High Sierra Research Articles

CD‐ROM as an online public access catalogue

The provision of information on optical discs has had a relatively short gestation period by comparison with other new technologies, though similar problems—a lack of standardisation, a lack of knowledge of appropriate applications and general uncertainty have all been in evidence. However by 1985 there were clear moves to establish the 12 cm Compact Disk (widely used as a format for audio recordings) as a publishing medium for large bibliographic and data files. At the same time standards for the interfaces for the CD‐ROM (Compact Disk‐Read only Memory) drive and for physical data organisation (known as the High Sierra standard) have helped remove some uncertainty. Perhaps paramount in establishing CD‐ROM have been the relatively low production costs resulting from the high volume of Compact Disks being produced for the audio market.

Is extension in Death Valley accommodated by thinning of the mantle lithosphere beneath the Sierra Nevada, California?

While relatively rapid and large‐scale extension occurred in the Death Valley region of California during Neogene time, little or no shallow extension occurred in the adjacent Sierra Nevada. This contrast in tectonic history has often been extrapolated to include the entire lithosphere, but geophysical and geologic observations indicate that more extension of the mantle lithosphere has occurred under the Sierra than under the Death Valley region. Upper mantle seismic velocities observed beneath the High Sierra are lower than those observed in other regions with comparable surface heat flow. This discrepancy could be resolved if the mantle lithosphere beneath the High Sierra had become warmer, presumably by tectonic thinning, in the last 10 m.y. Upper mantle seismic velocities, averaged topography, and Bouguer gravity anomalies all are consistent with the presence of thinner mantle lithosphere beneath the High Sierra than beneath the California portion of the Basin and Range Province to the east. This suggests that extension of the crust near Death Valley might be accommodated at a deeper level by thinning of the mantle lithosphere beneath the Sierra Nevada.The extension in the crust of the California Basin and Range Province and the thinning of the mantle lithosphere under the High Sierra appear to share the same bounds in time and space. The uplift of the High Sierra occurred over the past 9 m.y., which coincides with most of the extension that occurred in the California Basin and Range Province. Because the orientation of extension in the California Basin and Range Province is inferred to be approximately N60°W from geologic, geodetic, and in situ stress measurements, the northern and southern edges of the Death Valley extensional subprovince may extend N60°W from the inferred northern and southern limits of west dipping low‐angle normal faults of the Death Valley region. Pronounced changes in the averaged topography and Bouguer gravity anomaly across these two bounds both in the Basin and Range Province and in the Sierra Nevada support a connection between the tectonics of both regions. The geomorphic history of the southern Sierra suggests an up‐to‐the‐north warp of the Sierra across this southern bound during latest Cenozoic time. Hence extension near Death Valley may be localized in the crust and may be laterally connected to thinning of the mantle lithosphere beneath the Sierra Nevada. This geometry requires.

OPTEXT: Government Publications on CD‐ROM

Video Laser Systems's (VLS) OPTEXT is, in many ways, a harbinger of things to come. It is one of the first products to use the High Sierra Group's standard for the compact disk (CD) data format, and in so doing employs CD technology to make an otherwise awkward and imposing source eminently accessible. It is so successful that it can reasonably be said to obviate use of the paper version of the Code of Federal Regulations. At the same time, it will force us to scrutinize our choice of optimal hardware configurations, while giving us an indication of idiosyncrasies that we can expect to encounter in the burgeoning CD market.

A Life in Mathematics Remembered

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Additional informationNotes on contributorsAngus E. TaylorAngus E. Taylor: I was born in 1911 on a homestead in northwestern Colorado. Information about my mathematical education is contained in the present memoir. Aside from mathematics and my wonderful wife and family, my great passions have been for mountains, music (especially opera), history, and literature. I have climbed a great many high mountains (by not inordinately difficult routes) in the California High Sierra and in the Swiss Alps, including many of the major summits accessible from Zermatt, Saas Fee, and Pontresina.

