://peer.berkeley.edu/publications/nisqually/geotech/liquefaction/buildings/index.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="dsc00303" border="0" height="269" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qzSRIci1A2w/Txu25rijsdI/AAAAAAAABdU/kYMDb9Ir2uY/dsc00303%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="dsc00303" width="356" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worst sweeping job ever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I’m really glad that I was able to experience a medium-sized earthquake, without my family suffering any damages, and without the region suffering many deaths. I do still kind of wish we had realized it was an earthquake when it was occurring – that would have been so much more terrifying and exciting! But it was still a very memorable experience.<br />
<br />
<br />
In addition to the websites linked through the above photos, here are some websites with information on the Nisqually earthquake:<br />
<a href="http://peer.berkeley.edu/publications/nisqually/geotech/index.html">Some Observations of Geotechnical Aspects of the February 28, 2001, Nisqually Earthquake in Olympia, South Seattle, and Tacoma, Washington</a><br />
<a href="http://www.geodesy.cwu.edu/monitor/EQ/">Geodetic Information from Central Washington University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ce.washington.edu/~nisqually/index.html">The Nisqually Earthquake Information Clearinghouse, housed by the University of Washington</a><br />
<a href="http://ees2.geo.rpi.edu/rob/wa/olympia.html">GPS Analysis of Olympia Quake from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ess.washington.edu/SEIS/EQ_Special/WEBDIR_01022818543p/welcome.html">The Pacific Seismic Network's Nisqually Earthquake Page</a><br />
<a href="http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/2001/eq_010228/">USGS's Preliminary Earthquake Report</a><br />
<a href="http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/Topics/GeologicHazardsMapping/Pages/nisqually_eq.aspx">Washington State Department of Natural Resource's Nisqually Earthquake Page</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bssaonline.org/content/98/3/1546.abstract">Identifying the Rupture Plane of the 2001 Nisqually, Washington, Earthquake</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7boO_wTzS4">A Video Taken Inside Microsoft During the Earthquake</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIIxmUWCXGs&feature=related">KOMO News Broadcast from February 28, 2001</a><br />
Car image: <a href="http://bit.ly/x4x9RL" title="http://bit.ly/x4x9RL">http://bit.ly/x4x9RL</a><br />
<br />
This video made me laugh so hard I cried. It's ridiculous!<br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="284" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7r9byCXlM6g?rel=0" width="500"></iframe></center>Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-61942041853590602292011-11-25T09:00:00.000-08:002011-11-25T09:00:01.394-08:00Fall in West Idaho<p>In the past, I’ve waxed poetically (or, at least waxed on endlessly) about the beauty of the eastern Snake River Plain. But the more metropolitan western section is also quite lovely, especially in the fall!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rGfPO2uTU5k/Ts2kh_LC8rI/AAAAAAAABaA/kEewm61_7R0/s1600-h/PB121203%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB121203" border="0" alt="PB121203" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iUc7LOYTwH0/Ts2kidCvgoI/AAAAAAAABaI/1cHGGRklmX8/PB121203_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>The whole western Snake River Plain at a lower elevation than the eastern half (check out <a href="http://geology.com/lakes-rivers-water/idaho-elevation-map.jpg">this map</a> from <a href="http://geology.com/">geology.com</a>), which creates a warmer, more temperate climate than the western portion (about ~10 degrees difference.) This makes a great environment for agriculture, and gives the eastern section the nickname “The Banana Belt.”</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-k4oAid07W4c/Ts2kjG3_E7I/AAAAAAAABaQ/kzcPXjw591A/s1600-h/PB221256%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB221256" border="0" alt="PB221256" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3UsxYVYi17U/Ts2kjvdV0YI/AAAAAAAABaY/F5zoSn9AYqE/PB221256_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>The name “Boise” is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boise,_Idaho#Etymology">bit disputed,</a> but the word derives from the from the French “Le Bois,” or, “the trees.” Boise is situated in a wooded river valley, while the surrounding plain is fairly sparsely vegetated with sagebrush.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9kIAiznV38o/Ts2kkfs2M3I/AAAAAAAABag/i2Bxb2g1Ze0/s1600-h/PB121201%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB121201" border="0" alt="PB121201" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S5T9rxtoN1E/Ts2kk7cOLEI/AAAAAAAABao/48eIZ-YLLtY/PB121201_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="381" height="506" /></a></p> <p>I’ve never lived in a place with so many deciduous trees – Seattle has them, but the leaves quickly become sodden with rain. It’s quite lovely to walk along the bike path and crunch the leaves.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iqwKUzi4MFM/Ts2klvQAk5I/AAAAAAAABaw/Jc9txmeH2XQ/s1600-h/PB121216%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB121216" border="0" alt="PB121216" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mAYrPWKbzB0/Ts2kmMZgvcI/AAAAAAAABa4/md9xDpVVZEo/PB121216_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="506" height="381" /></a></p> <p>There’s also some scenic construction equipment. (I’m quite fond of large, colorful machinery, frankly.)</p> Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-16223401614513621112011-11-14T07:00:00.000-08:002011-11-23T15:58:55.697-08:00Coring Trees<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s7YH0bdV-8I/TsByGSU_ZhI/AAAAAAAABYk/69ANrPJxfZQ/s1600-h/P90708711_thumb2%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P90708711_thumb2" border="0" alt="P90708711_thumb2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-P7BA41N62mE/TsByG6B-X9I/AAAAAAAABYs/CpsjZw7s3D4/P90708711_thumb2_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="377" height="502" /></a></p><p align="center"><em><font size="1">This is not how you actually hold a corer – I was too busy posing to keep my hands in the proper position! You’re supposed to have one facing up, one facing down.</font></em></p><p>My hydrology class went out coring trees to study dendrochronology! Dendrochronology is the study of trees through time . To take a core sample, you <em>gently </em>screw this hollow tube into the tree, and then insert an extractor that much resembles a long-handled ice tea spoon, which grips onto the end of the core and pulls it out.</p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NzVQhNYHTPI/TsByHdU5jDI/AAAAAAAABY0/yzQ8wyTcd18/s1600-h/P90708551_thumb1%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P90708551_thumb1" border="0" alt="P90708551_thumb1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GCWKpr_cNQ8/TsByH_a-10I/AAAAAAAABY8/p7GNnpuHcCk/P90708551_thumb1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="502" height="377" /></a></p><p>Much as it seems really invasive, they’ve apparently figured out a way that this doesn’t harm the tree. I like to think of it like getting an ear piercing with a hollow needle, or a biopsy.</p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P3L3JSiJjrI/TsByKOEy-aI/AAAAAAAABZE/LkSjHG8d3aU/s1600-h/P90808871_thumb1%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P90808871_thumb1" border="0" alt="P90808871_thumb1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QKWhsSxYOGA/TsByN9xjwkI/AAAAAAAABZM/Phiw1mBL3U0/P90808871_thumb1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="502" height="377" /></a></p><p>Then we let the cores dry out in the lab, and our professor used a planer saw to flatten them out. Then the real work of counting and measuring rings began! </p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AdPolqCDSy8/TsByOSbD7sI/AAAAAAAABZU/Chd3B9l2P48/s1600-h/PB1312261%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB131226" border="0" alt="PB131226" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2dHeoWuKiBM/TsByOy9zUuI/AAAAAAAABZc/ZXkqi_REjMU/PB1312261_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="502" height="377" /></a></p><p>The youngest rings are the smallest, because a tree grows from the inside-out. When the tree has grown larger, the total growth for the tree is spread out over a larger area – this results in smaller rings. In addition to marking the years on the core-holder, you also mark the core with a certain number of dots – one for a decade, two for a half-century, three for a century, etc..</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7YX3xuEjLXU/TsByP1ptk0I/AAAAAAAABZk/B6XS6DIS5GE/s1600-h/PB1312271%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="PB131227" border="0" alt="PB131227" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l1APZLn_Mag/TsByQCRknlI/AAAAAAAABZs/f4sbfzn68ls/PB1312271_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p><p>Once you get close to the tree’s center, the rings become much larger. In this picture, you can see how the rings near 1810 are curving, instead of being perpendicular to the core – this means that we missed the core. These rings aren’t very useful to measure, because it’s difficult to get a good reading on their actual width.</p><p>We correlated this data with historical precipitation data, to see how the growth reacted to precipitation. Our correlation was quite poor, since our measuring tools were fairly low-grade. (Plus, we’re newbs.) But, with the proper measuring tools, many more data points, and a lot more practice, a good correlation can be established. The relationship from this correlation can then be used as a proxy to establish possible precipitation values for the years before historical measurements exist. In addition to being a useful tool for looking at a particular region’s specific precipitation and plant growth patterns, this is one of the primary methods current climate change studies rely upon to establish past climate figures.</p>Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-57262972755329369582011-11-11T19:39:00.001-08:002011-11-13T17:39:08.344-08:00Jurassic Lantern<p>As a kid, “Jurassic Park” gave me nightmares. I would lay in bed, and think about how a Tyrannosaurus could totally hide behind my parent’s rhododendron bush. The only consolation was that my bedroom had round doorknobs - and thus was Velociraptor-proof.</p><p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fossil-Book-Record-Prehistoric-Life/dp/0486293718/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1321067955&sr=8-3"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="PB101190" alt="PB101190" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-N7blBPlbYEM/Tr3qgCmZ6BI/AAAAAAAABWY/vFzzf8pb_7Q/PB1011901%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p><p>Perhaps a Parasaurolophus doesn’t have “a six-inch retractable claw, like a razor, on the middle toe. He doesn't bother to bite your jugular like a lion, oh no … he slashes at you here or here … or maybe across the belly, spilling your intestines.”</p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-L9YjE-MJy48/Tr3qgonj4gI/AAAAAAAABWg/FOsLxk9WjMY/s1600-h/PB10117812.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="PB101178" alt="PB101178" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-G5PmMpg--Js/Tr3qgzccsNI/AAAAAAAABWo/5MFH5Ns7QTM/PB1011781_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p><p>Parasaurolophus really isn’t the scariest dinosaur around, even in lantern-form. </p><p>But when I was staring at a pumpkin, trying to think of something geological to carve for this month’s <a href="http://uncoveredearth.com/2011/10/07/a-halloween-challenge-geo-pumpkins/">Accretionary Wedge challenge</a> , Parasaurolophus seemed fitting:</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wnauR1FrnbA/Tr3qhl31B-I/AAAAAAAABWw/w6H3H1i_eoM/s1600-h/PB10118613.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="PB101186" alt="PB101186" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Lo6uNbSYIFQ/Tr3qhwwnxFI/AAAAAAAABW4/1EIQE9VIQRs/PB1011861_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p><p>Especially since I spent Halloween watching Jurassic Park and enjoying some chocolate stout – the intersection of youth & slightly-less-youth.</p><p>I hope everyone had an exciting Halloween, filled with (possibly prehistoric) undead (cloned) creatures!</p>Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-2899887098452902272011-09-25T17:23:00.000-07:002011-11-02T20:06:31.381-07:00HaitusIt probably went without saying, but this blog has been on a haitus for some time. (That tends to happen regularly around here.)<br />
