SDAG monthly meeting
April 15 |
Location:
Sunbelt Publications
664 Marsat Ct # A
Chula Vista, CA
Directions:
I-5 to Chula Vista to Palomar St. Exit east, right on Industrial Blvd., left on Anita St., left on Jayken Way, left on Marsat Ct. Suite A.
OR I-805: Chula Vista Orange Avenue exit, drive west to Third Avenue and turn left, drive south 2 blocks to Anita Street, turn right.
Drive west past Broadway to Jayken Way and turn right. Drive north 1 block and turn right on Marsat Court, go to 664-A on the right.
Park on the street, or in the parking lot in the back.
The Sunbelt location is open-ended to the outside, plan to bring a jacket or sweater in case it gets a little cold after the sun goes down.
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6:00pm -
Social hour
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SDAG Monthly Meeting
6:00pm - Social Hour
7:00pm - Dinner
8:00pm - Program
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7:00pm
Dinner
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Menu: Pizza, Salad, and Dessert, by San Diego Mobile Pizza
if pre-registered by the deadline, $5 extra if you did not make a reservation.
Click the SDAG member checkbox on the reservation form if you are a member.
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Cost: $ 55.00 Member; Non-Member $ 65.00; Student $ 25.00
Reservations:
Make/Pay your reservation online by clicking the button below
by 6:00pm Friday, April 10
RESERVATIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER by 6pm Friday, April 10
(Please note beginning January 2024 all meeting reservations will require on-line pre-payment due to venue costs,
venue contracts, and loss of money due to no shows.)
IF YOU DO NOT PRE-PAY YOUR FOOD RESERVATION, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU A MEAL.
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8:00pm - Program
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Student Speakers
Speaker: JENNIFER MORTON, PG - SDSU
"Ground-truth Studies of the La Nacion Fault Zone, San Diego, California."
The La Nacion fault zone (LNFZ) is comprised of north-south trending faults located in the eastern portion of the
City of San Diego, California. The faults are primarily dip-slip and are considered potentially active based on
offset Pleistocene-age terrace deposits. The LNFZ is considered the eastern-most extent of the Rose Canyon
fault (RCF) system, and as such, is critical to understanding the geometry and movement of the larger San
Diego region fault systems. Additionally, the LNFZ may hold clues about how the RCF interacts with other faults
to the south. Due to the urban environment, studying the fault has been difficult because development has
obscured many areas where the fault may be present. Recent research using digital elevation models created
using 1953 aerial photographs provided a new way of looking at the fault zone and suggested that movement is
more recent and that the fault zone is more extensive than previous observations suggested. To gain a better
understanding of the LNFZ, we used a combination of digital observations and field methods. An ArcGIS project
was created to compile mapped faults, LiDAR imagery, and geologic maps. We georeferenced 1928 aerial
photographs and geotechnical maps showing fault locations based on trenching. We then used these features
to select several locations to conduct field research, including geologic observations and geophysical surveys.
More research is needed to refine LNFZ activity and interactions with other regional faults.
Jen holds a Bachelor's Degree in Earth Sciences from the University of California, San Diego. An active member
of the San Diego Association of Geologists, Jen was President of the association in 2015 and is a core member of
their Publications Committee. Jen was the editor of the book Coast to Cactus, Geology and Tectonics, San
Diego to Salton Trough. Jen has been an adjunct instructor of Geology and Oceanography at Palomar College in
San Marcos, California, and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Geology at San Diego State University.
While her professional career has been focused on environmental geology and contaminated properties, she
continues study other aspects of geology for fun. Currently, Jen is working on a compilation of geology hikes for a
new SDAG guidebook and spent the pandemic going on geology excursions for the publication. On any given
weekend Jen can be found on the local hiking trails in San Diego, excitedly observing the rocks and explaining the
local geology to friends.
Jen Morton is licensed Professional Geologist working as a project manager
with SCS Engineers. Jen has spent her career conducting environmental
assessments for all types of commercial properties throughout California.
From initial evaluations, to soil, groundwater, and soil vapor sampling, to site
cleanups and collaborating with regulatory agencies, Jen has been involved
with every stage of working on contaminated properties and has been
successful in achieving regulatory case closure for a number of sites in San
Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties. In 2022 Jen was recognized as one
of the Top 50 Women of Influence in Engineering for 2022 by the San Diego
Business Journal. Jen is an active member of the San Diego Chapter of
Commercial Real Estate Women, serving on their Education and Programs
committee.