The Screenwriter and the Social Problem Film, 1936-38: The Case of Robert Rossen at Warner Brothers

THE SCREENWRITER AND THE SOCIAL PROBLEM FILM, 1936-38: THE CASE OF ROBERT ROSSEN AT WARNER BROTHERS By Brian Neve Brian Neve lectures in political science and infilm in the School ofHumanities and Social sciences, University ofBath, England. Recent work dealing with Hollywood in the 1930s includes extensive discussion of the role ofthe screenwriter in the film community, particularly in the second half ofthe decade when writers were centrally involved in political activity both in and outside the studios. (1) It was also during this period that Warner Brothers revived the 'topical' social problem picture that they had pioneered in the dark days ofthe early thirties, Peter Roffrnan and Jim Purdy, in their recent survey ofthe social problem genre, see the late thirties as the period when, particularly at the major studios, such films became strongly associated with a 'formula' that upheld the fundamentals of American democracy far more than it questioned them. (2) From the mid-1 930s on—and for at least a decade—a new generation of writers, and some actors, came to Hollywood and began to exert influence on the politics ofthe filmmaking community and on the films themselves. These writers had a stronger political sense than the generation that came west at the onset ofthe talkies and which has been held responsible for setting the cynical, socially 'superficial' tone ofmuch of Hollywood writing in the thirties. The new generation had experience ofthe leftist theatres of thirties New York rather than of 1920s Broadway, and they were "steeped in the thirties combativeness, ethnic origins, and the sense ofthe tough city." (3) An early arrival from the tough city—in 1936—was Robert Rossen. Rossen had grown up in the middle of Manhattan, on the East Side but outside of the lower East Side ghetto. Growing up with a variety of ethnic groups, Rossen learned to defend himself, and in the longer term something about "the impact of environment on character and vice versa..." (4) Rossen was involved, without great success, in the New York theatre ofthe first halfofthe thirties; directing two plays in 1932-Steelby John Wexley and The Tree, a play by Richard Maibaum about lynching. The next year Rossen and Irving Barrett presented Maibaum's play Birthright—one of several anti-Nazi dramas produced in the year ofHitler's accession to power. Rossen's own play, The Body Beautiful, lasted four performances on Broadway in November 1935, but it led directly to his writers contract at Warner Brothers. Mervyn LeRoy, a Warner's director since 1 928, admired Rossen's play and brought him to Warners under personal contract in 1936, when Rossen was 28. Rossen gained ten writing credits with Warners between 1937 and 1943, while also working on eight uncompleted projects. In a discussion ofRaoul Walsh's first three films at Warners-The Roaring Twenties (1939), (co-written by Rossen), They Drive By Night (1940) and High Sierra (1941>—it has been argued that the feeling for "crime, working class life and radical politics" found in these films owed much to the New York experiences ofthe writers involved—Rossen, Mark Hellinger, and Jerry WaId. (5) In terms ofradical politics, the leading role after 1936 was played by the Hollywood branch ofthe Communist Party. In that year V. J. Jerome came west in order to build up the Party's strength, and the late thirties saw the politicization of Hollywood in terms of Party membership, support for anti-fascist and progressive fronts and organizations, and battles over recognition for the Screen Writers Guild. The attractiveness ofthe Party to liberals and radicals alike had been enhanced by its adoption ofa Popular Front policy in 1935; the CPUSA was now to identify itselfas part ofa broad coalition supporting the New Deal and fighting fascism both at home and abroad. By his own estimate Rossen joined the Communist Party in the spring or summer of 1937, remaining a member until 1947. Rossen later argued that he had been looking for new horizons and "a new kind of society: There weren't any values, and the Communist Party seemed to be a place that had the values." (6) Lester Cole has written ofthe late thirties that it...

Trisetum curvisetum (Poaceae: Aveneae), a New Species from Mexico

Trisetum curvisetum is a new species from high Sierra Madre Oriental in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Its soft rather than liquid endosperm is new for the genus, and its lemma awn is thin and flexuous, easily distinguishable from that of other North AmericanTrisetum.

