NEWYORKNEWJERSEYHARBORESTUARYEARTHCACHEDISCOVERYTRAIL

WelcometoTheNewYorkNewJerseyHarborEstuaryEarthCacheDiscoveryTrailisasetofvirtualearthcaches thathighlighttheamazinggeologyandecologyofLibertyStateParkinJerseyCity,NJandInwoodHillParkin Manhattan.Thisfamilyfriendlyactivityisappropriateandfunforallages!Theselfguidedpaceandeducational componentallowsvisitorstodiscoverandappreciatethebeautyandnaturalhistoryoftheHarborEstuarywhile exploringtheresourcesoftwooftheEstuarysmostbeautifulparklands! Thereare10EarthCachesestablishedoneachEstuaryDiscoveryTrail.Theestimatedtimetocompleteeach EarthCachevariesdependingonyourpacepreference.ThisEstuaryDiscoveryTrailwascreatedbyGoingCoastal asaspecialprojectinaffiliationwithGroundspeakandsupportfromtheNYNJHarborEstuaryProgramandthe NewEnglandInterstateWaterPollutionControlCommission. WhatisEarthcaching? GPSunitscanbeafunwaytoexploreInwoodHillPark.EarthCachingisavirtualgeocachethathasnophysical hiddencontainer.EarthCachingisahuntfornaturalandgeologicaltreasures.AllEarthCacheshavean educationalcomponentthatinvolvesreadingadescriptionofthelocationorfeature,locatingthefeatureusing aGPSdeviceandsolvingariddleorquestion.Insteadofleavingorremovinganything,EarthCachersreporttheir observationsoranswersontheGeocachingwebsiteandviaanemailtothecachemanagerat estuarycache@gmail.com. AswithallEarthCaches,thereisnophysicalfind,thediscoveryisthenaturalwondersoftheparkwhenyouvisit. TheseEarthCachestakeyoubehindthescenestoinvestigatewhythelandatInwoodHillParkissospectacular, andhowitcametobe.TheseactivitiesareofferedtheschoolsandorganizedgroupsthroughtheInwoodHill NatureCenterUrbanParkRangersandtheLibertyStateParkInterpretiveCentertosupportresearchand educationefforts.Contacttheparktoscheduleyourdiscovery.Everythingyouneedtoenjoythedaywillbe providedGPSJr.devices,EarthCachedescriptionsandlogbooks. Whatyouwillneedtoparticipate: GPSJr.unit,GPSdeviceorSmartPhone Auseraccountathttp://www.geocaching.comforobtainingtheEarthCachedescription(orobtaina hardcopyonlineatgoingcoastal.org) DownloadorprintoutthespecificEarthCachedescription&coordinates NotebookorGoingCoastallogbook(downloadatgoingcoastal.org) Apenorpencil EnthusiasmtoexploretheNYNJHarborEstuary! Howtheprogramworks: 1. Setupamembershipatearthcache.orgtoaccessthecompleteEarthCachelistings.Thebasic membershipisfree! 2. ChoosetheearthcachesopportunitiesfoundinInwoodHillPark. 3. LoginandprintthetextandGPscoordinatesforeachEarthCache. 4. Onceinthepark,useyourGPSdevicetolocatethecacheobjectivesandanswerthequestions.Each InwoodHillParkEarthCacheisaseparItsfreeatecachesoyoucanchoosetocompleteoneorcomplete theentireDiscoverTrail. 5. Returntotheearthcache.orgwebsitetologinyourEarthCachefindanduploadaphotoandgiveashort statementaboutyourexperience. 6. YoualsoneedtoemailyouranswerstotheGoingCoastalquestionstoestuarycache@gmail.comto obtaincreditforthefind,andsothatyoudonotgiveawaytheanswerstofuturecachehunters.

InwoodHillParkNatureCenter
GPSCoordinates:40.87399273.92006
Waypoint1

GettingThere:IndianRoadand218thStreet.Subway:Takethe1/9trainto215thstreetandwalknorthto 218th.Takealefton218thtotheend,andyouwillreachthepark.OrtaketheAtrainto207thstreetandturn westontoSeamanAveandwalknorthintothepark.Car:FromWestsideHighway,taketheDyckmanStexit. FollowtheexitasitmergeswithBroadway.DrivenorthonBroadwayto218thstreet.TheentrancetothePark isontheendofthestreet.FromFDR/EastRiverDrive,gonorthtotheend.Theendofthehighwayisat DyckmanSt.BearleftonDyckmanSt.TakeDyckmanwesttoBroadwayandtakearightonBroadway.Proceed northto218thStandmakealeftturnandparkattheendofthestreet.Streetparkingonly. AboutThisWaypoint:TheEarthCacheistheInwoodHillParkNatureCenter,thebestplacetogetthelayofthe land.Hereyouwillseethebigpicturepiecesofgeology,ecologyandculturalhistorythatmakeupthe completestoryofInwoodHillParkslandscape. AlonghistoryofgeologicaleventsfromtheProterozoiceonwhenlifebeganonEarthtothelastPleistocene epochoficeagesispreservedintherockformationsinthelandscapeofInwoodHillPark.Therocksyouseeand toucharethesolidmaterialsthatformthesurfaceoftheEarth,bothonlandandatthebottomofoceans. TheNatureCenterwasoriginallybuiltasaboathousein1937ontheHarlemRiverShipCanal.Thehydrologyof thewatercoursediffersfromwhenHenryHudsonvisited.UpperManhattanandtheBronxwereseperatedby onlyashallowtidalstraitcalledSpuytenDuyvilCreekuntiltheendofthe19thcentury.SpuytenDuyvilCreek wasrechristenedtheHarlemRiverShipCanalaftertheArmyCorpsofEngineersreroutedthecreektoprovidea moredirectconnectionbetweentheHudsonandEastRivers,cutting14milesofftheroutetoLongIsland Sound. WhentheHarlemShipCanalwascompletedin1895,theneighborhoodofMarbleHillwasseveredfrom Manhattan,creatinganislandwithwindingSpuytenDuyvilCreekasitsnorthernboundary.SpuytenDuyvil Creekwasfilledinby1916connectingMarbleHilltotheBronx.ResidentsofMarbleHillretainedtheManhattan postaladdress,whiletheyresideintheBronx.ThecurvesofSpuytenDuyvilCreekareevidentintheNewYork Countyborder,whichextendsaroundMarbleHill. TheNatureCenterandtheparksnumeroushabitatsprovidecloseupobservationofthelocalgeologyand ecology.ItisalsoaplacetoexplorethelonghistoryoftheNativeAmericaninhabitants. InwoodHillParkconsistsoftwogreatridges,risingashighas220feet,withadeepravineinbetweenand lowlandsbesidetheHudsonRiverandSpuytenDuyvilCreek.TheClovefollowstheravine.Therearemany landformstoexplore,fromlagoonsandsaltmarshestohillsandrockyoutcroppingsthatprovidecluestothe geologicrecordandevennowarebeingchangedbydynamicforcesthatareconstantlyatwork. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/41/119887496_6595efbc02_o.jpg InwoodHillNatureCenterisoperatedbytheUrbanParkRangers,openWednesdaytoSundayfrom10:00a.m. to4:00p.m.Thecenterservesasstartingpointforwalkingtoursandworkshopsitesforeducationalprograms, recreationalactivitiesandenvironmentalstudiesforschools,youthgroupsandthewholefamily.Thereare exhibitshighlightingthediversityofthelandscape.