Speaker: CICI JOBE - USD
"From Park to Garden: Collaborative Soil Testing to Support Food Security in Urban San Diego."
As the effects of climate change sacrifice more land each year, food insecurity is becoming an
increasingly pressing issue. Rising popularity in community gardens has provided a pathway to
increasing food security. In this student and citizen science based research, city-managed park soils
within highly urbanized food deserts in San Diego, CA were assessed for either their current or
anticipated use as a community garden.
One current community garden, co-located to the University of San Diego (USD) community, cited
concerns of poor soil quality, including ponding, compaction, and limited nutrient availability within the
resident soil of the former park space. Previous soil testing of the native soil was limited, however,
collaborative opportunities between USD and community partners have allowed for additional soil
analysis to help community gardeners tackle these site-specific concerns. Bulk soils were collected
from the surface (0-5 cm) and subsurface (>25 cm) and intact soils cores (0-12 cm) were collected from
native in-ground soils and bulk surface soils were collected from within raised beds. To assess soil
quality, acidity, salinity, particle size distribution, macronutrient composition, organic matter content,
and labile carbon concentrations were measured. Metals were also analyzed via X-ray fluorescence and
verified through acid digestions followed by analysis using inductively-coupled optical emission
spectroscopy. The findings of this testing were consolidated into an accessible report to allow garden
managers to better improve overall soil health. This community-based free soil testing service provides
an opportunity for collaboration between the university and local community partners, one that could
not exist under independent efforts.
I am a Senior Environmental Science Major and Geographical
Information Systems minor at the University of San Diego. I am the
GIS teaching assistant and work for the Office of Sustainability on-
campus. In addition, I am Co-President of USD's Chapter of the
Association of Environmental Professionals and am a member of Pi
Epsilon, the national honors society for environmental science.
In the fall, I plan to attend San Jose State University to pursue a
masters in Geology, looking specifically at the mineral spring
composition of Henry Coe State Park under the advisor Dr. Nate
Bogie.
Speaker: HANNAH LISSNER- USD
"Assessing the Metals Variability, Clay Mineralogy, and Morphology of San Salvador Island Paleosoils."
The Bahamas, located in the tropical Atlantic, have a rich Quaternary geological history that can offer valuable
insights into past climate conditions, ecosystem dynamics, and environmental transitions over hundreds of
thousands of years. Paleosols, ancient soil horizons that have been preserved in the geological record, outcrop
throughout the archipelago and have been shown to serve as critical proxies for past atmospheric conditions
and other environmental variables which can be interpreted in part using variability in insoluble residues (IRs),
clay mineralogy and morphology.
The study site for this research is San Salvador Island, the easternmost island in The Bahamian archipelago.
The entire island is carbonate with the exception of paleosol layers that contain silica based clays and IRs. On
San Salvador there are two outcropping paleosol layers, however it is interesting to note that past research has
shown three different paleomagnetism dates for these paleosols. IRs within paleosols can vary as a result of
source area, insitu diagenesis and weathering. Therefore, understanding the relationships between IRs, clay
mineralogy, and morphology is crucial to using these as paleoclimate proxies.
The samples utilized for this study were derived from roughly 200 paleosol cores (approximately 2 cm X 10 cm)
collected throughout the island. In this study, 0.1 g of paleosol from each core will first undergo a total rock
fusion with lithium tetraborate as a catalyst to aid in melting the sample in a muffle furnace. After complete
dissolution in trace metal grade nitric acid, the samples will be analyzed on an ICP-OES for IR ratios of Al, Ti, Th
and Zr. The IR data obtained from the ICP-OES will be compared to XRD analysis for clays (specifically Illite and
Bohemite) as well as morphological differences in the paleosols. It is important to note that many studies have
used paleosols as a proxy for prior climatic conditions on carbonate islands in The Bahamas. However, these
studies typically include only a few samples spread over multiple islands without first understanding the intra
island variability of the paleosols. This project seeks to fill significant gaps in the current understanding of
Caribbean paleosols including the lateral and vertical insitu variability of IRs, clay mineralogy and
morphological characteristics. It will also highlight the importance of a robust sample size when researching
paleosols to ensure a full profile of the paleosols across a study location
I'm Hannah Lissner, I have a bachelor of science in Environmental and
Ocean Science and I am currently a candidate for a masters of science
from the University of San Diego. My masters thesis is focused on
investigating paleosols found on San Salvador Island located in The
Bahamas. I began this research alongside my now advisor, Eric Cathcart,
in 2023 as an undergraduate student and I'm now thankful to be able to
continue this research as a graduate student. This thesis work has also
allowed us to create four undergraduate research projects that link the
paleosols with pottery pieces left behind by the Lucayans who previously
inhabited San Salvador island. In the moments I'm not focused on my
research I also enjoy baking, reading, exploring and playing video games
at the collegiate level.