Reinterpretation by ray tracing of a transverse refraction seismic profile through the California Sierra Nevada, part I

abstractThis study reanalyzes a refraction seismic profile from NTS, Nevada, to San Francisco transverse to the high Sierra Nevada. Three models of the Earth's crust, with an asymmetrical mountain root, constructed by different authors are tested by the use of ray tracing: model CQM (Carer et al., 1970), with a maximum crustal thickness of 35 km centered about 50 km west of the crest of the Sierra; models A and B (Pakiser and Brune, 1980), with a mountain root extending to a depth of 55 km below the Sierra. In the latter, guided and diffracted waves are used to explain seismic Pn energy in the shadow zone of the root. The preferred model A has a high-velocity layer, dipping from west to east in the upper crust, while model B does not.The present study demonstrates how fallacies in interpretation of complicated structures can occur if all ray types are not quantitatively traced. The influence of the P-wave gradient in the upper mantle on the length of the shadow zone is shown to be important, and it is demonstrated that a modified CQM model explains the observed travel times when diffracted waves are included. (CQM does not, however, explain why the Pn travel times on a separate refraction profile along the Sierra Nevada from a Truckee earthquake are so great.) Model B interprets the Pn signals at Δ > 200 km as diffracted waves, but the computed travel times do not fit the observations. The dipping wave guide in model A does not work as expected and perhaps should be ruled out.

Dry deposition and resuspension of trace elements in the remote High Sierra

Airborne size distribution and dry deposition data for seven elements (K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Pb) were obtained in a remote subalpine ecosystem in Yosemite National Park, California during 1976 and 1977. During periods of partial snow cover, resuspension of local soil was minimal and all seven elements showed a net transport into the ecosystem from surrounding regions. With moderate winds and dry conditions, resuspension of local surface material increased, equalling or exceeding net downward flux for all metals except lead.

New Records for the Moss Flora of Nevada

The Intermountain West provides one of the few remaining botanical frontiers of the continental United States. Nevada specifically, with its' great diversity of habitat-ranging from the high Sierra Nevadas to the Mohave Desert-provides a unique opportunity for discovering mosses not previously recorded from the state. Like a number of other western states, Nevada has never had a comprehensive documentation of its bryophyte flora. A few works dealing in part with Nevada bryophytes include Watson (1871), Cardot and Theriot (1904), Flowers (1973) and Lawton (1958 & 1971); however, none of these attempts to account for all taxa. Over the span of the past eight years, collections have been made by Dr. Hugh Mozingo throughout Nevada. So far, twenty taxa have been added to the mosses known for this state. All specimens cited are deposited in the herbarium of the University of NevadaReno (RENO), and various other herbaria as cited with each collection. Nomenclature follows that of Lawton (1971).

Seismic Models of the Root of the Sierra Nevada

Seismic waves generated by earthquakes or explosions show a delay in travel times as they propagate across the Sierra Nevada from all directions except that of the Nevada test site. Early arriving waves from the test site can be explained if they emerge through a rock layer with high seismic velocity from the sharp eastern edge of the Sierran root. Such a layer could be formed by the subducted ophiolite slab that crops out in the western Sierra Nevada foothills. A synthesis of all seismic data indicates that the Sierran root projects downward into the mantle to a depth of about 55 kilometers beneath the high Sierra.

Mechanisms of trace element deposition from the free atmosphere to surfaces in a remote High Sierra Canyon

Field experiments to determine size distributions and deposition rates of airborne K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Pb were conducted in Thompson Canyon, California (elevation 3000 m) during 1976 and 1977 in order to study deposition mechanisms at this remote site. The data suggest that sedimentation accounts for most of the deposition of the first six elements on smooth, flat surfaces in winds of 2 m s −1, but that turbulent inertial deposition becomes more important at greater windspeeds. Pb is found in smaller particle sizes and is less influenced by sedimentation. The data and associated calculations also suggest that inertial impaction plays a dominant role in transporting these elements to pine needle surfaces in the canyon.

