Foundering lithosphere imaged with magnetotelluric data beneath Yosemite National Park, California

Research beneath Yosemite National Park reveals the presence of foundering lithosphere, a process where the Earth's rigid outer shell sinks into the mantle. This discovery was made using magnetotelluric data collected across a 240 km profile from the San Joaquin Valley to Nevada, employing broadband and long-period instruments to image conductivity structures down to 120 km depth. The study, conducted by Ostos and Park (2012), provides critical insights into the geological dynamics of the Sierra Nevada range, particularly the extent of lithospheric removal beneath it.

Ostos, L., & Park, S. K. (2012). Foundering lithosphere imaged with magnetotelluric data beneath Yosemite National Park, California. Geosphere, 8(1), 98–104. https://doi.org/10.1130/ges00657.1