Almost 10 years ago I started “watching” Dr. Zentner in order to fall asleep at night. I haven’t gotten much sleep since. He is passionate, persuasive, uplifting, and extremely knowledgeable which all combine to make for a captivating commentary every time I watch. I am so glad he has the bandwidth and capability to document his lectures for those of us who can’t join him in person.
What you’re saying and showing the world is a truth that should not be ignored! Back in 1960 I asked my teacher if she thought the continents were ever one and she told me no! You could see it on the maps and was 6 years old! You can see now that people ignore what’s in front of them! Great work Nick!
Even more importantly, explains how this is exactly how science works! The story starts with all the great evidence we had to support the previous theory, how the new evidence upends some of the conclusions, and now how the thought processes work in forming a new theory based on the old AND new evidence together. All in a story-telling talk that whisks our minds away into the depths of time vividly imagining our planet moving and evolving. He's a master teacher!
Unlike the tenured professors at my university who would hand out a syllabus and reading list, then only show up at the midterm and final. That was 300 and 400 level classwork in their speciality. There were only 2 all the rest were hard working lecturers
Thank you Nick - refreshing to hear paleomag talk. In 1980, I used paleomag to determine a timeframe of when the NorCal coastal mountain range (north of bay area) was re-magnetized some distant time after it had been laid down, but before it was distorted, folded, uplifted, fractured by faulting, etc. It was really a fun paper. What we didn't do was discuss the rest of the story as to "why" and "how" the sedimentary strata became remagnetized (although we suspected much heat and/or pressure was involved). Great introduction to Paleomag and its contribution to deciphering the stories in geologic evidence.
Listening to the lecture and then seeing that map of Alaska at 47:49 brought a smile on my face. ISN'T THIS STUFF COOL! Downloaded the Beck and Butler papers to read. Graduated from college with a BA in geology in '84. Didn't go into the field but have always kept the interest. Thanks for your lectures! - Midwesterner from Illinois
Nice presentation! Geology has always been about “thinking outside the box”, this is how we discover new data! Very thankful that we have Geologists that are able to do that! Retired Geologist who spent has career doing open hole geophysical logging..
I really admire a professor who will unbiasedly present new knowledge, and various new theories, and explain them thoroughly and well. THAT is educational integrity. Thanks for being that kind of guy! Any development in any educational field should be exciting and an occasion for collaboration and sharing, not an excuse to hunker down, protecting your own turf and modus opperandi! Presenting and sharing, freely disagreeing, discussing, and making an honest attempt to understand is the mark of a scientific approach which is always growing and changing, because we don't know everything yet!
It has just clicked. I studied geography in high school in the UK from 1970-77. Plate tectonics was relatively new but we had text books that covered it. We discussed the Pacific Plate (Fallaron) moving east and subducting and looking at the San Andreas fault which was a shear fault going north/south (ish). I remember a discussion about why the plate was going east but the surface land was not and why. I cant remember the answer. We had the seeds of doubt but didnt know it.
I spent months flying over the Rocky Mountains, desert southwest, and California while doing aerial survey. Your lectures answer so many questions I had while flying over the geology of the American west and make me want to go back and observe with fresh eyes.
My mind is blown! Wow. Thank you for the audible. Not just plates colliding, but moving in respect to the ordinate pole. Just awesome. I have a whole new view of the dynamics of Mother now.🙏
This is fantastic! And in the traditional definition of the word - I mean it’s really great to see different thoughts and ideas expressed against the mainstream geological narrative. Regardless of what the truth may be we, as humans trying to understand, need discussion and argument and sharing of varying data. Thanks for this!
This was wonderful and compelling, and I didn't expect that at all (just that it would be fascinating). What a fine presentation. Thank you for posting this.
'That's the hook'. Your style of teaching hooked me the 1st time I watched one of your lectures, 1 1/2 years ago. And your willingness to learn new things/ideas makes you a great teacher. Thanks for yet another great video lecture!
Just finished watching the last two lectures and enjoyed every minute of this series. Nick, you are a Master of your craft and a magician, of sorts, for transforming 78 episodes of information into 4 hours of riveting and beautifully told geological stories. Talk about great energy! I wish I could have been there.
I love how he condensed all those episodes from last year to early this year into a cohesive series of lectures because I missed a lot of the early episodes. It makes for a compelling case for westward subduction and Baja BC.
I so appreciate the accessibility of your teaching. Today I had several “ahhhhh!” moments. I live in Oregon and originate from Colorado. Thank you for modifying your teaching to follow new knowledge and for communicating it so clearly.
Always love to watch Nick Zenter. He reminds me of my favorite geology professor of fifty years ago. Jim Birk instilled a love in the science that has yet to fade!
Our rocks have a story to tell and Nick is the journalist interviewing, gathering evidence, and then distilling his notes in a cohesive narrative to tell that story in the most engaging and entertaining way. I love that he exposed us to so many other interesting and hard working geologist in the past few years, and especially this past winter. That series was epic! This set of talks has been an amazing wrap up to the series. 💯💥
I got busy with other thing for a year, but I am back again and I hear you talking about the new stuff and I love it! Before I stopped watching about a year ago, you had mentioned that mountain in China with the steep ocean plate diving into the mantel and that blew me away. And now you are talking about it happening under North America as well.