I would really like to share some of the exciting things that have been going on, like:<br />
- More about the epic NASA Tweetup<br />
- Closing the season at Craters of the Moon<br />
- A great day agate hunting near Challis with one of my awesome coworkers<br />
- My trip to the Sawtooth Mountains, which started with a free Symphony, and ended with a flat tire off on some BLM roads (and then a trip to the Borah Peak earthquake scarp)<br />
- Coring trees for one of my new classes<br />
- Visiting some awesome lava flows and ash deposits for another class<br />
- My adorable new apartment<br />
<br />
But, unfortunately, I've been really busy with:<br />
- Finding and starting two (2) new jobs on campus<br />
- Working weekends at Craters, 3.5 hours away<br />
- Living in hostel and scuzzy motel<br />
- Finding an apartment (and moving)<br />
- Going to the ER<br />
- Cancelling my last cave trip of the year<br />
- A good friend's suicide<br />
- and classes/field labs, of course.<br />
<br />
Luckily, things should be easing up soon - the season is over at Craters, I'm almost done moving, and I'm shortly going to quit my soul-sucking, stressful second job.<br />
Once I'm done dealing with the issues of the second list, I plan to write some super-awesome posts about the exciting list.<br />
But, in the meantime, I'm just going to try to keep my head above water and not flunk out of school.<br />
<br />
You know, priorities and adult choices, etc.<br />
<br />
UPDATE: The next few weeks consisted of:<br />
- Flying home for the funeral<br />
- Maternal visit<br />
- Getting really sick...<br />
- ...during midterms<br />
- Car failure<br />
- Bike theft<br />
<br />
But my classes are awesome, my job is fun, and my house is lovely!Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-79910354985210151842011-08-01T16:47:00.000-07:002011-08-01T16:48:04.378-07:00NASA Tweetup Pt. 2: Astronauts & AstronutsFlying in over the Gulf of Mexico on July 6th, reality hadn't really set in. I tried to convince myself that I was, in fact, going to Florida, to see a space shuttle launch. Despite my best efforts, thoughts of the events to come couldn't quite force out the thoughts of our imminent water landing and demise.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5989495802/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Gulf of Mexico, via airplane by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="Gulf of Mexico, via airplane" height="300px" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/5989495802_ec847622de.jpg" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gulf of Mexico, from the airplane </td></tr>
</tbody></table>After touching (safely) down in Tampa, I met up with a couple of my housemates – <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/thatgirlallie">@Thatgirlallie</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/whoisgregg">@whoisgregg</a> – who were driving in from Tampa. We talked about how we came to the tweetup, went through the slowest drive-through imaginable, and ended up picking up another one of our housemates who was stranded at the Orlando airport <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/j4cob">@j4cob</a>). We dropped our stuff off at <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23DiscoveryHouse">#DiscoveryHouse</a>, met a few more of our housemates – @<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MeganPrelinger">MeganPrelinger</a>, @<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/CaliforniaKara">CaliforniaKara</a>, and @<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/LisaAMcGill">LisaAMcGill</a> – and went off to listen to a band at an Irish pub.<br />
<br />
Now, I also didn’t understand why we were going to an Irish pub while in Florida, but it turned out that the band has several members who are – I kid you not – astronauts.<br />
<br />
That’s when reality started to sink in.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNdRPK7hK40/Tjc1rA88_3I/AAAAAAAABNM/lyAkrA2b-Bg/s1600/AstrobandAdamZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNdRPK7hK40/Tjc1rA88_3I/AAAAAAAABNM/lyAkrA2b-Bg/s400/AstrobandAdamZ.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition26/flute_on_iss.html">Cady Coleman</a> (<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Astro_Cady">@Astro_Cady</a> : STS-73, STS-93) on the flute,<br />
and <a href="http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/hadfield.html">Chris Hadfield</a> (<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Cmdr_Hadfield">@Cmdr_Hadfield</a> : STS-74, STS-100) on guitar (left).<br />
Photo graciously from <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/AdamZ">@AdamZ</a> .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We met up with the other houses in the area – <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/search/%23OmegaHouse">#OmegaHouse</a> and<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23HC39A"> #HC39A</a> – as well as our last housemate, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/SWGlassPit">@SWGlassPit</a>, and began getting to know each other. It was much akin to meeting any group of people – where are you from, what do you do, what brought you here – except the answers ranged from “I’m just an administrative assistant” to “I’m an engineer for NASA.” There were lifelong space geeks fulfilling childhood dreams, and space enthusiasts there for the conversion - I mean, experience. The diversity of the those attending was impressive, and made for a well-rounded and inclusive community.<br />
<br />
One of the most impressive things about this community is its eagerness to teach others and share information, without being condescending or pretentious. (In this manner, I found SpaceTweeps much akin to GeoTweeps.) But what impressed me the most was that, despite wildly disparate backgrounds and knowledge levels, everyone met each other on a (mostly) level playing field: having this incredible opportunity to get excited over the space program, meet incredible people, and watch the historic final launch of the space shuttle.<br />
<br />
Much as we had a lot to talk about that night, we ended the evening fairly early: it was time to rest up for the eventful days ahead.Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-36803882388670831222011-07-06T11:16:00.001-07:002011-07-06T11:16:46.661-07:00NASA Tweetup Pt 1: Heading Out<p>Things have been really busy recently, and I haven’t had a chance to write a post about an important recent development: <strong>I got into the NASA Tweetup for the final space shuttle launch!!!!</strong></p> <p>Over the next three days, I’m going to be meeting all sorts space nerds, scientists, astronauts, and the administrators who make the launches happen. We’re going to take behind-the-scenes tours of Kennedy Space Center, and watch the shuttle launch from 3 miles away (in the press area.) Only 150 of NASA’s Twitter followers were selected to attend this event, so it’s quite a privilege and honor to be able to go.</p> <p>A little bit of background: the last shuttle launch is scheduled to take place at 11:26am, Eastern Time. The <em>Atlantis </em>(named not after the mythical city, but rather after a research vessel from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute between 1930 and 1966) will be making a 12 day mission to deliver cargo to the Space Station: mainly,  the Multi-purpose Logistics Module called <em>Raffaello</em>. This is a pressurized container filled with stuff; in this case, equipment and supplies to provision the Space Station after the Shuttle Program ends. It’s also going to carry up an experimental gadget designed to robotically refuel satellites while in orbit, an autonomous docking gadget, and carry some broken pieces of the Space Station back down to Earth.</p> <p>Until a week ago, I was uncertain how to make it all work out. Switching shifts when working in a customer service position can be really tough: no one wants to be that jerk who left the visitor center short-staffed, annoying coworkers and bosses alike. My car had a minor breakdown, but for a spell I couldn’t figure out how I’d get to Boise. Both payday and the Flight Readiness Review (one of the final checks before officially setting the launch date) were on the 28th, so I was biting my nails that day. For various reasons, my ticket got booked for the wrong return date – another problem to deal with.</p> <p><em>(Note: buying a plane ticket a week in advance prompts the airline to have the stewardesses come check you out personally. Their fears of rampant delinquency were quickly allayed when they realized that the seats surrounding me were filled with National Guardsmen. Who could make any sort of trouble when surrounded by soldiers with guns?)</em></p> <p>Because of all the shift-switching, I worked eight 9-hour days in a row, and finally got into Boise last night at 2:30am, where I managed to catch a couple hours sleep in the parking lot of the local Wallmart, before waking up at 4:30a to get to the airport.</p> <p>Right now, I’m delayed in the Phoenix airport, but hopefully soon I’ll trade this lovely scene:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VBDjKi_m8yA/ThSmh8QwR8I/AAAAAAAABM8/uFwSD2Ie6BI/s1600-h/P62212165.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P6221216" border="0" alt="P6221216" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U_aCl3T3zDY/ThSmiNiv0-I/AAAAAAAABNA/4foMS-nbTy8/P6221216_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>for this one:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-y7o21-O_5m0/ThSmiVerprI/AAAAAAAABNE/cVnBX_37L0c/s1600-h/atlantis%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="atlantis" border="0" alt="atlantis" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-o7JvWLCoTOM/ThSmjZFFwVI/AAAAAAAABNI/BD_Za4dh0e8/atlantis_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a><em><font size="1">NASA</font></em></p> <p>Is all this trouble (and money) worth the possibility of seeing a space shuttle launch? <em>Totally. </em>I’m so excited I could spit, and the reality hasn’t even really sunk in yet. I’m probably going to cry.</p> <p>Even if it doesn’t launch, I’m sure I’ll still have a great time geeking out about space, shuttles, and NASA with other like-minded people. I’m staying in one of the group houses, right near the Atlantic ocean (!!) and going to the Everglades post-launch, so it should be a really great experience no matter what.</p> <p>But I <strong><em>really</em></strong> hope the Shuttle launches as planned!</p> Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-11186477787060130672011-06-27T19:08:00.000-07:002011-06-27T19:10:08.014-07:00Cinder Cone HikeThe hazard of living in new places is that, as soon as you step out your door, you see something fascinating. Here, I live atop a volcano that last erupted about 2,000 years ago, so all manner of exciting lava features are present. We have lots of time to explore the lava: we live 18 miles from the nearest civilization, and have no cell service or wifi, so our spare time consists mainly of reading, watching movies, and hiking. (Rough life, eh?)<br />
