field assignment-yosemite national park
TRANSCRIPT
Yosemite National Park“The Mist Trail”
Danica Preciado
Geology 3 CO-1
Field Assignment
December 4th, 2011
Content
• Background and Method
• Park Information
• Seasonal Weather/Climate
• Waterfall/River Geology
• Tree Examples
• Habitats
• Rock Samples
• References
Background and Research Methodology
• In early August I visited “The Mist Trail” which is one of many trails of the Yosemite National Park.
• Most of the photos used in this report were taken from this trip.
• Map images used came from Google. • Vernal and Nevada Falls I provided along with some tree
photos.• Animal pictures came from Internet.• Identification of rock came from Topinka(2002)• Identification of tree came from Browse Trees (n.d)
Site Location
• Located in the central Sierra Nevada of California
• Established: 10-1-1890• 761,268 acres • Coordinates
37° 44′ 42.73″ N, 119° 35′ 53.6″ W
(“Tasev,” 2011, “Uhler,” 1995)
Park Information
• Yosemite National Park was established on 01 October 1890.
• It is the Nation's third oldest national park.
• It is a show case spectacular geological features, such as the greatest concentration of granite domes and largest exposed granite monolith in the world.
• Abraham Lincoln signed the grant of 1864 which was the first application of a park concept that originated in Yosemite.
• Yosemite plays an important role in wildlife preservation and preserving biological diversity.
• It’s a world heritage site that provides solitude and inspiration and serves as an outdoor classroom for environmental education.
(“Uhler,” 1995)
Seasonal Weather/Climate
• Summer• June-September• Usually warm to hot with
occasional rain.• Yosemite Vally(4000ft/1200m)
87oF(31oC)/51oF(10oC)• Water comes from melted
snow in high country.• Waterfalls reach peak flow
during this time.• Most blooming of wildflowers
occur.
• Fall• October-November• Variable-Ranges from hot to
cold, dry to rain or snow.• Yosemite Vally(4000ft/1200m)
54oF(12oC)/35oF(2oC)• Water levels are very low.• Waterfalls contain little or no
water.• Doesn’t have a variety of fall
colors.
(“Yosemite,” 2011)
• Winter• December-March• Snowy and cold, but sunny and
chilly days may occur.• Yosemite Vally(4000ft/1200m)
53oF(12oC)/28oF(-2oC)• Water levels are low until it
snows or rains.• Waterfalls begin to flow again.• Covered in white from snow.
• Spring• April and May• Sunny and warm days with
occasional winter storms.• Yosemite Vally(4000ft/1200m)
69oF(21oC)/39oF(4oC)• Waterfalls and small creeks are
both flowing.• It may reach peak runoff in May.• No blooming-Except for
California poppies.
(“Yosemite,” 2011)
Temperatures and Precipitation
• Month Maximum Minimum Precipitation (°F / °C) (°F / °C) (inches / cm)
• January 48/9 29/-2 6.5/16• February 52/11 30/-1 6.7/17• March 58/14 34/1 5.2/13• April 64/18 38/3 2.8/7.1• May 72/22 45/7 1.7/4.4• June 81/27 51/11 0.7/1.8• July 89/32 57/14 0.4/1.0• August 89/32 56/13 0.1/0.3• September 82/28 51/11 0.7/1.8• October 71/22 42/6 2.1/5.3• November 56/13 33/1 4.6/12• December 47/8 28/-2 5.5/14
(“Yosemite,” 2011)
The Mist Trail
• The Mist trail is the most popular trail in Yosemite.
• Distance: over 10 miles
• Elevation at trailhead: 4,000 feet
• It got its name by the wind blowing the mist everywhere and getting hikers wet.
• It has steeped granite steps that are some of the finest foot path engineering.
• On this trail many sceneries can be seen such as Vernal and Nevada Falls, roaring streams of water courses, Emerald Pool, carved granite cliffs.
• It is also considered one of the most dangerous trails because of the slick steps.
(“French,” n.d, “Yosemite,” 2006)
Waterfalls
• Yosemite is known for it’s amazing countless number of waterfalls and hiking locations, such as Bridalveil Fall, Lower Yosemite Fall, Cook’s Meadow Loop, Mirror Lake/Meadow, Valley Floor Loop, Four Mile Trail, Panorama Trail, Upper Yosemite trail, Vernal and Nevada Falls and Half Dome.