You know watching that model roll at the end makes me wonder just how much Chicxulub impact had on all of this. Loved the lecture I look forward to more.
As someone who has always found the traditional model (Farallon subduction suddenly goes horizontal) completely and totally unconvincing, this and the previous video (How Did the Rocky Mountains Form?) are remarkably satisfying. Not sure I'm ready to die in peace just yet, but at least I now have something to think about that makes sense. Thanks for your work on this, Nick! I look forward to further discussion of this model in the years ahead, and I trust you will stay involved and keep us posted about the upcoming conferences.
A learning junky, here. New to geology. I lived a lot of years in the Klamath Knot. I have spent over 60 years within sight of "my" beautiful Mt. Shasta, on three different sides. What you say is, besides being fascinating, makes sense. Thank you so much. I will read the papers you mentioned. I will also pass this on to my appropriate acquaintances.
I’m so hooked on this series. As a Yukon resident, living a few hours away from Carmacks. I have always had so many questions about what happened so that an ancient coral reef ended up as a mountain I wake up to every day. How is that even possible, and how that came to be. I can feel the pieces of puzzle start to come together. If you ever decide to come up to the Yukon to check out the Carmacks Group you have to give us all a heads up. Would love to see a lecture of yours. Thank you for doing this series.
Thanks Nick! This is the second presentation that I have watched... How the Rocky's were made was the first. It all makes sense to me, I'm not a geologist, but I love rocks, and how they were formed. Ron from Sandy, Utah...
Been at peace with this, since I found out paleomagnetism suggests the crooked river caldera (yellowstone ancestor)came on shore in California but I visit it at Smith rock here in Central Oregon all the time!
Awesome lecture Nick. My wife and I travel the west coast a lot, fm Baja to British Columbia. We've listen to all of your geology 101 pod-cast during our road trips between our home in Blaine WA and BAJA MX. plus watched multiple videos on your channel here. We've learned A LOT and we appreciate you and your style of presentation. I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU!
Hi Everybody. Hi Dr Nick... I reckon Nick is the epitome of a scientist ... A teacher that never stops learning and growing the understanding of their subject to better prepare their students for even greater understanding.
I was somewhat surprised to learn that paleomagnetism wasn't mainstream since my geology professor at Queen's University (Kingston, Ontario) included it in lectures back in 1982. Of course, he was young so not "set in his ways" nor, I'm guessing, did he a lifetime of papers to protect. Great series of videos; thanks for creating and sharing them.
One of the reasons it isnt taught is that it is actually pretty complex and abstract, and furthermore extremely specialized, so most even top tier geologists in any other sub discipline dont learn it in a deep way. You almost have to have been a student of a paleomag researcher or have been taught-incidentally-by one to get an introduction further than sea floor spreading and plate reconstruction. I did paleomag for my b.s. and ms/phd thesis work, so I get it, but even trying to explain it to structural geologists who use my data is a serious uphill battle.
Awesome, Nick!!😃💗 Myrl would be so proud of you, and glad you are making sure his paleomag work is passed on to other geologists and to us believers and wonders!!💞😏10 years from now or even sooner, I bet more people will appreciate what you've done here! Thank you, Nick, Myrl, and others for letting me open my eyes!!😘💞💗
I have absolutely enjoyed this double lecture - science would be nothing without one's emotion and quest for the truth. It will take me a lot of time to try to explain this to my 9 year old daughter (she already understands in basic terms how the Himalayas were formed, so there is a good chance). Thank you for this excellent video.
Absolutely brilliant summation. Nick is a gifted communicator, as well as a careful consumer of primary investigations. Being able to distill this subject into a coherent presentation to laymen is pretty amazing, actually. My hat is off. :)
Much of what Nick and associates (Myrl Beck, Bernie Hausen, etc.) have presented reminds me strongly of a book by Thomas Kuhn I read decades ago titled "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions." That seems to be what's happening.
I have learned more from Prof. Zentner on TH-cam than from 100 and 200-level college geology courses. This is only the 5th lecture that I have watched.
Awesome to see you lectures on videos! Living around Montana and driving west and seeing all that I have seen, watching these videos and other videos have been enlighten! Explain all that I have seen! Thank you!
