What is Geomorphology?
Geomorphology is a scientific study of landforms and the various processes that shape them all over the Earth. Scientists become geomorphologists because they seek to understand why landforms look the way they do and how it affects human civilization development. In Metro Vancouver as well as Greater Victoria many scientists become a geomorphologists because this in an incredibly diverse region for the types of land formations that can be found here and the impact of the various processes have to the topography of the land. This location (aka Ruckle Point Provincial Park) has an excellent vantage point that will give you a great overview look of the various southern gulf islands and tides when it comes to highlighting the various geomorphological processes that have helped to shape this region over a span of hundreds of thousands of years.
A landform, or land formation, is any natural feature, which can be found on the earth's surface such as a delta, mountain or river. The shape of the Earth’s surface, and how Human’s live on Earth, is defined by the various different types of land formations and the processes that go into the creation of those formations. The incredible variety of land formations that are found throughout the Metro Vancouver region have most certainly shaped how the 2.4+ million people live. It is also one, though not the only reason, as to why the cost of living is becoming more and more expensive.
The surface of Earth is constantly being altered, changed and even destroyed by a combination of surface processes that sculpt landscapes such as water, wind, and fire. Geological processes include the uplifting of mountain chains and the growth of volcanoes as the result of Plate Tectonics. The Earth surface and its topography therefore are an intersection of atmospheric, biological, climatic, geological hydraulic (water movement) action with geologic processes that shape the topography of the land.
Another factor that cannot be ignored when it comes to the geomorphic process and it is the human alteration of the landscape. Humans change the landscape to make it “fit better” with their needs. As a result of this many of these factors are strongly connected to the on going debate with climate change.
There are SEVEN main types of geomorphology processes that can be found in the province of British Columbia and even within the Southern Gulf Islands too. However, for this earthcache you will be focusing on ONE type of a geomorphology process and that is the Coastal-Wave Action Process.
What is Coastal-Wave Action Process?
This is how a large body of water affects the topography and shape of the land. Greater Victoria is a coastal as well as a port city and so water has had an incredible impact to the topography of the land. On top of that most of the Southern Gulf Islands have been formed by this process. The waves of the water can erode away any land formation in a short period of time because of the shear volume and weight that each wave can erode away at. An example of this land formation would be the Clay Cliffs in Point Roberts or the various viewpoints that are along Dallas Road in the city of Victoria.
How Was this Location Created as well as the Geology of the Southern Gulf Islands?
The Southern Gulf Islands consist mainly of former seabed sediments crumpled and gradually thrust upward by tectonic plate movement between 55 to 42 million years ago. The geological landscape of the Southern Gulf Islands is characterized by a folded and faulted succession of metamorphic, plutonic and sedimentary rocks that record more than 400 million years of earth history. Included in this record are tales of ancient volcanic island arcs that collided with and were subducted beneath the western plate margin of North America, of mountain belts that once towered along the coast and have since been eroded into flanking marine basins and of glaciers that have sculpted and modifi ed the relics of this ancient geological landscape. Legacies of these geological processes include the formation of mineral deposits and the development of groundwater aquifers. Earthquakes throughout the region are a constant reminder that similar geologic processes are active today along the boundary between western North America and the oceanic crust of the Juan de Fuca and Pacific plates.
Subsequent periods of glaciation scraped away topsoil and some of the bedrock. During the peak of the Fraser Glaciation,30,000 to 11,000 years ago, Salt Spring Island and the other southern gulf islands were covered with ice up to 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) thick. Though melting glaciers left deposits of sand, gravel, and boulders, the main rocks exposed on Salt Spring’s surface are sandstone and shale. Differential erosion of relatively soft shales and relatively hard sandstones helped create cliffs, points, and bays along Salt Spring’s shoreline. The resulting landforms are rather hummocky, creating numerous rocky knolls with shallow soils – many of which result in ecologically sensitive sites. Most of these landforms would originally have been covered in relatively continuous coniferous forests interspersed with sparsely vegetated ecosystems (mainly rock outcrops), arbutus groves, small, isolated wetlands, and, near the water, coastal bluffs. They consist of various combinations of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, shale, and coal. Over much of the area, these rocks have been faulted and tilted, and the more resistant beds (primarily sandstone) form linear ridges running mainly northwest-southeast. The sandstones, because of their resistance to erosion, stand out in relief and form most of the ridges and cliffs responsible for the trellis pattern of many of the Gulf Islands such as Salt Spring Island. Associated ecosystems are extensive conifer forests, interspersed with scattered sparsely vegetated units (mainly rock outcrops) and coastal bluffs, especially among the Gulf Islands. Less resistant beds tend to form lower lying terrain between the ridges.
