Sharing the Fascinating Ice Age Floods Story Since 1995

Category: News

Lake Lewis Floodscape Brochure

Several of the IAFI chapters are working on separate brochures highlighting key features in their area. The Lewis Lake Chapter is the first out the door with a great map and guide to flood features in their Tri-Cities region (Lake Lewis).  The brochure includes a map of the region and several short articles about not-to-be-missed Ice Age floods features. The printed brochure is available at the Hanford REACH Interpretive Center, 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, WA 99352, phone: (509) 943-4100. Or click here to download a PDF copy of the brochure.

Columbia Basin Plays a Hand in Mars Mission

— By Jill FitzSimmons, editor@qvpr.com, reprinted from Quincy Valley Post Register What possibly could the Columbia Basin and its channeled scablands have in common with the Red Planet, millions of miles away? Turns out, more than you would think. Scientists believe that billions of years ago Mars experienced not only volcanic episodes but also great floods that carved out massive, stark cliffs and ancient bodies of water. Left behind were the Red Planet’s scablands. Sound familiar? Back on earth, millions of years ago the lava that flowed over the Columbia Basin was the first in a series of catastrophic events that came together to shape this area. The lava flowed over vast areas, only to cool and then be carved by massive glacial floods. The Columbia Basin is the only place on the planet that comes close to having the geologic features of those found on Mars, said Melissa Rice, assistant professor of planetary science at Western Washington University. Both the Red Planet and the Columbia River Gorge were formed by catastrophic floods that scoured the landscape, Rice said. “This is the only place in the world where this exact thing has happened,” she said recently from the home of Ken and Susan Lacy that overlooks the dramatic cliffs of Crescent Bar, the Columbia River Gorge and the West Bar’s giant ripples – all signs left behind from the Ice Age floods. Rice was among 30 scientists, engineers and graduate students from around the nation and the globe who visited the area last month on a mission to get a close-up and personal view of the local channeled scablands. Some of those who visited the area are among the world’s top Mars scientists. The two-day visit came as the team prepares to get down to work designing and building a camera system that will be on the next rover mission, to be launched in 2020 and on Mars in 2021. Scheduled to operate on Mars for 10 years, the rover will search for signs of past life on the Red Planet. The team decided to meet up for two days of touring and getting to know one another before heading to a rover-planning meeting in Bellingham. The gathering in Eastern Washington was the closest they could get to the next best thing. “We don’t get to go to Mars,” Rice said. In their trip around the area, the team on its first travel day visited the Ginkgo National Forest near Vantage and the Frenchman Coulee. They went to an overlook near the Potholes Coulee to see the butte-and-basin topography. They even stopped on Trinidad Hill, where, dressed in orange vests, they got out of their cars to feel the Eastern Washington basalt. On Day Two, they were headed to Dry Falls and the Moses Coulee. At the Lacy home, several members of the team walked out the couple’s back door and gasped as they took in the view of the river and its gorge. Jeff Jones, planetary geologist at John Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory, described the area as a “great geologic experience.” Dr. Kjarton Kinch of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, the world’s expert on Martian dust, was excited to hear the flood stories from Ken Lacy. Kinch called the local scenery “spectacular.” The rover the team is helping to design will be the fifth to be sent to Mars. In past missions, the rovers have had unique objectives, such as searching for signs of habitability or evidence of water on Mars. “This is the first mission actively searching for signs of past life,” Rice said. Scientists are searching for “bio-signatures,” or pieces of evidence that may exist in the rock record on Mars, Rice said. While the bio-signatures could exist in many forms, such as a dinosaur bone sticking out of the ground, scientists likely are looking for concentrations of organic molecules, the building blocks of life, preserved in the rock, Rice said. Rice and her team are designing and building the instruments that will be used to search for those bio-signatures. The instruments will be installed on a long, skinny neck, called a mast, at the front of the rover. The cameras will serve as the eyes of the rover, Rice said. After leaving Eastern Washington, the scientists were headed to a “community meeting” of scientists that were to narrow down the landing sites for the 2020 rover. Thirty potential sites were narrowed to eight. Those eight will be taken down to four in January, and the camera team will discuss which of those sites it wants to support, Rice said. “We only get to drive around 10 kilometers, so the landing site is important,” Rice said.  Ken Lacy, a board member of the Ice Age Flood Institute, said that by inviting the group into his home and hosting a barbecue he was hoping to share a piece of the area and its geologic history with the Mars scientists. It’s an exciting mission, he said, and he and his wife were happy to host the group. “And maybe, in some small way, it helps,” he said.