A couple weeks ago, some of the rangers and I decided to go for a short hike up one of the cinder cones. While we were only out for a couple hours, we saw a huge variety of interesting things.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5878920027/" title="P6050781 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050781" height="500px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5156/5878920027_4ec5403d78.jpg" width="375px" /></a></center>Wild alium (or onion) grows frequently on the sides of the cinder cones, and was just beginning to bloom. Native Americans used to use the bulbs in soup. <br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5879483682/" title="P6050820 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050820" height="375px" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6019/5879483682_7004e57507.jpg" width="500px" /></a></center>Many of the cinders here exhibit an iridescent, glassy sheen oddly reminiscent of an oil slick. (This iridescence shows up quite poorly in photographs, but is gorgeous in person.) I haven’t yet heard a satisfying explanation of how this happens, but I’m exploring it.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5878919395/" title="P6050601 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050601" height="375px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5878919395_b4950d3773.jpg" width="500px" /></a></center>This is a ribbon bomb – the result of a small piece of lava stretching out and cooling as it flew through the air. This one seems to have twisted a little as it flew, resulting in this curled shape. This was the first time I’ve found bombs in the wild, so I stopped to examine every single one.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5878920619/" title="P6050830 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050830" height="375px" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/5878920619_2617521181.jpg" width="500px" /></a></center>This is an iridescent ribbon bomb, which was quite exciting to find. Best of both worlds!<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5878921043/" title="P6050804 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050804" height="500px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5075/5878921043_d27be64499.jpg" width="375px" /></a></center>This is a type of volcanic bomb called a cow-pie bomb. They’re the result of a glob of erupted lava that began cooling, but was still partially liquid when it hit the ground, resulting in a squished appearance that exactly mimics that of a cow-pie.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5879484100/" title="P6050811 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050811" height="375px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5072/5879484100_60a7308716.jpg" width="500px" /></a></center>When I first saw these cow-pie bombs, I thought “Oh, best not put my foot in that,” and advised my companions of the hazard. <br />
Whereupon, one of the more experienced rangers reminded me that there are no cows in the National Monument.<br />
We’re not in rangeland anymore, Toto.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5878919599/" title="P6050612 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050612" height="500px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5878919599_bb88db2748.jpg" width="375px" /></a></center>This is some bitterroot just beginning to grow. Bitterroot has gorgeous white or pink flowers, which are usually between 1 and 2.5 inches across – a little larger than the plant is tall. The roots were used as a food by the Native Americans: the bitter taste disappears when boiled. These are some of my favorite flowers, so I’m quite looking forward to when they bloom.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5878921269/" title="P6050833 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050833" height="500px" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/5878921269_800d463d60.jpg" width="375px" /></a></center>We found a few chunks of tachylite, a type of volcanic glass that forms when lava cools very quickly, without having time to crystalize at all. This is like obsidian, but basaltic instead of rhyolitic. They’ve found a couple arrowheads made of tachylite here, but most of the arrowheads found here are obsidian from nearby Big Southern Butte, or from an obsidian bed in Utah.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5878921507/" title="P6050771 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050771" height="375px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5104/5878921507_f5541343e4.jpg" width="500px" /></a></center>One of the best parts of climbing up the cinder cones is the great view that one gets of the other nearby cones. This one is Inferno Cone, which actually has a short, steep trail up one side for visitors to climb up. Learning the names to so many cinder cones was a little tough at first, but this one is really easy to recognize this one because it’s entirely black, with a lone tree on top.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5878920223/" title="P6050641 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050641" height="500px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/5878920223_0fd413c02c.jpg" width="375px" /></a></center>This is a dwarf monkeyflower, and it’s the another pink flower that favors cinders. These flowers are quite small – between a half inch to an inch. These flowers are growing mainly on the loess that has settled down amidst the cinders, rather than any homegrown soil – not enough time has passed for much of this lava to break down into soil.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5878919779/" title="P6050699 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050699" height="500px" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5878919779_f2fe44640c.jpg" width="375px" /></a></center>Any home-grown soil that is found here owes much of its existence to lichen. We found many delightful varieties of lichen on this hike, in just about every color, including this fuzzy gray one. This lichen actually turns green if you pour water on it – definitely a fun trick. Lichens are a symbiotic relationship between a fungi and a lichen, and they are some of the first organisms to live in lava fields, breaking down the rock and forming soil for first mosses, then plants and animals, to live in.<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5878921977/" title="P6050870 by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="P6050870" height="500px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5152/5878921977_a6e3970f7d.jpg" width="375px" /></a></center>(I also discovered my camera’s filters that day.)<br />
This is a dead Limber Pine tree. These trees are very bendy, in order to cope with the wind, and frequently only have branches on one side. This one may have been killed by Dwarf Mistletoe, a native parasite that attacks the limber pine.<br />
Living where you work can be kind of strange and stressful, but the location entirely makes up for it. When I have time, I really relish getting out of the house, off the beaten path, and into the sunshine – especially since the rocks and plants are fantastic.Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-17526682616349217142011-06-14T15:07:00.001-07:002011-06-14T15:07:11.387-07:00Washington to Idaho Road Trip, Featuring Basalt<p>About two weeks ago, in May, my mother and I set off from her house in Seattle to travel to Idaho. I live (and now work!) in Idaho, but was <a href="http://helenaheliotrope.blogspot.com/2011/05/airplane-scenery-boiseseattle.html" target="_blank">back home</a> to visit my brother and sister-in-law, who were in town for a spell (and newly expecting a baby!) This trip was held together tenuously from the beginning, and quickly began to disintegrate along the way. Luckily, we got to see some awesome stuff along the way.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZPzJwQ1iLns/TffbSKtZkMI/AAAAAAAABLk/XOWz1CrsAmc/s1600-h/MSH25.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="MSH2" border="0" alt="MSH2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ocJoc2PULAM/TffbTIXKMjI/AAAAAAAABLo/9I3Otkewm_4/MSH2_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a>Our first stop was Mt. St. Helens, always a favorite stop. I’ve never been here so early in the season, so I’ve never seen it so snowy! This iconic view from the Johnston Ridge Observatory really lets you look into the crater and see the lava domes (here, due to the snow, they look like a vague bump towards the back of the crater.) This spot also gives you a good look at the Pumice Plain, (the low area in the foreground) that consists of debris avalanche hummocks mostly covered in pyroclastic flows and ash fall deposits.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CA1biJbaN1A/TffbUXlBlCI/AAAAAAAABLs/qK5r2-pbOz4/s1600-h/P52403385.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5240338" border="0" alt="P5240338" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-w2I5at76ABU/TffbVDFMByI/AAAAAAAABLw/x6HIAND1aU8/P5240338_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>This is a nice outcrop near the Johnston Ridge Observatory, that really clearly demonstrates the layered nature of stratovolcanoes. You can see different lava flows (andesitic and basaltic) alternating with layers of ash and possibly pyroclastic flows (in this instance, I’m not sure which it is, or whether it is a combination of both.) All the different colors are a result of hydrothermal alteration on groundwater that seeps into the deposits, is heated by the still warm deposits, and encounters pockets of gas.</p> <p>Once we left Portland, the cold my mother had been fighting off finally caught up to her. We stopped in a town called Cascade Locks for the night, slept in late the next morning, and then got some restorative chowder before heading out.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-A9XCfHqZ1Fw/TffbW1CypeI/AAAAAAAABL0/aQKZZnNaPH8/s1600-h/ColumbiaRiverRowenaBends5.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="ColumbiaRiverRowenaBends" border="0" alt="ColumbiaRiverRowenaBends" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Dw9xgkLXtrA/TffbXun3D5I/AAAAAAAABL4/uvqpZa3dlRo/ColumbiaRiverRowenaBends_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a>We took a short side trip off I-84 on an Oregon 30 between Mosier, OR and The Dalles, OR. When I was first moving to Idaho, we discovered this scenic jaunt, and it was great to see it again. Partway through, there’s an overlook of the Columbia River and the Columbia River Flood Basalts at a place called Rowena Crest.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Xd2XGCFplaM/TffbYi_3UTI/AAAAAAAABL8/Nihbxxl0SxA/s1600-h/P52503785.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5250378" border="0" alt="P5250378" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kaJbOXvefz0/TffbZR3XJ3I/AAAAAAAABMA/7CW6vJZEx0w/P5250378_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>The road down from the overlook is this delightful road called the Rowena Loops. It’s quite exciting (especially for one’s passengers!)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nZ8KY1CpsNw/TffbaW7lmFI/AAAAAAAABME/8Woj0B20CuE/s1600-h/P52603898.