Progradation on Wisconsin Point Along the Superior Barrier Using Ground Penetrating Radar

Abstract

The Duluth-Superior barrier, located on the western coast of Lake Superior, is the longest freshwater barrier system in the world. Little research has been conducted on the Wisconsin Point barrier. To better understand the formation of the Wisconsin Point barrier (Superior, WI), what lies beneath the surface, and how one can protect areas such as this from future erosion, multiple sources of data were collected. Satellite imagery and topographic maps were used with ground penetrating radar (GPR) to get topographic data. GPR emits radio frequencies into the subsurface and records their echoes to construct images of the subsurface layering stratigraphy. Four cross-barrier transects on the barrier were collated using a pulseEKKO 100 GPR system with 100 MHz antennae frequency. The data was processed using Sensors and Software’s EKKO Project software. After interpretation of different coastal barrier systems, such as those on Atlantic and Australian coasts, and comparing that data to our own, we have found there is evidence of longshore drift and coastal progradation on Wisconsin Point. The information presented will be used to further coastal barrier research, help understand barrier erosion, and provide ways to protect the endangered bird, the Piping Plover, that are in danger in these areas.