tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84619627948374096772024-03-05T09:43:05.279-07:00The Hydrogeology of Bonsai Lake at Fortress Mountain, Kananaskis Country, AlbertaAn informal research blog about my Master of Science thesis project at the University of Calgary. Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-59791942661771009422020-11-25T08:30:00.006-07:002020-11-25T08:30:44.348-07:00Results published in Hydrogeology Journal<p>The results findings of my MSc thesis and some new updated data from my thesis supervisor Masaki Hayashi were published earlier this year in Hydrogeology Journal in this article: </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Hydrogeological characterization of an alpine aquifer system in the Canadian Rocky Mountains</h2><div>Follow this link to read the article. It is open-access and free for all to read and download. </div><div><br /></div><ul class="nova-e-list nova-e-list--size-m nova-e-list--type-inline nova-e-list--spacing-none research-detail-meta__item-list" style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02153-7" style="color: #777777;" target="_blank">doi number: 10.1007/s10040-020-02153-7</a><a href="http://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02153-7" target="_blank"><div><span style="color: #777777;"><br /></span></div></a><a href="http://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02153-7" target="_blank"><div><span style="color: #777777;"><br /></span></div></a><br /></ul>Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-5996259209144437192017-11-27T18:44:00.002-07:002017-11-27T18:44:18.810-07:00Thesis Released to PublicFollowing my convocation, my MSc thesis is now available to the public. Follow the link below to view and download it.<br />
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<a href="http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3960">http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3960</a><br />
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I am currently preparing a manuscript with the intent of publishing part of my results in a peer-reviewed journal. I will post to this blog once that publication is released.Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-5620252925548132352017-08-16T15:15:00.004-06:002017-08-16T15:15:56.234-06:00Thesis Complete - July 2017Like the Americans, I found my independence on July 4. Last month, I successfully defended my thesis and have come to the end of my Master of Science studies. Here are a few photos of the occasion. I have been enjoying some much needed relaxation, and will spend time on some personal projects before I move on to a full time job starting in early 2018.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfLQDBGRGhzCvlZhBAl75xK2Ap6M9R7bwDOwKPrJBwDmOZq9QCRaGn9GmvDQNbdOTABbH2dQNKmZ7lNROJOksLMX6GEUcZfRhUm-3Z2rEn9GwRXBLEeltT2C3zodTWqLvvQHtGgoCtNYw/s1600/1499303079177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="270" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfLQDBGRGhzCvlZhBAl75xK2Ap6M9R7bwDOwKPrJBwDmOZq9QCRaGn9GmvDQNbdOTABbH2dQNKmZ7lNROJOksLMX6GEUcZfRhUm-3Z2rEn9GwRXBLEeltT2C3zodTWqLvvQHtGgoCtNYw/s400/1499303079177.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the public presentation preceding the oral examination. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtzQZiIXhvMQIPVj3g9SZpR8HInHps_oqqojKxwtpNxDjDdKRGVnoT42snfpmOjjKslFRz-MMYGWYYhwF1dl3q1Mf23MC5NmW4kKn1M4Lfp26GbCz_wKgjhGMH8RN8oZFx9jk8cDky0-M/s1600/1499302810773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="512" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtzQZiIXhvMQIPVj3g9SZpR8HInHps_oqqojKxwtpNxDjDdKRGVnoT42snfpmOjjKslFRz-MMYGWYYhwF1dl3q1Mf23MC5NmW4kKn1M4Lfp26GbCz_wKgjhGMH8RN8oZFx9jk8cDky0-M/s400/1499302810773.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little drink to celebrate afterwards. </td></tr>
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This blog will, understandably, be a less active henceforth, but I will periodically post some updates. My thesis will be publicly available in November, but I might be able to share a copy with you directly. I intend to prepare at least one and possibly two journal articles related to my work at Fortress Mountain. Moreover, other researchers and former colleagues will continue to work at this site and in similar ones throughout the Rockies. I will update if there are significant developments on those fronts.<br />
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Until then, traveller of the world wide web, enjoy this archive of photos, field work stories, and scientific musings!<br />
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-- Craig<br />
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<br />Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-63605615995044682372017-04-25T16:39:00.000-06:002017-04-26T13:23:40.360-06:00Approaching the light at the end of the tunnel I've spent the last few months with the blinders on, focused on writing the thesis. I'm about 7-10 days away from finishing the first draft, and taking a moment to finally update this blog. Here are a few things I've been up to since the fall.<br />
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<h2>
February 2017 field visit </h2>
<div>
