“Pepperwood Preserve is nestled among faults and streams that have formed on a tectonic boundary we call the San Andreas Fault. Forces at depth drive the motion of the land, which is simultaneously shaped from above by an evolving climate. Over long periods of time the land is slowly carved by air and water. The landscape and its ecosystem are a result of the confluence of geology, hydrology, meteorology and ecology. In disastrous events that from our human perspective can feel both instantaneous and prolonged, the land is remade by catastrophes fueled by earth and atmosphere. Geology and climate are the driving forces behind life as we know it in Sonoma County. 

Join Nicole Myers, lecturer at Sonoma State University, for a journey through geologic time and history in Northern California. We will observe how earth, air, water and fire have created the landscape features of Pepperwood Preserve, consider how these forces will continue to carve the land, and how climate change will influence the ever changing landscape.

This class includes an opening lecture presentation, and a hiking field exploration. We will stop to eat lunch in the field, please plan to bring a trail-ready lunch to carry with you.”

Details: Earth, Air, Water, & Fire: How Geology Rocks Life in Sonoma County – Pepperwood Preserve