Ground Penetrating Radar and Geomorphic Analysis of Paleo Beach Ridges in Lorain County, Ohio
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GROUND PENETRATING RADAR AND GEOMORPHIC ANALYSIS OF PALEO BEACH RIDGES IN LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO A thesis submitted To Kent State University in partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Christopher R. Nitzsche May, 2013 ii Thesis written by Christopher R. Nitzsche B.S., Kent State University, 2002 M.A., Kent State University, 2013 Approved by ____________________________ Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Advisor ____________________________ Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Chair, Department of Geography ____________________________ Raymond Craig, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 CHAPTER 2: BACKGROUND AND LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………………. 7 2.1 Bedrock Geology………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7 2.2. Preglacial drainage networks…………………………………………………………………………………… 9 2.3 Wisconsin Glacial History of the Great Lakes Region…..……………………………………………. 10 2.3.1 Pre-late Wisconsinan Glaciations………………………………………………………………….... 12 2.3.2 Late Wisconsinan Glaciation……………………………………………………………………………. 13 2.4. Paleo Lake Erie………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 16 2.5. Lake Erie and its contemporary coastal environment………………………………………………. 22 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24 3.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 24 3.2 Subsurface Structural Imaging using GPR…………………………………………………………………. 24 3.2.1 Applications of GPR in subsurface imaging……………………………………………………… 24 3.2.2 Basic principles of GPR in subsurface imaging ………………………………………………. 24 3.2.3 GPR system description…………………………………………………………………………………… 27 3.2.4 GPR Data Collection…………………………………………………………………………….............. 28 3.3 Geomorphic Analysis of DEMS………………………………………………………………………………….. 30 3.3.1 Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) high resolution DEM data………………………... 30 3.4 DEM Data Processing and Interpretation………………………………………………………………….. 33 CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS AND RESULTS OF GPR AND LIDAR DATA……………………………………………. 34 4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 34 4.2 Identification of Radar Facies……………………………………………………………………………………. 35 4.2.1 Common Reflectors of Non-Glacial or Lacustrine Origin………………………………….. 35 4.2.2 Common Radar Facies…………………………………………………………………………………….. 41 4.3 GPR Reflection Profiles…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 42 4.3.1 GPR Reflection Profile 00…………………………………………………………………………………. 43 4.3.2 GPR Reflection Profile 01…………………………………………………………………………………. 48 4.3.3 GPR Reflection Profile 02…………………………………………………………………………………. 50 4.3.4 GPR Reflection Profile 03…………………………………………………………………………………. 51 4.3.5 GPR Reflection Profile 04…………………………………………………………………………………. 52 4.3.6 GPR Reflection Profile 05…………………………………………………………………………………. 52 4.4 Summary………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 56 CHAPTER 5: DEM ANALYSIS OF PALAEO-COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY…………………………………. 57 5.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………….............. 57 5.2 Identification of Paleo-coastal features from Lidar-derived DEMs………………………….... 57 5.2.1 Glacial Lake Maumee Stage…………………………………………………………………………….. 60 5.2.2 Glacial Lake Whittlesey Stage………………………………………………………………………….. 66 iii 5.2.3 Glacial Lake Warren Stage……………………………………………………………………………….. 69 5.3. Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 69 CHAPTER 6: RECONSTRUCTED COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS ……………………………………………………. 71 6.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 71 6.2 Reconstruction of shoreline conditions…………………………………………………………………….. 71 6.2.1 Glacial Lake Maumee ……………………………………………………………………………………… 71 6.2.2 Glacial Lake Whittlesey …………………………………………………………………………………… 73 6.2.3 Glacial Lake Warren………………………………………………………………………………………… 75 6.3 Preservation of Palaeo Beach Ridges………………………………………………………………………… 79 CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH…………………………………………………………….. 81 7.1 Conclusions………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 81 7.2 Future Research……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 82 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Glacial Map of Northwestern Ohio (Modified from ODNR, Glacial Map of Ohio)………………………………………………..…………………………………............................ 2 Figure 1.2 Generalized Beach Ridges of the Glacial Lakes in North Central Ohio (Forsyth, 1959)……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Figure 1.3 Modified OGRIP image of Study Area showing ridges in red and the site location within Ohio………………………………………………………………………………………. 