John McPhee has written on a variety of topics, including a 5-book series with geology as the main topic. Annals of the Former World was the final book, containing the previous four as well as book five. The fourth volume, titled Assembling California, was published 30 years ago. Eldridge Moores was prominently featured in that book, and it is filled with his ideas and background details of his life. In a few pages it included a similar hypothesis. I am paraphrasing here, but McPhee, wondering about the Rockies and Himalayas, asked if Alaska could have played the role of India before sliding up the Pacific coast in pieces. Moores in reply said that is exactly what happened. I don't think that anyone back then was questioning subduction polarity (eastward vs. westward dip), and in either case there was not yet any tomographic picture of the mantle detailed enough to shed light on the topic. Over the past 30 years many more details have been uncovered. The picture today perhaps points to the terranes of western Canada rather than Alaska as the impactor. But the basic idea is not new. I think that there may still be time for a shift between westward and eastward subduction before the Laramide Orogeny. If you divide the formation of the Cordillera into Sevier and Laramide events then each could have been caused by different slabs. The Sevier Orogeny would be initiated by closure above a west-dipping subduction zone. While that slab is descending and breaking off an east-dipping subduction zone is developing somewhere to the west. Presumably this new subduction comes from the south-west to match the vector of the Laramide flat slab, which underthrusts the Sevier and beyond, beneath future Colorado and Wyoming. The big error is assuming that eastward subduction had been continuous. One could imagine a suitable arrangement of plates to accommodate the rapid northward movement of Baja-BC, with perhaps a triple plate junction south of it. This, of course, would require figuring out where all these terrane pieces were located at about 90 million years ago, and what plate arrangement might accommodate the movements needed. There is a lot of movement to unwind, including Basin-and-Range extension, northward translation of multiple terranes along many fault zones, compression and stacking of terranes on thrust faults, and with much of the evidence eroded away or buried.
Not a geologist. But McPhee's Annals really kick started my interest in not just the geology but the formation of North Anerica. Listening to these lectures I being to imagine that these scenarios have played out multiple times over the Earth's history. With each Supercontinent phase and breakup triggering repeat performances. Everytime we have a Supercontinent assemble (1) we have to realize that the driver of Plate Tectonics cannot just stop. That heat leftover from the Earth's formation along with the heat from isotope decay will try to escape. Rifting will continue to occur as will subduction. But during a Supercontinent Phase all of the action is out in the Oceanic Basins with some of the subduction taking place at the continental margins. But what breaks up a Supercontinent Assemblage. Perhaps the subduction zones that lie between continental blocks that are dragging them towards the trenches merge. An eastward and a westward subduction zone merge and the Oceanic Crust plunges straight down dragging the continental blocks towards the now combined trench. But over time the that mass of Oceanic Crust that has been subducted and piled up on itself as a ribbon acts as the catalyst for the rifting that occurs where the Supercontinent will break up. 1) I would argue that we still are in a Supercontinent phase to some extent. If one ignores minor things such as the Bering Sea it is technically possible to walk South to North from the Cape of Good Hope to the North Cape in Norway. Or East to West from West Africa to Miami.
Geology and its derivatives such as paleomagnetism are grandiose and awesome sciences. If I could live my life again, I'd do that. Kids, think about this as a career!
Thanks, Nick. I missed that Myrl Beck had passed. So glad he wrote the papers he did, taught the classes, and did the interviews so his knowledge is not lost. Also, thank you for making sure the paleomag information is being disseminated and that recognition of this is happening.
Dr. Nick: Your teaching of geology should earn you a gold medal at a future scientific olympics. The open nature of your dialogue with all who you have interviewed is the best way to advance our understanding of the earth, the only home we have. I wish our elected political representatives could mirror your process.
35:00 Your interview series? Can you please put up the information about those geologist interviews, and where to find them? --- Thanks Nick awesome and enlightening, folds within folds. I graduated high school 50 years ago this year, watching the parade of new discovery driving increasing scientific understanding of geology, and Earth sciences in general, has been a thrill. Thanks for making this information so relatable, it's like being witness to another revolution in understanding how our Earth works.
I have a feeling that 20 years from now, geology students will watch this video in the same way that we now view presentations of plate tectonics from the 1950s and 1960s. Until there is data that shows the paleomagnetic research to be in error in some way, I am getting more and more convinced that this northward migration makes perfect sense. Especially, when you have tomography that shows the story as well.
wow oh Wow, love this lecture. thank you so much for teaching us about how contenents get accreations, and movement on the coastal regions and insular regions.
It would be interesting to add the Yellowstone Hot Spot location to the lower mantle slab model. It seems that movement greatly increases as exotic terrain crossed over the hot spot. Its almost as if the hot spot is producing lubrication. Another thought is that the hot spot would be like Hawaii with fairly big volcanic islands highly prone to erosion. Would it behave as a friction reducer if that material got placed between large rock bodies?
@@mikelouis9389 yes, but during the period that a geomagnetic reversal is occurring, the earth's magnetic field is extremely varied in strength and direction, with multiple north and south poles appearing across the globe until the field settles back down to a new orientation.
@jonadams8841 The detected rotation of the earth's core aligns with the apparent surface rotation, AND thanks to paleomagnetic studies, the magnetic pole alignment is always linked to the rotational orientation of the overall planet. This is fundamental science.
Fascinating! I love that there are still changes to the way geologists see the world as some are finally willing to accept the results of research and technology that was done decades before. It must be both frustrating and vindicating for those involved.
FYI - in 1980, UC Davis Geology Dept wouldn't let me take a core drill out into the field; I carefully collected field samples securing their orientations, brought them back to the lab and secured them in plaster and then cored them in the lab. But once we had those cores, then the magic happened when we reoriented them and secured the magnetic field orientation, and compared against polar wandering plotting to start to bracket a timeframe of the level, planer surface. Fun stuff!