LoggingTasks: 1. StepoutsidetheNatureCenterontothelandingoverlookingthelagoon.UseyourGPSunittomarkthe spot.Whatarethecoordinates?Whyisitimportanttoknowyourlocation?Whereyouare? 2.Nametwogeologicalprocessesthatarevisibleintheenvironmenttoday. 3.Waterisanimportantnaturalresource.TheHarlemShipCanal/SpuytenDuyvilCreekisusedfornavigation. Canyounametwootherusesofthewaterways? Tologafindonthisearthcache,emailthecacheowner(DONOTPOSTINYOURLOG).UseyourGPSdeviceto locatethenextcacheGC2RQ4

GneissPlaceforaWigwam
GPSCoordinates:4052.4557355.217Waypoint2

GettingThere:ToreachthiswaypointwalktotheNWsideoftheNatureCenterbuilding.TheNativeAmerican wigwamislocatedintheNatureCentersoutsidelot. AboutThisWaypoint:LookacrossSpuytenDuyvilCreektothewallof rockpaintedwiththeColumbiaUniversityC.Itisoneoftheoldestrock formationsintheworldmadeofFordhamGneiss,ametamorphicrock formedabillionyearsago.Itwasoncepartofahighmountainrange createdwhencontinentscollidedandtectonicplatesshiftedduringthe GrenvilleOrogreny(amountainbuildingperiod).Tectonicprocessessuch asorogeniescausedlandtobeelevated,anderosionandweathering causedlandtobewornawaytolowerelevations. Fordhamgneissisbasementrockusuallylyingunderyoungerrockformations.Geologicaleventscausedthis veinofFordhamgneisstocropupintheNorthBronxastheRiverdaleRidgereachingtheedgeofthecreek beforeplungingsteeplyunderground.NativeAmericansbuiltcampsofwigwamsintheshadowoftheprotective ridge. TheysettledontheshorewhereSpuytenDuyvilCreek,theHudsonRiverandHarlemRivermeetinavillagethey namedShorakapok.TheinhabitantsofthisvillagewereLenape(lenAHpay),alsoknownastheDelawareTribe. ThevillagersspokealanguagecalledMunsee,adialectoftheEasternAlgonquianDelawarelanguage.The wigwamwasafamilyshouse.TheLenapebuiltwigwamsbyfirstputtinglongpolesintotheground,then bendingthepolestomakeadomedframe.Theframewascoveredwithsheetsofbark.Theopeningintheroof wastoletsmokeoutfromthefire.

TerritoryoftheLenape LenapeMan.http://www.mrwanat.info/lipson engel/lenape/lenape1.html

Thelandwasgoodforfarming,andtheLenapegrewmaize,beansandsquash.Theyalsofishedandgathered oystersinthenearbywater,andhunteddeer,bear,beaver,andmanyotheranimals.Archeologistshavedugup manyartifactsaroundInwoodHillincludingpottery,arrowheads,bones,andornamentsofcarvedstone.The LenapeuseddugoutcanoesmadeofhollowedouttreestotravelthewaterwaysoftheHarborEstuary.

Figure1:HistorianReginaldPelhamBoltonsmapshowstheareain1932showingchangestothelandscape.

AsacredLenapestorytellshowtheearthwascreated.Firsteverythingwaswater.Thenagiantturtlecameto thesurface.Theturtlesshellisthelandwearestandingon.Soontreesandotherplantsbegantogrowontop oftheturtlesshell. SpuytenDuyvilCreekwasverydifferentwhentheLenapelivedhere.Originally,thecreekmadeasharpbendat thebaseofInwoodHill.Today,itformsacontinuouswaterwaycreatedfromthewideningoftheHarlemShip CanallinkingtheHudsonRiverwiththeHarlemRiver.Thechannelwasstraightened,theriverdredged,cut throughsolidrockinManhattan(relocatingMarbleHilltotheBronx),filledinSpuytenDuyvilCreekandadded thetractwhereyouarestandingtoManhattan.Beforethen,thisspitoflandwaspartoftheBronx. LoggingTask: 1.LookatthebanksoftheHarlemRiverandthecliffsacrosstheriver,listonewaythathumanshavemodified thelandscape. 2.Whatisthespitoflandwhereyouarestandingmadeoutof(rock,dirt,sand?) 3.TheLenapedidnotusenailsorscrewstobuildtheirwigwams.WhatdidtheLenapeuseinsteadofnailsand screwstokeeptheirwigwamstogether? 4.(Optional)Whydoesthewigwamhavearoundedshape? DataSources: NYCDepartmentofParksandRecreationhttp://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/inwoodhillpark LenapeLifewaysLenapehistoryandculture:http://www.lenapelifeways.org

Glaciers:LandscapeArchitectsoftheNYNJHarborEstuary
GPSCoordinates:4052.3837355.217 GettingThere:WalkbacktowardtheNatureCentersfrontentrance.ContinueonthepathintheSEdirection andstayrightatafork,continueonthispathoverafootbridge. AboutThisWaypoint:Thiscachetellsthestoryofhowthecombinedactionofgeologyandglaciersinthepast affectstheecosystemsthatarepresenttodayintheNewYorkNewJerseyHarborEstuary. IceandwaterformedthemodernlandscapeatInwoodHill.Glaciersarehuge,solidformsoficethatmovevery slowly.Fourtimesglacierscreptawayfromthearticregions,acrossCanadadownthroughNewYorkandcame toahaltalmostexactlyatwhatisnowNewYorkCity.Thissitewasburiedbeneathhundredsoffeetofsolidice duringtheiceagecalledthePleistoceneepoch(theperiodspanning3millionto12,000yearsago). Sealevelfelleachtimetheglaciersgrew,androsewhentheicemelted.Thefrozenicecausedthesealevelof theAtlanticOceantodrop 400feetandtheshorelineto moveover100milestothe edgeofthecontinentalshelf. Duringtheperiodoflowered sealeveltheHudsonRiver cutadeepgorge,whichwas floodedbythemelting glacierstoformadrowned riverestuary. Estuariesareplaceswhere riversmeetthesea.Estuary watersareanutrientrich soupthatarevitaltoplant andanimals.TheNewYork NewJerseyHarborEstuary tookitscurrentshapeinthe last10,000yearswhenthe icebegantomelt.The estuarycomprisesNewYork HarborandthetidallyinfluencedportionsofallriversandstreamsthatemptyintotheHarbor.Itispartofthe largeNewYorkBight,whichisthecoastalindentationbetweenNewJerseyandLongIslandattheentranceto NewYorkHarbor. InwoodHillParkisagreatplaceforbirdstorestandfeed.Manymigratorybirdsflynorthinthespringtobreed andhatchtheiryoung,andthenflysouthinthefalltooverwinter.NewYorkCityliesonamajornorthsouth migratoryroutecalledtheAtlanticFlyway.TheAtlanticFlywaycanbethoughtofasahighwayforbirdsthat startsintheArcticandendsinSouthAmerica.SomebirdsstartorendtheirtripinInwoodHillPark,whileother birdsusetheparkasaquickreststoponthewaytotheirfinaldestination.

