Holocene OSL Age Estimates of Parabolic Dunes Along the Western Shore of Lake Michigan Door Peninsula WI, USA: Insights on the Coastal Dunes Geomorphic History

Presentation Type

Poster/Portfolio

Presenter Major(s)

Chemistry

Mentor Information

Min Qi, qim@gvsu.edu

Department

Chemistry

Location

Kirkhof Center KC36

Start Date

13-4-2011 1:00 PM

End Date

13-4-2011 2:00 PM

Keywords

Environment, Global Change, Physical Science

Abstract

Aeolian geomorphology and geochronology was investigated for dunes on the northwestern shore of Lake Michigan at Whitefish Dunes State Park, Wisconsin. Three-meter LiDAR, aerial photographs, and field observations reveal a series of parabolic dunes and beach ridges superimposed on an 800 m wide strand plain that separates Lake Michigan from inland Clark Lake. The parabolic dunes show a paleowind direction of south-southwest. Particle Size Analysis (PSA) along with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) differentiate dune (~2.7% coarse sand) and beach (~18% coarse sand) sediment. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) samples were collected from paleo-beaches and dune crests. OSL ages of the dune crests ranged from 7.8 to 1.9 ka, correlating with the Nippising Lake Level High (6.0-4.3 ka) and the Algoma Transgression (3.3-2.3 ka). The similarity between the dune and beach sediment age suggests rapid dune formation and stabilization.

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Apr 13th, 1:00 PM Apr 13th, 2:00 PM

Holocene OSL Age Estimates of Parabolic Dunes Along the Western Shore of Lake Michigan Door Peninsula WI, USA: Insights on the Coastal Dunes Geomorphic History

Kirkhof Center KC36

Aeolian geomorphology and geochronology was investigated for dunes on the northwestern shore of Lake Michigan at Whitefish Dunes State Park, Wisconsin. Three-meter LiDAR, aerial photographs, and field observations reveal a series of parabolic dunes and beach ridges superimposed on an 800 m wide strand plain that separates Lake Michigan from inland Clark Lake. The parabolic dunes show a paleowind direction of south-southwest. Particle Size Analysis (PSA) along with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) differentiate dune (~2.7% coarse sand) and beach (~18% coarse sand) sediment. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) samples were collected from paleo-beaches and dune crests. OSL ages of the dune crests ranged from 7.8 to 1.9 ka, correlating with the Nippising Lake Level High (6.0-4.3 ka) and the Algoma Transgression (3.3-2.3 ka). The similarity between the dune and beach sediment age suggests rapid dune formation and stabilization.