Top Scientists Gather to Discuss Mars Exploration

By Tim Johnson · Wednesday, June 22, 2016 – Reprinted from CascadiaWeekly.com Life. Are we unique? Are we alone? These are time-honored questions, and the answers may be approaching. Our best candidate for exploration is one of our nearest neighbors, Mars, a small, cold desert world that might have had a vibrant and watery past. The surface of Mars is currently being explored by robots, some long past their expected engineered lives. Each has advanced scientific understanding of the surface of Mars. Soon they’ll be joined by another, designed to advance the discoveries made by other devices and instruments and tuned to a specific mission: The search for signs of life, past or present, on the Red Planet. Some of the world’s top Mars scientists will gather in Bellingham to share the latest scientific results from Mars exploration and preview NASA’s next-generation Mars rover mission. While they’re here, they’ll also visit the extensive lava flows in the eastern portion of the state, a model for the types of geological features and terrain that might be expected on Mars. The group includes Jim Bell, the lead scientist on the next-generation camera system that will fly on NASA’s next Mars rover, which is scheduled to launch in 2020. Working on that device is Western Washington University’s Melissa Rice, assistant professor of Geology and member of three NASA Mars rover missions, will engage a dynamic panel on the future of human and robotic exploration of the Red Planet. She will lead a panel discussion that includes Bell, engineer Justin Maki of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, planetary evangelist and educator Emily Lakdawalla of the Planetary Society, and former NASA Shuttle astronaut Wendy Lawrence. Retired Navy Captain Lawrence serves as an advisor to the University of Washington. “There has been a revolution in our understanding of Mars as a potentially habitable world over the past two decades, and this next mission is our most ambitious yet,” Rice said. “The first real robot geologists on Mars were the Mars exploration rovers—the two twins, Spirit and Opportunity,” Rice explained. “They landed on Mars in 2004 and their main goal was to search for signs of how water had interacted with rocks on the surface of Mars. They were built when NASA’s main goals were to follow the water, search for where water had been or is currently in the solar system.” Opportunity had a primary mission life of 90 days. It is still operating on the surface of Mars, 12 years later—a testament to rugged engineering. Curiosity, a car-sized robotic rover built to explore Gale Crater on Mars, began its mission in 2012. It completed its primary mission in two years, and is still roving. The Planetary Society continues to issue updates on its journey.“Curiosity took it a step further,” Rice noted. “Curiosity wasn’t just looking for signs of water. Curiosity was looking for signs of habitability—which is not just water but all of the other conditions that are required for life. “Life needs water, but life needs a certain kind of water, life needs water that is not too acidic, that’s not too salty, and water that’s actually been around on the surface of Mars for long enough to sustain organisms,” she said. Discoveries from each mission has influenced the profile of the next, informing the engineering and refining and narrowing what scientists seek. “It’s really the Curiosity mission having found evidence for habitable past environment that paved the way for this next mission,” Rice explained. “Curiosity, for example, landed next to some rocks that the rover drove up to and drilled into, and found they were mudstone rocks, formed at the bottom of an ancient lake. We can tell from the chemistry of the minerals that are preserved in that rock that the water in that ancient lake where these rocks formed would have been good enough to drink—it wasn’t acidic, it wasn’t too salty.” Conditions on ancient Mars—which may have had a heavier, warmer, wetter atmosphere, and which may have had a magnetic field shielding the surface from radiation—may have permitted life. “This next rover is a big step because it is the first NASA mission at Mars to be directly looking for signs of life, not just the conditions for life but actual signs of past life,” Rice explained. “We’re searching for what are called bio-signatures, which is any piece of evidence that could exist in the rock record on Mars for past organisms having been present on the surface,” she said. Bio-signatures, this evidence for life, could exist in many forms. “The most obvious thing that we would love to see would be something like a dinosaur bone sticking up out of the ground. That would be an obvious bio-signature!” Rice said. “But, more realistically, what a bio-signature on Mars would look like is a concentration of organic molecules, which are the building blocks of life; or perhaps an isotopic signature—chemical isotopes that have been segregated by processes that can only be explained by having life forms present; or minerals that are only created by living organisms; or micro-fossils—very, very small structures preserved in the rock that indicate signs of previous life forms.” Bell, Rice and their team are crafting the instruments that will be used to search for those signatures, a suite of devices installed on a long neck at the front of the 2020 rover, a camera mast. Their team is at work on the pragmatically named Mastcam-Z. “Mastcam-Z is a set of two twin cameras that are going to serve as the two eyes of the rover,” Rice explained. “We will be able to take stereo images both zoomed out, wide field of view, and zoomed in at very high resolution. “The other capability that Mastcam-Z has, and what I am most involved with,” Rice noted, “is multi-spectral capabilities. Each of the zoom lenses will also have a filter wheel in front of the camera’s detector. The filter wheel is basically a circular disk with eight holes in it. Each hole will contain a filter of a different material that

