Slide1: Geomorphic Regions of California


GEOMORPHIC REGIONS: GEOMORPHIC REGIONS Klamath Mountains Southern Cascades Modoc Plateau Northern Coast Ranges Central Coast Ranges Sierra Nevada Central Valley Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley


GEOMORPHIC REGIONS: GEOMORPHIC REGIONS Basin & Range LA. Basin The Mojave Desert Peninsular Range The Salton Sink (Colorado Desert)


GEOMORPHIC REGIONS: GEOMORPHIC REGIONS Basin & Range LA. Basin The Mojave Desert Peninsular Range The Salton Sink (Colorado Desert)


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Northwestern CA & the Klamath Mountains coastal influences mild temperature precipitation is rain with some snow rapid runoff rather than spring snow melt swift rivers, faster erosion than any other region


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Klamath Mountains Location: located west of volcanic Cascade Range extends into Oregon & south to Great Valley Pacific border province Mountains elevation 5-7000 feet with Trinities over 8900 feet Trinity Alps were glaciated individual ranges South Fork, Trinity Mts., Trinity Alps, Scott Mts. Siskiyous Mts. & Salmon Mts.


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Klamath Mountains Geomorphology complex region including Paleolithic & Mesolithic granitic & metamorphic rocks a continuation of the Sierra Nevada intrusive igneous granitic rock was uplifted contains abundant marine fossils


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Klamath Mountains Fluvial Features Rivers Klamath River which runs 150 miles through northern part of region Southern part of region drained by Trinity River Lakes glacial tarns in Trinity Alps man made Trinity lake on Trinity River


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Klamath Mountains Special Features Castle Crag an uplifted intrusive igneous granite formation


GEOMORPHIC REGIONS: GEOMORPHIC REGIONS Klamath Mountains Southern Cascades Modoc Plateau Northern Coast Ranges Central Coast Ranges Sierra Nevada Central Valley Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Southern Cascade Range extrusive igneous volcanic landforms Volcanoes, plug domes, cinder cones inland with greater temperature extremes precipitation is rain with some snow & glaciation on Mt. Shasta rivers runoff from Mt. Shasta less erosion due to weather resistant volcanic rocks


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Southern Cascade Range Location: located between Klamath Range & volcanic Modoc Plateau Cascade range extends into Oregon, Washington & Canada and south to Great Valley Mountains Mt. Shasta Lassen Peak Sutter Buttes


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Southern Cascades Geology volcanic region of igneous rocks including andesite, ryolite, & basalt very young geologic region (1-10 million years) covers over former granitic range


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Southern Cascade Ranges Fluvial Features Rivers Klamath River flows north into Oregon Sacramento, McCloud headwaters also start at Mt. Shasta and flow southward into the Great Valley Lakes Mt. Shasta Lake ( man made at the confluence of the Sacramento, Pit and McCloud rivers)


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Southern Cascade Range Special Features Strato- Volcano Mt. Shasta 14,162 ft. Plug Dome Lassen Peak 10,457 ft.


GEOMORPHIC REGIONS: GEOMORPHIC REGIONS Klamath Mountains Southern Cascades Modoc Plateau Northern Coast Ranges Central Coast Ranges Sierra Nevada Central Valley Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley


GEOMORPHIC REGIONS: GEOMORPHIC REGIONS Basin & Range LA. Basin The Mojave Desert Peninsular Range The Salton Sink (Colorado Desert)


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Modoc Plateau lava plateau extrusive igneous fissure flows basaltic plateaus inland with greater temperature extremes precipitation is very sparse considered a desert


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Modoc Plateau little surface water or rivers - lots of underground water transfer in tubes less erosion due to weather resistant volcanic rocks


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Modoc Plateau Location: located east of Cascade Range and adjacent to the Basin & Range Region The Modoc Plateau is the California part of the greater Colombian Volcanic Plateau that extends into Oregon, Washington & Canada Mountains


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Modoc Plateau Geology volcanic region of basaltic fissure flows rolling upland dotted with volcanic cones & lava flows glass flows, pumice beds, volcanic plugs & domes, lava tubes with caves very young geologic region (1-10 million years) Cenozoic


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Modoc Plateau Fluvial Features Under ground Water in lava tubes Burney Falls - spring water emerging from underground Lakes Goose Lake (ephemeral lake, fault block lake Tule Lake


GEOMORPHIC REGIONS: GEOMORPHIC REGIONS Klamath Mountains Southern Cascades Modoc Plateau Northern Coast Ranges Central Coast Ranges Sierra Nevada Central Valley Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley


GEOMORPHIC REGIONS: GEOMORPHIC REGIONS Basin & Range LA. Basin The Mojave Desert Peninsular Range The Salton Sink (Colorado Desert)


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Sierra Nevada backbone of CA


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Sierra Nevada precipitation barrier drastic vertical temperature changes precipitation rain, snow, glaciers rapid runoff & spring snow melt swift rivers, fast erosion


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Sierra Nevada Location: inland between Central Valley & Basin & Range extends from Cascades to Transverse Range


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Sierra Nevada Mountains elevation 1000-14,000 feet individual ranges Cathedral Range, Great Western divide, Greenhorn Mountain, Grizzly Mountains


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions High Sierra


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Sierra Nevada Lake Tahoe


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Sierra Nevada Geology Mesozoic Granite related to Klamath & Peninsula ranges separated by lava flows intrusive igneous granitic rock was uplifted huge tilted fault block thrust fault tilted from sea 130 mya Subduction of oceanic plates overriding continental


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Sierra Nevada Geology (con’t) Most volcanic landscapes can be found in Sierra Nevada due to intense volcanic past ash, bombs, cinder cones, lahars & volcanoes Glacial 2000 ybp glaciers scoured area U shaped valleys of Yosemite Cirques & Tarns near Donner general rugged appearance


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Sierra Nevada Special Features Yosemite Valley


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Sierra Nevada Special Features Devil’s Postpile


California’s Geomorphic Regions: California’s Geomorphic Regions Sierra Nevada Special Features Mammoth Mt.


GEOMORPHIC REGIONS: GEOMORPHIC REGIONS Klamath Mountains Southern Cascades Modoc Plateau Northern Coast Ranges Central Coast Ranges Sierra Nevada Central Valley Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley


GEOMORPHIC REGIONS: GEOMORPHIC REGIONS Basin & Range LA. Basin The Mojave Desert Peninsular Range The Salton Sink (Colorado Desert)