Whenyouaregoingonalongtriphowdoyoumakesuretonotgetlost?Birdsnavigatethousandsofmilesby followinglandformations(likerivers),thesun,and/orthestars.Somebirdsareabletousetheearthsmagnetic fieldtodirectthemjustlikepeopleusecompasses.

AmapoftheAtlanticFlyway.ThemajorroutefollowstheUnitedStatescoastline.Courtesy: http://www.birdnature.com/atlantic.html

AveryfamiliartypeofwaterfowlthatlivesinNYCallyearroundisthemallardduck.Themaleiscolorfulwitha greenheadandwhiteringaroundtheneck.Aswithmostbirds,thefemalesareduller.Doyounoticeanyducks tippingthemselvessothattheirheadsareunderwaterandtheirfeetarepokingup?Thisiscalleddabbling. Ducksdabbleinordertoeatunderwatervegetationandinvertebrates.

Photographoffemalemallardduck. http://67pics.com/view.php?q=Pictures%20Of%20The%2 0Mallard%20Duck&url=http://www.englishcountry garden.com/a/i/birds/mallardduck1.jpg

Photographofmalemallardduck. http://animal.discovery.com/guides/wildbirds/ir/mallard duck.html

Besidesbirds,someotherlongdistancetravelersarefish,seaturtles,seals,andwhales.TheNYNJHarbor Estuaryprovidesaplacewherejuvenilefishliveandgrow.Itsupportsmorethan200speciesoffish.The majorityoffishinestuarywatersareanadromous.Thismeansthattheyareborninfreshwater,traveltothe oceantogrowup,andthenreturntotheHudsonRivertospawn(layeggs).Stripedbass,Atlanticsturgeon,and Americanshadareanadromousfish.Americaneelsdotheopposite.Acatadromousspeciesoffish,eelspawnin theoceanandliveouttheirlivesintheestuary. Survivalintheestuaryisdifficult.Adelicatebalanceofabiotic(nonliving)factorsoftheenvironmentaffectslife intheestuarysalinity,dissolvedoxygen,temperature,andpH.Eachofthesefactorsismonitoredtosafeguard theyarewithinacertainrangetoensurethesurvivalofspecieslivingintheestuary. TheHarborEstuaryisaffectedbywhathappensfarupstream,suchaspollutantsandsedimentsthatare transportedbyrainandwaterrunoff.Landuseaffectswaterquantityandquality.Sowhenyoulitterorpour motoroilonthestreet,itwilleventuallybecarriedbyrainandwindtotheestuarywhereitcanharmaquatic life,birdsandevenhumans. LoggingTask: 1.Nametwofeaturesvisiblefromherethatwerecreatedbyglaciers. 2.TheelementsHydrogenandOxygenintwoofitsphasesshapedthemodernestuary.Whatarethe twophases? 3.Canyounameamigratorybirdyouseehere?Isthebirdheadednorthorsouth?Howdoyouknow? 4.(Optional)ImagineyouareamigratingbirdflyingoverInwoodHillPark.Drawasimplebirdseye viewmapthatincludesafewlandformsandfeaturesthatwillhelpyounavigateyourtrip(waterbodies, bridges,etc).Dontforgettoincludeanortharrow. UseyourGPSdevicetolocatethenextcache. DataSources:
CornellLabofOrnithologyhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/netcommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1478 NYNJHarborEstuaryProgramhttp://www.harborestuary.org NYCAudubonhttp://www.nycaudubon.org/home/ WikipediaAtlanticFlywayEstuary

SaltMarsh:KidneysoftheEstuary
GPSCoordinates:4052.4167355.329 GettingThere:Continueonthepath,keepingthewatertoyourrightside,tothesouthernendofthelagoon. AboutThisWaypoint:TheInwoodHillSaltMarshisbuiltonmudanddependentontides.Thereusedtobesalt marshessurroundingallofManhattanIslandbutunfortunatelymostofthemarenowgone.Infactthereisonly onenaturalsaltmarshleftinallofManhattan,andyoureinit.Whatremainsisthisnarrowstripofvegetation onthelagoon. Belowthetidewater,asmallfencedoffpatchofcordgrassisintheprocessregenerating.Thefieldisreturning totallgrassesandotherwetlandvegetation.Thegroundissoftening.Thefieldissinking.Ifleftalone,thepatch willspreadacrosstheballfield. Saltmarshesdependonsedimentation.Sedimentsfromerodedrocksandmineralsformedafinesiltandclay thatwascarriedfromthelandbyrainandrivers.Sandwasmovedbytheriseandfallofthetides.These sedimentdepositssettledasmudintheshelteredlowlyinglagoon.Thismudtypesubstrate(basesoil)supports lifeonthesaltmarsh. Saltmarshesaretransitionzonesbetweenthelandandtheseathatarealternatelyinundatedbythetides.Only about1%ofNorthAmericaissaltmarshhabitat.Themarshhasdiscretezonesofincreasedgradientfromthe mudflatstothehighmarsh,characterizedbytheamountoftidalinundation. TidesfromtheAtlanticOceandrivethesedimentprocess.Thepullofthemoonsgravityandthesunsgravity ontheoceancausesseawatertoriseandfalltwiceadayinNewYorkCity,abouteverysixhours.Themeantidal range(thedifferencebetweenhighandlowtide)atSpuytenDuyvilis3.8feet,highenoughtocoverthelow marshland.Thetidalrangegoesupto4.6feetinspringduetomeltingsnowandseasonalrainswhenthehigh tidereachesthehighmarshzone.http://ian.umces.edu/loicz/temperate.png Youprobablyknowtidesbestfromthebeach.Whenthetidecomesinyouhavetomoveyourtowelupthesand andwhenitgoesout,thereisafartherwalktothewater.Differentpartsoftheestuaryexperiencedifferent tides.Tideinformationisavailableintidetablessoyoucangaugethetidewhereveryouareintheharbor. Whenthesealevelriseswiththefloodtideitbringsnutrientsin.Themudflatandsaltmarsharesubmerged,the levelofsaltrises(calledsalinity)andthetemperaturecools.Whenthetidalcurrentrushesouttoitslowestat theebbtideitcarriesawaywaste.Theintertidalzone(thebandbetweenhighandlowtide)isexposed. Themudflatisleftwithwindingchannelsofwaterthatcarrydetritusanddepositsediment,thesalinitylevel lowersandtheheatrises.Thesalinitylevelisalsodeterminedbytheamountoffreshwaterenteringthemarsh fromtheHudsonRiver,rainandrunoff.Thissaltymixiscalledbrackishwater.