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5260389" border="0" alt="P5260389" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bD-EZuaPFxQ/Tffba0MXKWI/AAAAAAAABMI/NIpM7hMhn-w/P5260389_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p>Somewhere along the highway near Pendleton, we pulled off the highway to look at this cool cement plant. After this, though, we encountered some pretty intense rain, and ended up staying in La Grande for a night.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Cm3GF0-faBg/Tffbbb6OVOI/AAAAAAAABMM/rRMXw_dumMc/s1600-h/P52603965.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5260396" border="0" alt="P5260396" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fowIrDv9qYU/TffbcKbCsoI/AAAAAAAABMQ/x_z-K9QpncU/P5260396_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p>Once we got to Boise and picked up my car, we joyfully discovered that it had some sort of gas leak. (This heap – I mean, <strong>jeep</strong> is beginning to get on my nerves.) We dropped it off at the shop, and drove into the foothills above Boise to camp. Along the way, we stopped at Diversion Dam. It was built in 1909 to supply water to another, older system of canals, to irrigate nearby farmland.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2g2uM6ElcbE/Tffbc4DOXqI/AAAAAAAABMU/nQk4wRWnX7g/s1600-h/P52604145.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5260414" border="0" alt="P5260414" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rdom3HTdqwk/TffbdeRT1_I/AAAAAAAABMY/bXxVU54n5f4/P5260414_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p>One of the cooler things about it was the logway – a special portion of the dam constructed to allow logs from logging upstream to pass through the dam. (The area upstream is the Boise National Forest)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xlskFa0E7lw/TffbeKUBXOI/AAAAAAAABMc/69TqJkMiGM8/s1600-h/P52604215.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5260421" border="0" alt="P5260421" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZljWgrvG2yE/Tffbe-6za2I/AAAAAAAABMg/scUJgeyE2dE/P5260421_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>It was interesting to see how the water from the less constricted logway (on the left) interacted with the water that was forced through the dam. Despite having an initially smaller outlet, the greater force enabled it to travel farther & spread out more before the turbulence achieved equilibrium. (I’m sure there’s a better way to phrase that, but my engineering-oriented physics class didn’t cover fluid dynamics… which is what I personally wanted to study! Someday maybe I’ll get to.)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TdtQet5gHo8/Tffbf4y6U8I/AAAAAAAABMk/yFjfrgcGB3g/s1600-h/P52604415.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5260441" border="0" alt="P5260441" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jQGyY0wOwOk/TffbgSRctYI/AAAAAAAABMo/tF0_UFFB_7E/P5260441_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>We passed by several reservoirs, including this one. The differential erosion happening in the basalt here was really fascinating – the lower flow must be much harder, to have resisted so much more than the upper flow.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7paIo1tOA-I/TffbhPoJ2OI/AAAAAAAABMs/AuYjG6zUDPs/s1600-h/P52604515.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5260451" border="0" alt="P5260451" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fRLumMh6UOs/Tffbh-pkt2I/AAAAAAAABMw/4UsCAS22trQ/P5260451_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>The road passed through areas of this potassium feldspar rich granite. The best exposures were alongside one of the dams, where the road was quite literally one lane carved into the cliffside, frequented by large trucks hauling boats. Needless to say, we didn’t really stop for picture taking.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3Yzbukpz2LY/TffbisH9riI/AAAAAAAABM0/45HznRpQDh0/s1600-h/P52704606.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5270460" border="0" alt="P5270460" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-47uSSFgGYUg/TffbjIiDA1I/AAAAAAAABM4/vhZg71JkbZ0/P5270460_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p>When we finally began pitching our tent, we realized that the rainfly was still in Washington – and rain was predicted. My mum had this great idea to make one out of free garbage sacks and little bits of tape – which luckily worked pretty well, though it didn’t rain.</p> <p>After that, we picked up my car (which luckily only had a leak in the fuel lines!) and checked the weather forecast. Since it was predicted to rain more and my mum was still under the weather, we decided to part company that day, instead of camping through the weekend. She headed west to Washington, and I headed east to my summer job. Much as a few days of mother-daughter camping would have been fun, it was nice to just call it quits and end the stress.</p> Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-38423418189390735932011-06-05T12:17:00.000-07:002011-06-09T17:10:57.533-07:00Weird AND Scenic: Accretionary Wedge #34“… a weird and scenic landscape peculiar to itself” was how President Calvin Coolidge described Craters of the Moon when he proclaimed it a National Monument in May of 1924. For my entry in the <a href="http://entequilaesverdad.blogspot.com/2011/05/accretionary-wedge-34-weird-geology.html">Accretionary Wedge #34</a>, hosted by the lovely Dana Hunter over at <a href="http://entequilaesverdad.blogspot.com/">En Tequila Es Verdad</a>, I'd like to talk a little bit about some of the weird things we have here!<br />
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In 2000, the original boundaries of the Monument were expanded to overlap with an area of BLM land, and the area is now managed cooperatively by the NPS and the BLM, and is now a National Monument and Preserve instead. I’m working this summer for the BLM, but am stationed at the NPS Monument, to increase knowledge of this cooperative management. *<br />
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The name and managing organization may have changed, but the landscape remains, well, weird. And scenic.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5800704105/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Blue Dragon Flow by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="Blue Dragon Flow" height="300px" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/5800704105_78ea9d779c.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Craters of the Moon is comprised of about 60 lava flows covering 54,000 acres, and spanning 13,000 year of time. This is the most recent area of volcanism on the Eastern Snake River Plain; altogether, the sheer mass of lava erupted throughout the ESRP has depressed the crust, resulting in a (mostly) flat valley 100 km wide. The eruptions at Craters of the Moon are the result of a 52 mile long tear where two plates of the Earth’s crust pulled away from each other, much like in Iceland or sub-Saharan Africa. The volcanoes in this picture are cinder cones that formed alongside the Great Rift.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5801259508/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Blue Dragon Flow by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="Blue Dragon Flow" height="400px" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2541/5801259508_626a7d28cc.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><br />
This picture shows a close-up of the same lava pictured above. This is the Blue Dragon flow, named because it’s spiny texture and blue glass coating reminded early explorers of the skin of a blue dragon. The spiny texture is the result of bubbles in the lava being stretched and popped as the flow moved; the origin of the blue glass is still unknown, although it is suspected to either be the result of higher than normal titanium concentrations or a process similar to “glazing” a pot.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5800704763/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Big Southern Butte by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="Big Southern Butte" height="400px" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/5800704763_ee54163280.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><br />
This picture illustrates another reason why Craters of the Moon is weird: bimodal volcanism. In the foreground, we have the fluid basaltic lava flows of Craters of the Moon, and, in the background, the 800 meter tall rhyolitic dome of Big Southern Butte (which lies outside the monument.) This butte was formed when very viscous lava flows piled upon one another. (It is also thought to extend about 1000 meters below the surface of the earth, but has isostatically sunk due to it’s weight.) <br />
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The compositions of these two lava types are about as disparate as lava types can get: basalt has low concentrations of silica, and rhyolite has high concentrations of silica. It is suspected that, in this location, the two lavas come from roughly the same origin, but proceeded through different paths through the Earth, which resulted in differing compositions. They both are a result of the Yellowstone Hot Spot heating the asthenosphere as the North American plate passed above it. The rhyolitic lava travelled up through the continental crust above, melting it and absorbing the silica. Later, when crustal extension of the basin and range province stretched the area out, the silica-poor crust melted (mainly by decompression), and cracked open, creating the rift zone at Craters of the Moon. Gravity readings under Craters of the Moon suggest that there may be a thick sill of gabbro, that was once part of a reservoir for feeding the basalt flows above the surface.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5800705149/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Rafted Crater Wall Blocks by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="Rafted Crater Wall Blocks" height="300px" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2291/5800705149_c810053ef6.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
Another really weird part of Craters of the Moon are the blocks of lava shown in the center of this picture. One of the more recent flows of the North Crater broke apart the crater wall, and rafted chunks of the wall along the top of the flow. These crater wall pieces dot the landscape in an eerie monolithic fashion, like something out of <em>2001: A Space Odyssey. </em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reversibleraincoat/5801260720/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="North Crater by reversibleraincoat, on Flickr"><img alt="North Crater" height="300px" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5274/5801260720_1bf3f30d74.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
And here’s the North Crater itself, with one of the rafted blocks in the foreground. The area where the flow broke out is on the back and right side of the cone seen here. The asymmetrical shape of this cone is due to the cinders accumulating on the downwind side of the vent.<br />
