Magma Recently Moved Underneath Lake Tahoe

Recently, a series of more than 1,000 earthquakes occurred underneath Lake Tahoe which surprisingly were caused by an intrusion of magma. This occurred beneath the northern part of the lake, rising multiple miles through the crust. Today's video will discuss this unusual intrusion of magma that occurred in 2003, and discuss its possible link to either regional faults or a nearby volcanic field thought to be extinct.

If you would like to support this channel, consider using one of the following links:

Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google & Data Providers

Various licenses used in sections of this video (not the entire video, this video as a whole does not completely fall under one of these licenses) and/or in this video's thumbnail image (and this list does not include every license used in this video and/or thumbnail image):

Sources/Citations:
[1] U.S. Geological Survey
[2] Kortemeier, Winifred & Calvert, Andrew & Moore, James & Schweickert, Richard. (2018). Pleistocene volcanism and shifting shorelines at Lake Tahoe, California. Geosphere. 14. 10.1130/GES01551.1.

0:00 Lake Tahoe Earthquakes
0:31 Magma Intrusion
2:20 1st Magma Intrusion
2:53 2nd Magma Intrusion
3:26 Basin & Range Province
4:18 Volcanic Field

[GeologyHub]

So, do you think this deep magma intrusion was related to the volcanic cluster I call the West Tahoe volcanic field? Or, was it simply just a random basin & range (also Walker Lane) magma intrusion?

[rngnv]

Tahoe "native" here since my family has always lived right outside of the basin along the Truckee. Grand-uncle was a geologist, laughing about the books that suggested Lake Tahoe was a caldera and we learned that the volcanic field closed off the valley that was once situated where Lake Tahoe is now millions of years ago. There's a TON of active hot springs on the west side of the lake yet people don't think it is a dormant complex. In the winter, on calm days, you used to be able to see Trout schooling around the hydrothermal vents at around 100' in depth from the surface. It reminds me of Clear Lake only much much older. Thank you for spotlighting our area.

[brianmo]

I walked 174 miles around Lake Tahoe last September on the Tahoe Rim Trail. Took 13 days. I loved every bit of it.

[nicholasconder]

Have been to Lake Tahoe twice (2004 and 2005). Although not a caldera, there was volcanism (Mount Pluto) at the north end of the valley 2 million years ago which created a dam of volcanic material. This blockage of the northward drainage system created the lake basin. It is not surprise that magma is rising there again. Beautiful region of the country, by the way.

[Wildthings]

Excellent graphics - as always! You've got a serious talent for explaining complex geology visually, Tim. As someone who created graphics for science documentaries (and similar) for a living, I know how challenging it can be to explain complicated ideas simply... but also very satisfying!

[Petalflipper]

I grew up in South Lake Tahoe. Such a cool place to grow up in. It still feels like a second home to me every time I visit.

[nicolcacola]

The shape of Tahoes mountain has always reminded me of a caldera. Its only 2 hrs away from Mammoth Mountain ⛰️

[jamesrodger]

I love geologic information about the Tahoe basin. That lake has always fascinated me since I was a child and almost drowned in it when I had a heat stroke and fell off of a pier I was fishing on by myself. The trout love the alkaline nature of the lake. In 2012 I was doing a plumbing remodel on an old lodge from the early 60's and was amazed at how clean the galvanized piping was in that place. It had to do with the PH of the water the local utility supplied from the lake. Coming over Brockway summit and seeing the lake always filled me with the presence of a Higher Power.

[MrBlack-]

As an Australian, I found this episode very interesting. Thanks for your input and valuable knowledge.

[xwiick]

Thanks for all the hard work on these videos Tim!

[tarfeef]

I climbed/skied Round Top, a volcano just south of Lake Tahoe. While the lake itself isn't a caldera, there certainly are volcanoes in the vicinity

[Eric_Hutton.]

Fascinating and informative as always.

[bevinboulder]

Tim, all your videos are interesting! Thank you for all your hard work.

[helenamcginty]

What I find lovely coming from the small busy island of Great Britain I find the huge vistas of just natural country with not even an old barn or field wall to show that people have ever been there.

[maryfreeman]

Thank you for the introduction so I could picture where you were talking about. Being from Europe and never visited the States.

[yzftony]

Years ago I was on a project of building and dropping extreme depth submersibles into Tahoe. We got to the 2 deepest points, made some discoveries. Project abyssus. It made the local news a few times. We had a lot of messages to search for specific things down there

[erroleabrown]

I do find the videos interesting and really appreciate your work, thank you

[crazyscott]

Thank you. Very informative. Love your channel.

[JeffreythePine]

Here's a video suggestion you might like @GeologyHub : the ancient Lake Tahoe Seiche. Landslide triggered a massively destructive seiche this has left geologic evidence around the basin. It's also reflected in the Washoe oral history. That part of the Sierra is full of little geologic wonders I and others would love to see in a video someday.

[hopegreer]

I found this very interesting!! Thank you for the great work that you do!!!