Christy's Geology Adventure

A Sea in the Middle of New Mexico???

2008-07-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, there was a sea in the middle of New Mexico. This sea existed many millions of years ago, but we know it was here because fossils and coral reefs were left behind for ambitious geologists to find. The ridges of the Delaware Basin are made up of reef complexes and surround the flat plains area that was once a sea. Once the uplift and tilt of the rising of the Rocky Mountains began, the seas began to recede. The Guadalupe Mountains surround the basin to create an incredible view.

And I Thought all Caverns were the Same

2008-07-24T16:04:00.000-07:00

After seeing Longhorn Caverns, I just assumed all caverns would be the same and Carlsbad would be the same. Boy was I wrong! Just walking through the entrance of Carlsbad was an awe inspiring event. Carlsbad is full of large open rooms full of many different formations that have grown to create many interesting creations. Hanging from the ceiling are stalactites, soda straws, and draperies. Along the floor you can find stalagmites and popcorn formations. One of the most amazing sights had to be the columns that form when stalactites from the ceiling meet with the stalagmites on the ground. All of these formations are formed from water dripping through the ceiling of the caverns. Many of the formations have been given names due to the way they look. Even for someone not studying geology, the views are impressive.

Enchanted Rock

2008-07-24T16:03:00.001-07:00

On July 16, 2008 Rick had scheduled the first test for the G-Camp gang. The beauty of Enchanted Rock was enough for this camper to push to make it to the top. Although I felt like my lungs were about to explode from my chest, I persevered until I finally reached the real top. As we climbed over each ledge, thinking we had reached the top, we realized the next hidden slope that had to be conquered. The Native Americans knew of this unique feature of the rock and gave it the name of Enchanted Rock. While the climb up was agony on the lungs and legs, I soon realized that the trek back down was going to be even worse. You see, as we stood on the sloop of the rock, the view was daunting. There was no next level to been seen until you reached the edge. Too soon, that may not seem so bad, but to someone that doesn’t care for heights, this was extremely nerve-racking. Throw in the fact that the surface was slick granite, and the understanding that one false step could be fatal helped to keep me focused on my footing as I descended Enchanted Rock. Thanks to the help of my new friend Jim, I was able to keep my mind off my fear and focus instead on an interesting conversation.

Making a Connection to a Confusing Lecture

2008-07-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

Today we finally got to see what Dr. Mathewson was talking about our first night in College Station. Most of the geological information we were hearing was going in one ear and out the other. Not having any background in geology, pretty much all he was saying about the different time periods was going right over my head. This information came to life in Longhorn Caverns as he took us on a tour. He pointed out the rock formations from the different eras in history and discussed how different portions of the caverns were formed. We walked through Crystal City, took a stroll down Lover’s Lane, viewed the Queen’s Watch Dog and her Throne, and then ended up in the Indian Council Chamber that was once used as a dance hall in the 1940s. Listening to Dr. Mathewson talk about all the formations along with how many non-conformities existed in the caverns helped give me a new perspective on just how difficult geological study could become.

What a Smelly Mess

2008-07-19T19:27:00.001-07:00

In the early 1960's, the community of Jamaica Beach began developing on Galveston Island. The problem with this development, there was no sewage system put into place. Homeowners had 3 options on how their waste would be removed. They could provide their own septic system, run an open drain line into the canals that run between each row of houses, or they could just allow the sewage to drain and create leaching fields. The canals that are located throughout the community are very stagnant with no circulation and have only one drainage into back bay. Because of the poor sewage drainage in this area, the smells can be overwhelming at times.

Two Nights of Luxury

2008-07-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Clipper II, docked at Taxas A&M Galveston, was home for our 2 nights in Galveston, TX. We were greeted by the captain of the ship who was obviously very proud of his job as well as the work of his students and crew members. We were given our own quarters for the night, some were bunk rooms where the crew obviously sleeps while others lucked out and ended up in officers' quarters. I was a lowly crew member crammed away in a closet at the end of the hall. Bathrooms were located at the end of the halls and were unairconditioned. Showers were extremely quick due to poor drainage and we had to dress in the tiny little space outside the shower stalls. While it wasn't the most luxurious accommodations, it was an experience that won't be forgotten.

