Date of Award

Spring 2020

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Major

Environmental Science

First Advisor

El Hachemi Bouali

Second Advisor

Christoph Geiss

Third Advisor

Jon Gourley

Abstract

It has been previously documented that there are glacial delta deposits within the Cromwell area of Connecticut. This study aimed to image these glacial delta deposits using ground penetrating radar (GPR) to determine flow direction of the meltwater transporting glacial outwash and show GPR to be an effective method for mapping glacial delta deposits. GPR is a device used to image subsurface features, whether they are geological or anthropogenic. A transmitting antenna on the GPR unit emits radar waves into the ground which reflect off contrasts (e.g.: soil composition change, large rocks, metal pipe, water saturation/water, etc.) and are received by a receiving antenna to produce an image. For this experiment we selected River Highlands State Park in Cromwell, Connecticut as the site conditions are optimal for using GPR. For the experiment, 100 MHz antennas were used to map these subsurface delta deposits to determine flow direction of the meltwater. Upon analyzing the results, it was discovered that River Highlands State Park is a collapsed glacial delta morphosequence, that shows beds dipping in the northern direction on the GPR imaging, opposite of the expected meltwater flow. This discovery adds to Connecticut’s glacial history and provides an application for GPR use.

Comments

Senior thesis completed at Trinity College, Hartford CT for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.

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