02-12-2011 Patrick Pringle: Ancient Buried Forests

Ancient buried forests—Indicators of catastrophic geologic events

Patrick Pringle, Associate Professor of Earth Science at Centralia College, returns to the Port Townsend Marine Science Center to present an intriguing lecture titled “Ancient buried forests—Indicators of catastrophic geologic events.” These fossil and old forests are associated with tsunamis, debris flows, and landslides, some as close as Crescent Lake, southwest of Port Angeles.

About the Speaker

Dr. Pringle is a highly regarded geologist who has studied throughout western Washington and is the author of roadside geology guides to Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens.

Read more about Pat’s publications etc…

03-03-2012 Hugh Shipman: Bluffs and Beaches

About the Talk

Bluffs and Beaches:  Geology on the edge (of Jefferson County)

Puget Sound is best distinguished from other large American estuaries by the pervasive influence of the last glaciation.  This glacial legacy includes a steep, irregular coastline, an abundance of coarse-grained sediment, and a shoreline dominated by coastal bluffs.  These bluffs are inherently erosional landforms, although the rate and character of this erosion varies greatly.

Bluffs are a key component of a dynamic beach system that supports an incredible array of coastal landforms and environments, including spits and small estuaries.  This talk will draw on local examples to show how geologic processes have shaped the modern shoreline and how they continue to do so – sometimes with significant implications for people who live near the shore.  The talk will also include observations on how geology is becoming increasingly important to our thinking about how we protect Puget Sound’s shorelines.

About the Speaker

Hugh has been a geologist with the Shorelands Program at the Washington Department of Ecology since 1989.  His interests include coastal erosion, geologic hazards, and the environmental impacts of shoreline modifications. Hugh grew up near the coast of Maine but moved to the Puget Sound region in 1983.

Visit Hugh’s blogs at:

Gravel Beach – http://gravelbeach.blogspot.com/

Washington Coastal Hazards Resilience Network – http://www.wacoastalnetwork.com/blog