Bluff recession along the coastline becomes an ever-increasing concern as high density facilities construction and development in the coastal zone, sustained high water levels, and episodic storm events combine to create severe erosional conditions. However, there is a remarkable absence of tools for predicting physical coastal processes, particularly wave action and its impacts on the coastal ecosystem and the response of the beach and bluff to coastal development. The goal of the project will characterize bluff recession processes and develop an integrated tool to predict physical coastal processes for the protection of life and property along Lake Superior and Michigan coastal areas in Wisconsin.
In recent years, we have been examining nearshore lakebed downcutting, a common coastal process along cohesive shorelines of the Great Lakes. It is speculated to be an important factor to determine long-term bluff recession rates. A key feature of these shorelines is that when erosion of the nearshore lakebed takes place, it is irreversible - it cannot be restored as is the case with sandy shores. Waves can further erode intact bluff-toe material, creating a steeper bluff profile, promoting further slope failures, and yielding excessive bluff recession. This research addresses the role of lakebed downcutting on long-term bluff recession. Specifically we are currently developing the state-of-the-art geophysical methods with the purpose to measure nearshore downcutting and examine the role of nearshore sediment transport in bluff recession.
Spatial variation of bluff recession along the Wisconsin shoreline of Lake Superior Nearshore substrate profile along the Concordia University in Lake Michigan
Predicting wind-generated waves heights and patterns on small lakes is important in the management and use of lakes. Small lakes provide habitat and food for a wide variety of flora, fauna, insects and micro-organisms. Their interaction with surrounding terrestial and atmospheric systems affects the geochemical cycling and aging of these waters. Humans utilize these lakes for a variety of recreational activities and enjoy their ecology and beauty. Those who live near the lake shores often have their structures damaged by large waves. A long-term exposure of constant wave action can erode, transport, and deposit nearshore bottom sediments, which are crucial for some plant roots or structures. Therefore, obtaining the wave climate in small lakes is very valuable for lake management. Thorugh in-situ measments, we have provided a wind energy calculator, a ciritical component of the NR328, to provide guidance and permit for control shoreline erosion at Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
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Wave energy in Madison Lakes
Sponsor : Wisconsin
Coastal Management Program
Wisconsin
Alumni Research Foundation
City of Madison,
WI
Dane County Land and Water Resources
Department
Status : Active
Student Investigators:
Kevin Lin (Ph.D.), Laura Seabury (M.S.), Khurran Khan
(Ph.D.),
and Opening
Graduated: Mike Swenson
(M.S.),
and Lisa Brown
(M.S.)
Publications:
- Lin, Y.. T, Wu, C.H., Fratta, D., Kung, K.-J.S. Integrated acoustic and electromagnetic wave-based technique to estimate subbottom sediment properties in aquatic environment, Near Surface Geophysics, Accepted under revision, 2009.
- Lin, Y.T., Schuettpelz, C., Wu, C.H., and Fratta, D., A., combined acoustic and electromagnetic wave-based technique for bathymetry and subbottom profiling in shallow waters. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 68, 203-219, 2009
- Swenson, M.J., Wu, C.H., Edil, T.B., Mickelson, D.M., Bluff recession rates and wave impact along the Wisconsin coast of Lake Superior, J. of Great Lakes Research, 32(3), 512-530, 2006.
- Brown, E.A., Wu, C.H., Mickelson, D.M., Edil T.B., Factors
controlling
rates of bluff recession at two sites on Lake Michigan, J. of Great
Lakes
Research, 31(3), 306-321, 2005.
- Petykowski, C., Wind wave modeling and verification on small lakes, Master Thesis, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UW-Madison, 2004.
Bluff in Lake Michigan