Ice Age Floods Trail – Long-range Interpretive Plan Completed

One of the many steps in making the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail a reality is the development of a Long Range Interpretive Plan by and for the National Park Service who will administrate for the trail. This 108 page document is now complete, marking a major step forward in this process. Click here to view and/or download the low-res PDF version of this report. If you would like a printed copy or the high resolution version of the digital copy, please email Denise Bausch of the National Park Service at [sf_email]denise_bausch@nps.gov[/sf_email]

Ice Age Floods – Giant Current Ripples

Check out this 2-Minute Geology expedition with Nick Zentner and Tom Foster exploring the Giant Current Ripples at West Bar and Camas Prairie. Ice age floodwater 650 feet deep – moving at 65 miles per hour – left Giant Current Ripples along the Columbia River at West Bar! The ripples at West Bar are 20 feet high, spaced up to 100 yards apart. Giant Current Ripples at Camas Prairie, Montana are also described. The Montana ripples helped Joseph Pardee understand that Glacial Lake Missoula had emptied suddenly. Learn more about Glacial Lake Missoula, Lake Bonneville and the Ice Age Floods at http://hugefloods.com/

Ice Age Floods Facebook Page

You may want to ‘Like‘ the Ice Age Floods Institute Facebook page to stay abreast of all the News and Shares coming out from the Institute. We’re sharing news and articles well beyond the Floods, including geology, natural history, general articles about the area, videoed talks, events, and any number of articles of general interest. Floods of water, floods of lava, rockin’ rocks, 2-Minute Geology, paleontology, and the mystical birth of the universe all get their 15+ seconds of fame. We’ll keep our eyes open to find and share items of interest to you, and of course you can share with us too.

Palagonite Maar Near Hood River

Palagonite Maar Just west of Hood River is a distinctive, short (<500 m) section of stratified orangeish oxidized volcanic tephra and highly fractured lava bombs.  This mixture of oxidized volcanic particles ranging down to sub-micrometer sizes mixed with the larger lava bombs is a palagonite tuff. This deposit is the result of a “phreatic” eruption when lava erupted explosively from a volcanic vent through water, like a lake or groundwater. The rapid heating expansion of water to steam blew the rising lava out of the vent as tephra (volcanic rock fragments) ranging from ash-size to volcanic bombs (blobs of lava) up to several inches in diameter.  Rapid oxidation of the water-quenched tephra turned the iron content to rust, producing the orangeish color of the tephra. The lava bombs were heavily fractured due to rapid cooling of the blob as it came in contact with the water and as it flew through the air. The tephra deposits dip inward on either side of a central gap toward the gap, with NE dips in the western section and NW dips in the eastern section, forming an inverted cone that converges downward toward the central gap. This feature is a “maar” deposit; an inverted cone of tephra and lava resulting from rapidly rising magma interacting with groundwater causing a steam-driven explosive eruption that builds the surrounding maar.  The vent of this maar was in the area of the central gap.

Lava + Ice + Water = Floods Geology

Floods of lava (Columbia River Basalts) and Ice Age Floods of water (Lake Missoula floods and the Bonneville Flood) are world-famous topics among geologists. To have both sets of floods in the same area means the geology of the Inland Northwest is truly Disneyland for Geologists! The program begins in Lewiston, Idaho where the floods of lava and water are beautifully on display near the mouth of Hells Canyon. Early on, the Columbia River Basalts – eruptions of fluid lava from deep fissures – are featured. The Missoula Floods from Montana and the Bonneville Flood from Utah – the Ice Age Floods – are surveyed at an introductory level. And finally, the interaction between bedrock and fluid dynamics of the floodwater are highlighted through discussion of Ice Age erosional and depositional landforms. Key locations in the Pacific Northwest are featured, including the Snake River Canyon, Grand Coulee, Dry Falls, the Drumheller Channels, Wallula Gap, and the Columbia River Gorge. Tom Foster and Nick Zentner (Central Washington University) had been hiking together in eastern Washington for years. The result? A series of short videos that showcase geological wonders in the Pacific Northwest. This 16-minute video – Huge Floods in the Pacific Northwest – offers an introductory overview of spectacular geologic events that impacted much of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. More than a dozen “2 Minute Geology” episodes are now available on Nick’s 2-Minute Geology YouTube channel.