I took a quick jaunt up to the field on February 21 with my supervisor, Dr. Masaki Hayashi. It was an easy and pleasant day spent doing some quick field reconaissance, which we hadn't ever had the time to do in the winter. Some of the springs we were hoping to look at were covered by metres of snow, but we managed to gauge the larger spring at the north end of the study site. After a few months in the office writing and crunching numbers, it was great to get outside.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZ5zBpeQRkRxhfKiBEIufGWo-S5ijmrXHXbbEPLTEAVGJJDU-agf-KSVoEvTw3eXOQUooXYYptVagcFPMSXqT6h3bVNyI0yJiqoTu6_iTeo0mhubV6v5jIpMiBLyrctLjl5GYsMnYaFgN/s1600/IMG_3260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZ5zBpeQRkRxhfKiBEIufGWo-S5ijmrXHXbbEPLTEAVGJJDU-agf-KSVoEvTw3eXOQUooXYYptVagcFPMSXqT6h3bVNyI0yJiqoTu6_iTeo0mhubV6v5jIpMiBLyrctLjl5GYsMnYaFgN/s640/IMG_3260.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view, looking south, and the headwall bordering my study site</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnlPUZbbcQt7Z6-6xL-pdFgqZ0H58U1ogbyldz33Gihnb586VGXCP6-ouNydcJgDP3iwEMWGhbkW6vKI8M5S4BcIshDWN8Qqud-tduQuIK5702FYYIfpar0H5nW5QTMjmNiJVCPYCsR6E/s1600/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnlPUZbbcQt7Z6-6xL-pdFgqZ0H58U1ogbyldz33Gihnb586VGXCP6-ouNydcJgDP3iwEMWGhbkW6vKI8M5S4BcIshDWN8Qqud-tduQuIK5702FYYIfpar0H5nW5QTMjmNiJVCPYCsR6E/s400/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours Truly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpA3RbiTT7czCs15iXbxqrxvJYJHv07XdP8d8WSybyIm55cBYCQN1HMdGWP9wg5BOcMXAdjVdbnu7Tr6Zdkf1On40My6i6n1ot3Q5d3unNIJFRh_FMz8fXRDmTWaFihKkrK4HIftRTtQQx/s1600/IMG_3214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpA3RbiTT7czCs15iXbxqrxvJYJHv07XdP8d8WSybyIm55cBYCQN1HMdGWP9wg5BOcMXAdjVdbnu7Tr6Zdkf1On40My6i6n1ot3Q5d3unNIJFRh_FMz8fXRDmTWaFihKkrK4HIftRTtQQx/s400/IMG_3214.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My supervisor, Masaki Hayashi</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjbTgREtzx5wv6aR0aRdai33dGbgqWA9EvI8aNKsVhub_e2q3VMi4ozM0Fn2WT1iQJIXPxriJ-jXgvrtOw9yvdGdngwPua0MYsodxk1TqzCl2WvkHM-ylcUUQcyQ-wY0sVO9D9jTBcrd8/s1600/IMG_3238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjbTgREtzx5wv6aR0aRdai33dGbgqWA9EvI8aNKsVhub_e2q3VMi4ozM0Fn2WT1iQJIXPxriJ-jXgvrtOw9yvdGdngwPua0MYsodxk1TqzCl2WvkHM-ylcUUQcyQ-wY0sVO9D9jTBcrd8/s400/IMG_3238.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found the main spring at my study site still flowing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHm1ZxiBhvwW3z0sHJMV6yelIOT37lhK0dHLSaZShsPZYarJqL4jQHjIbsIoQRs7cBm6L9OSwnLVdSwWKbQA7xgM-bRdfb_BojT9MXfz0mLU7bRV_9a2XarKpiKmBpdSP1VI3UnmKeGDRt/s1600/IMG_3246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHm1ZxiBhvwW3z0sHJMV6yelIOT37lhK0dHLSaZShsPZYarJqL4jQHjIbsIoQRs7cBm6L9OSwnLVdSwWKbQA7xgM-bRdfb_BojT9MXfz0mLU7bRV_9a2XarKpiKmBpdSP1VI3UnmKeGDRt/s320/IMG_3246.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to measure stream flow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUV6rZVI9qMAFnB8dUa2y49S_1Dr-OZ7R-NF83PPd3W3Dok5NnPxwAWoXbQM48VxTckNl-T5gnnhGjNe4JGDVkh4LlHGpWhyBqcFqQ6tBR7Bg0VA3yDJFmKKtCDxeuGc8X5aF5r4L8W5z/s1600/IMG_3248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUV6rZVI9qMAFnB8dUa2y49S_1Dr-OZ7R-NF83PPd3W3Dok5NnPxwAWoXbQM48VxTckNl-T5gnnhGjNe4JGDVkh4LlHGpWhyBqcFqQ6tBR7Bg0VA3yDJFmKKtCDxeuGc8X5aF5r4L8W5z/s320/IMG_3248.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<h2>
Article for the CSEG Recorder</h2>
</div>
<div>
I was invited to write a short piece in for the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists in the April issue of their magazine, the CSEG Recorder. My study, which uses geophysics in an alpine setting for hydrological applications is well outside what most CSEG members are used to dealing with, so it was nice to describe how I use geophysics in my little niche. The article is only available to members for the first 4-5 months after release. If you're not a member, here's a short abstract to whet your appetite: </div>
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<div class="MsoTitle">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Scanning Calgary’s ‘Water Towers’: Applications of Hydrogeophysics
in Challenging Mountain Terrain</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Craig W. Christensen, Masaki Hayashi, Laurence R. Bentley<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>The University of Calgary, Department of Geoscience</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alpine zones provide critical water storage for drier
lowland areas like the Canadian Prairies. Groundwater<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span>plays<span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span>an important role by helping delay the release of snowmelt to
surface streams, but these storage processes have only recently been studied
and are not yet completely understood. Traditional methods for hydrogeological
investigations are not usually logistically possible. Geophysics offers a
low-cost alternative, and is useful for obtaining high-resolution datasets with
large coverage. This article, using example data from our most recent project, illustrates
how our research group uses geophysics to study mountain groundwater storage processes.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We emphasize three key lessons from our alpine studies that
other practitioners of hydrogeophysics may also find enlightening. First, while
logistically challenging, geophysics is an effective preliminary investigation
tool for hydrogeological problems where direct sampling is not possible.
Second, surface observations and supporting measurements are key to making
effective interpretations. Finally, while some ambiguity may be unavoidable,
using multiple geophysical methods that sample independent geophysical parameters
greatly reduces the uncertainty in our final interpretations.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<h2>
Interesting Data Plots</h2>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Many of the last months
have been spent manipulating, plotting, and interpreting my data. Here are a
few interesting ones worth sharing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">First up, here's a 3D
view of my resistivity cross-sections in the talus deposits at the south end of
my site. You'll notice generally that the resistivity in the near surface is
very high (10,000-30,000 Ωm), and generally decreases going down. There are
places where we have more conductive material at surface (500-3,000 Ωm)
corresponding to springs at surface (the blue dots below). Hence, I suspect
that the green parts of the image are places with higher water content. There's
also a especially high resistivity anomaly on the left side of the image in the
shade that I suspect is permafrost. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 4.5pt 4.5pt 4.5pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9.5pt;">Resistivity
cross-sections in the talus. The letters above stand for "West
Cone", "Central Cone", and "Upper East Cone." The
