Geology of the National Parks
***Week 2***
Tuesday, October 2.
Plate Tectonics
Crater Lake National Park
Reading for Tuesday. Miller, p. 21-29. Also, the USGS
has an outstanding site for plate tectonics at
(http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/usgsnps/pltec/pltec1.html). Make
sure you understand that there are only three possible types of plate
margins: convergent, divergent, and transform—and that convergent
margins can vary depending on the type of lithosphere that’s
involved. In what plate tectonic setting are the Cascades?
Thursday, October 4.
Crater Lake National Park
Lassen, Rainier, other Cascade Volcanoes
Reading for Thursday; Miller, p. 30-35. Peruse the Cascade
Volcano Observatory (CVO) website (http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/) to gain
a better feeling for Mt. Rainier NP, Mt. St. Helens NVM, Lava Beds NM,
and Lassen Volcanic NP. What are the main differences between
these parks? Start with the rock type (each park is made of
different types of volcanic rocks) and then try to relate their
differences to the different rocks.
on to week 3
back to week 1
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Geology of the National Parks