Protecting the Island

2008-07-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

July 15- It's day 2 and we're up and moving, ready to check out the beaches. Today's adventures began with a look at the Galveston Seawall that was built after the devastating 1900 Hurricane. It is 11 miles long and was built to protect the island from another large storm surge. On the west end of the seawall, large blocks of concrete have been placed to help slow the force of the water. The spaces left between these blocks help to dissapate the energy of the water and creates a softer crash of the waves.

Even with constant maintenance of the seawall, there are still many problems that occur due to erosion. The beaches that aren't protected are slowly eroding away as well as land behind the end of the seawall due to waves washing around the corner. There are no naturally occuring sand dunes beyond the east end of the seawall and businesses located beyond the barrier bring in sand and create their own dunes for protection.

Man Attempts to "Fix" Nature

2008-07-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

A quiet little bay sits protected from the Gulf of Mexico behind Bolivar Peninsula. A narrow passageway once connected the gulf and the bay, but became blocked by sediments. In all their brillant wisdom, men decided to widen the passage in order to allow more water circulation in the now stagnant East Bay. Little did these men know what kind of mess they would create as the cut away at the peninsula to create a larger opening. Soon, the rapid flow of water between the gulf and bay began cutting away at the surrounding land, causing mass amounts of erosion. Man then had to go back in to build barriers that would help slow the water and also protect the peninsula from being eroded away.

East Bay Gulf of Mexico

This new opening allowed for the water in the bay to be replenished with a new circulated supply of water during high tide while the stagnant waters would be drawn back to the gulf during low tide. While the idea did help with circulation, the entire project could have been disasterous.

An Unexpected Detour

2008-07-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

Our first day out, and already Rick has decided we need to make a detour from our schedule. From Baytown, it would only be about an hour drive down I-10 to Winnie, TX where we would then head south to the salt dome at High Island. From here, we would cross the Intercoastal Waterway to Bolivar Peninsula to look at some coastal erosion taking place at Surfside. The evidence was incredible- just a small concrete slab left from an old boat launch, a narrow one-lane road where once was a highway, and just the posts of long forgotten piers.

Only small dunes remain to protect what is left of the Texas coastline in this area. Dams have been built further up the rivers that once brought sediments to the coastal areas of Texas, causing a loss of materials to protect and build the beaches.

Home Sweet Home?

2008-07-17T21:50:00.001-07:00

Little did this little camper know that home sweet home is sitting on a million little faults in Baytown, TX. Stop number one happened to be at Baytown City Hall where a fault was discovered during some underground pipeline work that was taking place. This fault has caused a minor slope in the road because the land on one side of the fault is slightly higher than the land on the other side. I quickly learned that the cracks in the buildings around town are caused by shifts in the earth due to faults- including my own house.

The next stop on the tour of Baytown was to Brownwood Subdivision, a place I didn't know existed- because it doesn't, at least not anymore. Before there was evidence of problems associated with the extraction of groundwater, Exxon (now ExxonMobil) extracted groundwater from the land where Brownwood subdivision was located. After many decades of removing this groundwater, the earth below the homes began compacting, causing the land to sink. Houses were being seriously damaged and residents were being forced to move to higher ground. Pretty soon, ExxonMobil was forced to purchase the land where it was no longer suitable for houses to be built. The pictures below show the drop in elevation due to the compacting of the earth in the areas where extraction took place.

The Beginning of an Incredible Journey

2008-07-17T21:41:00.000-07:00

On July 13, 2008, a group of 30 teachers plus 6 brave leaders set out on the maiden voyage of the Texas A&M University Geology Camp. This camp, designed to help teachers better understand the processes of the earth, is a 2 week tour of some of the most awesome landforms across the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. We began this journey at the home of the Aggies, in College Station, TX. A brief introduction of the camp and expectations took place after we were given a box full of books and tools that would be needed for the trip. A feeling of overwhelmingness could be sensed as participants lugged the totes to the first of many hotel rooms. Little did we know what lay ahead in this adventure.

Getting Ready

2008-07-09T16:02:00.000-07:00

I have begun the process of getting ready for this 2 week adventure. Shopping isn't my favorite thing, so every time I think about another last minute item, I dread having to go back to one store or another. I finally have everything on the check list and have started the daunting task of making it fit into one suitcase, a backpack, and my computer bag. The excitement about the trip has picked up and my fellow coworkers can't wait to see what kind of information and pictures I bring back with me. Let the countdown begin.