This course highlights the geology, natural resources, and environmental issues of the Mojave Desert. During the first 8 weeks of the course, students complete a series of projects highlighting the geology, geomorphology, and environment with emphasis on human impacts. Over spring break, students travel to the Mojave Desert where the climate is characterized by summer temperature in excess of 120 ˚F and extremely low rainfall of only 2-4 inches per year. Yet, this landscape supports one of the most intensively cultivated areas of the United States, the Imperial Valley. Students will investigate water diversion from the Colorado River, salinization of cultivated desert soils, and visit Salton Sea formed by the irrigation runoff. The intersection of mining, resource extraction, and technology is highlighted at the Boron Mine, where boron is used as a component in the manufacture of borosilicate glass for smart phones and other touch-screen technologies. The Ivanpah solar plant and the nine generating facilities of the Mojave Solar Energy Generating System produce a combined 800 megawatts of electricity to the electrical grid. Contamination from commercial activities is highlighted by the extensive groundwater contamination issues in Hinkley, CA, and at Goldome Mill near Ivanpah, CA. Students will explore arid region landscapes through the study of sand dunes, pediments, alluvial fans. The desert fauna and flora are uniquely adapted to the climate and environment: the hypersaline conditions of the Amargosa River support the Death Valley pupfish and the Badwater snail thrives in small springs in one of the Earth’s most hostile environments in Death Valley.

Approved