• Spring is the best time to see the waterfalls.
(“Yosemite,” 2011)
Vernal Falls
• 317 FT• Flows all year, but peaks
in May• Can be seen from
Glacier Point• Elevation Gain: 1,000
feet (300 meters) to top of Vernal Fall
• 3 Miles (4.8km) round-trip
• 3 hours
(“Yosemite,” 2006, “Yosemite,” 2011)
Nevada Falls
• 594 FT
• Flows all year with peak flow in late May
• Can also be seen from Glacier Point
• Elevation Gain: 1,900 feet (580 meters) to top of Nevada Fall
• 5.4 miles (8.6km) round-trip
• 5-6 hours
(“Yosemite,” 2006, “Yosemite,” 2011)
Tree-Incense-Cedar
• Scientific Name: Calocedrus decurrens
• Family Name: Cupressaceae
• Description: Small dark greenish leaves, bright cinnamon-red bark that has broken ridges
• 40-50 ft, sometimes as tall as 70ft
• 8-12ft in width
(“Yosemite,” 2011)
Tree-Ponderosa Pine
• Scientific Name: Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa
• Family Name: Pinaceae
• Description: Very tall, Dark gray-green, olive or yellow green needles
• In the wild it can grow 150’-230’
• It has a 25’-30’ spread
(“Yosemite,” 2011, “Browse,” n.d)
Habitats
• Yosemite National Park is the home of many wildlife species.
• It supports over 400 vertebrates such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
• Insects are found here as well, with two species not found anywhere else in the world.
• While visiting the park, I didn’t have the chance to see any animals.
• Some examples of animals that live in the park are mule deer, black bears, spotted owls, bobcats, mountain beavers and many more.
• All deer in the park are mule deer; they tend to have more attacks on Humans than bears.
• The owls may be heard in the park if u listen closely.
( “Wikipedia,” 2011, “Uhler,” 1995)
Rock-Granite
• The most common rock that was seen was Granite.
• Granite is an igneous rock• Composed of four minerals;
quartz, feldspar, mica, and usually hornblende
• It forms as magma cools far under the Earths surface very slowly
• Description: Whitish or light gray
• Also contains tiny crystals
(“Topinka,” 2002)
Rocks-Granite/Schist
• The top picture I believe was also Granite.
• The Park was mostly made up of granite rocks with less than 5% of there being sedimentary or metamorphic rocks, most looked the same; whitish gray with crystals in it.
• The bottom is a metamorphic rock which may be called a Schist Rock.
• It is made up of quartz, feldspar, mica
• Description: Silvery, brownish, dark green with waves in it.
(“Topinka,” 2002)
References• "Browse Trees—Tree Guide at Arborday.org." Buy Trees and Learn About Trees - Visit Our Online
Nursery. Arbor Day Foundation. Web. 26 Oct. 2011. <http://www.arborday.org/treeguide/browsetrees.cfm>.
• French, Dave. "The Mist Trail Yosemite National Park." Climbing, Hiking and Mountaineering at Timberline Trails. Timberlines Trails. Web. 24 Oct. 2011.
<http://timberlinetrails.net/YosemiteMistTrail.html>.
• Peck, Donald B. "Rock Key." Bob's Rock Shop: The First 'Zine for Mineral Collectors and Rockhounds. Don Peck, 2001. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/rockkey/>.
• Tasev, Ivan. "Google Custom Maps | Mapsys.info." Mapsys Info - Mapping and Geospatial News. Google, 2011. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. <http://mapsys.info/62799/google-custom- maps/>.
• Topinka, Lyn. "CVO Menu - America's Volcanic Past - Yosemite." USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO). USGS, 20 Sept. 2002. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. <http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/VolcanicPast/Places/volcanic_past_yosemite.html>.
• Uhler, John W. "Yosemite National Park Information Page." Yosemite National Park. Hillclimb Media, 1995. Web. 26 Oct. 2011. <http://www.yosemite.national-park.com/info.htm>.
• "Yosemite Hikes: The Mist Trail." Yosemite Hikes: The Best Hikes in Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Hikes, 2006. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <http://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/mist-trail/mist-trail.htm>.
• "Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)." U.S. National Park Service - Experience Your America. National Park Sevice, 2011. Web. 24 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm>.
• "Yosemite National Park." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park>.