blue spheres indicate the locations of springs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
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</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I also tried out some
ways of visualizing both my resistivity and seismic velocity data together.
Below is the result of something called "fuzzy k-means clustering."
Basically, this is an algorithm that takes a dataset, and tries to group it into
meaningful groups that would not be obvious looking at just one variable at a
time. In the first plot below, I plotted up all of the locations where I had
overlapping resistivity and p-wave velocity, and grouped them into 7 different
groups. After grouping them, I coloured these locations in my 3D model (second
plot below) according to which group each point belonged to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">While it's neat to look
at, the method doesn't enhance my interpretation much because there's only one
group of very high resistivity and high velocity material that is particularly
distinct in this data set. Also, values below 100 Ωm are significant for my
study because they are usually wet, saturated material, but that sort of
geologic intuition isn't built into the method. Still, it's a neat method that
is probably useful in other contexts</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-20404743416149946082016-09-25T20:54:00.003-06:002016-09-25T21:00:44.505-06:00(Final?) Day of field work - September 19, 2016This past week, I finished what I hope is my final day in the field for my MSc thesis project. Our mission on Monday was to collect all our remaining sensors and data from the field, as well as auger a auger to a layer underneath the meadow that was imaged by the geophysics but difficult to interpret. The augering was messy and in the end not very successful; out target was at about 6 m below surface, but we did not get past 4 m deep. However, despite the slurry of mud that we got covered in, all the other data download went off without a hitch, and we were treated beautiful eye candy all day. There was a dusting of snow over the whole valley that morning, and the larch trees with their yellow, autumnal needles added a dazzling and vibrant element to the landscape. We may have looking like messy ogres by the end of the day, but we were treated to beautiful panoramas throughout.<br />
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A big thanks to Jen Hanlon and Polina Abrakhimova for helping me out in finishing off my field work!<br />
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For these coming weeks, I'm focussing on finalizing my inversion images and doing a proper depth conversion of my GPR data. Then the final interpretation on writing begins...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYWbVTn7g4cuUzJtdUEybCSouMOtkvK9gyxharTiH9Lmhxc1bG7sumC_zA2Sz-bvtLCx7WMDR6ZcPvUxZxycaBZkWczM1Vl-jZAXewQSidxwNUML7NlRjZPna0sInGQtZyIHZOqO-FpeZ/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYWbVTn7g4cuUzJtdUEybCSouMOtkvK9gyxharTiH9Lmhxc1bG7sumC_zA2Sz-bvtLCx7WMDR6ZcPvUxZxycaBZkWczM1Vl-jZAXewQSidxwNUML7NlRjZPna0sInGQtZyIHZOqO-FpeZ/s320/IMG_2456.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downloading some time-lapse photos</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCFafQD_o7O5IQJXrhcuXPe5Rn4ZPo5nCtcqTT64XzBXT6n5TzKV-CvajtbB1ufs4t4i07LWjPgHTs_vFkNj3Bf5lWA3HjEZrPMZWc2huK5QGxdtYC3WOj_1gPLn56mrmGeo6w3pl5gW7/s1600/IMG_2461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCFafQD_o7O5IQJXrhcuXPe5Rn4ZPo5nCtcqTT64XzBXT6n5TzKV-CvajtbB1ufs4t4i07LWjPgHTs_vFkNj3Bf5lWA3HjEZrPMZWc2huK5QGxdtYC3WOj_1gPLn56mrmGeo6w3pl5gW7/s640/IMG_2461.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the valley on this cool September morning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCug69-HnZT8f_p2v1vQY3jdUhhz1o7zHtwF6BMBOUMBaen3bLlLSKS09rhKVlzQgSTL039adu2l8qsHk8ZdScD5CswyI6O1v0uslUZoY5HFuTjlHn0ZjF6vtR3e2-AvCQ6CuhXLoyxeV/s1600/IMG_2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCug69-HnZT8f_p2v1vQY3jdUhhz1o7zHtwF6BMBOUMBaen3bLlLSKS09rhKVlzQgSTL039adu2l8qsHk8ZdScD5CswyI6O1v0uslUZoY5HFuTjlHn0ZjF6vtR3e2-AvCQ6CuhXLoyxeV/s320/IMG_2462.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUVYJkH9wRXdV7Bo_QvEUp2neY5G5MRkeO1evQ8qhlIKg_MyKY-1xbvjd9Uit12A3wFFpvsxcipjpEMQM1YHGYb_SZA4hqvYJfeBbun07nMJTibDBV97vrB068bW_0udqLnPfQYKYDEdK/s1600/IMG_2469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUVYJkH9wRXdV7Bo_QvEUp2neY5G5MRkeO1evQ8qhlIKg_MyKY-1xbvjd9Uit12A3wFFpvsxcipjpEMQM1YHGYb_SZA4hqvYJfeBbun07nMJTibDBV97vrB068bW_0udqLnPfQYKYDEdK/s320/IMG_2469.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polina</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZcAI00qLN1C-paiupG8qeX3UKdqp1m-roclCu6bUL5yMIGi2-5fkXoLsfzCBszS3PUNsimhd-LRKEVEhCWpJMYcA5IAZIpsCvavhQRTa2jGmzSNwaCZAFa7fVX4Pdz77l8nW1FuMAVNL/s1600/IMG_2471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZcAI00qLN1C-paiupG8qeX3UKdqp1m-roclCu6bUL5yMIGi2-5fkXoLsfzCBszS3PUNsimhd-LRKEVEhCWpJMYcA5IAZIpsCvavhQRTa2jGmzSNwaCZAFa7fVX4Pdz77l8nW1FuMAVNL/s320/IMG_2471.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZTX3O5cg1kwhm_dWaq7h1Uc0nl8XORilI2zbWeODT7S-05gZfwnhUqBZg5dvEuVNBLoWmdbARETsi0m__Iap5sLYRqY1qs4VD-gAxfwhrtkGqEMiXJg2969kUvJvvUdaaKOENIphN0oQ/s1600/IMG_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZTX3O5cg1kwhm_dWaq7h1Uc0nl8XORilI2zbWeODT7S-05gZfwnhUqBZg5dvEuVNBLoWmdbARETsi0m__Iap5sLYRqY1qs4VD-gAxfwhrtkGqEMiXJg2969kUvJvvUdaaKOENIphN0oQ/s640/IMG_2472.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to have a big truck to drive around this site</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGXhTIjXJmwkd-LqAxVKgagNHUllpuSee3VYQEXdS8r5eMmyiINJNiC6DRh4Q6VFsSzPitEFrVKfPWsGO8x0ozvvL-cdCtqB9J4dRNnVwm8zSnA9ODb6Kv0wERTWNXhLXn2ViWGBFXY09/s1600/loation+to+dig+meadow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGXhTIjXJmwkd-LqAxVKgagNHUllpuSee3VYQEXdS8r5eMmyiINJNiC6DRh4Q6VFsSzPitEFrVKfPWsGO8x0ozvvL-cdCtqB9J4dRNnVwm8zSnA9ODb6Kv0wERTWNXhLXn2ViWGBFXY09/s640/loation+to+dig+meadow.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my models of the subsurface based on 2015's resistivity and seimic refraction measurements. The black line shows the target of our digging.