19.2: Activity 19A- Yosemite National Park and Glacial Landforms

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Chloe Branciforte & Emily Haddad
Ventura College & East Los Angeles College via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative

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1. Using the browser version of Google Earth, fly to Yosemite Valley, 37°44'35.8"N, 119°35'33.7"W. In the bottom right corner of the Google Earth screen you’ll see a button that says 2D; if you click it you will change your view to 3D. Ensure the button says 2D. Use the compass feature to navigate Yosemite Valley, you’ll be able to examine from all angles. What type of glacier likely formed Yosemite Valley? Why do you think that?

2. Using the browser version of Google Earth, fly to Mt. Lyell, 37°44'24.0"N 119°16'12.0"W and zoom to an eye altitude (Camera) of 22,000 feet. Switch between 2D and 3D to see the landscape at different angles. Mt. Lyell is the highest point in Yosemite NP and is home to the Lyell Glacier. Which major erosional landforms do you immediately observe?

3. Using the browser version of Google Earth, fly to Spiller Lake, 38°02'49.9"N 119°22'06.1"W and zoom to an eye altitude (Camera) of 15,700 feet.

a. What is this glacial lake called?

b. What erosional feature does the lake sit in?

4. Using the browser version of Google Earth, fly to 37°52'54.3"N, 119°20'47.7"W and zoom to an eye altitude of 11,000 feet.

a. What is this erosional landform?

b. What information can we interpret from this landform?

5. Using the browser version of Google Earth, fly to 37°42'58.2"N, 119°38'45.7"W and zoom to an eye altitude of 7,000 feet.

a. What is this erosional landform?

b. How can you tell?

6. Identify the name of the glacial sediment represented in Figure 19.26 below.

19.26.png — Figure 19.26: Sediment for Question 6 in Activity 19A.

7. Watch this video from the National Park Service on the glaciers of Yosemite National Park.

a. In your opinion, what was interesting about the Maclure Glacier?

Attributions

Figure 19.26: “Angular Boulder on Lambert Dome” (CC-BY 3.0; Daniel Mayer via Wikimedia Commons)