a multi-scale approach to understanding desert piedmonts using cosmogenic isotopes and...
Post on 21-Dec-2015
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A multi-scale approach to A multi-scale approach to understanding desert understanding desert
piedmonts using piedmonts using cosmogenic isotopes and cosmogenic isotopes and
centimeter-scale surveyingcentimeter-scale surveying
Kyle NicholsKyle NicholsDepartment of GeologyDepartment of Geology
ApproachApproach
Short-term(50 yrs.)maps
Long-term(103 to 104 yrs.)isotopes
Small-scale(m)
Large-scale(km) N/A
1 2
3
Global Positioning Systems Global Positioning Systems (GPS; left)(GPS; left)
Accelerator Mass Accelerator Mass Spectrometery (AMS; top)Spectrometery (AMS; top)
Desert Desert Training Training CenterCenter
1942 to 19441942 to 1944
• Over 1,000,000 menOver 1,000,000 men• 12 base camps12 base camps• Size of VermontSize of Vermont
Why use Iron Mountain?Why use Iron Mountain?
• 2 years channel alteration (Army tanks, marching soldiers, etc.)
• No significant disturbance since
• Discrete time-frame of channel response to intense use (1944 to present).
• Ability to survey channels on the centimeter scale using differential Global Positioning System.
Centimeter-scale topographic Centimeter-scale topographic mappingmapping
• 6 Control Plots - representative of piedmont channels outside of Camp Iron Mountain
• 6 Walkway Plots - representative of piedmont channels forming in areas of intense foot trafficked areas
• 6 Road Plots - representative of piedmont channels forming down-gradient of road berms
Control AreaControl Area
Typical Typical Walkway AreaWalkway Area
Typical Road AreaTypical Road Area
Channel orientationsChannel orientations
Control PlotsControl Plots Walkway PlotsWalkway Plots Road PlotsRoad Plots