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Early emigrants passing through this area by wagon train described this area as “black vomit.” These early emigrants, after travelling across a harsh and demanding area, almost entirely void of water or shelter, were too weary to contemplate appreciate the landscape. Those of us privileged enough to visit in this modern day find it easier to look past the difficult environment to the gorgeous volcanic scenery and awesomely weird geology.<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">* Normally, I wouldn't say who I work for, however my lawyer-mother recommended I do. Plus, it's pretty stinking obvious. Please don't think anything I say is the official opinion of the BLM or the NPS, and remember that I'm still learning about this area and geology generally. Also, please don't stalk me. If you're in the area, however, please feel free to say hi!</span></em>Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-90242367975751888292011-05-25T21:59:00.001-07:002011-05-25T21:59:46.698-07:00Airplane scenery, Boise–Seattle<p>After finals, I decided to visit some family and friends in Seattle for a few days, before travelling out to my summer job. There was much hurried packing and rushing and I barely made it to the airport with an hour to spare.</p> <p>Which was fine, since my plane was grounded for four hours due to mechanical difficulties.</p> <p>Once we finally made it into the air, we saw some great <a href="http://helenaheliotrope.blogspot.com/2010/10/sight-seeing-airplane-style.html" target="_blank">airplane scenery</a>.</p> <p align="center"><font size="1"></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Vj6oKyZ-BZU/Td3eIGtLDDI/AAAAAAAABKU/aWTS6IioXiw/s1600-h/P51600985.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5160098" border="0" alt="P5160098" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4pJjfo1oeiE/Td3eIqyAxRI/AAAAAAAABKY/4NY19cjij9g/P5160098_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a>Sad plane.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--PhY1VKo3u4/Td3eJPBe48I/AAAAAAAABKc/z3GDcAO2ZNc/s1600-h/P51601055.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P5160105" border="0" alt="P5160105" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ypVVFysf8Ps/Td3eJ0Y4WgI/AAAAAAAABKg/CUzwleEekOI/P5160105_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a> <br />Looking at the Snake River Plain from a (snakeless) plane. (The <a href="http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/counties/geomaps/BoiseGeo.pdf" target="_blank">Western Snake River Plain</a> is a large <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graben" target="_blank">graben</a>.)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2X8ViWsBnA8/Td3eKeFPO2I/AAAAAAAABKk/SZNQTvFjvPA/s1600-h/P5160124.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P5160124" border="0" alt="P5160124" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jsqgIYcuXwE/Td3eK4XOzkI/AAAAAAAABKo/IPGqN_VgXMI/P5160124_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a> <br />Mt. Adams, seen from a distance. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LpBsllkAa38/Td3eLfOuKdI/AAAAAAAABKs/_4rSgNGrcC4/s1600-h/P51601305.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P5160130" border="0" alt="P5160130" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Mi66es9ZTUY/Td3eLp22TrI/AAAAAAAABKw/afqt24gJOM8/P5160130_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p align="center">Admiring Mt. Rainier while sipping some (free!) white wine made for the perfect flight.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Yl-_Zg3e85U/Td3eMPrpzRI/AAAAAAAABK0/PdBIRwrVWU0/s1600-h/P51601555.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P5160155" border="0" alt="P5160155" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mv2wSBmR2-c/Td3eMkng5LI/AAAAAAAABK4/JT0hWOuwXAY/P5160155_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p align="center">Then we descended into the clouds, which oddly reminded me of the Titanic sinking…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8394B6zqmRQ/Td3eNIGESHI/AAAAAAAABK8/Ede5apmKiWo/s1600-h/P51601625.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P5160162" border="0" alt="P5160162" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zzLWUR5QVug/Td3eNe36T7I/AAAAAAAABLA/zzHd3H2RDnc/P5160162_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p align="center">… and arrived atop Seattle! This is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_90_floating_bridge" target="_blank">I-90 floating bridge</a> that crosses Lake Washington, with some nice drumlin hills in the background. (Lake Washington is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribbon_lake" target="_blank">ribbon lake</a> that formed when the Cordilleran ice sheet was sculpting the region, and acted as a drainage point for the ice sheet as it melted.)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y_EIMT8g-QM/Td3eOGFgVgI/AAAAAAAABLE/Z9LrlWBmUeo/s1600-h/airplane4.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="airplane" border="0" alt="airplane" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bMyvdOywzjA/Td3eOk7kXWI/AAAAAAAABLI/4cd3v3WGH-A/airplane_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="367" /></a></p> <p>We also got a nice view of <a href="http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/Airport.aspx" target="_blank">Boeing field</a>, a small regional airport used primarily for small airlines, private planes, cargo flights, and military landings. (It was originally used as a place for the Boeing Company to move their planes about, and is still used for tests to this day.)</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1tvVevqpbAc/Td3ePEdbAyI/AAAAAAAABLM/LgK_ng3zt00/s1600-h/P51601825.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5160182" border="0" alt="P5160182" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VsTfOx8pPgA/Td3ePtxxL7I/AAAAAAAABLU/eDUlm2uujug/P5160182_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p align="center">Then we got a nice view of downtown Seattle and the Puget Sound.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YUKFn4rWaW4/Td3eQE-_2MI/AAAAAAAABLY/KlAdY8M2afM/s1600-h/P51601805.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="P5160180" border="0" alt="P5160180" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GWcQw7hqzrY/Td3eQTQW3TI/AAAAAAAABLc/rH5vmOyXEhA/P5160180_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p align="center">And, last but not least, the Space Needle.</p> Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-50226251583291396592011-05-02T01:23:00.001-07:002011-11-02T19:59:03.982-07:00A question for geologists:Within the next semester or so, I need to decide whether to major in geology or geophysics. After some deliberation, I’ve decided to proceed with my initial impulse to aim for a career in volcanology, with a specific aim of working in monitoring and eruption prediction. I’ve done some reading about various ways to monitor volcanoes, and I’m getting the impression that a degree in geophysics might be a better preparation than a geology degree for this particular specialty.<br />
My concerns about this thought process are as follows:<br />
<ul><li>I may have no idea what I’m talking about. Perhaps a geology degree would be perfectly fine preparation for volcanology, or perhaps an even better one. Making decisions based on possibly serious misconceptions makes me quite hesitant. (The last time I did that, I ended up two tattoos, several thousand dollars of loan debt, and a personally translated copy of chapter 16 of Homer’s “Odyssey.”)</li>
<li>I’m not sure I can hack higher-level math and computer-based processing. (The difference is 4 credits of multivariable calculus, 6 credits of computer science, and the 16 geophysics credits themselves.) </li>
<li>That being said, I’m also concerned about my GPA: perhaps a higher geology GPA would be preferable to a lower geophysics GPA when applying for graduate school. (And my GPA is already embarrassingly low.)</li>
<li>That I might be talking myself out of something I need to do, or into something I don’t need to do. </li>
</ul>I know that the real decision point is grad school, but I need to make this particular choice within a few months. As part of my neurotic research, I was wondering if the geoblogsphere might be so kind as to advise me on the following questions:<br />
<ul><li>Is volcano monitoring and eruption prediction best approached from geophysics or geology?</li>
<li>Which might best prepare me for jobs?</li>
<li>How painful is multivariable calculus? (Where 1 = “Basket-weaving” and 10 = “Ancient Greek.”)</li>
<li>What do grad school programs look for in applicants, generally? And GPAs, specifically?</li>
<li>Am I over-thinking this decision?</li>
</ul>In exchange, I offer this song about earthquakes:<br />
I’d like to make a well-informed decision, so I’d appreciate any advice or counsel you can offer!Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-77864484986580639452011-04-10T23:53:00.000-07:002011-04-10T23:58:08.350-07:00Back East, Pt I: Baltimore & Atlanta<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKldDiSeDI/AAAAAAAABIw/IPWo5hHu1UY/s1600-h/P3170069%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3170069" border="0" alt="P3170069" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKldrSHZ8I/AAAAAAAABI0/ZZ462ydIz_g/P3170069_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="262" /></a></p><p>I recently spent a few weeks visiting relatives back on the East coast. While that’s not really appropriate fodder for this blog, I also saw some fantastic places that I took altogether too many photos of.</p><p>2,500 photos too many.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKleIWNfSI/AAAAAAAABI4/ojadnrpImSw/s1600-h/P3170060%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3170060" border="0" alt="P3170060" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKleuT99qI/AAAAAAAABI8/LDDH01tAuso/P3170060_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="262" height="350" /></a>I had never been to the East Coast before, and was most impressed with the great architecture, and the sheer quantity of it. Our first stop was Johns Hopkins University, to visit my sister and wait for her to finish classes, and it didn’t disappoint in  architecture either. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKle068QVI/AAAAAAAABJA/WECq8fNybXo/s1600-h/IMGP1903_thumb2%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMGP1903_thumb2" border="0" alt="IMGP1903_thumb2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKlfNBNSeI/AAAAAAAABJE/StgooLd391c/IMGP1903_thumb2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="262" height="350" /></a></p><p>My sister took us around to her favorite places on campus, including the building that houses a robot surgeon, and her favorite lecture halls.</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKlfvEgoXI/AAAAAAAABJI/g1iZXA5-CR8/s1600-h/P3170084_thumb1%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3170084_thumb1" border="0" alt="P3170084_thumb1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKlf1M4UgI/AAAAAAAABJM/i8FQ0N3MqzM/P3170084_thumb1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="262" /></a></p><p>After that, we visited the Inner Harbor, where we ate tapas, bought shoes, and touched the Chesapeake Bay/Atlantic Ocean.  We also had some strange wafer-like cookie covered with frosting/fudge/ganache called a Berger. These are a regional specialty, but were a little too sweet for even my sweet tooth.</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKlgd34jzI/AAAAAAAABJQ/IOUWgNg1ZAM/s1600-h/P3190150_thumb1%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3190150_thumb1" border="0" alt="P3190150_thumb1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKlg3uhgpI/AAAAAAAABJU/6y6hjzKDhXw/P3190150_thumb1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="262" /></a></p><p>I also tried octopus, which was basically like gnawing on a giant piece of whale blubber. It was good, as long as you didn’t think about the little crispy suckers.</p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKlhUj_akI/AAAAAAAABJY/uZvvwrxLGVk/s1600-h/P3180018%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3180018" border="0" alt="P3180018" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKlh61dyVI/AAAAAAAABJc/6P1L9Bp7bgU/P3180018_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="262" height="350" /></a></p><p>While in Baltimore, we stayed at the <a href="http://www.hiusa.org/baltimore" target="_blank">Baltimore Hostel</a>, a charming, quiet hostel in a fancy old row-house. It was close to the harbor, and to some nice restaurants, so it made a good home base.