Department or Program

Geology

Abstract

Recently, geomorphologic mapping techniques have undergone rapid developments as high-resolution ortho-imagery and digital elevation models augment traditional field-based sur- veying methods. Utilizing 2011-2012 LiDAR data, this project maps and classifies the geomor- phology of the Swift River region of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. LiDAR Hillshade maps with illuminations/elevations of 315/45 and 45/45 produced the best images to view the complexities of the landscape. Analysis of the bare ground LiDAR has allowed new landscape units to be recognized and mapped, including: 1) depositional and erosional floodplain fluvial features (approximately 15% of the study area); 2) stream incision features on slopes (average grade of 18° - 40°); 3) glacially streamlined features (310° azimuth of orientation); 4) other glacial land- forms such as glacial lake terraces; 5) and stoss and lee bedrock features (with dominant fracture orientations of 5°, 40°, and 130°) among others. There is no variation in the lineament analysis of the Jurassic bedrock using the methodology of Mabee et al. (1994), but a strong correlation to the field-measured joints in those units from Pangaean rifting. Further analysis of the landscape geomorphology focused on where the polygons overlapped, creating areas of mixed landscape units (ex. overlap of glacial depositional and fluvial erosional polygons or of fractured bedrock and glacial depositional regions). This study shows that LiDAR can be successfully used to map the bedrock and surficial landscape geomorphology of large, remote regions of land that were previ- ously unable to be viewed due to the dense tree canopy.

Level of Access

Open Access

First Advisor

Dyk Eusden

Date of Graduation

Spring 5-2014

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Number of Pages

83

Components of Thesis

1 pdf file

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