Sunday, April 29, 2018

Week 7 - Death Valley


Badwater was of most interest to me. This was a magnificent sight. While walking across this immense white spread of salt I was wondering what was going on underneath my feet.


I wonder what kind of impact global warming and the decline of rainfall would have on Badwater. As the rains cease and with it the evaporation and crystallization of the salt, could erosion be enough to diminish the thickness of the crust? 

Artists drive is a beautiful, unbelievable creation. The multicolored rocks; pink, green, purple, brown and black is an unforgettable scene that lets you know just how much volcanic activity was here.

The uniqueness of this site makes me wonder if precise atmospheric conditions played an important role on the formation. I would like to compare similar active volcanic activity on different areas under similar temperatures and climate and possibly identify a trend on the colors. 

Devil's Golf Course was equally impressive. All of these formations are the residue of Death Valley;s last significant lake that evaporated 2000 years ago. 


            
The pinnacles form when the salty water rises up and quickly evaporates. The quick evaporation leaves a salty residue behind that slowly grows into a pinnacle. Would wind and rain eventually wash them away? Would erosion be too much for all of this to prevail. Is erosion and climate change accelerate by the human interaction with the environment? Would our footprint be too much at the end? These are the questions I can't help but think about when witnessing such a scenery. 








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