Investigation of Two Pieces of Evidence of the Climate Conditions - Research Paper Example

? Investigation of 2 Evidences of the Climate Conditions of the Last Deglaciation of Learning Introduction Through changes in climatic conditions, the process of deglaciation occurs. Under such process, the ice melts and drains into the oceans, forming certain geological features, which are distinctive enough to attract divergent debate on their formation (Anderson & Anderson, 2010). In fact, most geologists could not explain the unique and mysteriously shaped landform. Their formation is believed to have lasted for many yeas, possibly millions. As the huge ice sheets moved and curved the landscape, it left the sides of the mountains hanging, making many people to believe that the features in that region resulted from glaciations (Baker, 2001). Therefore, the paper presents an investigation of evidences and uses them to make inferences about the impacts of the last deglaciation away from the margin of the ice sheets, especially the formation of Scablands. Arguments from the Documentary In the documentary, the author attributes their formation to gradual soil erosion through the actions of rivers (NOVA, 2005). It is also assumed that it was formed by the action of glaciers during the ice age. Under the assumption, enormous sheets of gradual-moving ice that originated from Canada curved new landscape as it moved down-hill (NOVA, 2005). According to Harlen Bretz’s theory that reflected the scientific convention, Channeled Scablands resulted from an overnight enormous catastrophe, which is more Bible-inspired, but not gradual geological evolution, which is more scientific, oriented (Anderson & Anderson, 2010). He seemed to be discrediting the geological or scientific beliefs that the formation of such landscape might have resulted from a gradual process that would last for a long time. The Use of Scientific Evidence to Reconstruct Conditions of the Last Deglaciation According to Edmiston, Scablands are some of the prehistoric features (Edmiston, 2005). He argues that Pardee was among the early geologists to offer explanation regarding the formation of Scablands (Edmiston, 2005). He was of the opinion that the features might have resulted from the actions of ice-age glaciers. Particularly, glacial erosion could be responsible for the formation of such features (Soennichsen, 2008). In fact, he argued that normal erosion could not explain the formation of Scablands. He categorically explained that the deep gorge, large portholes resembling small lakes and sharp hanging dry falls are scientific evidences of glacial erosion (Bretz, Smith & Neff, 2006). Another scientific evidence to reconstruct Bretz’s theory was the enormous discharge from glacial lakes such as Missoula could yield such great volume of water, which might be responsible for the formation of channeled Scablands (Geological Survey, 2010). Later, scientists, through the analysis and application of hydrological principles, discovered that open-channel hydraulics was consistent with Bretz’s qualitative observations. Therefore, Bretz got support from the scientific evidence (Bretz, 2003). The other scientific evidence was the Columbia gorge that the scientists believed had significant discharge attributable to channeled Scablands (Summerfield, 2001). Yet, in different and convincing evidence, the geologists found another large lake believed to have been formed from glacial activities (Young & Stearley, 2008). The lake is situated in the West of Montana. Evidently, it empties catastrophically due to glacial actions (Burr, Carling & Baker, 2009). Subsequently, its waters spill over into the Scablands through the channels. The Relevance of Scientific Studies Due to the nature of the Channeled Scablands, thus being deep and containing many other physical features (Young & Stearley, 2008). Therefore, the gradualist explanation offered better account of the events, which might have led to the formation of the feature (Furtwangler, 1999). The Violent and rapid assumption theory of Bretz could not have scientific evidence and justification, thereby prompting more scientific investigation (Bretz, 2003). Indeed, the catastrophic explanation cannot be replicable, while the gradual process could be replicated. The implication is that the catastrophic explanation is based on the Biblical teaching that relies on supernatural forces without proper evidence (Young & Stearley, 2008). Geologists would therefore, disapprove such claims on the basis of no evidence and lack of replicable and convincing evidence. In essence, gradualism would offer meaningful explanation to the formation of such features and add meaning to the glacial perception of Bretz (Tate, 2007). In fact, Mansfield’s argument could have some scientific evidence. For example, in the work of C. Tate, he points out Mansfield’s argument that, as a result of persistent pounding and subsequent flooding of glacial waters, there was similar consistency in shaping the landscape as the water channeled its direction to form the Scablands (Tate, 2007). This, he postulated, might have taken a longer period and could not be abrupt as Bretz thought of it (Tate, 2007). Therefore, the general scientific evidence of protracted glacial erosion is believed to be behind the features. To add strength to the scientific findings, Meinzer agreed that the features in the area are bizarre and so large that someone examining them for the first time would role out the possibility of an instantaneous phenomenon (Burr, Carling & Baker, 2009). Precisely, the scientific evidence could be relevance because as a result of climatic changes, the ice sheets could melt to form a large amount of glacial water that might cause significant erosion. However, for the explanation to be considered true, the proponents have to give substantial evidence that the assumed climatic changes occurred in the region and actually caused the giant floods. The gorging of landscape due to the availability of large volume of water might have occurred systematically and over a period. Indeed, that would give it relevance in explaining the formation of Channeled Scablands, because even climatic changes are gradual and have slow impacts on the environment (Allen, Marjorie & Sargent, 1996). The hanging valleys are a good evidence of a gradual process. Apparently, a rapid force might have scrapped the hanging valleys and possibly flattened them. Empirically, a process is slow, but steady meaning that the features are formed from cumulative effects of the process (Weis & Newman, 