 Oncemudstartstobuildup,smoothcordgrass(Spartinaalterniflora)takesroot.Thisseedingofcordgrassis whenthesaltmarshisborn.Theflora(plants)ofthesaltmarshhastobetoleranttosalt,becausemostplants cannotliveinsaltysoil.Nativesaltmarshcordgrasshastough,thickbladesthatabsorbwaterandexcreteexcess salt.Touchabladeandyoucantastethesaltonyourfingers. Withinthesaltmarshisacomplexfoodwebhttp://www.alienteacher.com/foodweb.jpgproducersand consumers.Newlyhatchedfish(fishlarva)driftwiththetidalcurrentsfeedingonplankton.Therearetwotypes ofplanktonfreefloatingmicroscopicplantlikephytoplankton(algae)andanimallikezooplanktons(fishlarva, hatchlingcrabsandshrimps).Likeallgreenplants,phytoplanktoncontainchlorophyllandcapturesunlight, waterandcarbondioxide(Co2)togrowandproduceoxygen,calledphotosynthesis.Phytoplanktonproduce about50%oftheoxygenthatyoubreatheeveryday!Oneteaspoonofseawaterholdsaboutamillion phytoplankton.Theyareatthebaseoftheworldsfoodchainprovidingfoodforsmallfishthatlargercreatures eatit. Thesaltmarshisafactoryforbuildinglandfromopenwater.Marshesrequireabaseoftidalsediments,usually silt/mud.Thecolonizationofthemudflatborderbygrassesiscalledsuccessionofplants.Thesaltmarshstores hugequantitiesoforganiccarbonintheformofmarshplantmaterial.Duringwarmermonthsyoucanseethe cordgrass.Itnaturallyanchorsmud,steerstidalflowandtrapssedimentexpandingthemarsh.Eachautumn, theshootsofcordgrassdiebackaccumulatingintosaltmarshpeatthatbuildsmarshelevationandcanmitigate theeffectsofsealevelrisefromclimatechange.Theplantrootssurvivethewinterwithfreshshootspushingup

eachspring,startingthecycle anew.Anestablishedmarshcan keepupwitharisingsea;and,the marshspreadsoutlandwardasit growsverticallyasthewaterlevel rises. Saltmarshcordgrassprovidesa nurseryforyoungaquaticlifethat livesinandarounditsstalks,finfish likestrippedbass.Itistheprimary producerofthesaltmarshandthe baseofavastfoodweb.Thefood webstartswiththesun.Live cordgrassisnotasourceoffood, butbacteria,algaeandfungifeed onthedecayingplants,leaflitter, andotherfloatingmatterbreaking itdowntodetritus,alsocalledmarinesnow.Thedetritusfeedsinsects,worms,ribbedmussels,marshsnails, andfiddlercrabsthatburrowandcrawlovertheloosesurfaceofthemudflats.Theseinturnfeedthewading birds,suchasGreatblueheronsandsnowyegrets.Thefecesfromthebirdsfertilizethegrowthofnew cordgrass. Saltmarshesarethekidneysoftheestuarybypurifyingwaterandfilteringnonpointsourcepollutionfromland runoff,precipitation,atmosphericdeposition,drainage,seepageorhydrologicmodification. LoggingTasks: 1. Whatisthetidelevelatthetimeofyourvisit?Giventhepresenttidalflow,arenutrientsbeingaddedto thesaltmarshoriswastebeingremoved?Includethedateandtimeinyouranswer. 2.Describeindetailthemudatthesaltmarsh.Whatisthecolorofthemud?Doyouseebubbles,holes, snakingchannels,etc.Isitfirmground?Couldyoueasilywalkacrossitatlowtide?Howdoesmudactlikea liquidandasolidatthesametime? 3.Whatistrappedinthemud?Howdiditgetintothelagoon? 4. (Optional)Thesaltmarshisnaturallyregeneratingontheballfields.Lookcloselyatthefencedareaand describehowthisland,groundandvegetationdifferfromthesurroundinglandscape.Howwillrisingsealevel affectthislandscape? Tologafindonthisearthcache,emailthecacheowner(DONOTPOSTINYOURLOG).UseyourGPSdeviceto locatethenextcacheGC2RWJ1.http://coord.info/GC2RWJ1 DataSources: AlienTeacherhttp://www.alienteacher.com/foodweb.jpg GoingCoastalhttp://www.goingcoastal.org HarborEstuaryProgramhttp://www.harborestuary.org NYCDept.ofParks&Recreationhttp://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/inwoodhillpark/highlights/12864 SaltMarshesofNewYorkCityNYCParksNaturalResourcesGroup WikipediaSaltMarsh Welikia:BeyondtheManhattaProjecthttp://welikia.org

ShorakkopochRocksErraticPast
GPSCoordinates:4052.3977355.424 GettingThere:Followthewalkwaysouthwesttotheedgeoftheopenfieldatthebaseofthewoodedhill. AboutThisWaypoint:YouarewalkingontheoriginalshoreofSpuytenDuyvilCreek.Thecreekwasonce surroundedby15acresofwetlands.Thecreeknowlaysfurtherbackbecauseportionsoftheoldwaterwayand saltmarshwerereplacedbylandfillfromconstructionprojects. ThehydrologyorwaterflowofSpuytenDuyvilCreekwasreroutedbydredging,straighteningandfillingmaking theearlierwindingcreekanavigablechannellinkingtheHudsonRiverwiththeHarlemRiver.Thisfieldwasfilled inthe1930sbyRobertMosesinhistransformationoftheparkland.

Aphotographofthetuliptreetakenin1913facinginroughlytheNEdirection.TheSpuytenDuyvil Creekisinthehorizon.Courtesy:http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/gottscho/

Peoplechangedthetopographyinordertomaketheparkmorelevelforaplayingfield(imagineplayingfootball onsuchasteepslope!).Inengineering,whenmaterialisremovedfromthegrounditiscalledcutandwhen materialisaddedtothegrounditiscalledfill.Cuttingandfillinghappensallthetime,andyouhaveprobably seenitifyouhaveeverpassedbyaconstructionsite.Theareayouareinhasmajorexamplesofcutandfill.

ThemaptotheleftwasmadebytheBritishis1776duringtheRevolutionaryWar.Thereddotisapproximatelywhere wearestandingnow.Themaptotherightisarecentaerialphotoofroughlythesameextent.Noticehowdifferentthe SpuytenDuyvilCreeklookstoday.Leftmapcourtesy:http://watercourses.typepad.com/watercourses/waterspuyten duyvilcreek/.RightphotoGooglemaps.

ShorakkpopochRockisaglacialerraticofPalisadesDiabasetransportedtoInwoodHillbyglaciersthatpushed everythingintheirpathlikeasnowplowandpulledsoilandbouldersbeneathit,droppingthemastheice meltedandtheglacierretreated.Itiscallederratic,becauseitwasformedmilesawayinwesternConnecticut beforebeingpickedupbytheglacieranddepositedontheshoresofSpuytenDuyvil. http://www.flickr.com/photos/goingcoastal/5604983964/in/photostream/ Ifyoulookcloselyyoucanseehairlinecracksintherock.Whenthetemperaturechangesheatingorcoolingthe rockitwillexpandorcontractcausingweathering,likecracks.Ifwatergetsintothecrackandfreezesintoice,it willexpandandmakethecrackintherockevenbigger. ThisrockisknownasShorakkopochRock,namedforthelargeLenape(Delawaretribe)settlementonitsbanks. Shorakkopochisthenativewordthatdescribedthelandscape.Itmeansthewadingplace,thesittingdown placeorbetweentheridges.HenryHudsonsailedtheHalfMoonintothisinletin1609.Onthisspotthere oncestoodagiant280yearoldtuliptree,165feethighandagirthof20feetaroundthoughttobe Manhattan'soldesttree.Unfortunately,thetreefellinastormin1938. OTulipTree!OTulipTree! Whatchangestimehathwrought! Whatsceneshavepassedbeneaththybough! Whatfleetingagehathbrought! AugustusPostJune3rd,1933 ShorakkopochRockhasaplaquethatcommemoratesthesiteofthetuliptreewherelegendhasitPeterMinuit, theleaderoftheDutchcolonyofNewAmsterdam,boughtManhattanfromtheLenapetribein1626in exchangefor24dollarsworthofbeads.Thetuliptreewasawitnesstohowhumanstransformedthislandscape. TurnsoyouarefacingSpuytenDuyvilCreek,andtakealookatthelandscape.Compareyourviewtotheancient shoreline,stillevidentinthelandscape.Youcanreallyimaginefromthisvantagepointhowdrasticallythe topographyhaschanged. Intheadjacenthills,youmaystillfindevidenceofshellmiddens,thegarbageheapsofmanyoysterdinnersand, perhaps,awampumstation,makingbeadnecklacesvaluedbytheIndiansintrade.Theoystershellsshow