Having followed all with your videos and remembering Dr. Beck, I'm feeling very excited by this series of talks that are wrapping up so beautifully all we have studied together. I'm very glad Baja BC and the paleomagmatism, along with new research is being given serious study and consideration. I wish Dr. Beck were here to see this happening. However, I hope he knew through you, Nick, that the conference was in the planning stages.
This is a great way to view the West and just how complex our planet is, and how little we know. Thanks for putting forth and supporting this new view. Science is all about discover and change!
I was taught the basics of Paleo Mag back in the mid/late 1980's, how that's been applied to model the unusual geology of the West of the Rockies is fascinating. To me it's compelling evidence that the geology has migrated in the way you described. I can see why geologists love your part of the World. Great lecture series btw, very easy to follow and very engaging, I've not studied geology in quite a while and if I could get it then I'm sure others can.
Its interesting and has compelling data, but the biggest problem is that it doesnt have field observable structures/deformation which one would expect of so much deformation and transport. That and there is also pmag data from rocks of same or similar ages which does not show significant transport and there isnt much explanation why
Thanks Nick wonderful talk so glad Dr. Beck got recognition before he died and was aware of it. That alone was one good service you performed not to mention teaching all these new young geologists
Thank you for this video. This is absolutely fascinating information, presented in an exceptionally clear and interesting manner. Please continue your good works. Again, thank you for this video.
Thanks for all you do. You make it fun to watch. I still can't understand how to determine what the original longitudinal alignment is or if the material was at an odd angle from when it finally set up though. I love the idea of using it.
So I have wanted a PhD since I was a small child. I'm now 43 and no where closer than I was then because I was not afforded the ability to acquire one. After a while I decided that geology was the subject for me, yet I still didn't know what in geology I wanted to focus on because I love so many different subjects in geology. Volcanic actually interests me greatly, but tectonics also interest me. But I think I might have just found my field of study. I'm geeking out over all of this
I watched Jeff Tepper`s lecture on the initiation of the Cascades very early this morning (JST) on the 2nd November 2024, and now in the evening the same day I revisited this one which I think at this morment important for preparing to take the next A-Z cource of Nick Zentner lectures.
It's odd to think we may be watching a paradigm shift in action. I think the proponents of the accepted view can be forgiven for being reluctant to lose their model; the geology up there in that corner is crazy complicated, having finally arrived at an understanding of the picture it can't be easy to scrap it in favour of a new understanding. Fantastic lecture, as always!
Well, it's human nature to defend what we believe. Those supporting the current view have written grant requests on the old model, taught classes, built careers. It's hard to let that kind of investment in a model go. But that's also the wonder of science, that models _can_ be challenged so radically, that the old model scientists have to look at the evidence and weigh it, whether they reject it or not. It's easy, being human, to be close minded and dogmatic about everything. Science says you have to consider the evidence at a minimum, no matter what you believe.
There were plants and animals riding north on this block of the continent as it moved. The flora and fauna must have changed as the local climate cooled. The species composition of fossils at the time should reflect that. The data would be messy as climate changes happen faster than such large continental sized movements, however something like cycads might exist in lower sediments found in Washington and British Columbia but not in upper sediments. Has any work been done along these lines?
Almost 10 years ago I started “watching” Dr. Zentner in order to fall asleep at night.
I haven’t gotten much sleep since. He is passionate, persuasive, uplifting, and extremely knowledgeable which all combine to make for a captivating commentary every time I watch.
I am so glad he has the bandwidth and capability to document his lectures for those of us who can’t join him in person.
Yes, and he's got a damn good camera person as well!
🤣
What you’re saying and showing the world is a truth that should not be ignored! Back in 1960 I asked my teacher if she thought the continents were ever one and she told me no! You could see it on the maps and was 6 years old! You can see now that people ignore what’s in front of them! Great work Nick!
Unsettled science. What a concept!
Zentner is the greatest teacher, at seventy, i would go back to school to be one of his pupils, chapeau bas, Monsieur, et merci.
Once again Mr. Zentner teaches us a topic we did not know we wanted to learn.
That's for sure! I've been curious about geology and now I know how much I love it! Never too old to learn!
What I truly like is that Prof. Zentner has the courage to honestly update his teaching and incorperate it into his classess.
Only because he loves geology more then he loves himself!
@@auspiciouscloud8786and integrity
Even more importantly, explains how this is exactly how science works! The story starts with all the great evidence we had to support the previous theory, how the new evidence upends some of the conclusions, and now how the thought processes work in forming a new theory based on the old AND new evidence together. All in a story-telling talk that whisks our minds away into the depths of time vividly imagining our planet moving and evolving. He's a master teacher!
Unlike the tenured professors at my university who would hand out a syllabus and reading list, then only show up at the midterm and final. That was 300 and 400 level classwork in their speciality. There were only 2 all the rest were hard working lecturers
Nick Zentner has a real talent for blowing the the dust off a topic and breathing life in to it.
wait for it... MAGnificent lecture!!
or perhaps magnetic lecture :)
Thank you Nick - refreshing to hear paleomag talk. In 1980, I used paleomag to determine a timeframe of when the NorCal coastal mountain range (north of bay area) was re-magnetized some distant time after it had been laid down, but before it was distorted, folded, uplifted, fractured by faulting, etc. It was really a fun paper. What we didn't do was discuss the rest of the story as to "why" and "how" the sedimentary strata became remagnetized (although we suspected much heat and/or pressure was involved). Great introduction to Paleomag and its contribution to deciphering the stories in geologic evidence.