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2l-aAplkQYul21xBmuiitlZoxO-hVoq_zqJsCVNyabrlKn2YQthS52xtHstNOxOvfVE0bBeJLHsapUZMmnj_JojzhBH30J1y2qMjN-WYWBcCZvsaRVFV3SZfMQKCQMnYvpNQgrY8-Rsj2/s1600/IMG_2496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2l-aAplkQYul21xBmuiitlZoxO-hVoq_zqJsCVNyabrlKn2YQthS52xtHstNOxOvfVE0bBeJLHsapUZMmnj_JojzhBH30J1y2qMjN-WYWBcCZvsaRVFV3SZfMQKCQMnYvpNQgrY8-Rsj2/s400/IMG_2496.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This wet sloppy mess got all over us (but thankfully not on the camera.) With the sidewall collapsing and the suction on our auger so strong, we gave up after 4 m. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNc3zvBv3B-irF9MdTZ5wastFVnfnLwFv5PVpPcgB_vFa84usq37vFB5XmeoVKYrq-TYCp3lnjNl2a8h0OqJAVSoc5uO9ry91aHdIXtrHYMM1SmhR5y3w6yx3aDkAfmeADmuuK9wJKgni/s1600/IMG_2498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNc3zvBv3B-irF9MdTZ5wastFVnfnLwFv5PVpPcgB_vFa84usq37vFB5XmeoVKYrq-TYCp3lnjNl2a8h0OqJAVSoc5uO9ry91aHdIXtrHYMM1SmhR5y3w6yx3aDkAfmeADmuuK9wJKgni/s400/IMG_2498.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dried up Bonsai Lake in the background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMiHcU4XH8ApdSGt7OB6SGJ8u4q9Vp2dLOVug2HqPkeMrGp6Zh9gVfI2VEWgYwSMmo8t-lDAiJcPmrzvoU0yckzyG3KzCIVlNiGLeuqlsAFnIPrXv_j4Mp9JXlcpKpZ3H5pkuRTdxXsQU/s1600/IMG_2559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMiHcU4XH8ApdSGt7OB6SGJ8u4q9Vp2dLOVug2HqPkeMrGp6Zh9gVfI2VEWgYwSMmo8t-lDAiJcPmrzvoU0yckzyG3KzCIVlNiGLeuqlsAFnIPrXv_j4Mp9JXlcpKpZ3H5pkuRTdxXsQU/s400/IMG_2559.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In some places, where there is water in the lakebed, it just disappears into small openings in the clay. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKP86olsGW3sPmngXmY1RW0Fds6FVHAgsAnRMCLnqGJmzAFEICuCTqfhhyphenhyphenJ925bt8D5xXYdEgGvXWSdAHgKyKRkI_5j9i5cifhVnB_R46x39P-XDeT6fEiSJMRM-gW8r2_RMk6Xz9g1fT/s1600/IMG_2562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKP86olsGW3sPmngXmY1RW0Fds6FVHAgsAnRMCLnqGJmzAFEICuCTqfhhyphenhyphenJ925bt8D5xXYdEgGvXWSdAHgKyKRkI_5j9i5cifhVnB_R46x39P-XDeT6fEiSJMRM-gW8r2_RMk6Xz9g1fT/s400/IMG_2562.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polina points out some other places where there are holes in the clay layer where water might be seeing in to. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7etg4c9OL9Ga-djsk6ywOHPB7rt_p9Tnv0fLpjOc-YUQ5iirK4gwY_Rx6-dC5og7flvR57ADFB_pdu1d_8cnd6X90zdcUMroHb8r2Z5wqA3wyJArni1GaREHq1lfCxuDiC50wahf_YItN/s1600/IMG_2568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7etg4c9OL9Ga-djsk6ywOHPB7rt_p9Tnv0fLpjOc-YUQ5iirK4gwY_Rx6-dC5og7flvR57ADFB_pdu1d_8cnd6X90zdcUMroHb8r2Z5wqA3wyJArni1GaREHq1lfCxuDiC50wahf_YItN/s320/IMG_2568.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On June 28, the water was almost at the top of this stilling well. Where'd the lake go?</td></tr>
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Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-88049961764050148892016-09-14T17:51:00.000-06:002016-09-14T17:51:02.255-06:00Quick Update - EAGE - NSG Barcelona 2016As part of being named one of the "Best of SAGEEP 2016" presentations at the Environmental and Engineering Geophysics Society's March conference in Denver, I had the privilege of being invited to the conference of their European counterpart - the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) Near Surface Geoscience (NSG) division. That involved a trip this September to Barcelona for the 22nd European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk9lK-OqgrYgsijdcATLHxqwLJQsP1XQRsb9n0shb1Io_NurqTowfeoYoHF5VEXKFhTYOZqV8tHIBrxFspNwYcxsm2i6a5xaPV6P4YvYiOawfHbXc1vca7w8lVdhM2EIbRpgkEFYn0x12/s1600/14183826_10153731761592051_6981593050390859973_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk9lK-OqgrYgsijdcATLHxqwLJQsP1XQRsb9n0shb1Io_NurqTowfeoYoHF5VEXKFhTYOZqV8tHIBrxFspNwYcxsm2i6a5xaPV6P4YvYiOawfHbXc1vca7w8lVdhM2EIbRpgkEFYn0x12/s640/14183826_10153731761592051_6981593050390859973_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me, arriving at the conference centre on September 5</td></tr>
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It was a pleasure to share my findings with a new audience and to make some new connections with counterparts in Europe. The presentation went smoothly, and I had some extra days to immerse myself in Catalonian culture and to enjoy Mediterranean heat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl8xLHnZFsp1noOfG9YKxSh2d-O49HAto9IvCAfcm3ZeR19Ur_2GvGYKjtAfmZOnxmM0mcjUvI0u4QmeMijSpI-Mk4hgUSp4EPMSZHZ1TvpeSOL0cX7PqtfM1ijzllCF-UyG6kMZx9L3z/s1600/14225433_10153731761712051_1726418677513086523_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl8xLHnZFsp1noOfG9YKxSh2d-O49HAto9IvCAfcm3ZeR19Ur_2GvGYKjtAfmZOnxmM0mcjUvI0u4QmeMijSpI-Mk4hgUSp4EPMSZHZ1TvpeSOL0cX7PqtfM1ijzllCF-UyG6kMZx9L3z/s640/14225433_10153731761712051_1726418677513086523_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My talk followed immediately after the opening ceremonies. It was a bit nerve-wracking to present to a large audience, but the presentation went smoothly. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEtDb0voE550JHL70t4NBq9KGnLZOlGUowGbIqrSKbDszBF_m4isfqPuE5XUaXHv8w_hpr0y6U5o1nFPNKjplc-LePYlWYp3qotKrLEdoH94mk3dSev_WS12Gwe9L8tURue6XV1EtNI4-/s1600/14202621_10153739772452051_7991880776503266992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEtDb0voE550JHL70t4NBq9KGnLZOlGUowGbIqrSKbDszBF_m4isfqPuE5XUaXHv8w_hpr0y6U5o1nFPNKjplc-LePYlWYp3qotKrLEdoH94mk3dSev_WS12Gwe9L8tURue6XV1EtNI4-/s400/14202621_10153739772452051_7991880776503266992_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had some extra time to do some sightseeing too. This was La Sagrada Familia cathedral, a famous Barcelona landmark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The trip capped off an enjoyable albeit hectic summer of field work, personal travels (including a wedding in Norway and family visits in Ontario), and of moving houses. I'm looking forward to settling back in to Calgary, completing data processing shortly, and beginning the process of writing my thesis.<br />
<br />