thatformanymillenniumstheLenape laterminedthecompostingoystershellsmade upofcalciumcarbonate(lime)forfertilizerand mortar.Naturaloysterbedsoncecoveredthe wetlandsofSpuytenDuyvilCreekandthe HarlemHudsonRiverconfluence.Infact, oysteringcontinuedhereuntildredgingofthe HarlemShipCanaltookawaytheoysterbeds andwetlandsin1889.Oystersarefilterfeeders thatliveforupto30years.Thismeansthat pumpwaterthroughtheirgillstofeed.As oystersfeed,theyhelpkeepthewaterclean, removingcontaminants.Oneoystercanfilter about50gallonsofwateraday. LoggingTask: 1. Howhascuttingandfillingaffectedthislandscape? 2. Whichlandformsvisibleherearecreatedbynatureandwhicharecausedofhumanactivity? 3.ThereisaplaqueonShorrakkopochRockcommemoratingthepurchaseofManhattanIslandatthisspot. HowmanyguildersdidthePeterMinuetpaytheNativeAmericansforManhattan?(Seeplaque). 4. (Optional)Howmanygallonsofwaterwillanoysterfilterinitslifetime? DataSource: SidneyHorensteinInwoodHillandIshamParks:Geology,GeographyandHistoryNaturalHistoryofNew YorkCitysParksLinneaenSocietyofNewYork,September2007. MarkKurlanskyTheBigOysterBallantineBooks,2006 ShorakkopochRockhttp://www.columbia.edu/~nad7/neighborhood/200220.html VielesWaterMapof1874 Wikipedia:Middens,PeterMinuit,Oyster

ShelteringRocks
GPSCoordinates:4052.3807355.488 GettingThere:Followthepathintotheforesttothetallledgesofrock. AboutThisWaypoint:Lookingaroundyouwillseeoutroppings,cliffsandboulders.Alotofexposedrock.This rockiscalledbedrock.Thehugerockstumbledtogetherduringalandslideformingoverhangingsofnaturalrock shelters. NativeAmericansofusedthesecavesheltersasatemporarybasewhentheyfishedinthenearbyHudsonRiver. TherewasstillNativeAmericanslivingaroundthesecavesupuntilthe1930s.PrincessNaomioperateda museumandshop,gavetoursof thecavesanddemonstrated nativeartsandcrafts. "Itmaynothaveoccurredtoyou intheseterms,butasyou observeoutcropsinNewYork City,youaredoingtwo contrastingthings.First,youare vicariouslywalkingbackwardin time.Andsecond,youare figurativelydescendingdeep withinaformermountain zone."*AllofthebedrockinNew YorkCityisallochthonous, denotingasedimentorrockthat originatedatadistancefromits presentposition.Duringthe PaleozoicEra,theNewYork regionwassituatedintropical latitudes. InwoodHilllieswithinthe ManhattanProngoftheNew Englandphysiographicprovince oftheAppalachianmountain belt,extendingthrough Westchester,theBronx, Manhattanandnorthern Queens.Itisasmallbeltof ancientbedrock,consistingof sedimentaryandigneousrocks. Theserockshavebeensubjected toseveralepisodesof deformation.

Bedrockisthesolidrockbelowloosesoil. Bedrockcontinuesallthewaydowntothe foundationoftheearthscrustover18 milesdeep!Therearethreemaintypesof bedrockfoundinInwoodHillPark(1) FordhamGneiss,(2)ManhattanSchist,and (3)InwoodMarble. FordhamGneissistheoldestrockandwas formedfromacollisionoftectonicplates thatoccurred1.1billionyearsago. ManhattanSchistandInwoodMarblewere bothformed450millionyearsago.Inwood Marbleisaformercoralreefturnedto limestone.Thegneissinsomeplacesunder NewYorkCityfoldslikerocktaffywiththe SchistandMarble. Manhattanschististhemostprevalent bedrockinthecity.Therockcontainslow valuegarnetwhichmakesithardenoughtosupportthehighestvaluedrealestateintheworld.InGreenwich Village,theschistis260feetbelowgroundandcanonlysupporttheBrownstonesfavoredbyartists.Theschist liesonly18feetbelowthesurfaceinmidtownandlowerManhattansupportingtoweringskyscrapers. Whyisthebedrockpoppinguprighthere inthepark?Inmanyplacesyoudhaveto dighundredsoffeetdownintotheground justtoreachthebeginningofbedrock. Whenbedrockappearsontheearths surfaceitiscalledanoutcropping.Inorder togetanoutcroppingalltheloosesoil(like sand)thatusuallycoversthebedrockmust beremoved.Sowhatremovedalltheloose soilhere?Glaciersreshapedand rearrangedthoserocks.Duringthelastice age,about10,000yearsago,massive glaciers(1,000feethigh)slowlyslid throughthisarea. InsomeareastheEarthscrusteruptedto thesurfaceundertheweightofthegiant icesheets.Therocksactedmuchlikewhen apersonsitsonanairmattressinapool, themattresssinksbeneaththeweightof thepersonandraisesaroundthesides.The forceoftheglacierplungedsomelayersofrock,calledstrata,deeperwhileliftingtheterraininotherareas.The hillsatInwoodareevidenceofthisprocesscalledcoastalrebound.

Someoftheserockstravelledgreatdistancestobedumpedhere.ThehugebouldersofManhattanschistare glacialerratic,stonestransportedfromasfarawayaswesternConnecticut.Afterthelastglacier,knownasthe WisconsinIceSheet,astheicefinallymelted,itloweredintoplacestones,gravelandsoilfarfromwherethey werepickedup.Glaciersalsopushedmassesofdebris,calledtill,materialsfromsandtogiganticboulders,just likeasnowplowpushessnow,leavingbehindhillsofterminalmoraine. LoggingTask: 1. Lookcloselyattheoutcroppingofrocksaroundyou.Describethecharacteristicsoftherocks.Basedon thetraitsyouobserve,whattypeofrockisit? 2. Howwouldyoudescribethesurfacetextureoftheserocks?ie:rough,smooth,grainy. 3. WhyarerocksimportanttoEarthandtohumans?Howdopeopleuserocks? DataSource: BedrockGeologyofNYC:http://pbisotopes.ess.sunysb.edu/reports/nycity/index.html HotRocks:AGeologicalHistoryofNYCParksnycgovparks.org/sub_about/parks_history/geology.html Rockcycle:http://www.freewebs.com/lexyc/ U.S.GeologicalSurvey:GeologyoftheNewYorkBight:http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/nyc Wikipedia:LastGlacialPeriod