Why this Point for a Provincial Park?
Henry Ruckle emigrated from Ireland to Ontario, then California, before finally homesteading on Saltspring Island in 1872, marrying Ella Anna Christensen in 1877. Their descendants have farmed the Salt Spring property for more than a century and, although they donated most of their property to the province for a park in 1974, the Ruckle family still raises sheep on private land near the entrance to the campground.
Continuous use of this land for farming purposes from the 1890s until today makes the Ruckle Farm the oldest continually operating farm in British Columbia. The heritage farm features a number of old farm buildings, including a barn, a forge, the old pig sty, and the original homestead residence. The big orchard barn has open access, with the schedule posted at the site. Other buildings are available for viewing from the outside only – visitors are not permitted inside.
The old homestead was built by Henry Ruckle prior to bringing his bride and her son Alfred to the farm in 1877. Their three children, Ella, Agnes, and Daniel Henry, were all born there. In 1931, Gordon Ruckle, grandson of Henry and Ella, inherited the house and lived in it with his wife, Lotus, and their children, Gwen and Henry. In 1967, shortly after electricity was installed, they moved to the Queen Anne house near the park entrance.
With its seven kilometres of shoreline, rocky headlands and tiny coves and bays, 486-hectare Ruckle Park provides hours or even days of enjoyable exploration. A mixture of forest, field and shore habitats makes it one of the most productive wildlife viewing areas on Salt Spring Island. On shore, bird watchers can often catch sight of cormorants, grebes, guillemots, eagles, owls, grouse or quail. Deer are frequently sighted, particularly at dawn and dusk.
Watch for sea lions and killer whales out in the sea, and mink and river otter cavorting along the shoreline. Tidal pools are filled with a brightly-coloured world of crab, mussel, limpet, oyster, sculpin, and starfish, and strong tidal currents create the environment for rich kelp forests offshore. Kelp forests are important feeding areas for fish and attract many birds and mammals.
Scuba divers frequent the waters off Ruckle Park, drifting among the castle-like caves or floating above the bountiful ocean floor, where they will find a profusion of Plumose anemones, sponges, nudibranchs, octopi, sea stars and giant barnacles. Beaver Point, with a rich subtidal fauna, is popular for scuba shore dives. Low tides also reveal a tremendous amount of intertidal life.
How to Get Credit for this Earthcache
To get credit for this earthcache please email me the following answers. If there is a problem with your log and or answers I will email you otherwise once you feel you have answered all of the questions then you can log your find.
Stage #1 Campground
-
What physical visual signs do you see along the campground that would indicate that this area is being changed by the coastal wave action? Please identify at least two spots and email me your observations.
-
Do you think that the coastal wave action is the reason as to why the vegetation at this location is sparse? Why or why not?
-
What is the name of the invasive species that the park rangers are trying to get rid of at this location?
Stage #2 Bear Cove
-
Please identify at least two spots that you can see at this location in which you think is associated with the folding of Plate Tectonics.
-
Why do you think the rocks appearance at this location are sharp and jagged?
-
The primary rock at this location, do you think it is sedimentary, metamorphic or igneous?
-
Was it high or low tide when you visited this location?
-
Do you think this location’s appearance will change even within the next five to ten years? Why or why not?
Stage #3 Yeo Point
-
At this viewpoint please identify at least two islands that you can see, and you think have or still are being shapped by the coastal wave action process, and email me the names.
-
How has the coastal wave action process shaped this point?
-
Do you think the coastal wave action process also has an impact on the various water plants such as kelp and the ground plants such as the gary oaks?
-
(OPTIONAL)Take a picture of you and or your GPS at the cords and include it in your log.
-
(OPTIONAL)Take a picture of the amazing view in front of you and include it in your log.
Technical Help:
Most of Salt Spring Island is covered by WiFi and even data service and when I visited the park in July 2013 I have full service with Telus for the entire three days. When you are preparing and answering the questions for this Earthcache a couple really handy apps, which are free and can be downloaded to any mobile device are:
Important Note:
Salt Spring Island is serviced by BC Ferries which provide the most comprehensive though not the only service to and from the island. Reaching Ruckle Point can also be done by private boat, canoe and sea kayak. Also it is free to park your car in the day-use car parking lot and it is free to hike the park for the day. If your plans include an overnight then the hike in campgrounds cost $18 per camping spot but the car parking is still free.
Credits & References:
British Columbia Ministry of Environment: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/sei/van_gulf/technical/appendix10.html
Geology of the Southern Gulf Islands Atlas http://cpaws.org/uploads/pubs/atlas-gulf.pdf
Ruckle Provincial Park http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/ruckle/
BC Ferries www.bcferries.com