Monitoring tracer stones through the potholes of Fall Creek Gorge near Williamsport, Indiana

Slaven, Samuel

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/44237 Copy

Description

Title

Monitoring tracer stones through the potholes of Fall Creek Gorge near Williamsport, Indiana

Author(s)

Slaven, Samuel

Issue Date

2013-05-24T21:55:11Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Anders, Alison M.

Department of Study

Geology

Discipline

Geology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Potholes
• Step-pool system
• Tracer stones
• Radio frequency identification (RFID) tracer stones
• Tracer clasts
• coarse sediment transport
• Fall Creek Gorge
• Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tracer stones

Abstract

We document coarse sediment transport through Fall Creek Gorge, a bedrock channel step-pool system with deep and complex pothole structures located in western Indiana. Tracer clasts are embedded with Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags using our new highly successful and efficient method for drilling holes into small (~ 10 mm) clasts. Repeated surveys of bed topography record deposition and erosion of sediment within potholes. Tracer clasts introduced upstream of the potholes were transported through the reach over a period of a few weeks: we see no evidence for individual coarse sediment particles having long residence times within potholes. Initial transport of tracer clasts was accompanied by a spatially extensive aggradational event. We develop a conceptual model for coarse sediment transport within Fall Creek gorge in which potholes are filled with fine sediment (sand and gravel) prior to initiation of coarser sediment transport. The fine sediment creates a temporary bridge allowing coarse particle to move through the reach without becoming trapped within potholes. We are in the early developmental stages for testing this model in a flume.

Graduation Semester

2013-05

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/44237

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2013 Samuel Slaven

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