1999). Furthermore, the cumulative effects adhere to the laws of uniformity. Actually, this makes scientific evidence more explicit than the theoretical assumption of the occurrence, because the results are channeled in a uniform shape (Dawson, 2008). More scientific explanations to the formation of channeled Scablands have been put forward by geologists, trying to oppose Bretz theory (Roth, 2008). For example, geologists attribute the formation of Scablands to continental drifts, using the plate tectonic theory. Perhaps, this could be more convincing because the drifts could actually lead to the high hanging valleys (Slaymaker & Kelly, 2007). Sometimes, it could be related to catastrophic explanations since the drift might occur in an instant, not the flooding conception. Problems/Difficulties/Potential Pitfalls in Using Such Evidence The assumption that the rivers resulted to the formation of such features had some potential pitfalls. First, it is difficult to associate mere river erosion with large potholes, which are found in Scablands (Edmiston, 2005). There was a problem in the assumption of glacier activities. According to documentary, the ice sheets purported to have moved down hill from Canada, during the most recent ice age, did not actually reach the area called Scablands. In addition, they could not be responsible for the hanging valleys (Isaak, 2007). The reason for this argument is that in places, which have experienced the action of moving ice sheets, their rapid and erosive nature could have washed the hanging valleys. Perhaps, other natural occurrences with slow, but consistent erosive impact would have played a role in the formation of such landscape (Tate, 2007). Despite the fact that certain features could only exist through catastrophe, catastrophic situations are not very common (Allen, Marjorie & Sargent, 1996). Therefore, such explanations inclined to catastrophe might not be scientifically accepted in explaining the formation of some mysterious physical features such as Scablands. Also, the stream of water could have lasted for long, however, Edmiston argued the violent nature of such activity was evidence that the process did not last for a long time (Edmiston, 2005). Apparently, this complicated the matter. Bretz’s theory of sudden giant floods, which led to the formation of Scablands, attracted a lot of controversial argument, because he could not explain its source and the reasons for its abrupt flow (Bretz, 2005). In addition, the development of the channels within a limited time cannot be rationalized, owing to the nature and shapes of the Channeled Scablands (Eic & Busacca, 2002). Conclusion In summary, the formation of Channeled Scablands is an issue that is controversial in nature, owing to the explanations from two different perspectives. For example, there are theoretical explanations, which are Biblically inspired and geological explanations, which have scientific base. The two modes of explanations do not agree on a universal explanation, nevertheless the geological seems to develop their explanations from the theoretical perspectives. The position that Harlen Bretz took in his explanation of the matter could have been the one that triggered the works of geologists and other explorers to offer better explanation for the physical features found in that region. In the documentary, the formation of Scablands is attributed to gradual soil erosion through the actions of rivers. It is also assumed that it was formed by the action of glaciers during the ice age. It is also assumed that large sheets of gradual-moving ice that originated from Canada curved new landscape to form the unique features. However, scientists have refuted the actions of rivers, arguing that mere river erosion could not be associated with large potholes. Generally, the gradualist explanation offered better account of the events, which might have led to the formation of the features. Therefore, the process leading to the formation of the Channeled Scablands might have taken more time than anticipated and the theorists who claim rapid occurrences missed the point. References Anderson, R. S. & Anderson, S. P. (2010). Geomorphology: The Mechanics and Chemistry of Landscapes . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Allen, J. E., Marjorie, B. & Sargent, S. C. (1996) Cataclysms on the Columbia. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. Baker, V. R. (2001). Catastrophic Flooding: The Origin of the Channeled Scabland. Benchmark Papers in Geology. Vol. 55. Bretz, J. H. (2003). "The Channeled Scabland of the Columbia Plateau." Journal of Geology, Vol.31, p.617-649. Bretz, J. H. (2005). "The Spokane flood beyond the Channeled Scablands." Journal of Geology, Vol.33, p.97-115, 236-259. Bretz, J. H., Smith, H.T. & Neff, G.E. (2006) "Channeled Scabland of Washington — New Data and Interpretations." Geological Society of America Bulletin, v.67, p.957-1049. Burr, D. M., Carling, P. A. & Baker, V. R. (2009). Megaflooding on Earth and Mars. Cambridge University Press. Dawson, A. G. (2008). Ice Age Earth: Late Quaternary Geology and Climate. London: Routledge. Edmiston, R. (2005). The Joy of High Tech: Science is a Process. Retrieved from Eic, V. & Busacca, A. J. (2002). Late Quaternary Stratigraphy of Loess in the Channeled Scabland and Palouse Regions of Washington State. Furtwangler, A. (1999). Acts of Discovery: Visions of America in the Lewis and Clark Journals. Chicago: University of Illinois Press. Geological Survey (U.S.) (2010). The Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington: The Geologic Story of the Spokane Flood. Isaak, M. (2007).The Counter-Creationism Handbook. New York: University of California Press. NOVA. (2005). Mystery of the World. [Documentary]. Retrieved from Roth, A. A. (2008). Science Discovers God: Seven Convincing Lines of Evidence for His Existence. New York: Autumn House Publishing. Slaymaker, O. & Kelly, R. (2007). The Cryosphere and Global Environmental Change. New York: Wiley-Blackwell. Soennichsen, J. (2008). Bretz's Flood: The Remarkable Story of a Rebel Geologist and the World's Greatest Flood. Washington: Sasquatch Books. Summerfield, M. A. (2001). Global Geomorphology. New York: Prentice Hall. Tate, C. (2007). Bretz, J Harlen (1882-1981), Geologist. Retrieved from Weis, P. & Newman, W. L. (1999). “The Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington”: The Geologic Story of the Spokane Flood. Young, D. A. & Stearley, R. (2008). The Bible, Rocks and Time: Geological Evidence for the Age of the Earth New York: IVP Academic. Read More