"In a series of papers published between 1923 and 1932, J Harlen Bretz described an enormous plexus of proglacial stream channels eroded into the loess and basalt of the Columbia Plateau, eastern Washington. He argued that this region, which he called the Channeled Scablands, was the product of a cataclysmic flood, which he called the Spokane flood. Considering the Nature and vehemence of the opposition to his hypothesis, which was considered outrageous, its eventual scientific verification constitutes one of the most fascinating episodes in the history of modern science."
Victor R. Baker, 1978

In Baker's 1978 paper, he highlights the relationship between the flood morphology of the channeled scablands and the flood channels on Mars. In both cases, cataclysmic floods scoured the landscape, producing deeply incised river valleys, streamlined hills, and other indicative erosional features.
The recent discovery of columnar jointing in Martes Valles, Mars (Milazzo et al., 2009) has strengthened the relationship between the Channeled Scablands, where jointing is readily observable in the Columbia basalts, and our terrestrial neighbor.

Monday, June 27, 2011

The adventure of a lifetime-Scablands

With every place there is feeling,
that part of you that is touched by what you see touch and feel,
Today science truly became real,
From rock sliding, to Goddard day singing, we all had a great time.

The ambition that it takes to climb rocks and explore,
Made this experience what it was and so much more,
The people, the words, the loess, the birds,
Today nature explained knowledge and I learned tons!

Adventuring with my LPSA crew was so much fun!!!

Joshua "The Joker" Mann
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