Listening to the lecture and then seeing that map of Alaska at 47:49 brought a smile on my face. ISN'T THIS STUFF COOL! Downloaded the Beck and Butler papers to read. Graduated from college with a BA in geology in '84. Didn't go into the field but have always kept the interest. Thanks for your lectures! - Midwesterner from Illinois
I had the same reaction seeing that map of Alaska!
Nice presentation! Geology has always been about “thinking outside the box”, this is how we discover new data! Very thankful that we have Geologists that are able to do that! Retired Geologist who spent has career doing open hole geophysical logging..
I really admire a professor who will unbiasedly present new knowledge, and various new theories, and explain them thoroughly and well. THAT is educational integrity. Thanks for being that kind of guy! Any development in any educational field should be exciting and an occasion for collaboration and sharing, not an excuse to hunker down, protecting your own turf and modus opperandi! Presenting and sharing, freely disagreeing, discussing, and making an honest attempt to understand is the mark of a scientific approach which is always growing and changing, because we don't know everything yet!
It has just clicked. I studied geography in high school in the UK from 1970-77. Plate tectonics was relatively new but we had text books that covered it. We discussed the Pacific Plate (Fallaron) moving east and subducting and looking at the San Andreas fault which was a shear fault going north/south (ish). I remember a discussion about why the plate was going east but the surface land was not and why. I cant remember the answer. We had the seeds of doubt but didnt know it.
Great for a rainy Sunday afternoon.
This guy always is at the top of his game. Wish I had a teacher like him.
I spent months flying over the Rocky Mountains, desert southwest, and California while doing aerial survey. Your lectures answer so many questions I had while flying over the geology of the American west and make me want to go back and observe with fresh eyes.
My mind is blown! Wow. Thank you for the audible. Not just plates colliding, but moving in respect to the ordinate pole. Just awesome. I have a whole new view of the dynamics of Mother now.🙏
This is fantastic! And in the traditional definition of the word - I mean it’s really great to see different thoughts and ideas expressed against the mainstream geological narrative. Regardless of what the truth may be we, as humans trying to understand, need discussion and argument and sharing of varying data. Thanks for this!
Great teacher. Wow!
It all makes perfect sense! I never understood the lack of explanation of the “angle change” of the Farallon Plate!
Amazing. Love how Nick casually throws millions of years around with gay abandon. So easy to listen to him.
It is to love that this man is willing to accept new evidence and adjust his teaching accordingly.
This was wonderful and compelling, and I didn't expect that at all (just that it would be fascinating). What a fine presentation. Thank you for posting this.
Prof. Zentner, these are so great. Thanks so much for all this work!
'That's the hook'. Your style of teaching hooked me the 1st time I watched one of your lectures, 1 1/2 years ago. And your willingness to learn new things/ideas makes you a great teacher. Thanks for yet another great video lecture!
Yes what a great teacher! 🎉🎉
It would be helpful if you shared suggested reading material for those of us who are playing catch-up. Nick's reading list would be an immediate hit!!
Fun fact. It was the US Navy that discovered magnetic polar flipping by hunting for mines during ww2
Yes, and since then there have been many magnetic partial flips of the poles discovered that seem to occur often in a 100 million year timescale.
Just finished watching the last two lectures and enjoyed every minute of this series. Nick, you are a Master of your craft and a magician, of sorts, for transforming 78 episodes of information into 4 hours of riveting and beautifully told geological stories. Talk about great energy! I wish I could have been there.
I love how he condensed all those episodes from last year to early this year into a cohesive series of lectures because I missed a lot of the early episodes. It makes for a compelling case for westward subduction and Baja BC.
I so appreciate the accessibility of your teaching. Today I had several “ahhhhh!” moments.
I live in Oregon and originate from Colorado.
Thank you for modifying your teaching to follow new knowledge and for communicating it so clearly.
Always love to watch Nick Zenter. He reminds me of my favorite geology professor of fifty years ago. Jim Birk instilled a love in the science that has yet to fade!
Our rocks have a story to tell and Nick is the journalist interviewing, gathering evidence, and then distilling his notes in a cohesive narrative to tell that story in the most engaging and entertaining way. I love that he exposed us to so many other interesting and hard working geologist in the past few years, and especially this past winter. That series was epic! This set of talks has been an amazing wrap up to the series. 💯💥
I got busy with other thing for a year, but I am back again and I hear you talking about the new stuff and I love it! Before I stopped watching about a year ago, you had mentioned that mountain in China with the steep ocean plate diving into the mantel and that blew me away. And now you are talking about it happening under North America as well.
You know watching that model roll at the end makes me wonder just how much Chicxulub impact had on all of this. Loved the lecture I look forward to more.
This is all making perfect sense!
You have no idea how much I appreciate you!
Thanks for what you do, keep it moving forward. Who would have thought. We sure look at the landscape differently now.
