Northern Channel Islands
Contents
Northern Channel Islands (Bailey)
Subsection 261Bc, San Miguel Island (James R. Nelson) Lithology and Stratigraphy
Miocene basalt, andesite, pyroclastic, and marine sedimentary rocks predominate in this subsection. There are small areas of Eocene sedimentary, Mesozoic granitic, and Pre-Cretaceous metamorphic rocks. Some of the islands have extensive Quaternary marine terraces and eolian sand deposits.
Geomorphology
The northern Channel Islands are on a line with the Santa Monica Mountains, which are oriented east-west. They have steep to very steep mountainous topography with gently sloping plateaus and dissected marine terraces. Eolian sand has accumulated on some of the surfaces, especially on San Miguel Island. The subsection elevation range is from sea-level up to about 2450 feet. Mass wasting, fluvial erosion, wave erosion, and eolian erosion and deposition are the main geomorphic processes.
Subsection 261Bc, Anacapa Island (James R. Nelson) Soils
The soils are mostly Typic Natrustalfs and Psamments. Salts from the ocean accumulate in the soils. The soils are well drained. Soil temperature regimes are mostly isothermic, and some are thermic. Soil moisture regimes are mostly ustic, and some are xeric.
Vegetation
The predominant natural plant communities include Coast live oak series, Needlegrass grasslands, Island oak series, California sagebrush series, Mixed chaparral shrublands, and Coyote brush series. Dunes and adjacent uplands with a cover of eolian sand support a succession of plant communities, from bare dune through Sand-verbena - beach bursage series.
Subsection 261Bc, San Miguel Island (James R. Nelson) Characteristic series by lifeform include:
Climate
The mean annual precipitation is about 12 to 20 inches; it is all rain. Mean annual temperature is about 54° to 60° F, with 5 to 10° F differences between summer and winter means. The mean freeze-free period is 365 days.
Subsection 261Bc, San Miguel Island (James R. Nelson) Surface Water
Runoff is rapid. There are few streams, especially few in volcanic terrain, and all of them are dry through the summer. Natural lakes are absent.