5 Figure 2.1 Siltsones and shale exposed along the Vermillion River at Bacon Woods in the Lorain County Metroparks……………………………………………………………………… 8 Figure 2.2 Sandstone exposed in an abandoned quarry along Quarry Rd. in Amherst, OH……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 8 Figure 2.3 Geologic Map of north-western Ohio modified from ODNR. The black arrow indicates the location and trend of the axis of the Findlay Arch……………………… 9 Figure 2.4 Modified Teays River Map from ODNR…………………………………………………………… 11 Figure 2.5 Teays River Map modified from fullerton, 1986……………………………………………… 11 Figure 2.6 Modified Table of Wisconsinan Ages Based on Oxygen Isotopes (Fullerton, 1986)……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12 Figure 2.7 Modified Late Wisconsinan glacial advance with study Area (Fullerton, 1986)……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14 Figure 2.8 Grooves exposed in dolostone at Kelleys Island State Park, Oh……………………… 16 Figure 2.9 History of the Great Lakes. Numbers refer to each of the main glacial lobes which are: 1. The Superior Lobe; 2. The Chippewa Lobe; 3. The Green Bay Lobe; 4. The Michigan Lobe; 5. The Saginaw Lobe; and 6. The Huron‐Erie Lobe. (Images modified from http://www.geo.msu.edu/geo333)..................... 17 Figure 2.10 Modified from Forsyth (1959) showing paleo-Lake Erie exposed beach levels marked with red X’s in regards to the study area; units are in feet above sea level……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 18 Figure 2.11 Modified from Forsythe (1959) illustrating lake level, radiometric age, chronology, elevation of ridge, and geologic reason for change in level………… 19 Figure 2.12 Paleoshorelines of the Great Lakes (Larson et al. 2001)…………………………………. 19 Figure 2.13 Paleo-lake stages of the Great Lakes Basin (Larson and Schaetzl, 2001)…………. 20 Figure 2.14 Dominant surface circulation patterns in Lake Erie (Saylor and Miller, 1987)…. 23 Figure 3.1 GPR system set up with components on the mobile cart……………………………… 27 Figure 3.2 GPR transect line locations…………………………………………………………………………… 29 Figure 3.3 Collecting GPR data along Middle Ridge Rd……………………………………………………. 29 Figure 3.4 Modified USGS image illustrating the basic components of an airborne lidar ranging system including the laser altimeter, instruments to position 32 v location, and down-looking digital camera…………………………………………………… Figure 4.1 Location of GPR lines in the study area (Baumhart Road is the north/south trending road that crosses multiple beach ridges. State Highway 2 is to the north and the Ohio Turnpike is to the south)…………………………………………………. 34 Figure 4.2 Terminology to define and describe radar surfaces, radar packages and radar facies modified from Neal 2004……………………………………………………………………… 36 Figure 4.3 Modified chart that relates GPR reflection configurations to the stratigraphic and lithologic properties of sediments in glaciated terrain (Haeni, 1988)………. 37 Figure 4.4 Common air wave, road surface, and underlying road bed found in radar profiles in the study area. Depth and length is in meters……………………………… 38 Figure 4.5 Common air wave and ground wave reflection that is displayed in the upper most portions of radar grams collected in fields in the study area. Depth is in meters……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 39 Figure. 4.6 Generalized Diagram of a Pipe Signature: GPR Record (300 MHz) Showing a Hyperbola from a Buried Pipe, and Computation of Depth and Velocity from that Target. Taken from ASTM D6432, 2011…………………………………………………… 40 Figure 4.7 Common symmetrical parabolic reflectors observed in the reflection profiles that are interpreted as foundations, reinforcement bars (rebar), cables, pipes, tanks, drums, and/or tunnels……………………………………………………………… 41 Figure 4.8 Reflection configurations commonly found in the GPR data in the study area along with potential interpretations for coastal environments………………………. 42 Figure 4.9 Radar transect Line 00 on Baumhart Rd between St Rte 90 and St Rte 2 heading north with intersecting roads labeled………………………………………………. 43 Figure 4.10 View northward of beach ridges along radar transect Line 00 on Baumhart Rd at the intersection with Middle Ridge Rd……………………………………………………… 44 Figure 4.11 View northward of beach ridges along radar transect Line 00 on Baumhart Rd approximately 200 meters north of the intersection with Middle Ridge Rd…… 44 Figure 4.12 Topographically corrected radar transect Line 00 on Baumhart Rd between St Rte 90 and St Rte 2 heading north with glacial lakes stages labeled……………… 45 Figure 4.13 Location of detailed profile images………………………………………………………………… 45 Figure 4.14 Topographically corrected radar transect Line 00: 900 meters to 1210 meters……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 46 Figure 4.15 Topographically corrected radar transect Line 00: 2440 meters to 2670 meters……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 47 Figure 4.16 View northward off the front side of the glacial Lake Warren stage beach ridge along radar transect Line 00 on Baumhart Rd at the intersection with Whittlesey Rd………………………………………………………………………………………………... 47 Figure 4.17 Topographically corrected radar transect Line 00: 2440 meters to 2820 meters…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….