As someone who has always found the traditional model (Farallon subduction suddenly goes horizontal) completely and totally unconvincing, this and the previous video (How Did the Rocky Mountains Form?) are remarkably satisfying. Not sure I'm ready to die in peace just yet, but at least I now have something to think about that makes sense. Thanks for your work on this, Nick! I look forward to further discussion of this model in the years ahead, and I trust you will stay involved and keep us posted about the upcoming conferences.
Wow! Impressive and fascinating!
A learning junky, here. New to geology.
I lived a lot of years in the Klamath Knot. I have spent over 60 years within sight of "my" beautiful Mt. Shasta, on three different sides.
What you say is, besides being fascinating, makes sense.
Thank you so much. I will read the papers you mentioned.
I will also pass this on to my appropriate acquaintances.
Big fan of these lectures. Keep them coming, I wish I had teachers/professors as enthusiastic as Nick.
I’m so hooked on this series. As a Yukon resident, living a few hours away from Carmacks. I have always had so many questions about what happened so that an ancient coral reef ended up as a mountain I wake up to every day. How is that even possible, and how that came to be. I can feel the pieces of puzzle start to come together. If you ever decide to come up to the Yukon to check out the Carmacks Group you have to give us all a heads up. Would love to see a lecture of yours. Thank you for doing this series.
Thanks Nick! This is the second presentation that I have watched... How the Rocky's were made was the first. It all makes sense to me, I'm not a geologist, but I love rocks, and how they were formed. Ron from Sandy, Utah...
you keep geology fun
NO REASOUNDING THUD HERE .. enjoying your lecture tremendously
Thanks for your great and. most interesting lecture
Thanks for uploading this for everyone to learn, great teacher.
Been at peace with this, since I found out paleomagnetism suggests the crooked river caldera (yellowstone ancestor)came on shore in California but I visit it at Smith rock here in Central Oregon all the time!
Thank you, Professor, for lifting up your colleagues!
Awesome lecture Nick. My wife and I travel the west coast a lot, fm Baja to British Columbia. We've listen to all of your geology 101 pod-cast during our road trips between our home in Blaine WA and BAJA MX. plus watched multiple videos on your channel here. We've learned A LOT and we appreciate you and your style of presentation. I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU!
Hi Everybody. Hi Dr Nick... I reckon Nick is the epitome of a scientist ... A teacher that never stops learning and growing the understanding of their subject to better prepare their students for even greater understanding.
Incredible lecturer. This is fantastic.
I was somewhat surprised to learn that paleomagnetism wasn't mainstream since my geology professor at Queen's University (Kingston, Ontario) included it in lectures back in 1982. Of course, he was young so not "set in his ways" nor, I'm guessing, did he a lifetime of papers to protect. Great series of videos; thanks for creating and sharing them.
One of the reasons it isnt taught is that it is actually pretty complex and abstract, and furthermore extremely specialized, so most even top tier geologists in any other sub discipline dont learn it in a deep way. You almost have to have been a student of a paleomag researcher or have been taught-incidentally-by one to get an introduction further than sea floor spreading and plate reconstruction. I did paleomag for my b.s. and ms/phd thesis work, so I get it, but even trying to explain it to structural geologists who use my data is a serious uphill battle.
Awesome, Nick!!😃💗 Myrl would be so proud of you, and glad you are making sure his paleomag work is passed on to other geologists and to us believers and wonders!!💞😏10 years from now or even sooner, I bet more people will appreciate what you've done here! Thank you, Nick, Myrl, and others for letting me open my eyes!!😘💞💗
I have absolutely enjoyed this double lecture - science would be nothing without one's emotion and quest for the truth. It will take me a lot of time to try to explain this to my 9 year old daughter (she already understands in basic terms how the Himalayas were formed, so there is a good chance). Thank you for this excellent video.
Damn nice presentation! Thank you!
Absolutely brilliant summation. Nick is a gifted communicator, as well as a careful consumer of primary investigations. Being able to distill this subject into a coherent presentation to laymen is pretty amazing, actually. My hat is off. :)
Much of what Nick and associates (Myrl Beck, Bernie Hausen, etc.) have presented reminds me strongly of a book by Thomas Kuhn I read decades ago titled "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions." That seems to be what's happening.
Thank you professor Nick.
Love watching your lectures. Very well told.
I have learned more from Prof. Zentner on TH-cam than from 100 and 200-level college geology courses. This is only the 5th lecture that I have watched.
Awesome to see you lectures on videos! Living around Montana and driving west and seeing all that I have seen, watching these videos and other videos have been enlighten! Explain all that I have seen! Thank you!
John McPhee has written on a variety of topics, including a 5-book series with geology as the main topic. Annals of the Former World was the final book, containing the previous four as well as book five. The fourth volume, titled Assembling California, was published 30 years ago. Eldridge Moores was prominently featured in that book, and it is filled with his ideas and background details of his life. In a few pages it included a similar hypothesis. I am paraphrasing here, but McPhee, wondering about the Rockies and Himalayas, asked if Alaska could have played the role of India before sliding up the Pacific coast in pieces. Moores in reply said that is exactly what happened. I don't think that anyone back then was questioning subduction polarity (eastward vs. westward dip), and in either case there was not yet any tomographic picture of the mantle detailed enough to shed light on the topic. Over the past 30 years many more details have been uncovered. The picture today perhaps points to the terranes of western Canada rather than Alaska as the impactor. But the basic idea is not new.