A Study of Pinus balfouriana Grev. & Balf. (Pinaceae)

The two allopatric populations of Pinus balfouriana are distinct in many characteristics of the foliage, bark, cones, and seeds. With respect to some of these characteristics, the population in the southern Sierra Nevada is more similar to P. longaeva than to the northern Klamath Mtns. population; other features of Sierra Nevada P. balfouriana are intermediate between Klamath Mtns. P. balfouriana and P. longaeva. In recognition of the distinctness of the southern population of P. balfouriana, a new subspecies is described, Pinus balfouriana subsp. austrina, to include all P. balfouriana in the southern high Sierra Nevada.

Film History

Colin Shindler, Hollywood Goes to Wars Films and American Society, 1939-1952 (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1979 – $20.00) Barbara Zheutlin and David Talbot, Creative Differences: Profile of Hollywood Dissidents (Boston: South End Press, 1978– $5.40 paper) The Adventures of Robin Hood, edited and an introduction by Rudy Behlmer, 235 pages The Green Pastures, edited and an introduction by Thomas Cripps, 206 pages. High Sierra, edited and an introduction by Douglas Gomery, 189 pages. Our Lady Cinema by Harry Furniss (originally London: Bristol, 1914—reprint $16.00) Jew Suss by Arthur Rawlinson and Dorothy Farnam (originally London: Methuen, 1935–reprint $18.00) Marcia Blitz, Donald Duck (New York: Harmony Books/Crown, 1979— $12.95)

Regional deformation of the Sierra Nevada, California, on conjugate microfault sets

Strike slip microfaults are pervasive throughout the granitic rocks of the eastern Sierra Nevada. Offsets typically range from less than a millimeter to several tens of centimeters but exceed 100 m in some places. The spacing between microfaults varies from a few tens of centimeters to a few tens of meters throughout much of the high Sierra Nevada. Many of these microfaults are loci of slickensided, compact fault gouge, and they are commonly mineralized by quartz veinlets with minor amounts of epidote, chlorite, and rare sulphide minerals. The microfaults are oriented in two nearly vertical conjugate sets; a north to northeast striking set showing right lateral offset and an east to northeast striking set showing left lateral offset. Microfaults with left lateral offset are more common than microfaults with right lateral offset. Most lineaments visible on aerial photographs are microfaults. The age of this microfaulting is not precisely known. It developed after consolidation of the youngest granitic plutons in the Sierra (79 m.y. B.P.) and is known to cut a late Miocene volcanic dike in one area. Slickensides along the microfaults are subhorizontal but show a slight (about 3°) westward plunging average inclination, suggesting that much of the deformation occurred prior to the westward tilting of the Sierran block in late Tertiary time. The direction of maximum horizontal extensional strain (determined as the bisector of average microfault trends) changes systematically from north to south (WNW at 38.5°N; NW at 36.5°N). A pure shear constant volume solution based on a detailed study of microfaults at 37°20′N indicates a maximum extension of 2.3% in a N61°W direction. These extension directions are remarkably parallel to late Mesozoic to present‐day tectonic extension directions in the Basin and Range province. The pattern of microfaulting demonstrates that the supposedly monolithic Sierran terrane was also affected by the late Cenozoic and possibly earlier regional extension of western North America and provides an independent criterion for determining extensional strain directions.

Matches, Flumes, and Rails: The Diamond Match Co. in the High Sierra. By Kent Stephens. (Corona del Mar, California: Trans-Anglo Books, 1977. 176 pp. Illustrations, maps, rosters, bibliography, index. $12.95)

Previous articleNext article No AccessBook ReviewsMatches, Flumes, and Rails: The Diamond Match Co. in the High Sierra. By Kent Stephens. (Corona del Mar, California: Trans-Anglo Books, 1977. 176 pp. Illustrations, maps, rosters, bibliography, index. $12.95)Joseph R. ConlinJoseph R. Conlin Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Volume 22, Number 1January 1978 Published for the American Society for Environmental History and the Forest History Society Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2307/3983258 Journal History This article was published in the Journal of Forest History (1974-1989), which was continued by Forest & Conservation History (1990-1995). © 1978 Forest History Society, Inc. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Biochemical genetic variation in populations of golden trout, Salmo aguabonita: evidence of the threatened Little Kern River golden trout, S.a. whitei.

