The Northern Sierras

Catalog description

Note: Required field trip. <br> <br> As part of an introduction to the diverse character of the northern Sierras, this course is paired with ESCI 32L, a corequisite course that will culminate with a three-day overnight field trip that explores the northern Sierras. ESCI 32 will present basic concepts in geology as well as topics specific to the northern Sierras such as continental growth, multiple mountain building episodes and mountain building processes, pre-Cascades volcanism, river processes and their role in landscape development, glaciation and related geomorphology, and "mother-lode" economic geology. Weather patterns and climate are addressed especially in terms of water resources and climate change. This course may be offered in a distance education format.