Field work is one of the best parts of majoring in Earth and planetary sciences. In spring 2019, students taking Undergraduate Field Geology had the opportunity to spend their spring break in the field, getting firsthand experience with the geology of the Argentine Patagonia, led by associate professors of Earth and planetary sciences Phil Skemer and Alex Bradley. The class explored the tectonics, sediment accumulations in resulting basins, and geomorphological effects of alpine glaciation in the region. This year's Patagonia expedition had an extra feature: The team was tasked with servicing and collecting data from seismographs used in another WashU research project led by Doug Wiens, Robert S. Brookings Distinguished Professor of Earth and planetary sciences.
On the trip, students hiked around glacial landforms, analyzing regional and local geology. They spent the first few days of the trip in the village of El Chalten, enjoying spectacular views of Mt. Fitz Roy, studying the history of Andes mountain building, and examining the glacial history of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. They mapped cross sections of mountains, looking at faults and folds, and sought to answer, "How did these get here?" For the rest of the trip, they were based around the city of El Calafate where they donned crampons (special footwear for hiking on ice) and trekked around the Perito Moreno Glacier, looking at moraines and glacial debris. They also traveled by boat across Lago Argentino to Estancia Christina where they serviced the seismometer there and saw exposures of different geologic units.
When recounting an adventure like this one, a picture is worth far more than a thousand words. Take a look at some of the team's favorite moments in the photos below.