</p><p align="center"> </p><p>As soon as my sister was done with her classes, we jet-setted off to Atlanta. There, we spent about four days with one of my great-aunts, who is quite ill with Parkinson's. It was stressful being there, but it was really good to visit her, meet a few other family members, and finish up a few school assignments. It would have been nice to stay longer, but we had another aunt to visit before my sister’s break was over.</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKliEtJfhI/AAAAAAAABJg/x7pRnQGXjfE/s1600-h/P3220284_thumb1%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3220284_thumb1" border="0" alt="P3220284_thumb1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKlibXGmCI/AAAAAAAABJk/j5L0j9acuWA/P3220284_thumb1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="262" /></a></p><p>My great-aunt was quite insistent that we go see Atlanta, so we spent an afternoon in the city. We started out at by visiting the <a href="http://www.atlantacyclorama.org/" target="_blank">Cyclorama</a>, a circular painting depicting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Atlanta" target="_blank">Battle of Atlanta</a>, which, if lain flat, would cover an entire football field. You sit on a stage inside the painting, and then the stage rotates slowly as a guide points out important facets of the painting. In the lobby of the Cyclorama sits the “Texas",” a steam locomotive involved in “<a href="http://www.andrewsraid.com/" target="_blank">The Great Locomotive Chase</a>” of the Civil War. (The steam engines in this chase typically averaged a whopping <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Locomotive_Chase" target="_blank">15 mph</a>.)</p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKliyhkGWI/AAAAAAAABJo/XrihAVwytGA/s1600-h/P3220315_thumb1%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P3220315_thumb1" border="0" alt="P3220315_thumb1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TaKljNtgCKI/AAAAAAAABJs/O-KgYvIAMvc/P3220315_thumb1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="262" /></a></p><p>After that, we really wanted to see an antebellum house, and managed to find one that was still open – <a href="http://www.herndonhome.org/" target="_blank">the Herndon Home</a>. It turned out that the Herdon Home isn’t just a nice house, but also the home of Atlanta’s first black millionare, Alonzo Herndon. Alonzo Herndon was born into slavery, but became trained as a barber, and eventually opened up his own shop. He then proceeded to become involved in real estate, and then bought what became Atlanta Life Insurance Company. The house was mainly furnished by his first wife, an actress and elocution teacher at Atlanta University, who had great taste in home design. I had honestly just been looking for a pretty house, but the history behind the Herndon Home made it one of my favorite discoveries of our trip.</p><p>After that, we headed off to Virginia and Washington D.C., which really warrants a post in of itself!</p>Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-54901712487845211472011-03-24T05:00:00.000-07:002011-03-24T05:00:15.462-07:00Scenic South Idaho<p>When I tell people that I moved to Idaho, they react in a couple different ways: enthusiasm about the region’s beauty, or badly veiled confusion and disgust. </p> <p>Sometimes, instead of waxing poetic about rocks and getting eye-rolls, I opt for simplicity and just mention sunsets, big skies, and weird plants.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFmO-sDrI/AAAAAAAABGg/-sVYHjN6qYA/s1600-h/P1240210%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240210" border="0" alt="P1240210" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFma7jgMI/AAAAAAAABGk/CDBrDjHXiKw/P1240210_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFmki6yzI/AAAAAAAABGo/2daj0r1C6Gs/s1600-h/P1240685%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240685" border="0" alt="P1240685" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFnNx7d4I/AAAAAAAABGs/i3dHoEAkszU/P1240685_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFnUxCNmI/AAAAAAAABGw/ycB7nRov_2A/s1600-h/P1240679%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240679" border="0" alt="P1240679" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFniRSIGI/AAAAAAAABG0/PZq13RAvHn0/P1240679_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFnzISiRI/AAAAAAAABG4/k4_F_sNLj5E/s1600-h/P1240107%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240107" border="0" alt="P1240107" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFoPXO9cI/AAAAAAAABG8/8a72EeIij3A/P1240107_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFoagWCZI/AAAAAAAABHA/jOBcnvte0kM/s1600-h/IMG_2628%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2628" border="0" alt="IMG_2628" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFo__fP8I/AAAAAAAABHE/mt9B8MFqSyE/IMG_2628_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFpHJhi1I/AAAAAAAABHI/Q4VtMp-9U3Y/s1600-h/IMG_2722%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2722" border="0" alt="IMG_2722" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFpfnpUYI/AAAAAAAABHM/eCCLxu-O2Cc/IMG_2722_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFpru6Y1I/AAAAAAAABHQ/65bdEu0ttHU/s1600-h/IMG_22711%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2271" border="0" alt="IMG_2271" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYhFp4aaamI/AAAAAAAABHU/8cmK1oGY2oM/IMG_22711_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-10788039373553807412011-03-23T06:00:00.000-07:002011-03-23T06:00:05.832-07:00Yellowstone Pictures, Pt. II<p><em>I’m over on the east coast, doing some family visits, and thought I’d use the occasion to post some photos from this past summer/fall, that have heretofore been unpublished. This first set is from a trip to Yellowstone – there are a few more pictures <a href="http://helenaheliotrope.blogspot.com/2010/08/yellowstone-some-initial-pictures.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</em><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpoSNLSiI/AAAAAAAABHY/8z6Dz47FLTs/s1600-h/P1240403%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240403" border="0" alt="P1240403" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpo_31c_I/AAAAAAAABHc/snGu3J8Q5n0/P1240403_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>The entrance sign near West Yellowstone, WY. (Which has an incredible 4th of July fireworks show!)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmppKcdUoI/AAAAAAAABHg/K_HDymvPFcI/s1600-h/DSCF5084%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF5084" border="0" alt="DSCF5084" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmppiQ89CI/AAAAAAAABHk/WlMjT5H8SKo/DSCF5084_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Mud pots! (I bet that’d make a great face mask… not that I advise trying!)</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpp18f5ZI/AAAAAAAABHo/T0GQRpw8j4w/s1600-h/DSCF5101%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF5101" border="0" alt="DSCF5101" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpqVsp86I/AAAAAAAABHs/kzoO1GdyWUs/DSCF5101_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>The view overlooking one of the geyser boardwalks. It was really comforting to think about so many people enjoying and learning about geology!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpqj0_oFI/AAAAAAAABHw/fIOKsc8XCvs/s1600-h/DSCF5113%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF5113" border="0" alt="DSCF5113" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpq-zQdvI/AAAAAAAABH0/5SJd0sWVWw8/DSCF5113_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Spasm Geyser.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmprBRbhCI/AAAAAAAABH4/1y-3hmWnVvw/s1600-h/DSCF5178%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF5178" border="0" alt="DSCF5178" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpsiWixqI/AAAAAAAABH8/cpKapSKVBJI/DSCF5178_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p>Near Prismatic Spring. (I overheard a private tour guide saying that the best viewpoint for Prismatic Spring was actually the parking lot for Fairy Falls, but we didn’t get a chance to check out that tip.)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpt2VpcPI/AAAAAAAABIA/t9608TYjBSs/s1600-h/DSCF5204%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCF5204" border="0" alt="DSCF5204" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpuKVWWuI/AAAAAAAABIE/JzbPOuyJD2w/DSCF5204_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p>Sunset Lake.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpudJHQJI/AAAAAAAABII/oEi-Yn-Im60/s1600-h/P1240418%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240418" border="0" alt="P1240418" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpugiZYXI/AAAAAAAABIM/piVWb-fNtBM/P1240418_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p>The Old Faithful Inn’s interior is spectacular! (And the ice-cream is very good also.)</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpuyKn3rI/AAAAAAAABIQ/KjMShurCpqk/s1600-h/P1240427%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240427" border="0" alt="P1240427" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpu6HCt6I/AAAAAAAABIU/jLXUHOV-UdU/P1240427_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p>Old Faithful Geyser.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpvQ7HfyI/AAAAAAAABIY/NHuYFlLNtHM/s1600-h/P1240450%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240450" border="0" alt="P1240450" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpve0kADI/AAAAAAAABIc/5FQPLl5Ty_E/P1240450_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="377" height="500" /></a></p> <p>Avoca Spring, possibly.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpvgeQW4I/AAAAAAAABIg/2SRQjS6J5E8/s1600-h/P1240474%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240474" border="0" alt="P1240474" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpwJNhUfI/AAAAAAAABIk/bzTz4nPOQnU/P1240474_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="500" /></a></p> <p>Hint: Madison campground has no showers - which means that you can frequently get a site without a reservation!</p> <p>Another hint: Getting a back-country hiking/camping permit is pretty easy, but watching the Bear Country Camping video does take some time. As does buying the required bear spray and ropes for hanging food. Oh, and they like it if you research trails in advance, instead of showing up the day of and asking for whatever slots are open. We got a permit, but by the time we got to the trailhead, realized we couldn’t get to camp before sunset, when the bears come out to rummage through your groceries, and the rangers require you to be off the trails.</p> <p>Another hint: advance planning is probably a good idea when visiting a major tourist attraction! We had a good time, but that would have made it a great time.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpxepBdaI/AAAAAAAABIo/Jho3qpxqnzg/s1600-h/P1240451%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240451" border="0" alt="P1240451" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TYmpxv4CdNI/AAAAAAAABIs/CiZBOV96HAc/P1240451_thumb%5B11%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="500" height="374" /></a></p> <em><font size="1">(Another note for unprepared/impromptu travellers: if want to hike the Grand Canyon, but lack the permit/reservations, you can sometimes get cancellations the morning of! My family’s actually had that work out twice. You definitely want to be in sufficient physical condition, however!)