BirdAlleyin

GPSCoordinates:4052.1827355.620 AboutThisWaypoint:TheslopesofInwoodHillsupportacoastalforestoftheoldesttreesinNewYorkCity betweentworockridgescalledTheClove. Thewoodedvalleyhasmanytreesover200yearsold,rootedina loosesoilcalledglacialtillmadefromtherockandsoilgroundupbeneaththeglacierasitmovedacrossthe regioninthelasticeage. SoilisoneoftheEarth'sessentialresources.Onehandfulofsoilsupportsmoreorganismsthantherearepeople ontheearth.Geologicprocessesdetermineifthesoilisacidicoralkaline,andwhatkindsoftreeswillprosper here.Treespreventsoilerosion.Withouttrees,themineralslostfromthesoilmayalsoflowintobodiesof water,causingeutrophication,algalblooms,andotherwisedrasticallydepletingthebiodiversityofthe ecosystems.Cuttingdowntreescontributestoglobalwarming. Allsoilismadeupoffourcomponents:(1)Abioticorinorganic(nonliving)elementscalleddirtsilt,sand,clay, andbitsofrocksmakeupabout45%;(2)Deadleaves,brokentreebranches,deadbugsandotherdecomposing bioticororganic(living)mattertakeupabout5%;(3)25%iswater,and(4)25%isair. Therearethousandsoftypesofsoil,eachwithdifferentcolors,textures,anddirtcomposition.Thedarkerthe soilis,thericheritisinnutrients.Graysoilispoorindrainageandredsoilisnotgoodforgrowing.Ifyoustart diggingintosoilanywhere,youwilleventuallyhitbedrock.Themineralslostfromthesoilmayalsoflowinto bodiesofwater,causinglakeeutrophication,algalblooms,andotherwisedrasticallydepletingthebiodiversity ofsuchecosystems. TherewouldbenotreesandplantsinInwoodHillParkwithoutsoil.Therootsofthetreesandplantskeepthe soilfromblowingorwashingaway.Ants,worms,snakesandburrowinganimalstillthesoil.Soilisporoushaving smallloosebitsofdirtwithemptyspaces.Theporesofsoilholdwaterandair.Theamountofwaterthesoilcan holdiscalledfieldcapacity.Thesizeandamountofporeswilldeterminewhetherthesoilgetsmuddywhenit rains.Treesandplantsabsorbwaterkeepingthesoilfromgettingtoowet.Theelevationoftheland,sloping hills,ravines,vegetationandsoilaffectthedrainage,howwaterpassesovertheland.Excesswaterdrainstothe nearbythelagoonandrivers.

Downloadedfromhttp://www.cirrusimage.com/tree_tulip.htm

Downloadedfromhttp://www.treeland.com/trees_red_oak.asp

Theleavesontheleftarefromatuliptree.Theleavesontherightarefromaredoaktree.

InwoodHillsoilisrichandmoist.Theforestisfilledwithtuliptreesandredoaks.Bothtreescangrowovera100 feethighformingadensecanopy.BothtreearenativeNewYorkers,theyhavebeengrowinglocallysincebefore

theEuropeansarrived.Theforestisdeciduousmeaningthetreesshedtheirfoliageintheautumn.Theeasiest waytoidentifytreesisbylookingattheirleaves.Lookaroundyouandtrytofindatuliptreeandredoaktree! TheCloveisalsoknownasBirdAlley.OnBirdAlleyyoucanhearthebirdcalls.Thebirdsyouseehereare songbirds;theydifferfrombirdsonthewater.Youwillnotfindanyduckshangingoutinanyofthesetrees! Some150speciesofbirdshavebeenspottedintheforest.Themorecommonbirdsherearecardinals,robins, sparrows,graycatbirds,woodpeckers,andbluejays.Thereareeveneaglesnestinginthedensecanopy.These birdsliketheforestbecausetheyfindfoodandshelter. Doyouknowwhatatreeusesitsleavesfor?Eachleafisasmallfactorythatconvertsthesunslightintofood forthetree.Thechemicalprocessiscalledphotosynthesis.Theleavesmakefoodsoeverypartofthetreecan eatincludingtheroots.Thismeansthatthefoodsometimeshastotravelover100feetdown.Treespipe theirfooddowninwhatscalledthephloemyoumayknowitbetterassap.Thephloemorsapisfoundinthe innerbark.Therootsofthetreeareresponsibleforabsorbingwater.Howdoeswatergetfromtherootstothe leaves?Thetreepipesthewaterupthroughitssapwood. NativeAmericanssetfirestomanagetheforestgrowth.Thisforestwasentirelyclearedduringthe RevolutionaryWar.WorkersoftheWorkersProgressAdministration(WPA)builtmanyofthetrailsandroads presenttoday.Streetswerelaidout,firehydrantsinstalledandlamppostsplaced.Numerousnaturalfreshwater springsoncesproutedfromtheslopes,perishedfromlandfilland otherhumanactivities. Theuplandforestprotectscleanwater,supportslife,createshabitat, absorbsgases(carbon),and.Itslikeagiantspongesoakingstorm runoffandfilteringoutpollutants.Treesalsoproducetheoxygenthat webreathe.Haveyounoticedhowdifferentthecoastalforestlooks fromasaltmarsh?Unliketheplantsinthesaltmarshthesetrees woulddieiftheywerefloodedbythetidessaltywater.Scientists believeglobalwarmingwillleadtohighertidalwaterlevels.Ifthis happens,somecoastalforestscouldtransformintosaltmarshes. LoggingTasks: 1.Soilsvaryincolorbasedonage,sedimentcomposition,climate,andcondition.Whatcoloristhesoilhere? Istherealotoforganicorcompostingmatter?Whatdoesthepreviousanswersindicateabouttheconditionof thesoil? 2.Whatistheconsistencyofthesoil?(siltypowder,stickyclay,grittysand,loose,friable)Howdoesthe differentsoilaffectwhatgrowshere? 3.(Optional)DrawasoundmapofBirdAlley.Standverystillandcloseyoureyesforamomentwhileyou listentotheforest.Mapthedirectionofthesoundsyouhearbirds,crickets,rustlingleaves,etc.Besureto includeaNorthcompassarrow. DataSources: ArborDayFoundationhttp://www.arborday.org/trees/ringsTreeNatomy.cfm NYCDepartmentofParks&Recreationhttp://www.nycgovparks.org USDAhttp://soils.usda.gov

InwoodHillParkGlacialPothole
GPSCoordinates: 4052.1997355.613 AboutThisWaypoint:Aglacialpotholeboredthroughamassivesevenfoottallrock!Thepotholeislocatedon theeasternfaceoftheslopingrock.Boringthroughrockisnoeasytask.Manhattanschistisahardrock.Itis alsoaveryoldrock.Thepotholeformedduringthelasticeage.Thetopsoftheglacierswere1,000feethigh; meaningthetopoftheglacierwas1,000feethigher thanwherewearenowstanding! Whatdidthetopsoftheglacierslooklike?Thetopsof theglacierswerenotjustsolidice(likeaniceskating rink),butthetopsofglaciersalsohadriversand streamsrunningoverthem.Onthebottomofthe riversandstreamsweresmallcracksandholesinthe ice.Whenwaterflowsrapidlydownaholeitswirls aroundjustlikewhenatoiletisflushed.Thewaterin theriversalsocarriedwithitsmallrocks.Theswirling waterwithrocksactedlikeagrinderthatslowlybored aholethroughthe1,000feetofice,andthenboreda holethroughtheunderlyingbedrock.Theglacier meltedabout10,000yearsagoandwearenowleft withtheglacialpotholeyouseebeforeyou.

