Geology 25 - Lecture 9: National Parks along the San Andreas Fault

These flashcards cover key geological concepts related to the San Andreas Fault, Pinnacles National Park, and Point Reyes National Seashore.

San Andreas Fault

A major fault in California that extends ~1300 km from the Imperial Valley to the Coast Ranges, characterized as a transform plate boundary.

Transform Plate Boundary

A tectonic boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally.

Strike-slip fault

A type of fault where rocks on either side move laterally; it is the type of fault represented by the San Andreas Fault.

Pinnacles National Park

A national park in California known for its volcanic rock formations and being a habitat for the California condor.

Cascadia Subduction Zone

A tectonic plate boundary located north of the San Andreas Fault, characterized by subduction of the oceanic plate beneath the continental plate.

Pyroclastic rock

Volcanic rock formed from the debris ejected during an explosive volcanic eruption.

Tuff

A porous rock made of volcanic ash that has been compacted and solidified.

Seismic energy

The energy released during an earthquake, which travels in waves away from the point of rupture.

Post-glacial marine transgression

The rise of sea level following the last glacial maximum, resulting in the flooding of river valleys and the formation of estuaries.

Differential weathering

The variation in the rate of weathering that leads to the formation of distinct landforms, as seen in Pinnacles National Park.