<br />Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-57555321437976844552016-08-02T10:12:00.002-06:002016-08-02T10:12:37.167-06:00July 2016 Geophysics Campaign<h2>
July 19-23</h2>
From July 19-23, we pulled out the GPR, ERT, and seismic refraction equipment again to finish off the geophysical data collection for my project. While last year's 19-day campaign was a success, there were some gaps that, though not critical, would be very useful in interpreting out results. Our objectives for the week were two-fold:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Get more detailed information about the geometry of subsurface inputs to one important, perennial spring using ERT</li>
<li>Collect GPR, ERT, and seismic data at locations with outcropping bedrock to collect petrophysical information on the two most important formations in the area</li>
</ol>
<div>
In the end, we completed three ERT surveys - two 2D lines and one 3D survey - and one each of GPR and ERT. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8LCdeC-hpyLbTpbnHPMm6j4WvlIlNA8Iq-oApQHWQP7CoMjazsoKV2waPcLaC75QzAipvFF4MF8K8d8rxzp729Y_XR5G6eHapsTOaNw-pvtMFn_rcPQXVHt9zcvJfJBAQJoSzLdw303_/s1600/spring+map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8LCdeC-hpyLbTpbnHPMm6j4WvlIlNA8Iq-oApQHWQP7CoMjazsoKV2waPcLaC75QzAipvFF4MF8K8d8rxzp729Y_XR5G6eHapsTOaNw-pvtMFn_rcPQXVHt9zcvJfJBAQJoSzLdw303_/s640/spring+map.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Orthophoto showing the locations of last year's geophysics surveys (pink), this year's surveys (red), and important springs (blue circles). The new survey in the lower right side of the image is located on a thrust fault contact between Jurassic shale (Fernie Fm.) and Carboniferous limestone (Palliser Fm.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While this 5-day campaign was not nearly as massive as last year's nearly three-week stint, we had to rely once again on the help of many eager volunteers. A shout out to Cody Good (University of Alberta), Feodora Ivaniuk, Jenna Trofin, Kelsey Tillapaugh, Kristi Kublik, and Rachel Lauer (University of Calgary) for volunteering their time. I also need to thank my trusty staff - Brandon Hill, Jesse He, and Anna Pekinasova - for all their hard work, support, and leadership. I was ill with the stomach flu the day before the campaign started, and they helped with many of the preparations in addition to helping in the field. A thank you too to Ben Stevenson for support before and after with field preparations. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMZ7Dk4ygC8Lkv2XmpX0T2m1afaVKOp1iJkYiYVw088h3APGV9jn3fXQR1-Q8ertR_nbZdgajGxTSs6LP0y7oqQGnpETHkuKKhn-9BJ9a1zUC0mErHV14bqH7LxglluoQfOX8IerRX6tv/s1600/IMG_1978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMZ7Dk4ygC8Lkv2XmpX0T2m1afaVKOp1iJkYiYVw088h3APGV9jn3fXQR1-Q8ertR_nbZdgajGxTSs6LP0y7oqQGnpETHkuKKhn-9BJ9a1zUC0mErHV14bqH7LxglluoQfOX8IerRX6tv/s400/IMG_1978.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My crew July 19-21, from left to right: Cody Good, Kelsey Tillapaugh, Jenna Trofin, Brandon Hill, Anna Pekinasova, Jesse He</td></tr>
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<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhjgsoZgTCUj-cMnQKEfNId8USHk4kFCddXSPtKMTS06MhSdoPyipXSE1Cmzt6C6a2wbmxRgcV704szW-1yOhvRqpJcYofYWtpJDWwt-0WarmZgyPTpnc3xjypQQ1u99XKuwoZQgarCkB/s1600/IMG_1992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhjgsoZgTCUj-cMnQKEfNId8USHk4kFCddXSPtKMTS06MhSdoPyipXSE1Cmzt6C6a2wbmxRgcV704szW-1yOhvRqpJcYofYWtpJDWwt-0WarmZgyPTpnc3xjypQQ1u99XKuwoZQgarCkB/s400/IMG_1992.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My crew July 22-23, from left to right: Cody Good, Kristi Kublik, Jenna Trofin, Anna Pekinasova, Rachel Lauer, and Feodora Ivaniuk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Here are some additional photos from the campaign:</div>
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<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYKrR4p85mAFzHuJaNVr34AxhtuFB1KIQmuVpgXOntoiLPPnHCL6YwhNioIR7nS822k3oasTqFuzquyrM86jLAExN8_Pk2q3bwOZzwR1o1rDLO4nP7aoqFSlGYDv6xCbKhJBToU00m23V/s1600/IMG_1935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYKrR4p85mAFzHuJaNVr34AxhtuFB1KIQmuVpgXOntoiLPPnHCL6YwhNioIR7nS822k3oasTqFuzquyrM86jLAExN8_Pk2q3bwOZzwR1o1rDLO4nP7aoqFSlGYDv6xCbKhJBToU00m23V/s640/IMG_1935.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A long line of ERT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlILpsh4LJVo8jV6V3QLYNAE_V1be8IWIFVy_8l_lK0SYlQDuUWkOqW4Q2lQ0vQv_pQ7MvR8B-MdoaU_s8Bjs6t5__HDHjjJnm1h7jqPkLcA0VYihtg_2Qk1H9MT8o9RYWkzgmzdifewX/s1600/IMG_1938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlILpsh4LJVo8jV6V3QLYNAE_V1be8IWIFVy_8l_lK0SYlQDuUWkOqW4Q2lQ0vQv_pQ7MvR8B-MdoaU_s8Bjs6t5__HDHjjJnm1h7jqPkLcA0VYihtg_2Qk1H9MT8o9RYWkzgmzdifewX/s400/IMG_1938.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view looking west of Bonsai Lake from way up high. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcciMiJVcQ23KzVYcQjfVko50Cb9-BmVKXQb7P4KJ8LmZKvtxDj_wGiYq8y7SPdyyDBFApLxhk7iR3esV12RasHto42FisZDyM8Qg3NCHpm2mmQvJXVvr78PhujxXW0jsujZx633uJbQp8/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcciMiJVcQ23KzVYcQjfVko50Cb9-BmVKXQb7P4KJ8LmZKvtxDj_wGiYq8y7SPdyyDBFApLxhk7iR3esV12RasHto42FisZDyM8Qg3NCHpm2mmQvJXVvr78PhujxXW0jsujZx633uJbQp8/s320/IMG_1940.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how we get electrical contact in talus rubble: sponges with salwater<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRxhV6NI4Yu7FKLEiyiuHAANTZVYCHMhQCZPB0eZY4Rjj0ZjncJMMWXU4FVHx4JNbeFpUu27AY_vuFcZUC7Ylkneq-D65ExRQI-i6cE7IkbHkx_Fi3HCA3lJQQVNlftYNhIUvNvG6R8KM/s1600/IMG_1969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRxhV6NI4Yu7FKLEiyiuHAANTZVYCHMhQCZPB0eZY4Rjj0ZjncJMMWXU4FVHx4JNbeFpUu27AY_vuFcZUC7Ylkneq-D65ExRQI-i6cE7IkbHkx_Fi3HCA3lJQQVNlftYNhIUvNvG6R8KM/s400/IMG_1969.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleaning up the ERT cables</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYjJ65o2AJnrZtUre1AKG8ZWdtSdOUCrrGPUUeQzOK0GZVswN1MM_c8n6P7RLmKdyTLtFFTsAkTVKkXufQhlTfaKbnpsE5yQjNJcGRLGcVUbqMZ9EB0wnY3o4Aefs6kYnXtXHreQlZg8W/s1600/2016-07-22+09.46.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYjJ65o2AJnrZtUre1AKG8ZWdtSdOUCrrGPUUeQzOK0GZVswN1MM_c8n6P7RLmKdyTLtFFTsAkTVKkXufQhlTfaKbnpsE5yQjNJcGRLGcVUbqMZ9EB0wnY3o4Aefs6kYnXtXHreQlZg8W/s400/2016-07-22+09.46.04.