All IAFI

Name: 9/10-Mega Floods, Ice Ages, Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions, and other Major Earth Events. A look at our dynamic planet of things that could keep you awake at night but shouldn’t.
Start: 2025-09-10T18:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-09-10T19:00:00-07:00
Location: Whitman County Library

April 2025
How the Ice Age Floods Changed the Course of the Palouse River

April 28, 2025 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm PDT

Moran Prairie Library 6004 S Regal St, Spokane, WA

Palouse Falls - Photo Glenn Traver Before the Ice Age Floods, the Palouse River would have flowed through present day Washtucna, Kahlotus, Connell, Mesa, and Eltopia before entering the Columbia River near the Pasco Airport. Today, it takes a fifty-mile shortcut to the Snake River at Lyons Ferry via the Palouse Canyon and Palouse Falls. In this presentation by Lloyd Stoess, President, Palouse Falls Chapter, IAFI, we look at the two factors that caused this dramatic shift—either one by itself would not have been enough. To examine when this happened, we look at some possibilities and clues recently discovered by scientists. Presented in partnership with Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) (Registration required on SCLD website. Registration opens at 6:30 PM Monday, March 31, 2025.)
May 2025
2025 IAFI Membership Meeting – Gorge-ous Gathering May2-3-4

May 2, 2025 - May 4, 2025

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center 5000 Discovery Dr., The Dalles, OR, United States

Celebrating Ice Age Floods Institute's 30th Anniversary The annual IAFI Membership Meeting is coming to the Columbia Gorge this May 2-3, 2025, and all our members and their guests are cordially invited to come experience some of the best and most interesting features the Gorge has to offer. There’ll be opportunities to explore storied Gorge wildflowers and native plants, geology and winery field trips, whitewater rafting, a membership meeting/dinner and a presentation by the ever-entertaining Nick Zenter. Friday, May 2nd, will be action packed with activities during the day. Choose between a guided Spring Wildflower Walk, a Journey Through Terroir field trip, an Unveiling the Gorge field trip (repeated on Sunday, May 4). There are also opportunities available every day for full-day or half-day adventure whitewater raft trips on the Klickitat or White Salmon Rivers with Wet Planet Rafting, a local world-class rafting company. Friday evening will feature our members meeting and dinner, followed by an entertaining and informative presentation by the inimitable Nick Zenter exploring and geolocating J Harlan Bretz’s field notes. Jim O'Connor Richard Waitt Saturday, May 3rd, will feature the main Ice Age Floods Gorge Geology Field Trip – Explore evidence of the Ice Age Floods in the Columbia Gorge led by USGS expert geologists Jim O’Connor and Richard Waitt. This field trip will examine the geology of the Columbia River Gorge with emphasis on the effects of the Ice Age Missoula floods, examining key sites and discussing the latest research. Learn more about the Missoula Floods, explore dramatic flood landforms, and enjoy beautiful vistas, lunch at the Deschutes River Park (order a box lunch or bring your own), and a no-host afternoon recap at Maryhill Winery. Check-in begins each day at 8:00 AM at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center Find more detailed information here There is also plenty to see and do in the Gorge to keep you fascinated and engaged if you can stay another day. Visit iconic Multnomah Falls (I-84 access only) and spectacular Vista House at Crown Point overlook. Visit Timberline Lodge, a stunning 1930’s CCC project, on the snowy upper flanks of Mt. Hood. Travel the Hood River Fruit Loop or ride the Mt Hood Railroad Hike one (or more) of the innumerable and spectacular Gorge hiking trails Take Windsurfing and Kiteboarding lessons or just watch the action Enjoy fine dining, artisan wineries, breweries, museums and shops throughout the Gorge. There’s so much more to see and do that we can’t even begin to list it all.
Canceled 1.5 Million Years of Climate Data from the Antarctic Drilling Project

May 5, 2025 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PDT

(05Dec2024) The Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT), where the Pleistocene glacial cycles changed from 41 to ∼100 kyr periodicity, is one of the most intriguing unsolved issues in the field of paleoclimatology. Jerry McManus is an AGU Fellow who is Chair of Columbia University's Environmental School. He spent time in Antarctica as part in a European-led consortium project to drill down an existing drill hole to punch back another half-million years of climate data from ice in the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The goal of the project was to get a continuous ice record reaching back past the Mid Pleistocene Transition (MPT) to get a better perspective on the short cycle into the long cycle transition. At our May meeting, Jerry will present an early glimpse on what the team discovered. The May 05 meeting will be held in Bellevue College, Room B104. The program begins at 7:00 PM.
How Do They Know? Major Findings About the Ice Age Floods

