Pleistocene Glaciation and Fault Activity in the Teton Range and Greater Yellowstone
July 20th (Tuesday), 6 p.m., Via Zoom (online) – Open to Public. Presentation: “Pleistocene glaciation and fault activity in the Teton Range and greater Yellowstone”, Presented by Joe Licciardi, University of New Hampshire.
The striking landscapes of Jackson Hole, Grand Teton and Yellowstone are the result of over 2.5 billion years of geologic events. Huge glaciers, powerful earthquakes, and extensive volcanic activity have combined forces to create the dramatic scenery and wildlife habitat of this amazing place. During the Pleistocene ice ages from about 2.5 million years to as recently as 15 thousand years ago, glaciers periodically expanded across 20,000 square kilometers of the greater Yellowstone region and reached over a kilometer in thickness. A massive ice cap centered on the Yellowstone Plateau merged with smaller valley glaciers from surrounding high mountains, including the Teton Range. Spectacular geologic features preserved within Grand Teton National Park document an interconnected history of glaciation and tectonic activity, as revealed by moraine ridges and other landforms that are cut by prominent scarps along the ~70-km trace of the Teton normal fault. These interwoven glacial and tectonic histories are also linked to volcanic processes driven by the Yellowstone hotspot.
Join University of New Hampshire geology professor Joe Licciardi as he explains the evolution of iconic glacial landscapes in Yellowstone and the Teton Range, and describes ongoing research that is exploring the connections between glaciation, faulting, and volcanism in this remarkable and geologically dynamic region.