I think that there may still be time for a shift between westward and eastward subduction before the Laramide Orogeny. If you divide the formation of the Cordillera into Sevier and Laramide events then each could have been caused by different slabs. The Sevier Orogeny would be initiated by closure above a west-dipping subduction zone. While that slab is descending and breaking off an east-dipping subduction zone is developing somewhere to the west. Presumably this new subduction comes from the south-west to match the vector of the Laramide flat slab, which underthrusts the Sevier and beyond, beneath future Colorado and Wyoming. The big error is assuming that eastward subduction had been continuous. One could imagine a suitable arrangement of plates to accommodate the rapid northward movement of Baja-BC, with perhaps a triple plate junction south of it. This, of course, would require figuring out where all these terrane pieces were located at about 90 million years ago, and what plate arrangement might accommodate the movements needed. There is a lot of movement to unwind, including Basin-and-Range extension, northward translation of multiple terranes along many fault zones, compression and stacking of terranes on thrust faults, and with much of the evidence eroded away or buried.
Not a geologist. But McPhee's Annals really kick started my interest in not just the geology but the formation of North Anerica. Listening to these lectures I being to imagine that these scenarios have played out multiple times over the Earth's history. With each Supercontinent phase and breakup triggering repeat performances. Everytime we have a Supercontinent assemble (1) we have to realize that the driver of Plate Tectonics cannot just stop. That heat leftover from the Earth's formation along with the heat from isotope decay will try to escape. Rifting will continue to occur as will subduction. But during a Supercontinent Phase all of the action is out in the Oceanic Basins with some of the subduction taking place at the continental margins. But what breaks up a Supercontinent Assemblage. Perhaps the subduction zones that lie between continental blocks that are dragging them towards the trenches merge. An eastward and a westward subduction zone merge and the Oceanic Crust plunges straight down dragging the continental blocks towards the now combined trench. But over time the that mass of Oceanic Crust that has been subducted and piled up on itself as a ribbon acts as the catalyst for the rifting that occurs where the Supercontinent will break up.
1) I would argue that we still are in a Supercontinent phase to some extent. If one ignores minor things such as the Bering Sea it is technically possible to walk South to North from the Cape of Good Hope to the North Cape in Norway. Or East to West from West Africa to Miami.
Geology and its derivatives such as paleomagnetism are grandiose and awesome sciences. If I could live my life again, I'd do that. Kids, think about this as a career!
Thanks, Nick. I missed that Myrl Beck had passed. So glad he wrote the papers he did, taught the classes, and did the interviews so his knowledge is not lost. Also, thank you for making sure the paleomag information is being disseminated and that recognition of this is happening.
Dr. Nick: Your teaching of geology should earn you a gold medal at a future scientific olympics. The open nature of your dialogue with all who you have interviewed is the best way to advance our understanding of the earth, the only home we have. I wish our elected political representatives could mirror your process.
Your explanation is greatly appreciated.
Can't wait to watch this one. Thank you for the video, Nick!
35:00 Your interview series? Can you please put up the information about those geologist interviews, and where to find them? --- Thanks Nick awesome and enlightening, folds within folds. I graduated high school 50 years ago this year, watching the parade of new discovery driving increasing scientific understanding of geology, and Earth sciences in general, has been a thrill.
Thanks for making this information so relatable, it's like being witness to another revolution in understanding how our Earth works.
Nick, this is spectacular. I am learning still. Your timing is very good.
I have a feeling that 20 years from now, geology students will watch this video in the same way that we now view presentations of plate tectonics from the 1950s and 1960s.
Until there is data that shows the paleomagnetic research to be in error in some way, I am getting more and more convinced that this northward migration makes perfect sense. Especially, when you have tomography that shows the story as well.
Love the information and the origins of both the info and the informants! Kudos!
wow oh Wow, love this lecture. thank you so much for teaching us about how contenents get accreations, and movement on the coastal regions and insular regions.
It would be interesting to add the Yellowstone Hot Spot location to the lower mantle slab model. It seems that movement greatly increases as exotic terrain crossed over the hot spot. Its almost as if the hot spot is producing lubrication. Another thought is that the hot spot would be like Hawaii with fairly big volcanic islands highly prone to erosion. Would it behave as a friction reducer if that material got placed between large rock bodies?
As a surveyor using a metal detector trying to find metal monuments, false 'beeps' from rock formed when north swapped south was annoying.
North may swap with South, but invariably the magnetic poles orient on the planetary rotational poles.
@@mikelouis9389 yes, but during the period that a geomagnetic reversal is occurring, the earth's magnetic field is extremely varied in strength and direction, with multiple north and south poles appearing across the globe until the field settles back down to a new orientation.
@@mikelouis9389 yes, but the poles aren’t like a child’s magnet - they aren’t aligned with rotational poles, and aren’t at 180° to one another
@jonadams8841 The detected rotation of the earth's core aligns with the apparent surface rotation, AND thanks to paleomagnetic studies, the magnetic pole alignment is always linked to the rotational orientation of the overall planet. This is fundamental science.