</font></em> Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-74050645139453863482011-03-06T00:58:00.001-08:002011-03-06T01:05:18.723-08:00Accretionary Wedge #32: Carnival of Blogs<p>Ann at <a href="http://annsmusingsongeologyotherthings.blogspot.com/2011/02/accretionary-wedge-32-call-to-post.html" target="_blank">Ann's Musings on Geology & Other Things</a> is hosting March’s <a href="http://theaccretionarywedge.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Accretionary Wedge</a>, with the special Mardi Gras theme of a parade of favorite geology pictures!</p> <p>It’s always hard to pick a favorite geology picture, but this wintery <a href="http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm" target="_blank">Crater Lake</a> panorama tops my list right now. Crater Lake is one of my favorite places, and it was exciting to visit in the winter! The perfect mirroring effect was particularly stunning. In person, the sky and water were the same color, making the caldera look like an arch in the sky.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TXNMoWmUS7I/AAAAAAAABDk/kdKZgp8BrJc/s1600-h/Composite%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Composite" border="0" alt="Composite" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TXNMoy7M_KI/AAAAAAAABDo/Hhx8g-U94xw/Composite_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="800" height="179" /></a></p> Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-60437548387938842842011-02-23T22:20:00.001-08:002011-04-20T14:05:46.035-07:00Caving in Montana: Crystals Galore<em>These are well-known caves that are publically accessible with a permit. </em><em>If you would like more information, or would like to view any of my site-specific references, please feel free to send me an email at helena.heliotrope at gmail.com. If you’d like to visit the caves, please contact the BLM Field Office in Cody at 307-578-5900, and ask about their caves!</em><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4gkOUvrI/AAAAAAAABBY/QgaP97_OKkA/s1600-h/IMGP3484.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3484" border="0" height="390" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4hGneRCI/AAAAAAAABBc/sc2KbwifwPM/IMGP3484_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3484" width="520" /></a> In the fall of 2009, I got to go on an epic caving weekend near the Montana-Wyoming border. I talked briefly about some interesting chert nodules <a href="http://helenaheliotrope.blogspot.com/2011/01/montana-chert-and-1960s.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but I was honestly holding out on the best stuff: the formations.<br />
The caves here are formed in the limestones and dolomites of the <a href="http://search.datapages.com/data/doi/10.1306/5D25C0A3-16C1-11D7-8645000102C1865D" target="_blank">Madison group</a>. These rocks formed between 360 to 325 million years ago, in the Mississippian, when a relatively <a href="http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/namM345.jpg" target="_blank">tranquil, shallow sea covered the area</a>. Like most seas, this one was filled with small organisms that had calcium shells or skeletons (such as corals or amoeboids.) When these organisms died, their decaying corpses were slowly compressed into limestone. Above the limestone lies a layer of reddish sandstone called the Amsden laid down in the Pennsylvanian, visible as the red streak in the above picture. After undergoing a sequence of uplift and subsidence, it was uplifted to its current level during the Laramide orogeny, about 70 million years ago. This created joints in the limestone that would someday become caves.<br />
(It’s a really structurally interesting area – some of the nearby mountains are uplifted in a giant anticline, while the ones in the above picture are fault blocks that were tilted upwards.)<br />
The Madison group stretches from South Dakota to eastern Idaho, and from Canada down into Colorado and Arizona, although the name differs regionally. Since limestone is very soluble, it’s chock-a-block with caves, including Lewis and Clark Caverns in Montana. Because of its solubility, it forms a very important aquifer, and has produced a prodigious amount of oil – over 1,400,000,000 barrels. (Pretty impressive for a bunch of dead sea critters!)<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4hsplM-I/AAAAAAAABBg/9DVjSPWLbEQ/s1600-h/IMGP35065.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3506" border="0" height="520" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4iKno5GI/AAAAAAAABBk/Vcbds7Xq4oo/IMGP3506_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3506" width="390" /></a>These caves were eroded as the basin lay beneath the water table, in a process called phreatic erosion. Phreatic erosion occurs as the water flows through cracks and joints, eroding passages through the limestone. This passageways travel in all directions: the above photo shows a vertical, cream colored passage cutting through different bedding planes. Additionally, we saw some collapse along bedding planes, which created some fantastic flat roofs, visible here in the greyish section. Dating caves can be difficult <em>(much like men),</em> however some ash found in these caves is from an Yellowstone eruption 640 thousand years ago.<br />
(I apologize for the poor picture – it’s quite difficult to take decent photos of large cave rooms without secondary light sources.)<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4i8MPnLI/AAAAAAAABBo/qf0u-C4pEEw/s1600-h/IMGP35861.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3586" border="0" height="390" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4jQM_UEI/AAAAAAAABBs/3SMnOqsCBJU/IMGP3586_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3586" width="520" /></a>This is a trace fossil we found on one of the bedding plane ceilings – it’s where a sea creature was burrowing, or eating, or squirming along. (The paleontologist on the trip provided some more details, but I’ve unfortunately forgotten.) I had never seen a fossil in the wild before, so this was one of the trip’s highlights.<br />
The first cave we went to is the most challenging cave I’ve been in so far, despite being entirely horizontal. The entrance is through a 100’ long crawlway – which sometimes is only 15” tall. (I definitely got stuck a couple times!) The floor of this crawlway is thickly coated with radon-laden dust: to avoid developing radioactive cavers, the BLM limits the time you can spend in the cave each year. We wore dust masks, to cut down on the amount of junk we inhaled, but that only served to make me more claustrophobic. This was even more heightened by the heat – it was the warmest cave I’ve ever been in. It was a pretty rough beginning, but we were richly rewarded for all that effort with masses and masses of my favorite formation – helictites.<br />
I didn’t have my camera that day, but I did the next day, when we visited the second cave. The day of this trip, snow was predicted, so we only spent the morning underground. (The road to the caves requires a 4wd vehicle generally, but is reportedly impassable in bad weather.) Luckily, as we ascended out of the cave right as the snow began falling, and made it to paved roads just in time.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4j3bkPtI/AAAAAAAABBw/Y5ADOsPAlOg/s1600-h/IMGP35293.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3529" border="0" height="520" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4kEugu1I/AAAAAAAABB0/qEgoUCIV5oY/IMGP3529_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3529" width="390" /></a>The caves have a wide variety of calcite formations, including helictites, rafts, and some really large cave popcorn. Additionally, they have gypsum flowers and crusts, epsomite crystal curls, and aragonite needles. These all form near each other, making for some truly impressive photographs.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4lEwhvgI/AAAAAAAABB4/q5U_VtJCM3A/s1600-h/IMGP351411.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3514" border="0" height="390" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4lVtaHoI/AAAAAAAABB8/LDV3y-nRhqo/IMGP3514_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3514" width="520" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4mNfnhZI/AAAAAAAABCA/nUMULcseU8k/s1600-h/IMGP35231.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3523" border="0" height="390" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4mQ30hJI/AAAAAAAABCE/Rf4fC6uWsrc/IMGP3523_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3523" width="520" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4nQ3u1LI/AAAAAAAABCI/LoErvRpNiOw/s1600-h/IMGP35555.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3555" border="0" height="390" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4nzQrJmI/AAAAAAAABCM/VbZhyuXER9g/IMGP3555_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3555" width="520" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4om5-ucI/AAAAAAAABCQ/YB6ADtCCmwE/s1600-h/IMGP35711.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3571" border="0" height="390" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4pFNsgyI/AAAAAAAABCU/4Asy40qJvPE/IMGP3571_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3571" width="520" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4p8vIT5I/AAAAAAAABCY/qZ024gC_JEc/s1600-h/IMGP353511.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3535" border="0" height="390" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4qcsbO2I/AAAAAAAABCc/DT8_C2NLxLM/IMGP3535_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3535" width="520" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4qyXORcI/AAAAAAAABCg/d4JFe40qjZ4/s1600-h/IMGP35885.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3588" border="0" height="390" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4rZ0K_TI/AAAAAAAABCk/PrCfmnKtsEg/IMGP3588_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3588" width="520" /></a>This last photograph is an interesting chunk of yellow and red crystal crust that was forming in a hole in the ground. I still don’t know what it is…<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4sItY1mI/AAAAAAAABCo/PChzdiwJahE/s1600-h/IMGP35565.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3556" border="0" height="390" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4spaF5fI/AAAAAAAABCs/GaMk-HK5cDs/IMGP3556_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3556" width="520" /></a>This is the underside of a rock, absolutely encrusted with black crystals.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4tR6giII/AAAAAAAABCw/uFbGWZfH7uM/s1600-h/IMGP3470.jpg"><img alt="IMGP3470" border="0" height="390" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TWX4to8TVSI/AAAAAAAABC0/Vu3Lag6CQLM/IMGP3470_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP3470" width="520" /></a>As we headed back to civilization, there was an antelope hanging out, clueless about what lay beneath its small cloven hoofs.Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-71009320762406343882011-02-04T23:46:00.001-08:002011-02-05T21:55:03.345-08:00Amurrica<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TU0AbTMdqKI/AAAAAAAAA5A/V58fs3Y8UNw/s1600-h/Regions6.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Regions" border="0" alt="Regions" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TU0Ab74UKYI/AAAAAAAAA5E/sZ1rbYSUBoI/Regions_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="314" /></a></p><p>This is a map I made for my first GIS class, in 2009. The goal was to subdivide the country into regions, not in accordance to state lines.</p><p>My aim was to be sassy, but not wholly offensive.</p><p>I should really use my powers for good...<br />
