Virtual Tour of Yosemite National Park Geology
Summary
This is a virtual tour through Yosemite National Park exploring the geologic processes responsible for forming this iconic landscape. The tour tells the geologic story of Yosemite National Park, from its fiery volcanic beginnings millions of years ago to the powerful glacial ice that carved the landscape thousands of years ago. The story sites along this route have been chosen to showcase the rich geologic history and iconic rock formations of the park at both famous and lesser-known rock outcrops. In addition to explaining the igneous origins of the rocks that make up the beautiful landscape you see here today and the glacial forces that later shaped it, we'll discuss the effects of human impacts and recent climate change on the features within the park. There are 20 total "field trip stops", and one activity question provided for each.
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Learning Goals
Recognize and interpret a) igneous geological features, b) features formed by glacial erosion and deposition, c) impacts of recent climate change
Synthesis of theoretical geological concepts with applied (i.e. imperfect) field observations.
Making essential connections between Earth processes and broad-scale landscape geomorphology.
Context for Use
Introductory Earth science
N/A
Can be used to review igneous processes, glacial processes, or as a field trip substitute to show connections between Earth processes, systems, and landscapes.
Description and Teaching Materials
The Yosemite tour (virtual field trip) is freely available here: Yosemite: A Story of Fire and Ice
The accompanying questions, written by Dr. Vali Memeti and Wayne Henderson at CSU-Fullerton, are attached as a word document.
Field trip questions (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 16kB May21 20)
Teaching Notes and Tips
Instructors have been using this as an extra credit assignment. Note: some students have had difficulties understanding the concepts of magmatic shears (Kuna Crest stop) and Hemlock trees growing at higher elevations due to climate change (Fletcher Lake stop).
Assessment
Instructors using this for extra credit have collected the student responses to the activity questions.