Geological Society of America

4 GIS Applications, LiDAR, and Digital Landscapes

Monday, 16 April 2018
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Room 220

CHARACTERIZING LANDSCAPE RESPONSE TO AN EXTREME METEOROLOGICAL EVENT IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA IN 2012 USING MULTITEMPORAL LIDAR

Paper number: 4-7
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 9:55 AM – 10:15 AM

Authors

Stephen DeLong Presenting Author
U.S. Geological Survey, Moffett Field, CA
Stephen DeLong Presenting Author
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Andrew D. Wickert
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
Andrew D. Wickert
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Karen B. Gran
University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, MN
Andy Breckenridge
University of Wisconsin - Superior, Superior, WI
Whitney M. DeLong
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, ND
Carrie Jennings
St. Paul, MN

Abstract

We are analyzing high-resolution topographic data to guide development of protocols for landslide susceptibility mapping, and to better understand the potential impacts of landslides on natural resources in Minnesota. Observations of landscape change from repeat airborne lidar provide a basis for detailed mapping of landscape change and allow inferences to be made regarding Earth-surface process response to environmental forcing. In particular, we are analyzing airborne lidar collected before and after a historic rain and flood event that occurred in and near Duluth, Minnesota in June 2012. Analyses of these data have heretofore been hindered by issues with the internal structure within each dataset, and with the alignment of the pre- and post-event lidar data. These issues limited confidence in detection of real versus spurious landscape change. We address these issues and present initial observations of widespread mass wasting that occurred on steep slopes underlain by glacial sediment, and on streambanks adjacent to rivers in the region. The analysis includes comparisons of the airborne lidar with repeat terrestrial lidar data collected on riverine bluffs that experienced >2.5 meters of lateral erosion in the flood event.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 50, No. 4

doi: 10.1130/abs/2018NC-313226

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