Adiagramshowingtheswirlingeffectthatcausesglacialpotholes. Pebblesandrockareswirledaroundinthewaterandactlikeadrill thatboresthroughtherock.

Theglacialpotholeisasmallpieceofnatureinwhichaworldexists.Oncethepotholeiscreateditbeginsto collectfreshwater.Freshwaterisdefinedaswaterthatcontainsverylittlesalt.Thepotholefillswithrainwater, deadleaves,branchesandotherdetrituscreatingamicrolenticzoneorstandingbodyoffreshwaterthatis hometonumerousorganisms.Microalgae phytoplanktonaretheprinciple photosynthesizersinpothole. Occasionally swimminginsectswilltakeadipinthe potholepool.Itsmicrosizeandlimited watermovementcharacterizethissmall, simplefreshwaterecosystem.Heavyrain andrunoffmightcausethewaterto overflowinaminiwaterfall.Likethe Earthsbiosphereandallecosystems, interactionsamongbioticandabiotic factorscontrolconditionsintheglacial pothole. Becauseofthedampnessandlowlight therearelichens,likeamatofgreenfelt growingonnearbyrocksandtrees (substrate).Alichenisaplant.Ithasno leaves,stemsorroots,butlikeotherplants

itmakesitsownfoodusingenergyfromsunlight.Lichenformwhenfungusmeetsalgaeandtheyare compatible.Itisasymbioticrelationship,algaearethephotosynthesizersthatproducefoodandfungusformsa bodythathousesboth. Thesouthsideoftherocksandtreeswillgenerallyhavemorelichensthanothersides.Thisisbecausethesouth sidegetsmoresunlightforphotosynthesistooccur.Whenalicheniswetfromrainordewitgrowsactively,but whenitdriesoutinsummer,itstopsgrowing.However,thelichendoesnotdie,butinsteadliesdormantuntil thenextrainstartsitgrowingagain. Lichensareimportantinmanywaysinthehabitat.Somemakethenitrogenintheairusabletoplants,Theyare homesforspiders,mites,lice,andotherinsects.Allareimportantinthenutrientcycleintheplaceswherethey grow.Lichenhttp://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/interesting/lichens/images/lichens_on_boulders_lg.jpgarevery sensitivetopollutionintheairandcanbeusedtomeasuretheeffectsofpollutiononanenvironment. ThispotholeisoneofthemostuniquesightsoftheInwoodHillPark.InadditiontoInwoodHill,40footdeep glacialpotholesover110feetbelowthestreetshavebeenreportedbyengineersattheWorldTradeCenter site.Wehopeyouenjoyedexploringoneofnaturesmostinterestingnaturalformations. LoggingTask: 1. Geologistshaveatheoryabouthowthecombinedactionsofglacialmelt,flowingwaterandrocksmade thepothole.Whichrockwasyounger,thepotholerockortherockthatcutthroughit? 2. Takeacloselookattherock.Istheinsideofthepotholesmoothertexturethanoutsiderock?Whydo youthinkthatis? 3. Estimatethecircumferenceoftheglacialpothole. 4. (Optional)Lookforthelichenontherockfacesandnearbytrees.Isthelichendormantorinagrowing stage?Theweatherwillhelpdeterminetheanswer.Pleaseincludedate,timeofdayandweather conditionsinyouranswer. DataSource: Lichenland:http://ocid.nacse.org/lichenland NYBotanicalGardens:http://www.nybg.org/bsci/lichens/ NYCDepartmentofParks&Recreation:http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/inwoodhillpark Wikipedia:GiantsKettle,Lichen,Mosses

WhalebackRock
GPSCoordinates: 40 52.166 -73 55.627 AboutThisWaypoint:WhalebackrocktellsthestoryofglaciationinInwoodHillPark.Itcaneventellyouwhich waytheglacierflowed.Fromthiscacheyoucanseeatremendousspanofgeologictime.Youcanalsosee evidenceofthegeologicprocessesthatcreatedtherocky InwoodHill. Asglaciersmove,theypickupanythingintheirpath,from smallgrainsofsandtogiganticboulders.Objectscarriedby theiceactlikebulldozersplowingsedimentandwearingdown allobjectsintheglacierspath.Aglacierwillevenchangethe shapeofmountainsasitpassesthrough. WhaleBackRockisanoutcropofManhattanschist polydeformationorrefoldingofrecrystalizedpreexisting Adiagramshowingglacierabrasion.Thebottomofthe glacierscrapesupthesoilandrockasitslidesoverit. rocksbyretrogrademetamorphism.Theboulderwaslater http://schoolswikipedia.org/wp/g/Glacier.htm roundedandpolishedbyglaciers,leavinglinearscrapemarks, calledstriations.Standontherocktoseethem.Bymappingthedirectionofthemarks,youcantellwhichway theglacierwasmoving.. Didyoueverwonderwhererockscomefrom?Howisarockmade?Rocksareclassifiedbaseonhowthey originated.Therearethreemainclassesofrocks(1)Sedimentary,(2)Igneousand(3)Metamorphic. Sedimentaryrocksbeganasmudandsand.Thesearecalledsediments.Asthelayersofsedimentbuildupover millionsofyearsandareweighteddown,thebottomlayershardentogether.Igneousrocks,fromtheLatinword igneusmeaningoffire,formfrommagmacools.Metamorphismofsedimentaryrocksformsfromextremely powerfulcollisionsandtemperaturesdeepinsidetheearth.WhaleBackandtherocksheltersofManhattan schistaremetamorphicsedimentaryrocks.Justlikebutterfliesgothroughmetamorphosiswhentheyenter theircocoonsascaterpillarsand emergeasbutterflies,therock emergeschanged. Whenrocksbreakdownthe eventuallyturntosandorsediment. Thisrockcycleneverstops.When Earth'stectonicplatesmovearound, theyproduceheat.Whenthey collide,theybuildmountains. Pressureandheatinsidetheearth metamorphosetherock.Weathering anderosioneventuallybreakup rocksandwashesawaythesediment. Thisnewsedimentinturnforms sedimentaryrock. Howdoyoutellthedifferentrocks apart?Allrocksaremadeofminerals,nonlivingcrystals.But,notallrocksarethesame.Manhattanschist

mineralshaveshinyflakes,oftenmicaandredgarnet.Acloserlookandyouwillseethegemssparkle.Inwood marbleiswhiteandgrainylikesugar;itismadeoflimestoneformedfromdeadseacreatures.Thickbedsof marbleliebelowtheHarlemRiver,aveinisexposedundertheHenryHudsonBridgeandatnearbyIshamPark. ThemineralsinancientFordhamGneissareclumpedtogetherinribbonsoflighteranddarkerbandsofcolor.

TopleftexampleofInwoodMarble.Toprightisanexampleof Gneiss.Noticethedistinctcolorblotches.Theseareminerals withintherockandtheyaregoodwaytodifferentiateGneiss fromSchist.BottomleftisanexampleofManhattanSchist.