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Setting up the differential GPS on a survey monument, showing the crew how it works. (Photo credit: Rachel Lauer)<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-jzkd-GF1a14-lCvQ1yK1T2cef3O0jbMQNnijK5kyLwZt5c3eCzg6DAo2mK6bAW3or_vo46ebpDm_fA27UFKfieO4pwI9HGuX_xiqKIMde9BIDlqgoTS5HDcSRVsZvguujzgXLWE3V9_/s1600/IMG_2002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-jzkd-GF1a14-lCvQ1yK1T2cef3O0jbMQNnijK5kyLwZt5c3eCzg6DAo2mK6bAW3or_vo46ebpDm_fA27UFKfieO4pwI9HGuX_xiqKIMde9BIDlqgoTS5HDcSRVsZvguujzgXLWE3V9_/s320/IMG_2002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a hydrology-themed tour of Bonsai Lake while we wait for geophysical measurements. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrIjPnVLv4i_1zGM1KeScqfBpShm7mYgpRizrzsE5QBB8AiTFcQ-lsSr0xHXrMkngB_K-wnRmChUfy78GGVLBEl7XX-ae1GRfWG1kSXUV0K0sWKVem7-tU_H0G17wivQ97WBWvsIlMvSq/s1600/IMG_2032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrIjPnVLv4i_1zGM1KeScqfBpShm7mYgpRizrzsE5QBB8AiTFcQ-lsSr0xHXrMkngB_K-wnRmChUfy78GGVLBEl7XX-ae1GRfWG1kSXUV0K0sWKVem7-tU_H0G17wivQ97WBWvsIlMvSq/s320/IMG_2032.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nature is neat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTArbxCrqk7_z15s6SZsSKmJZD2Te7Up0sTf2GHVJBPLKHvQoqaB_7A6ahwVWltUhrxcSIiBHcOPkb2v2xU22PvrFh2Y7a7mnxp1CZKyG3jR41_V3budP7FSnzIFo3fxB7YWfLrbHj8-x/s1600/20160723_103226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTArbxCrqk7_z15s6SZsSKmJZD2Te7Up0sTf2GHVJBPLKHvQoqaB_7A6ahwVWltUhrxcSIiBHcOPkb2v2xU22PvrFh2Y7a7mnxp1CZKyG3jR41_V3budP7FSnzIFo3fxB7YWfLrbHj8-x/s320/20160723_103226.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting up the GPR antennae (Photo credit: Anna Pekinasova)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdgZP5IIFepTebzzGQ8eJ3bk0h3ejginX_Idd_69H9BktVWDWeEhccbMrPLJKWgpD0arfoXWhwO7wHwhB1-L4cItNJ8ViEq_R4BuEJ2sfS3S8OrC94nMtZOXNmunK6kRUp5L2oO61qRDY/s1600/20160723_105601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdgZP5IIFepTebzzGQ8eJ3bk0h3ejginX_Idd_69H9BktVWDWeEhccbMrPLJKWgpD0arfoXWhwO7wHwhB1-L4cItNJ8ViEq_R4BuEJ2sfS3S8OrC94nMtZOXNmunK6kRUp5L2oO61qRDY/s320/20160723_105601.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna waiting with bated breath to start the GPR line (Photo credit: Jenna Trofin)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gq9HaMcXgK8-W-49vDRh6XxsbQ7QpdsOGHhShsx4Yj73fYj9aZT7KEqgdv0fvT3SYWOM7t1SnzGONOFj1WPZcKkfqXBJWYRYUqBgyXOoCbtdId22QafWw1TsoIUTht5Uwf9zJvem1Ke4/s1600/20160723_105605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gq9HaMcXgK8-W-49vDRh6XxsbQ7QpdsOGHhShsx4Yj73fYj9aZT7KEqgdv0fvT3SYWOM7t1SnzGONOFj1WPZcKkfqXBJWYRYUqBgyXOoCbtdId22QafWw1TsoIUTht5Uwf9zJvem1Ke4/s320/20160723_105605.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this thing on? (Photo credit: Jenna Trofin)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCol1-tpvMbloxCtZcT21Ql_59nS1hD1o5Pt2Ayb5rlujJmsUpxMLg1MfmV53FTntgXnNKkJ-hkgP4CH5TKxGWaNGEamib0rzvzTGxjynRnoSUTJpp6QfrfNK7T2-tI9uuP0io-j_Zl6_P/s1600/20160723_104949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCol1-tpvMbloxCtZcT21Ql_59nS1hD1o5Pt2Ayb5rlujJmsUpxMLg1MfmV53FTntgXnNKkJ-hkgP4CH5TKxGWaNGEamib0rzvzTGxjynRnoSUTJpp6QfrfNK7T2-tI9uuP0io-j_Zl6_P/s320/20160723_104949.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrying up the GPR (photo credit: Anna Pekinasova)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
</div>
<h2>
July 27, 2016</h2>
<div>
I also went out for an additional day on July 27 to install some piezometers with Luke Kary. It was a wet and rainy day, and augering to 4 m and 3 m holes by hand took a long time, but we succeeded in completing installation. I expect that will be one of my final days in the field for my Master's. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAt4eprKipJcLTiOLR6Q40WodgJXW-nm-6TCYwTzEPBr-BufAQ-nSzKJvzeWAOaQMeBXen-WWwwM8kBecsN2aquvWW4NxbZhCKLSOzVMiuN3JOZCLxtLAdNTYTnXr2i1F1YTq8masvXvY/s1600/IMG_2065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAt4eprKipJcLTiOLR6Q40WodgJXW-nm-6TCYwTzEPBr-BufAQ-nSzKJvzeWAOaQMeBXen-WWwwM8kBecsN2aquvWW4NxbZhCKLSOzVMiuN3JOZCLxtLAdNTYTnXr2i1F1YTq8masvXvY/s320/IMG_2065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our finished pair of piezometers. These are screened at two different depths with the intent of measuring a possible vertical gradient in groundwater</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLW2br0HA1tMBl01CHP91yZ0hFM1O9mpPjtBWb5LoK_W2zNQHzVKSjnMU9NRo3Av-KwHRdYqEwyhYBncNGaJLoCbAOGm4v6J1mrX64xVb-Or5OWrxLRJdgxpoILSKnZ0ptDvMmZ27u_uGQ/s1600/IMG_2066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLW2br0HA1tMBl01CHP91yZ0hFM1O9mpPjtBWb5LoK_W2zNQHzVKSjnMU9NRo3Av-KwHRdYqEwyhYBncNGaJLoCbAOGm4v6J1mrX64xVb-Or5OWrxLRJdgxpoILSKnZ0ptDvMmZ27u_uGQ/s320/IMG_2066.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke is soaked, and so am I. Let's get out of here!</td></tr>
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Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-35749323781660392292016-07-09T17:56:00.000-06:002016-07-09T18:57:00.321-06:00Early season field work - June and July 2016 The avalanche danger and treacherous roads keep me away from my field site all winter, but now that the snow is finally done and there are no more looming cornices way up high on those cliffs, it's time for a second field season.<br />
<br />
I am planning 5 additional days of geophysical data collection later this July, but I've been busy in the meantime collecting temperature and electrical conductivity measurements of water, setting up time-lapse cameras, installing piezometers and stilling wells, and taking samples. Here's a selection of nice photos showing what I've done so far.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5frKqwekCQT9Yt3CBeSxL777GI7Vpl5XHhyphenhyphenlq1ynq1jLxoNgMeKdewKLYBdFTnY3yyp7DiE9jj7Z87leU5ZvvJFavoPZ7GQlefgQpnDBuxu5UX78GSZspya-45S7i5HL-rL8h82MfgJda/s1600/IMG_1791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5frKqwekCQT9Yt3CBeSxL777GI7Vpl5XHhyphenhyphenlq1ynq1jLxoNgMeKdewKLYBdFTnY3yyp7DiE9jj7Z87leU5ZvvJFavoPZ7GQlefgQpnDBuxu5UX78GSZspya-45S7i5HL-rL8h82MfgJda/s640/IMG_1791.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wading through Bonsai Lake on a warm, sunny day in late June.</td></tr>