IAFI at Gorge Tourism Studio

The Columbia River Gorge and Lower Columbia Chapters of the Ice Age Floods Institute recently participated in several Gorge Tourism Studio workshops and events intended to bring businesses, organizations, and individuals together to address Columbia River Gorge area tourism issues. The Columbia River Gorge is a unique tourism destination and scenic location. However, this destination is facing increasing challenges including congestion and overstressed infrastructure in many locations and extreme under-utilization and neglect in many others. Given the State and National significance of this destination, the Tourism Studio was designed to provide a unique opportunity for local stakeholders to develop creative solutions to the challenges facing this destination.  The Studio was organized by Travel Oregon, and through a unique bi-state arrangement it included representatives from both sides of the Gorge. The Studio comprised 6 full-day workshops and 6 evening get-togethers addressing: Identifying major tourism issues and developing a vision for what Gorge tourism should look like Culinary & Agritourism – addressing farm-to-table issues of local farms, vineyards, orchards, and restaurants Cultural Heritage Tourism – addressing issues affecting the arts, culture, and heritage sectors Adventure Travel & Outdoor Recreation – addressing issues affecting the outdoor recreation and adventure sectors Tourism Marketing & Communications – learning how to create effective tourism marketing and communications Igniting Tourism Action Teams – developing Action Teams to push forward on solutions to the issues The ultimate intent is to establish a long-term sustainable balance in the utilization of the available resources and in the economic development of the area. There are likely to be many lessons and approaches developed out of these Action Teams that can have significance for addressing similar tourism issues throughout the widespread extent of the Ice Age Floods story. COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE What the Columbia River Gorge should look like in 15 Years – a Vision for Sustainable Tourism The Columbia River Gorge region including the nationally recognized Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the majestic Cascades Range of Mt. Adams (12,281 ft.) and Mt. Hood (11,249 ft) within which it’s nestled, offers our target visitor a world-class adventure travel experience. While the mighty Columbia River is its defining feature, nationally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers are the life blood of the region. The Sandy and the Deschutes Rivers flank its east/west boundaries while the White Salmon, Klickitat and the Hood River carve pathways from the Cascades. Free flowing whitewater draws in the adventurous whitewater soul, skilled fishermen and most importantly, salmon. This transition zone from rainforest to desert creates nuclear winds making the Gorge one of the world’s most sought after destinations for windsurfing, kiteboarding and technical sailing. Access to snow sports abounds on the peaks including year-round skiing on the Palmer Glacier. The region’s paved, gravel, and single-track terrain provide bicyclists with a flight-like, captivating experience of the scenic landscape. Signature trails including Gorge Towns to Trails, the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail are significant draws to the region. These trails that connect waterfalls, world-renowned wildflower meadows, basalt bluffs and the Gorge’s charming towns are frequented by hikers, cyclists and trail runners alike due to the world-class experience that they provide. [TRANSPORTATION] Our seamlessly integrated region-wide transportation system allows visitors to come, travel, explore and connect– all without needing a car. Public and private transit options combined with our bike routes and trail systems have created a multi-modal web knitting together our communities, attractions and outdoor recreation. The region is vibrant with visitation, and traffic congestion is a thing of the past. [CULINARY/AGRICULTRE] The Gorge with its concentration of locally-owned boutique vineyards and small farms boasts an abundant and rich local food scene. Locals and visitors alike can easily eat what’s grown and produced here and visitors are welcomed by growers to have meaningful, quality on-farm experiences. Restauranteurs are well-connected with local growers adding value to locally produced ingredients and offering memorable foodie experiences. The visitor industry has helped contribute to alleviating hunger in the region. [CULTURE] The ‘Gorge Experience’ is unparalleled due to its exposure to history and culture. Locals in the Gorge’s charming communities help travelers gain a deep understanding of peoples who have inhabited the Gorge in the past, of people who reside here now, and of the natural and human forces that have shaped and reshaped the landscape. Stories of this powerful place, both cultural and natural, are infused into every element of the traveler experience. Local guides help travelers personalize and deepen their own connection to the place and an unusual and rich array of classes and events to experience local culture exist. Trails of national historic significance including the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail and the Oregon Trail also bring the region’s history to life. [SEASONALITY/CONGESTION] Our intuitive visitor information system has reduced congestion, and spread the benefits to all corners of our region. We have effectively targeted the high-value visitor who appreciates the outdoors and local culture, is sensitive to their surroundings and enjoys people-powered activities. Visitors are coming year-round and staying multiple days. [BALANCE] We have found balance and offer an unforgettable visitor experience while preserving our unique living ecosystem of people, culture and nature. Local residents live in a harmonious and symbiotic relationship with our environment and with the people who travel from around the world to experience a slice of life in the Gorge.