Research

ralphs_kitecamRACETRACK PLAYA OBSERVING PROJECT

To unravel the sailing stone enigma, since 2007, our group has developed and deployed a suite of camouflaged meteorological equipment and time-lapse cameras around Racetrack Playa. Our work has provided a solid quantitative basis for understanding the conditions that accompany rock motion.

Related Publications:

  • 2014Geomo.211..116L Declining rock movement at Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park: an indicator of climate change? Ralph D. Lorenz & Brian K. Jackson
  • 2010P&SS…58..724L Racetrack and Bonnie Claire: southwestern US playa lakes as analogs for Ontario Lacus, Titan Lorenz, Ralph D.; and 2 coauthors Planetary and Space Science, Volume 58, Issue 4, p. 724-731. Mar 2010
  • 2011AmJPh..79…37L Ice rafts not sails: Floating the rocks at Racetrack Playa Lorenz, Ralph D.; and 4 coauthors American Journal of Physics, Volume 79, Issue 1, pp. 37-42 (2011). Jan 2011
  • 2011JApMC..50.2361L Meteorological Conditions at Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park: Implications for Rock Production and Transport Lorenz, Ralph D.; and 5 coauthors Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, vol. 50, issue 12, pp. 2361-2375 Dec 2011