Eight wild populations of the High Sierra golden trout, Salmo aguabonita, and one domestic stock of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, were examined for biochemical-genetic variation in eight protein systems. Variation within the eight systems was determined by at least 10 loci in both golden and rainbow trout and all the alleles identified in rainbow trout were observed as electro-phoretically identical phenotypes in golden trout. Variation was observed at an average of 51 percent of the loci in the golden trout samples and for five of the 10 loci in the rainbow trout. Average heterozygosity ranged from 12.6 to 13.9 percent for seven of the golden trout populations with one showing a low value of 5.4 percent. A comparable estimate of 12.1 percent was found for the rainbow stock. On the basis of genetic variation and allele frequencies at three loci, the eight golden trout populations were divided into two distinct groups. Three populations sampled from the Little Kern River basin tended to be genetically distinct from two additional Little Kern River basin populations and from three geographically distinct populations sampled from the eastern Kern River area. The former three populations were hypothesized to be of a recent rainbow-golden hybrid origin. Trout in the other two Little Kern River basin populations, sampled in head-waters of a stream tributary to the Little Kern River, were considered to be the threatened Little Kern golden trout, S. a. whitei Evermann, due to their high degree of genetic similarity to the geographically distinct subspecies S. a. aguabonita sampled from the eastern Kern River area. The finding of substantial genetic variation in the wild golden trout populations indicates that this threatened species is not at present genetically impoverished and thus does not appear to be in immediate danger of extinction through lack of adaptive capability.

Review: The Mariposa Indian War, 1850-1851: Diaries of Robert Eccleston: The California Gold Rush, Yosemite, and the High Sierra, by C. Gregory Crampton and Robert Eccleston

Review: <i>The Mariposa Indian War, 1850-1851: Diaries of Robert Eccleston: The California Gold Rush, Yosemite, and the High Sierra</i>, by C. Gregory Crampton and Robert Eccleston

High Sierra—Swan Song for an Era

High Sierra—Swan Song for an Era

Chromosome cytology and polymorphism in the California High Sierra golden trout (Salmo aguabonita).

The population variability in chromosome karyotype was examined in six samples of California High Sierra golden trout, Salmo aguabonita. From the analysis of 1,318 cells from anterior kidney tissue of 92 specimens, the modal diploid chromosome number was 2n equals 58 with 104 chromosome arms. Of cells with 2n equals 58 chromosomes, the typical karyotype was one containing 44 chromosomes with median centromeres, 2 chromosomes with submedian centromeres, 2 with subterminal centromeres and 10 with terminal centromeres. In addition, many cells contained a chromosome with a prominent satellite. Variability in chromosome number within the six populations followed a Robertsonian pattern and permitted the identification of two distinct population distributions. One population, made up of two samples, was more variable than the other and supported the hypothesis that this population was of golden trout times rainbow trout hybrid origin. Texamination of metaphase 1 cells from testes showed numerous ring and rod multivalents consistent with the random nature of Robertsonian variability.

Lead aerosol pollution in the High Sierra overrides natural mechanism which exclude lead from a food chain.

Most of the lead contained in sedge and voles (mountain meadow mice) within one of the most pristine, remote valleys in the United States is not natural but came from smelter fumes and gasoline exhausts. In a food chain, natural mechanisms do not allow lead to accompany the bulk of the nutritive metals as they proceed to higher trophic levels. This exclusion can be expressed quantitatively by a comparison of lead/calcium ratios at successive trophic levels. This ratio decreased by an overall factor of 200 in proceeding from rock, to soil moisture, to sedge, to vole. This factor would have been 1200 if lead aerosols had not collected on sedge leaves and circtumvented the tendency by sedge to exclude lead from the nutritive metals it absorbed from soil moisture.