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Upcoming SDAG meetings - 2026
April 15 - Student Research Presentations by Scholarship Recipients - venue: Sunbelt Publishing
May 20 - Danny Sims, PHD, Controlled Thermal Resources: "X-ray diffraction and
seismic reflection data constraints on geothermal mineral brine reservoir
modelling, Salton Sea Geothermal Field, Imperial Valley, California."
June 10 - Joint meeting with South Coast Geological Society
July 15 - Rick Halsey of the CA Chaparral Institute: Title TBA
August 19 - Monte Marshal: “Exploring the depths of the Salton Trough - a great example of a transtensional rift valley.”
September 16 - No Meeting: Annual Field Trip
October 21 - Wes Danskin, USGS retired speaking on "Geology and Water Resources of the San Diego - Tijuana Area"
Novmber 18 - Joint meeting with AEG Inland Empire Section
December 16 - Annual Holiday Meeting at San Diego History Museum with Tom Deméré as speaker
Recordings of past meetings
Note: If the video or sound does not play, try using another web browser. Firefox and Chrome may work on some of the videos. MS Edge and Safari are most likely to work.
3/18/26 Josh Goodwin speaking on "Understanding Geology Licensure in California: PG, CEG, CHg, and PGp; How to apply, serve as a reference, and avoid common violations."
2/18/26 Norrie Robbins Speaking on "From Precambrian Iron Formation to Terraforming Mars - the JIMES Expedition to Santoria"
1/21/26 Ali Fattah on "Updates to the San Diego Municipal Code requirements for Geotechnical Reports - Outreach"
12/17/25 Traditional holiday meeting at the San Diego Natural History Museum - Tom Deméré on "150 years of Paleontology at the San Diego Natural History Museum"
11/19/25 Joint Meeting with AEG Inland Empire Section - Eldon Gath on "San Joaquin Hills, Santa Ana Mountains, Puente Hills, and the Whittier fault: The final(?) grand theory of Orange County's tectonic geomorphic evolution"
10/15/2025 Todd Wirths on "Eocene Paleontology at Tourmaline Surfing Park, La Jolla"
8/20/2025 Dr. Mario Caputo on "Newly Discovered Tetrapod Bones, Insect Trace Fossils, & Eolian Adhesion Structures- Upper Pennsylvanian Wescogame Formation, Supai Group, Grand Canyon, Arizona"
7/16/2025 Rachel Maxwell on a survey of the Mojave-Sonoran Desert Springs and their sources. "Is this spring connected to that Aquifer?"
6/18/2025 Development of the western Hollywood Basin and Cheviot Hills, and newly identified blind thrust in Santa Monica Bay - Dr. Miles Kenney
5/14/2025 Landslide Stabilization - Dr. Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero (Audio is very quiet first few minutes.)
4/16/2025 Constraining Natural and Anthropogenic Controls on Base of Freshwater and Underground Source of Drinking Water (USDW) In Central San Joaquin Valley - Emily Imperato
4/16/2025 Examination of Middle Cambrian hyoliths from the Manuels River Formation of Avalonian southeastern Newfoundland - Nicolas Oliver
2/19/2025 A New Seismotectonic Framework for Active Faults in Metropolitan San Diego - Karl Mueller
8/21/2024 Upper Cretaceous through lower Eocene strata in San Diego: Messages for the end-Cretaceous impact, extinctions, and paleoclimates - Dr. Pat Abbott
5/15/2024 Exploring Iceland's Geological Wonders: From a Regional Perspective to a Hiking Expedition - Don Barrie & William Buckley
3/19/2024 Mighty Bad Land: A Perilous Expedition to Antarctica Reveals Clues to an Eighth Continent - Bruce Luyendyk
Meetings are usually scheduled for the 3rd Wednesday evening of the month.
Meeting information on this website is normally updated the second week of the month.
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If you have any information, announcements, ads or suggestions for an upcoming newsletter, please submit it to
2026 SDAG Secretary.
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The submittal deadline for the next SDAG newsletter is the last Friday of the month.
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