Voluntary-Extra Credit Field Trip #1 – San Diego Coastal Geology

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Introduction

This voluntary fieldtrip assignment is optional and involves participating in a coastal geology field trip. Students have an option of either, going in-person on a real field trip to a local San Diego North County beach that is guided by the instructor, OR completing an online virtual fieldtrip. Students can complete either trip for extra credit (up to 15 points). Those who participate on the in-person trip will receive extra credit if they show up and participate. Those who choose to complete the field trip online will receive extra credit when they respond to this assignment by answering (correctly, of course) the Virtual Fieldtrip Question Worksheet file included on this assignment page. Completion of the online virtual fieldtrip must be by 11:55 p.m. on June 30. Below is information for both, the in-person, and online alternative fieldtrips.

Option #1 – The In-Person Coastal Geology Fieldtrip

Date: Sunday June 27, 2011 at 9:00 AM

Where to meet: Torrey Pines State Reserve Beach, San Diego. We will meet across from the bathrooms near the park entrance located off the Pacific Coast Highway against a big hill next to the beach (NOT the bathrooms near the river mouth and bridge!). Park either along the highway (for free) or go into the park (pay an $10 fee). Don't be late!

How to Get There: go to this site for maps and directions to the meeting place - http://www.torreypine.org/parks/basic-information.html

How long?: The trip will probably take about two hours to complete (9:00 am to 11:00 pm).

Cancellation due to Weather: The field trip will be cancelled if it rains (very unlikely!!).

General Purpose: To familiarize students with the coastal geology of San Diego County, and to better understand the concepts concerning sedimentary rocks, depositional environments, shoreline processes, geomorphology, weathering and erosion, with an emphasis on geologic history of San Diego.

Activities: A 1-mile hike along the beach. Observe, study, and discuss the geologic history and development of the local rock formations of costal San Diego.

Field Assignment: Students will be required to complete a short field trip question handout, which includes answering fill-in questions, observing ocean and bluff conditions, and writing a short reflection on the field trip experience to be turned in via the online classroom assignment portal.

What to Bring: Students should bring a clipboard, writing tools, water, and sunscreen. Frisbee, towel and a surfboard are optional.

Also bring a copy of the in-person fieldtrip question worksheet. Download a copy from this link:

http://www.oceansci.com/inperson_fieldtrip1_worksheet.pdf

What to Wear: Loose, comfortable clothes (T-shirt and shorts is good) along with a sweatshirt or windbreaker. Beach weather may range from sunny and warm to overcast and cool. So it is a good idea to be prepared either way.

Option #2 - Santa Cruz Coastal Geology Virtual Fieldtrip

Field Assignment: Students need to complete a field trip question-based worksheet on the virtual field trip experience to be turned in via the online classroom assignment portal. You need to return your written answers to those questions by 11:55 p.m. on July 30^th (in the Fieldtrip #1 Assignment submit section) as a response to this assignment in order to receive extra credit. This trip is conducted entirely online, and can be found at Natural Bridges Coastal Field Trip Webpage at URL:

Fieldtrip link: http://emerald.ucsc.edu/~es10/fieldtripNBridge/

A copy of the virtual fieldtrip questionnaire is found at this link:

Worksheet link: http://www.oceansci.com/virtual_fieldtrip1_worksheet.htm

General Purpose: To familiarize students with the coastal geology of Santa Cruz, California, and to better understand the concepts concerning sedimentary rocks, depositional environments, shoreline processes, geomorphology, weathering and erosion, with an emphasis on geologic history of Santa Cruz, CA. Note that the geology of Santa Cruz is somewhat similar to that of San Diego.

Activities: Read and view images of the coastal geology, shoreline features and coastal processes of northern Monterey Peninsula off a website.

Field Assignment: Students will be required to complete a 25 question worksheet, and writing a short reflection on the field trip experience to be turned in via the online classroom assignment portal.