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<h2>
June 14, 2016 </h2>
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<h2>
</h2>
This was my first day back on site since October 22. After processing geophysical data all winter, it great to come back to site armed with all that new knowledge and keener eyes. I was joined by my supervisor Dr. Masaki Hayashi and a new colleague joining our lab, Anna Pakinasova. It was a chilly day, and we got snowed during a few brief periods, but a pleasant day nonetheless.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaLdX3QPXdwBYMuAzSHYhBRVyw8TXGhCt3iM5wtSHzfz5jdDuql92I4NgwZKJRJ7j-lo0Zc0IX-RCIEXY0LdxqafFlq3t4fVFSlPwmQzAahoCz-q6bC0L8URPJVysNLe7mF7wqzf4bTcj/s1600/DSCN3793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaLdX3QPXdwBYMuAzSHYhBRVyw8TXGhCt3iM5wtSHzfz5jdDuql92I4NgwZKJRJ7j-lo0Zc0IX-RCIEXY0LdxqafFlq3t4fVFSlPwmQzAahoCz-q6bC0L8URPJVysNLe7mF7wqzf4bTcj/s320/DSCN3793.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Installing a time-lapse camera on the eastern ridge of the watershed, with Anna's help</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcveFs9AkuTTnBhlIKbEvIzPctBk6Bh5FahMc_BVFOrXABm5VHW-qqdpQkGBFHSQYVbWvDEsEFYd2vrW4ufC8NuUhzWxt6XixUf5EGuWveGx5STE8y7_gMT5L8AXGZeuvSttc7FwVNgzh5/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcveFs9AkuTTnBhlIKbEvIzPctBk6Bh5FahMc_BVFOrXABm5VHW-qqdpQkGBFHSQYVbWvDEsEFYd2vrW4ufC8NuUhzWxt6XixUf5EGuWveGx5STE8y7_gMT5L8AXGZeuvSttc7FwVNgzh5/s320/IMG_1574.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the temperature sensors (B05) that I left behind here back in late October. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCNevvHu2hQ8C2Qjw1IPCVaplqwdd7tNHekEE4x5GBGLatLtTCCQTbwKVXNFbaRAbJO8LDak2XqdXQkFOBly25xyRziVDAUceACTRewMCIUxf-4kUQJzmn5h31AZY0v8fkZ2z3HJzqFp0/s1600/IMG_1584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCNevvHu2hQ8C2Qjw1IPCVaplqwdd7tNHekEE4x5GBGLatLtTCCQTbwKVXNFbaRAbJO8LDak2XqdXQkFOBly25xyRziVDAUceACTRewMCIUxf-4kUQJzmn5h31AZY0v8fkZ2z3HJzqFp0/s320/IMG_1584.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locating that spring is going to be tricky if it's buried way below the snow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCAexHQB9i07VpJcDfsCRONOWMwnVodDZ6BnI8HrpF83LkSADBqPbW-dH5-2wZvvitwxxsKWDv6nyQ3rTdwBp0_lkx47Po2LxzDflnP4Pa86fTZCk5tUv0Yp5b4_AqaAOfg6QWTxCrDcK/s1600/IMG_1605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCAexHQB9i07VpJcDfsCRONOWMwnVodDZ6BnI8HrpF83LkSADBqPbW-dH5-2wZvvitwxxsKWDv6nyQ3rTdwBp0_lkx47Po2LxzDflnP4Pa86fTZCk5tUv0Yp5b4_AqaAOfg6QWTxCrDcK/s320/IMG_1605.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a shot showing how the composition of the snow on the talus varies. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bOjU2ZE4zhnyika5arrc2UKbwynRPHtFoiyorKYf9INdraiganZkt8rFtxUTPeYYsv7olQsc3yI6VjEAYh-FiP9kJRbkK5_TmgXZFTGugOSzvaA2ds3k8qNCDyJ_18V7bFspTJ2fk3ZE/s1600/IMG_1608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bOjU2ZE4zhnyika5arrc2UKbwynRPHtFoiyorKYf9INdraiganZkt8rFtxUTPeYYsv7olQsc3yI6VjEAYh-FiP9kJRbkK5_TmgXZFTGugOSzvaA2ds3k8qNCDyJ_18V7bFspTJ2fk3ZE/s640/IMG_1608.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view looking down on the meadow from the SW</td></tr>
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One of the main goals was retrieving the temperature sensors that I
left behind last October. One of the most significant anomalies I saw in
the geophysics data was a high-resistivity, high-(seismic)-velocity
feature at a very shallow depth on the talus. Both intact bedrock and
ice have have those electrical and seismic properties, but I could rule out ice if that spot is
too warm in the winter to sustain ice below ground. Hence, I placed
three temperature sensors (B01, B02, and B03) on top of this anomaly. <br />
<br />
As
it turns out, the temperature of the ground below snowpack does remain
below -3°C for most of the winter, which means that I cannot rule out underground ice (a.k.a. permafrost). This spot is roughly 2130 metres above sea level, which is rather low elevation for finding ice in this area of the Rocky Mountains. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB5coAyKEC-Y2JfPFUlP4LxYJWPTUJ76wT7pXlOpIg5x9FF6oC4yFSffTrDL_mTh3kBgxljdRTK0_wPGrGTVBDODraGgu2IJ7qlA1wH582WjDUDX2tvNtKEORySA5oqAVj0UjCGIzDzOI/s1600/Map+TemperatureSensors.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB5coAyKEC-Y2JfPFUlP4LxYJWPTUJ76wT7pXlOpIg5x9FF6oC4yFSffTrDL_mTh3kBgxljdRTK0_wPGrGTVBDODraGgu2IJ7qlA1wH582WjDUDX2tvNtKEORySA5oqAVj0UjCGIzDzOI/s640/Map+TemperatureSensors.PNG" width="516" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map showing the locations of the temperature sensors</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrvLkBapGHiQyB_vJ2e2NEWwX_ORnm6ej1GwVBMy8dpwe42fIabGusyNal6xJuPuKhyQrCOCcw6v7ehgv46JbVr2b1xzEwSsHJ6g_ETVqFwkueC53Vy4lSWXA2YdaeU8lSEkwIWk6Xx8p/s1600/Temperature+Data.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrvLkBapGHiQyB_vJ2e2NEWwX_ORnm6ej1GwVBMy8dpwe42fIabGusyNal6xJuPuKhyQrCOCcw6v7ehgv46JbVr2b1xzEwSsHJ6g_ETVqFwkueC53Vy4lSWXA2YdaeU8lSEkwIWk6Xx8p/s640/Temperature+Data.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temperature data retrieved. Note that the sensors cannot measure temperatures below -5°C. Notice how there is a long period where temperatures are a constant 0°C during spring snowmelt.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<h2>
June 24, 2016</h2>