@@mikelouis9389except when it’s not, like Mercury and Uranus…
I'd like to see the entire lecture series in sequential order.
your best thing is not that you know its that you enjoy
You’re an awesome teacher! Thanks Nick! This was a great lecture!! 👌🌟🌟🌟
Fascinating! I love that there are still changes to the way geologists see the world as some are finally willing to accept the results of research and technology that was done decades before. It must be both frustrating and vindicating for those involved.
I listen to these to sleep. Your voice is soothing. I still learn something’s, too😂
Excellent Presentation. Look forward to all programing future!!
Brilliant! Finally! Centrifugal force matters....
FYI - in 1980, UC Davis Geology Dept wouldn't let me take a core drill out into the field; I carefully collected field samples securing their orientations, brought them back to the lab and secured them in plaster and then cored them in the lab. But once we had those cores, then the magic happened when we reoriented them and secured the magnetic field orientation, and compared against polar wandering plotting to start to bracket a timeframe of the level, planer surface. Fun stuff!
Be more specific with the "magic?"
Having followed all with your videos and remembering Dr. Beck, I'm feeling very excited by this series of talks that are wrapping up so beautifully all we have studied together. I'm very glad Baja BC and the paleomagmatism, along with new research is being given serious study and consideration. I wish Dr. Beck were here to see this happening. However, I hope he knew through you, Nick, that the conference was in the planning stages.
Hell yea.... This lecture ROCKS.
This is a great way to view the West and just how complex our planet is, and how little we know. Thanks for putting forth and supporting this new view. Science is all about discover and change!
I was taught the basics of Paleo Mag back in the mid/late 1980's, how that's been applied to model the unusual geology of the West of the Rockies is fascinating. To me it's compelling evidence that the geology has migrated in the way you described. I can see why geologists love your part of the World.
Great lecture series btw, very easy to follow and very engaging, I've not studied geology in quite a while and if I could get it then I'm sure others can.
Its interesting and has compelling data, but the biggest problem is that it doesnt have field observable structures/deformation which one would expect of so much deformation and transport. That and there is also pmag data from rocks of same or similar ages which does not show significant transport and there isnt much explanation why
What a great explanation! I used to be a paleomagnetist and I loved it
Thanks Nick wonderful talk so glad Dr. Beck got recognition before he died and was aware of it. That alone was one good service you performed not to mention teaching all these new young geologists
its me again DrZ, I never thought of geology as being so progressive, i am blown away by these new models, at the very least its worth a good look eh!
Thank you for this video. This is absolutely fascinating information, presented in an exceptionally clear and interesting manner. Please continue your good works.
Again, thank you for this video.
I really enjoy Nick's lectures. Paleomag is amazing .
Great series. You make me want to go back to school again.🤩 I have to come to Ellensburg soon to hear you lecture in person. Keep up the great work!!
This series was awesome! Nick, you are a national treasure!
Thanks for all you do. You make it fun to watch. I still can't understand how to determine what the original longitudinal alignment is or if the material was at an odd angle from when it finally set up though. I love the idea of using it.
This new lecture series by Shane Gillis is so good!
Seriously though this is top notch - thank you for the video.
Again, Marvelous.
So I have wanted a PhD since I was a small child. I'm now 43 and no where closer than I was then because I was not afforded the ability to acquire one. After a while I decided that geology was the subject for me, yet I still didn't know what in geology I wanted to focus on because I love so many different subjects in geology. Volcanic actually interests me greatly, but tectonics also interest me. But I think I might have just found my field of study. I'm geeking out over all of this
ANOTHER GNEISS PRESENTATION. THANKS NICK
I watched Jeff Tepper`s lecture on the initiation of the Cascades very early this morning (JST) on the 2nd November 2024, and now in the evening the same day I revisited this one which I think at this morment important for preparing to take the next A-Z cource of Nick Zentner lectures.
It's odd to think we may be watching a paradigm shift in action. I think the proponents of the accepted view can be forgiven for being reluctant to lose their model; the geology up there in that corner is crazy complicated, having finally arrived at an understanding of the picture it can't be easy to scrap it in favour of a new understanding. Fantastic lecture, as always!
The Narrative MUST be preserved.
Well, it's human nature to defend what we believe. Those supporting the current view have written grant requests on the old model, taught classes, built careers. It's hard to let that kind of investment in a model go. But that's also the wonder of science, that models _can_ be challenged so radically, that the old model scientists have to look at the evidence and weigh it, whether they reject it or not. It's easy, being human, to be close minded and dogmatic about everything. Science says you have to consider the evidence at a minimum, no matter what you believe.
Must be sort of terrifying
Yes. That does not happen too often. Amazing!
There were plants and animals riding north on this block of the continent as it moved. The flora and fauna must have changed as the local climate cooled. The species composition of fossils at the time should reflect that. The data would be messy as climate changes happen faster than such large continental sized movements, however something like cycads might exist in lower sediments found in Washington and British Columbia but not in upper sediments. Has any work been done along these lines?