 </p><p><p><em>(I’m not sure why it’s stretched – I think the projection is incorrect.)</em></p>Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-32907501000275559652011-01-29T16:14:00.001-08:002011-01-29T16:14:17.654-08:00Claymation, Bicycles, Velociraptors, and my Sister<p><iframe class="youtube-player" title="YouTube video player" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J1-5qrFBCKk?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="640" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" type="text/html"></iframe></p> <p>This is the video I made for my sister’s cancer charity! The creation of this really was a family effort, involving both my parents, myself, and two of my uncles. Watching the claymation mitosis come together from 175 individual images was incredible. When I was younger, I attended a summer film camp for girls, and it was nice to see that I hadn’t lost all the skills I learned there. It took a looong time to get up to speed on the new editing software, sort through all the clips, and polish it into a finished product, but I’m really quite pleased with the final results.</p> <p>Even if you can’t afford or don’t wish to donate to her cause, you should follow her twitter or tumblr, because she’s going to be posting exciting things as she travel across the country!</p> <p>Plus, she’s probably going to cure cancer someday, so you might want to just learn her name now. When they finally name element 118, it’ll be “Rosemarium.”</p> Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-780523545995173398.post-22836989843042297062011-01-29T01:37:00.001-08:002011-01-29T01:50:32.293-08:00AW #30: The Moon is Made of Toasted Coconut.<p>The <a href="http://theaccretionarywedge.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/call-for-posts-aw30-the-bake-sale/" target="_blank">Accretionary Wedge #30</a> was a Geologic Bake Sale! Baking is one of my favorite hobbies, and I wanted to do something new and exciting for this challenge.</p><p>When I saw <a href="http://www.bakeorbreak.com/2010/02/black-bottom-coconut-bars/" target="_blank">this recipe</a>, inspiration struck. The flakes of coconut lay so lightly atop one another, as though they were gently supporting each other without actually touching…</p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPfxG6uVaI/AAAAAAAAA3s/A1WAzYSHBN0/s1600-h/P1250049%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1250049" border="0" alt="P1250049" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPfxnTGuxI/AAAAAAAAA3w/SS7qVpNB-qM/P1250049_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="390" /></a></p><p>… which is exactly what happens on the moon! </p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regolith" target="_blank">Regolith</a> is akin to soil on the Earth: it’s the layer of unconsolidated material over the bedrock. The moon’s regolith is composed of  bedrock pulverized by meteorites and “micrometeorites” – meteorites that are under a millimeter in size. Over the long life-span of the Moon, these micrometeorites have succeeded in completely altering its surface. (Just goes to show how concentrated effort over time can yield immense results!)</p><p>The top portion (3 – 5 m) of the regolith is composed of really fine-grained, loose particles. These sort of “float” on the surface: they are held together in layers by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_der_Waals_force" target="_blank">Van der Waal forces</a>. (Van der Waal forces occur when charged molecules are very gently pulled toward oppositely charged molecules, and are very weak.) This is very similar to the uppermost, lightly held together layer of coconut.</p><p>The bottom portion of the regolith is more solid, and frequently referred to as the “megaregolith.” This is a layer of very fractured bedrock, 2 – 3 km thick on the highlands, and about 1 km thick on the maria. Here, it’s the more consolidated layer of coconut.</p><p>Much as Earth-soil has different varieties, the regolith has two different components: <a href="http://meteorites.wustl.edu/lunar/regolith_breccia.htm" target="_blank">glass spherules and agglutinates</a>. Glass spherules form when melted rock from a meteor impact solidifies in mid-flight, not having enough time to form a crystal structure. (Similar to how obsidian is formed very quickly from lava.) Agglutinates are glassy breccias composed of rock bits and vesicles containing gas from solar winds, all held together with rapidly melted rock.</p><p>Under all of that is the bedrock of the moon, anorthosite and basalt. I decided to have a simple basalt/brownie bedrock – this section of the moon is somewhere in a flood-basalt <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_mare" target="_blank">mare</a> (or "sea”,) to account for it’s thin layer of megaregolith.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPfyOMFgVI/AAAAAAAAA30/Q3jAaxnO9kk/s1600-h/P1240007%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240007" border="0" alt="P1240007" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPfykc9jgI/AAAAAAAAA34/56hvkQRHRnM/P1240007_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="390" /></a></p><p>These are the ingredients needed to create an edible Moonscape. Some of these were doubled, as I needed to make some extra <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/01/best-cocoa-brownies/" target="_blank">bedrock</a>, which I flavored with two packets of that Starbucks Via instant coffee. Additionally, I used 10 oz of coconut, and an extra splash of milk, to increase the bulk of my regolith.</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPfzbu7JuI/AAAAAAAAA38/xUxP4J72SBU/s1600-h/P1240022%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240022" border="0" alt="P1240022" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPfz4IKW7I/AAAAAAAAA4A/UWYPTf8Gs9g/P1240022_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="390" /></a></p><p>And this is the Moon, post-baking! Note how that regolith seems soft and fluffy.</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf0RWA-jI/AAAAAAAAA4E/6r6zKPIYFyc/s1600-h/P1240024%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240024" border="0" alt="P1240024" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf0_uWf5I/AAAAAAAAA4I/vnGcnW8ZPfY/P1240024_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="390" /></a></p><p>This is a futuristic moon bubble, to protect this patch of regolith from any wandering spacemen…</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf1nl3lFI/AAAAAAAAA4M/C5MbJfnXC9w/s1600-h/P1240005%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240005" border="0" alt="P1240005" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf16SY8WI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/_9yIL_kAa2w/P1240005_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="262" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf2aKxtRI/AAAAAAAAA4U/i0q8VyWOOns/s1600-h/P1240008%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1240008" border="0" alt="P1240008" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf20S_NcI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/-QOrSfUVGB8/P1240008_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="262" /></a></p><p>… of which there were several, repeatedly! Colonizing in Moon lava tubes might be a better idea after all…</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf3lWd-VI/AAAAAAAAA4c/CzJL8YMmM4w/s1600-h/P1250033%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1250033" border="0" alt="P1250033" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf4JbfsmI/AAAAAAAAA4g/6FAI59kBqME/P1250033_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="390" /></a></p><p>After everything had a chance to cool, I set about to make the crater. (We’ll discuss actual crater formation in a minute!) </p><p>To do this, I punched a hole in the coconut slab, and set it atop the brownie bedrock layer. There was some minor excavation of that layer as well. Using bits of brownie, I constructed the central peak of the crater, and placed some fragmented bedrock inside the crater. Using the extra coconut slab, I carefully compiled a reverse layer of ejecta around the crater.</p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf4x6QMpI/AAAAAAAAA4k/Z4V3dgtaY7E/s1600-h/P1250039%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1250039" border="0" alt="P1250039" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf5VHbdZI/AAAAAAAAA4o/eCDHXbk3DC0/P1250039_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="390" /></a></p><p>To prepare the melt for the inside of the crater, I melted a Cookies and Crème bar in the microwave (not for too long or it burns!) and poured it into the crater. After engaging in a little careful destruction to create collapsed crater walls, the Moonscape was done!</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf6Opky-I/AAAAAAAAA4s/XW6gsL-IP78/s1600-h/P1250046%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="P1250046" border="0" alt="P1250046" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf6kJ0N6I/AAAAAAAAA4w/Cw4VFtsv66M/P1250046_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="390" /></a></p><p>Here’s a close up of the side, giving a better look at the overturned regolith/ejecta layer, and the added bedrock.</p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf7MuoJlI/AAAAAAAAA40/3rWWVuGSRC4/s1600-h/CraterStratigraphy%5B13%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="CraterStratigraphy" border="0" alt="CraterStratigraphy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6QRZP28H80U/TUPf7-bBHKI/AAAAAAAAA44/sBY-GDROQ8s/CraterStratigraphy_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="768" height="392" /></a></p><p>(A simple line diagram of central peak craters is found <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Craterstructure.gif" target="_blank">here</a>, in case the deliciousness of mine is distracting.)</p><p>When a meteorite impacts the moon, the ground is rapidly compressed downwards, away from the incoming meteorite. After the  meteorite impacts, this pressure is released, allowing the material to rapidly – and explosively – decompress, creating the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_craters" target="_blank">crater</a>. </p><p>When the crater floor decompresses, the bedrock under the crater rises up to create a central peak – if the crater is larger than about 50 km. (Craters larger than a couple hundred km in diameter are called impact basins, and develop both a central peak and 1+ upraised rings inside the basic. Craters smaller than 50 km are called simple craters, and lack the central peak entirely.)</p><p>When the compressed regolith rapidly expands, it blows the surrounding regolith away from the crater, creating a ring of over-turned stratigraphy. Because of this phenomenon, the older and deeper material gets thrown farthest from the center of the crater. This is visible in the layer of brownie bedrock atop the ejected coconut.</p><p>Frequently, the bedrock in the crater floor is fractured, and magma seeps through to the surface, creating a puddle of magma-cemented breccia, sometimes referred to as “melt” – or, in this case, the melted chocolate. Additionally, the walls of medium and large craters frequently suffer from landslides, due to their tall, steep walls.</p><p> </p><p>Now, there are two scientific inaccuracies in this edible diagram: 1) there should be a larger cloud of finer ejecta, and 2) for the bedrock to be so exposed, the crater should be larger in diameter.</p><p>But, space constraints aside, it was a fairly accurate model, and tasty to boot!</p><br />
<p><i>(My main references for this were my notes from a planetary geology class I took a couple summers ago. Since those aren't online, I've merely linked to some informative wikipedia pages. Say what you will about wikipedia's accuracy, it's still a good starting point!)</i></p>Helena Malloneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15002245476019785194noreply@blogger.com4