Qualitative Analysis of Bluff Erosion and Changes in the Le Sueur River
Location
CSU Ballroom
Start Date
20-4-2015 2:00 PM
End Date
20-4-2015 3:30 PM
Student's Major
Geography
Student's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Mentor's Name
Cindy Miller
Mentor's Email Address
cynthia.miller@mnsu.edu
Mentor's Department
Geography
Mentor's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
Over time, the Le Sueur River has been undergoing channel changes and creating bluff erosion in Southern Minnesota. The bluff erosion has become a threat to homes near the river causing them to be in danger of destruction. While other researchers have mapped river changes using two years of imagery, we analyzed five sets of aerial photos, ranging from 1939 to the present, of a study area southeast of Mankato to determine the extent of bluff erosion, channel changes and threats to residents. This series of images allowed us to see whether the stream changes have been steady or increasing at a more rapid rate than in the past. We interpreted the photos using Stereo Analyst in ERDAS Imagine and created anaglyphs to interpret erosion processes in stereo. We also digitized the river’s course in ArcGIS to map the changes in course and erosion over time. Spatial Analyst allowed us to produce a detailed 3-D shaded relief model of the river channel to illustrate the geomorphic changes occurring in the area over time. Our conclusion determines whether bluff erosion on the Le Sueur River is increasing as time goes on. This research could affect future development and zoning restrictions in the area.
Qualitative Analysis of Bluff Erosion and Changes in the Le Sueur River
CSU Ballroom
Over time, the Le Sueur River has been undergoing channel changes and creating bluff erosion in Southern Minnesota. The bluff erosion has become a threat to homes near the river causing them to be in danger of destruction. While other researchers have mapped river changes using two years of imagery, we analyzed five sets of aerial photos, ranging from 1939 to the present, of a study area southeast of Mankato to determine the extent of bluff erosion, channel changes and threats to residents. This series of images allowed us to see whether the stream changes have been steady or increasing at a more rapid rate than in the past. We interpreted the photos using Stereo Analyst in ERDAS Imagine and created anaglyphs to interpret erosion processes in stereo. We also digitized the river’s course in ArcGIS to map the changes in course and erosion over time. Spatial Analyst allowed us to produce a detailed 3-D shaded relief model of the river channel to illustrate the geomorphic changes occurring in the area over time. Our conclusion determines whether bluff erosion on the Le Sueur River is increasing as time goes on. This research could affect future development and zoning restrictions in the area.
Recommended Citation
Meyer, Samantha and Nate Kirkwold. "Qualitative Analysis of Bluff Erosion and Changes in the Le Sueur River." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 20, 2015.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2015/poster_session_B/26
