Badwater
It's pretty amazing to think of an expanse 282 feet below sea level. Looking at the make up of the rocks surrounding the salt pans makes me wonder about the extreme levels of volcanic activity it would take to lower something that far below sea level. Checking faults in the area and seismic readings could help answer some of my questions. It is also amazing to think of how something that is now an inhospitable desert was once a lush lake or sea.
Golden Canyon
When I first look at golden canyon, I am immediately in awe of the power of water. Looking at the many pictures, the first question that comes to my mind is how many tonnes of sediment have come through and carved out this canyon. The next thing I wonder if why the alluvial fans that are being built up haven't gotten much larger than they are. Since it appears that these flash floods do occur in the present, measuring of the displaced sediment seems possible and could answer some of these questions.
Racetrack Playa
When I first saw the images of the Racetrack Playa, of course the tracks of rocks immediately attracted my attention. But what interests me more, is what forces create the polygonal cracks of the mud when the water dries. Finally I would ask what exactly is capable of moving rocks that large on it's own. Finally, what is the main cause that (in addition to just the Racetrack Playa) what are the causes that some areas are getting massive salt deposit formations, versus salt beds, versus the more muddier bed of the Racetrack? Figuring out where the sediment comes from, as well as looking at the layers of the bedrock could help determine what type of beds form.
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