Trail Talks

Living and Playing in the San Andreas Plate Boundary with Tanya Atwater

A little knowledge of the geology and plate tectonic history of Southern California can go a long way toward understanding and enjoying the quirks and wonders of our dramatic landscapes. In this talk, Tanya will use maps, photos, animations, and a hands-on model to demonstrate and clarify this history and its topographic legacy.

Tanya is an Emeritus Professor at U.C.S.B. She received her education at M.I.T., U.C. Berkeley, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography, completing her Ph.D. in 1972. Dr. Atwater’s research has concerned many aspects of tectonics, ranging from the fine details of seafloor spreading to global implications of plate tectonics. Her work included numerous oceanographic expeditions, including twelve dives to the deep sea floor in the tiny submersible Alvin. She is especially well known for her research on the plate tectonic history of western North America and the San Andreas fault. She is the recipient of numerous honors, including election to the U. S. National Academy of Sciences and the Penrose and Wollaston medals from the Geological Societies of America and of London (their most prestigious awards).