From our column in the Mendocino Voice, with links and references: The Maacama fault system and fracture zone lies at the heart of Mendocino County, defining the landscape of the central valleys, and framing the geography, ecosystems, industry, and culture of inland Mendocino. A sweeping and formidable tectonic corridor, this sister of the San Andreas … More The Mighty Maacama: Mendocino’s Tectonic Heart
As a physical geographer I perpetually strive to know the landscape deeply. From the rapidly uplifting marine terraces, vast dune sheets, and offshore landforms that comprise Mendocino’s unmistakable coastline; to the oak-studded, wildflower-strewn tectonic valleys of Laytonville, Hopland, Covelo, Boonville, Comptche, and Branscomb; to the thousands of savannahs, wetlands, riparian corridors, coastal prairies, scrublands, riverine … More Mendocino County’s Living Landscapes: from our column in the Mendocino Voice
Welcome to the Cal Geographic Report – We look forward to sharing news and updates of the biogeography and geomorphology of California’s living landscapes. This almost vernal equinox podcast episode is totally dedicated to California’s seasonal freshwater wetlands and vernal pools. We will review several of California’s regional vernal pool complexes and preserves across the … More The Cal Geographic Report Podcast: California’s Vernal Pools and Seasonal Wetlands
Tectonic Geomorphology Southern California’s Transverse Ranges are composed of a series of geologic units of divergent age and origin. Together they are captured and transported to the northwest in an east-west trending rotation by the oblique grind, pull, and squeeze of the fractured and tempestuous boundary between the North American and Pacific Plates. The Transverse … More Living Landscapes: The Western Transverse Ranges
The northern-most San Andreas rift valley at Alder Creek in coastal Mendocino County is a highly fractured tectonic zone, featuring at least two main stems of the San Andreas Fault itself, and riddled with multiple minor transform and thrust faults, both on-land and offshore… Read More Seismite: Sedimentary layers (lithified strata) deformed during the seismic … More Earthquake Country, Geomorphography, and our Latest Podcast Episodes
Within the oldest, tallest, and most isolated individuals among California’s totemic and scarce stands of old growth Coast redwood forest (Sequoia sempervirens), a shrouded and complex island ecosystem is supported high up in the monumental architecture of the inner canopy. Arboreal platform ecosystems structured and bioengineered by epiphytic plants, and buoyed by immense branching and … More Biogeography of California’s Old Growth Canopy Mat Ecosystems
Geography The Point Arena Terrane is a tectonic unit of geologic formations and sedimentary landforms west of the San Andreas Fault on the northern California coast, and is traveling northwestward along the transform plate boundary. The Point Arena peninsula, headlands, and coastal slope are a series of tectonic marine terraces, steadily and rapidly uplifting from … More Living Landscapes: Point Arena’s Sedimentary Complex, Tectonic Geomorphology, and Biogeographic Setting
California’s coastal prairies form a fragile and patchy network of long-lived, low profile, species-rich herbaceous ecosystems unique to the climate, geology and geography of California’s coastal regions. A steadfast and dominant biological component of the Pleistocene, coastal prairies harbor keystone perennial grass species, along with a multitude of annual and perennial forbs and graminoids. Herbaceous … More California’s Coastal Prairies
Situated at the southeastern edge of the Northern Coast Range, where subduction complex abuts the Great Valley Sequence, two outlying strands of the broad San Andreas fracture zone cut a striking and majestic tectonic landscape. The picture perfect Cordelia fault, and its more significant fractious neighbor, the Green Valley fault, sculpt plunging walls and scarps, … More Earthquake Country: The Cordelia and Green Valley Faults
Every April 18th I ponder the fateful events my great-great, and great grandparents endured that very early morning, and for months to follow. With toddler in tow, and possibly pregnant, my great grandparents fled their South of Market flat to cross the Bay to join family in Larkspur, Marin County in the north. Their home … More On the Eve of the Great Earthquake
