Catastrophe and Cartography - Ice Age Floods Visualized
Peter Zelinka・2 minutes read
The author discusses the impact of catastrophic events, possibly involving a comet or solar activity, on landscapes over the last 15,000 years. They highlight the significant changes in terrain caused by melting ice sheets in Canada, leading to the formation of features like the Channeled Scablands in Washington and Oregon, and the drastic rise in global sea levels during the ice age.
Insights
- Lack of clear nights in Washington hindered the speaker's astrophotography for four months, prompting a shift to researching geology and geography, particularly focusing on landscape changes over 15,000 years.
- The catastrophic melting of ice sheets around 15,000 to 10,000 years ago, potentially triggered by a comet or solar activity, had a profound impact on landscapes, as seen in the formation of the Channeled Scablands and significant sea level rises globally, challenging established theories like the role of glacial Lake Missoula in erosion.
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Recent questions
What is astrophotography?
Capturing images of celestial objects using photography.
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Summary
00:00
"Geological Landscapes: Climate Change and Catastrophe"
- The speaker has been unable to engage in astrophotography due to the lack of clear nights in Washington for the past four months.
- They have been researching geology and geography, focusing on the changing landscapes over the last 15,000 years.
- The USGS National Map Viewer is recommended for viewing elevation-tinted hill shade maps to understand landscapes better.
- Randall Carlson on YouTube is suggested for detailed information on the topics discussed.
- The landscapes on the map were significantly altered between 15,000 to 10,000 years ago due to global climate changes.
- A catastrophic event, possibly involving a comet or solar activity, caused the rapid melting of ice sheets in Canada.
- The effects of this climate change can be observed on the map, showcasing the impact of the catastrophic events.
- The Channeled Scablands in Washington and Oregon were formed by massive floodwaters from melting ice sheets in Canada.
- The floods carried sediment, rocks, trees, and even a meteorite, leaving behind evidence of their scale and impact.
- The theory of glacial Lake Missoula causing the erosion in the Channeled Scablands is questioned, with alternative theories proposed based on evidence from the map.
14:17
Ice sheets melted, sea levels rose rapidly.
- Around 12,000 to 11,000 years ago, massive ice sheets covering Canada melted, causing a rapid 400-foot rise in global sea levels during the ice age.
- Evidence suggests catastrophic melting of ice sheets in Northern Europe around the same time frame, contributing to the significant rise in sea levels.
- Erosional features in the Southwest, like the Grand Canyon, indicate massive rainfall during the Younger Dryas period, altering the landscape drastically, with clear evidence visible from Flagstaff, Arizona, to Moab, Utah.
