How the Ice Age Shaped South Jersey’s Landscape

[Spung-Man]

I will give two natural history talks for conservation groups in Cumberland County this April (2010): How the Ice Age Shaped South Jersey’s Landscape:

Why is the Pine Barrens terrain so unusual? South Jersey’s land surface was profoundly affected by rigorous cold, dry, and windy conditions during the Ice Age. New evidence indicates three episodes of permafrost occurred here during the last 200,000 years, periods when the ground became solidly frozen year-round 50-feet deep or more. South Jersey became desert-like, behaving and looking much like northernmost Canada today. Understanding cold, nonglacial relicts will help you to “read the land” as have Pinelands natives during their 13,000-year occupancy of this special place.

1) Dallas Lore Sharp Nature Club; 7:00–9:00 PM, Tuesday, April 6, 2010; Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church; 65 Hitchner Avenue, Bridgeton, NJ

2) The Nature Conservancy; 6:30–8:30 PM, Friday, April 23, 2010; Eldora Nature Preserve; 2350 Route 47, Delmont, NJ; (609) 861–0600

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newjersey/events/events5246.html

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I had never heard of Dallas Lore Sharp before the club’s invitation to speak. Apparently, at the turn of the last century, this scholar had prolifically written about South Jersey’s natural wonders and biodiversity. I can’t wait to learn more about this local naturalist!

Spung-Man

 

[Kevinhooa]

Sounds very interesting. I missed the first, but I just wrote down the second lecture. I'll try and attend.

 

[Spung-Man]

Geodiversity – the Valuing and Conserving of Abiotic Nature

I'll try and attend.

I’d be delighted if you stopped by, Kevin! As you well know, South Jersey is a most interesting place and geodiversity (i.e., the valuing and conserving of abiotic nature) is just one more tool to help understand this deceptively complex landscape. I’ll even touch upon some unusual things recently found in the Pine Barrens soil that can only be described as bizarre.

The Dallas Lore Sharp Nature Club was a delightful group to meet last Tuesday! Their namesake was quite the local character. Professor Sharp was born in Haleyville, NJ and educated at the South Jersey Institute in Bridgeton. His enthusiastic celebration of the natural world carried throughout his multifarious appointments: as surveyor, pastor, librarian, poet, lecturer, and English Professor. He authored over twenty volumes of literature and hundreds of natural history articles for periodicals. Sharp championed the common man, his right to a good education, and the valuable lessons that could be learned just outside the front door. His career was truncated too soon when he died of a brain tumor at his farm in Massachusetts at age 58.


Spung-Man

 

[oji]

Spungman, Were you at the PPA presentation on roadside habitat on tuesday night?

 

[Spung-Man]

Spungman, Were you at the PPA presentation on roadside habitat on tuesday night?

No, I'm sorry to have missed the venue. Why do you ask?

 

[oji]

Just thought I heard your name off in another group And looked to see if I could pick out what a spungman would look like,but got caught up in another conversation. I guess whoever I selected would have been wrong!

 

[nek]

recording

I'd like to hear this talk, I know very little about geology in NJ.

Not sure if I'll be able to make the second date or not... have you considered recording the talk?

 

[Spung-Man]

Eldora Talk

NEK,

There will be other venues if unable to attend this one. This Ice Age talk will be repeated some time within the near future. Normally I present to the general public on a regular basis, but current vocational, research, and study commitments have for the first time overtaken my ability to keep up with speaking invitations. I receive great joy from meeting others who have “sand in their shoes,” so lament having to abbreviate the public itinerary.

Spung-Man

 

[Kevinhooa]

Spung-man, I appologize, I am going to be unable to attend this lecture. The guy coming to install our carpet changed the install day from Friday to Thurs. I will keep my ears open for future lecutres.