May 14, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm PDT

Spokane Valley Library 22 N Herald Rd, A, Spokane Valley, W, WA, United States

Maps Have you ever been watching a science program and wondered “How do they know that?” Dr. Gary L. Ford, President, IAFI, will briefly discuss the how and who “figured it out” regarding aspects of the Ice Age Floods, looking at five questions. These include: how we know there was a huge glacial lake in western Montana thousands of years ago, how we know it drained rapidly perhaps a hundred times, about how many floods there were and when they occurred, where the floodwater came from, and about how long it took the floodwater to get to the ocean. We also go over which answers to these questions are still being debated by researchers. Presented in partnership with Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI)
Sheila Alfsen – Mt. St. Helens May 18,1980 Eruption – Lwr. Columbia Chapter

May 15, 2025 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PDT

Tualatin Heritage Center 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR, United States

The 1980 Eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington was the worst volcanic disaster in recorded US history. Geologist Sheila Alfsen, will bring the event back to life; detailing its onset and eruption sequence. She will illustrate its volcanic hazards with examples from other volcanoes and comparing their relative sizes. Sheila will discuss the advances in volcanology made as result of the eruption, and how they are used around the world to gain prediction and offer disaster mitigation. Thursday, May 15, 2025, In Person 7:00 PM (PDT) at Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR 97062 ALSO Live ZOOM from THC, Click for Zoom meeting, Meeting ID: 869 4651 3479 Passcode: 322382. Sheila Alfsen Sheila Alfsen's Background: *Current Instructor of Geology: Portland State University, Chemeketa Community College, Linn Benton Community College *Researcher *FEMA Earthquake Publication Reviewer *Paleontology- University of Oregon, Volcanology, Oceanography *Master of Arts in Teaching, Western Oregon University *Bachelors of Arts from Western Oregon University, Geology and Spanish *Oregon resident since 1970 - extensively traveled in US, particularly the Western states, Alaska, Arctic region, Iceland, Hawaii, Mexico, Puerto Rico * Thirty-five years in Education: Experience in interpretation for National Park Service

Free
Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Palisades Park

May 17, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm PDT

Palisades Park 2-198 S Rimrock Dr, Spokane, WA, United States

The 3-mile hike will be led by IAFICS board member geologist Michael Hamilton. It will take place along Rimrock Drive, which has spectacular views of Spokane and the Spokane Valley. The Glacial Outburst Flood Story will include a lot of "arm-waving," pointing out flood features both along the trail and with views to the east. The geology discussion will include details of another kind of flood that hit the Spokane area 14 million years ago. The hike will then cut to the west along one of the park's trails to find mysterious Mima mounds, and then loop back to the parking area.
June 2025
Interesting Features and Recent Discoveries of the Middle and Lower Cheney-Palouse Tract

June 28, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm PDT

The Gathering Place LaCrosse, WA, United States

Lloyd Stoess “An Overview of the Middle and Lower Cheney-Palouse Tract of the Channel Scablands – Interesting Features and Recent Discoveries”. This lecture will include a speculative look at when and how many floods came through present day Lacrosse. Saturday June 28 at 1:00 pm at The Gathering Place in downtown Lacrosse, WA as is part of the Lacrosse Farmers Festival. Presented by Lloyd Stoess, Palouse Falls Chapter President.
July 2025
Rescheduled Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Waikiki Springs

July 26, 2025 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm PDT

Waikiki Springs Trailhead Washington

Join us for a scenic and informative hike north of Spokane, where geologist Michael Hamilton, an IAFICS board member, will guide us through fascinating Ice Age flood features. This newly protected conservation area boasts well-established trails and stunning geological formations. At Waikiki Springs, the Spokane Aquifer emerges from beneath an ancient, sand-and-gravel-filled valley—evidence of the massive outburst floods that shaped the region during the last Ice Age. Group size is limited to the first 20 registrants. Once you sign up, we’ll provide full hike details and keep you updated on any changes leading up to the event. Resources: Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve
September 2025
9/3-Mega Floods, Ice Ages, Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions, and other Major Earth Events. A look at our dynamic planet of things that could keep you awake at night but shouldn’t

September 3, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm PDT

Ritzville Public Library 302 West Main Street, Ritzville, Washington

This presentation by Lloyd Stoess will delve into ten of the causes of ice ages and climate change including the answer to how many ice ages have occurred. It will also look at big earth hazards here in the Pacific Northwest that have occurred in the past and if they should be of concern today.

Free
9/10-Mega Floods, Ice Ages, Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions, and other Major Earth Events. A look at our dynamic planet of things that could keep you awake at night but shouldn’t.

September 10, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm PDT

Whitman County Library 102 South Main St., Colfax, WA, United States

This presentation by Lloyd Stoess will delve into ten of the causes of ice ages and climate change including the answer to how many ice ages have occurred. It will also look at big earth hazards here in the Pacific Northwest that have occurred in the past and if they should be of concern today.

Free

April 2025

May 2025

June 2025

July 2025

September 2025