Inwoodmarblehttp://www.johnbetts fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/inwood.htm Gneisshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amphibolitic_gneiss.JPG ManhattanSchisthttp://geology.com/rocks/metamorphicrocks.shtml

Howdoyoutelltheageofarockorthetimeperiodtowhichitbelonged?Isntthesedimentandmatterthat maketherockolderthantherockitself?Atwhatpointdoesitbecomearock?Rockshaveatomicclocks.Each rockcontainsarecordofthegeologiceventsthatformedit.Geologistsdeterminetherelativeageofrocksby measuringtherateofradioactivedecayintherock.Thefossilremainsfoundinrockshavedeterminedthe GeologicTimeScalebyshowingthelifeformsthatexistedon LoggingTasks: 1.WhaleBackisaswrinkledlikeaSharpeidogandispochmarked.Nameonerockformationprocessand onegeologiceventthatgaveWhaleBackitsruddysurfacetexture. 2.Lookcloselyattherock.Therearefoliationsgoinginonedirectionandstriationsinanotheralongthetop. Fromobservingthestriationscanyoutellthedirectiontheicesheettravelled? 3.IfglacialstriationisfoundinatemperateclimatezonelikeNewYork,whatcanweinferabouthowclimate changedovertime? 4.(Optional)WhaleBackrockhasbeensmoothedbyglaciersandweatheredbytime.Astherockerodesin InwoodHill,whatpathwillthesedimenttravel.Mapthepossibletrailofasedimentparticleonitstravelsfrom InwoodHilltowhereitmighteventuallyenditsjourney. DataSources: U.S.GeologicalSurvey:http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/

HudsonRiverontheRocks
GPSCoordinates:4052.4087355.656 AboutThisWaypoint:ThiscacheisavistaabovetheHudson River.Theriverdelineatestwodistinctgeologicaleventsthat formedtherockunderyourfeetandthemagnificent Palisadesacrossthewatergap.Therockpinnacleofthe overlookdates500millionyearsagotakingformatthe buildupofthesupercontinentmadeupofcalledPangaea, formedwhenthecontinentsonearthcollidedduringthe PaleozoicEra.ItisManhattanschistofthemetamorphic varietyofsedimentaryrock. Acrosstheriver,theverticalcliffsofthePalisadesformed200 millionyearsagointheearlyJurassicEraduringthePangaea riftwhenatearintheearthscrustbegantoopenthe AtlanticOceananddeconstructthesupercontinent.The Palisadesaremadeofigneousrockformedwhenhot,molten magmacooledbeneaththeearthscrustandmoldedthe distinctpalisadefenceappearance. TheHudsonRiveristhesouthernmostglacialfjordintheNorthernHemisphere.Fjordsaredefinedasvalleys erodedwellbelowsealevelbyglaciers,andthenfilledbytheseaaftertheglaciersmelt.TheHudsonRiverisan armoftheseaforabouthalfitslength.Thelanddrainedbyariverisitswatershed.TheHudsonRiver watershed,adrainageareaof13,390squaremiles,emptiesintoHudsonRiverflowsintotheHarborEstuary whereitmixesandcirculateswithseawaterfromtheAtlanticOcean.Thegeologyandsoiltypesinthe watersheddeterminethenutrientstransportedfromthelandbyrunoffandrivers. Ariverssourceisthehighestbodyofwaterfeedingit.ThesourceoftheHudsonis315milesliesnorthinthe AdirondacksnamedLakeTearintheClouds.TheriverisnamedaftertheEnglishexplorerHenryHudson,who exploredtheriverwhilehewas lookingforashortcutrouteto Asia.TheLenapecalledthe riverMuhheakantuck, translatedastheriverthat flowsbothways.So,howcan itflowtwoways? Beingatidalriver,theHudson haslowerelevationsthannon tidalrivers.Tidalriver elevationsarefairlyclosetosea levelelevations.TheHudson Riverselevationisclosetosea levelforover100milesinthe northdirection!Thisiswhythe

HudsonRiverisundertheinfluenceoftheoceanstides.Theriverchangesdirectionbasedonthetidalcurrent oftheAtlanticOcean.Twiceadaysealevelsriseandfall. Imaginetheoceantakingtwogiantbreathsaday.Whentheoceanexhalesitpushesoceanwaterout,and higherelevatedareasgetfloodedwithseawater.Whentheoceancantbreatheoutanymoreitiscalledhigh tide.Afterhightidetheoceantheninhalesandsuckstheseawaterbackin.Whentheoceancantbreathein anymorethenitiscalledlowtide.Theoceansbreathinggoesonallthetime,anditiscausedbythemoons gravitationalpullandtoalesserdegreethesungravitationalinfluence.WhentheAtlanticOceaninhalesthe riverflowssouthintotheNYCharbortowardtheocean.WhentheAtlanticOceanexhalestheoceanpushes theriverawayfromit,andtheriverflowsupstreaminthenorthdirection! WaterintheHarborEstuaryisconstantlychanging.Heatinitiatesthecyclechangingwaterfromsolid(ice)to liquid(water)togas(vapor).Whentheheatistakenaway,waterturnstoice,thenwatervaporbecomesliquid. Thewaterfromtheestuarycanturnintowatervaporbecomingrainthatistakenupbythegroundandrivers. Thewaterthatrunsoffintorivers,flowstothesea,eventuallyevaporatesandstartstheprocessoveragain. Eventsthatoccurfarupstreamimpactthequalityof waterintheestuary.Thedrainagebasinorwatershedof theNYNJHarborEstuaryencompassesabout16,300 squaremiles,includingmuchofeasternNewYork, northernNewJersey,andsmallpartsofwestern Connecticut,Massachusetts,andVermont.Thequalityof theEstuaryswatersisaffectednotonlybyactivities occurringdirectlyintheHarborandBightbutalsoby industrial,agricultural,landuse,andotherindividual practicesthroughoutthislargerwatershed.Asrainwater movesoverthelandinthewatershed,itcarrieswithit manypotentialpollutantsthateventuallyendupinthe Estuaryoildumpeddownstormdrains,pesticidesfrom farms,lawnfertilizers,oilandgasolinefromhighway runoff,sewagefromfailedseptictanks,andsediment fromconstructionprojects. LoggingTask: 1. UsethecompassontheGPStodeterminewhichdirectionthewaterflowing?Isthetidecomingin (flooding)orgoingout(ebbing).Recordthedateandtime.(POSTTOLOG) 2.WhataresomereasonsforthedifferencesinsalinityasonejourneysdowntheHudsonRiver? 3.(Optional)WhattypesofactivitydoyouobserveontheHudsonRiver?Iftherearevessels,canyouname thetypes.(POSTTOLOG) 4.(Optional)HowdoyouusetheNYNJHarborEstuary?Fromyourpersonalexperienceandobservation,how canyouhelppreserveandconservetheHarborEstuary? DataSource: HudsonRiverWatershed:ny.water.usgs.gov NYNJHarborEstuaryProgram:http://www.harborestuary.org/aboutestuary.htm TheHudsonRiver:AnIllustratedGuidetotheLivingRiverbyStephemP.Stanne TheHudsonRiverFoundationhttp://www.hudsonriver.org/ Wikipedia:HudsonRiver