Today, I was joined by Luke Kary and Brandon Hill. We mainly did some soil auguring and then some installation of piezometers. I'm trying to compare water levels over time in the meadow versus those in the lake. I suspect that they fluctuate much less in the meadow because it's a finer-grained materials, so that allows it to act as an important storage location for water in later parts of the season. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5ST_BuXQGi0q4ikx_qbGxnfvqcfeQkk53-YBGYRQMOu7brgqZRt6etlcVOrb0L54uP8lwK2VSOWxs2XyC3mD2_Ol54ZfIPLp-0ysReqHm5kOJSXqal4kgMju5sA9EV40RaLL4ulPXzMA/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5ST_BuXQGi0q4ikx_qbGxnfvqcfeQkk53-YBGYRQMOu7brgqZRt6etlcVOrb0L54uP8lwK2VSOWxs2XyC3mD2_Ol54ZfIPLp-0ysReqHm5kOJSXqal4kgMju5sA9EV40RaLL4ulPXzMA/s400/IMG_1688.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke auguring our first hole in the meadow</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDSJ5pKaTwsYSPkmOUPJuPla1ubOVb4ZGrKQ786z4dQhrZzCUwlub75ollnNAL6QfSOo8CvPQU9zOhpvErQAUJQCMJaVyGZR86PaENLPa5n3EZfzr7u6SWTP-ovNukeNcs9tXaQsp2qoJ/s1600/IMG_1723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDSJ5pKaTwsYSPkmOUPJuPla1ubOVb4ZGrKQ786z4dQhrZzCUwlub75ollnNAL6QfSOo8CvPQU9zOhpvErQAUJQCMJaVyGZR86PaENLPa5n3EZfzr7u6SWTP-ovNukeNcs9tXaQsp2qoJ/s320/IMG_1723.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our complete piezometers</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCW2AZy77LZMrHhkhQb-WZAgjGbq_Wa8gupPUy-nEjcAW7RD3JNpm68bfRv-Iey2AZGE9XVTCaD-ibrLXXQL9jVho6ZPK835pPDOqeTlZQuWRzgbVf21ah543MF1iIh31jHDdnYoVY0QpZ/s1600/IMG_1726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCW2AZy77LZMrHhkhQb-WZAgjGbq_Wa8gupPUy-nEjcAW7RD3JNpm68bfRv-Iey2AZGE9XVTCaD-ibrLXXQL9jVho6ZPK835pPDOqeTlZQuWRzgbVf21ah543MF1iIh31jHDdnYoVY0QpZ/s400/IMG_1726.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We witnessed a major rockfall while on site. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera during the fall, so I only got a photo of the aftermath</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1B8RJI1gVAaiHoQFOr1jKHb-7n2565-vm_Y73b1VejAp35PWP2tHjdFbVHxVn3Dvfq5JSgq_W-Cn2hJFtwJYB3rEDBCgK88tevvudTO2ECr9LylXap1NHuAWLJdj7kr6W9JWhuWnL94n/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1B8RJI1gVAaiHoQFOr1jKHb-7n2565-vm_Y73b1VejAp35PWP2tHjdFbVHxVn3Dvfq5JSgq_W-Cn2hJFtwJYB3rEDBCgK88tevvudTO2ECr9LylXap1NHuAWLJdj7kr6W9JWhuWnL94n/s320/IMG_1730.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noting some interesting changes in colour in our soil column. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jdy-1in_OzjTaCdD1y2sWgzgso8IBHgUVMmyXVkWfXWsKfgzarm5cVfEbNSo2v7SF3OaOKIllFs45r0V6SEMzoQVCkuW7YurNGDvy_VsSbOIvBXl9W_SBLlIZ7hrZ2E_CfiVeZSzWU-5/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jdy-1in_OzjTaCdD1y2sWgzgso8IBHgUVMmyXVkWfXWsKfgzarm5cVfEbNSo2v7SF3OaOKIllFs45r0V6SEMzoQVCkuW7YurNGDvy_VsSbOIvBXl9W_SBLlIZ7hrZ2E_CfiVeZSzWU-5/s640/IMG_1731.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon and Luke sealing off our third pieozometer. </td></tr>
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</h2>
<h2>
June 28, 2016 </h2>
Our main goals today were to finish installing water level loggers in our piezometers, and to install a stilling well in Bonsai Lake. It was a gorgeous day to be outside, and made wading through cold water all the more pleasant. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1KDatG_zdwBDHfMcaCBuiyfF6omoAhgb8QjCNI0bZOAKwAGXX9adrFk-AqsiT73dIHl8F3s2O8RadD-GC4L-SNcqFrBedXakSWnLHzc26zyA2pL-6gG-d235IGTUwlSuE0l2BxpWnXyc/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1KDatG_zdwBDHfMcaCBuiyfF6omoAhgb8QjCNI0bZOAKwAGXX9adrFk-AqsiT73dIHl8F3s2O8RadD-GC4L-SNcqFrBedXakSWnLHzc26zyA2pL-6gG-d235IGTUwlSuE0l2BxpWnXyc/s640/IMG_1837.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice view of one of the talus cones. You can see a few channels carved out by meltwater quite well in this photo. There are a few springs that disappear and reappear as you go downslope. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXLP_utL2bAWKQWgRfQFUWUmCEtjgFd-fpfDzzyiM53JICSHlnBaUbb8zN01Qk6eMEzM6aHpP1Uui6dH6F3-KFLt1Bh2lHa1ylTukiWMozv3n3zZbLyV9C2wEh4BRJ6G48ktluSjNoFCD/s1600/IMG_1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXLP_utL2bAWKQWgRfQFUWUmCEtjgFd-fpfDzzyiM53JICSHlnBaUbb8zN01Qk6eMEzM6aHpP1Uui6dH6F3-KFLt1Bh2lHa1ylTukiWMozv3n3zZbLyV9C2wEh4BRJ6G48ktluSjNoFCD/s400/IMG_1823.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura Beamish and Luke Kary with me</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcyQtOsOVQklyblk5NHYctsSROfF-UpptJP1iw9JaxJ2TpFPNRva0t4CkJNTPg0BEgyNE7Fc2SeiN1XH_4j82IDbc78VgW0NxUYWrI8lHKov7_ExU0EeVCRCCI5Vm9FHkOycpvWrcg_Kz/s1600/IMG_1772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcyQtOsOVQklyblk5NHYctsSROfF-UpptJP1iw9JaxJ2TpFPNRva0t4CkJNTPg0BEgyNE7Fc2SeiN1XH_4j82IDbc78VgW0NxUYWrI8lHKov7_ExU0EeVCRCCI5Vm9FHkOycpvWrcg_Kz/s640/IMG_1772.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice view looking south from the shore of Bonsai Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvwAHBlNTXPJwIyFeAdRfgQey9qTwxeWBNXBr4MTggpEI4opkfxI6h8_x8Svuu0UCcdZdRjA7RGU95YAF_csp0ls8IiMCCCrHpQy9Bgdjh8QbZQcAZUI4cmWgtN2TMelz8hIgOMV5Y9VR/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvwAHBlNTXPJwIyFeAdRfgQey9qTwxeWBNXBr4MTggpEI4opkfxI6h8_x8Svuu0UCcdZdRjA7RGU95YAF_csp0ls8IiMCCCrHpQy9Bgdjh8QbZQcAZUI4cmWgtN2TMelz8hIgOMV5Y9VR/s400/IMG_1806.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting some help readying the equipment for our stilling well. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3z5YtfbqGwP4nSFPTTQENFIhKMcDCA1KUr81FJgKGalUWABJTRw2ABpb5QST6QA-5qIpy1fTiqeJO5Udiwb-UAuU6TAPdSgZDId6hK-eE0HN9dCIsFmOqfFBuTs5QAJn9WQhfu36Zg8L/s1600/IMG_1793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3z5YtfbqGwP4nSFPTTQENFIhKMcDCA1KUr81FJgKGalUWABJTRw2ABpb5QST6QA-5qIpy1fTiqeJO5Udiwb-UAuU6TAPdSgZDId6hK-eE0HN9dCIsFmOqfFBuTs5QAJn9WQhfu36Zg8L/s640/IMG_1793.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, setting up the support for the stilling well in Bonsai Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW-SsX-s2qcvXhquKQ3gtnRbC4HaFj6n0jqQuBNb-q2Iak16MS5vOjuUrlNyUncmlmgZLpIaRKqjgAIMDLU0FK8ZpXDhtLXMsDSe3Mk3P__1KPIzoL5TxlZplhhmaN5ZidHuAV3DViaa6/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW-SsX-s2qcvXhquKQ3gtnRbC4HaFj6n0jqQuBNb-q2Iak16MS5vOjuUrlNyUncmlmgZLpIaRKqjgAIMDLU0FK8ZpXDhtLXMsDSe3Mk3P__1KPIzoL5TxlZplhhmaN5ZidHuAV3DViaa6/s400/IMG_1769.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke is doing some auguring trying to see if we can hit bedrock. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVdlUmYAZvSxSYB-c6CNt5-qfZVwv9-Bvy6AVoOZyr7uqohTKezmNd-Nk_4scY2u1r5XmA-RNe2hFFsVgSMm4Is1aa6dm0BWck7DYuLRwPlsdT7myVuNWqdPKA3Oc0US-BSUTK2yJONcm/s1600/IMG_1747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVdlUmYAZvSxSYB-c6CNt5-qfZVwv9-Bvy6AVoOZyr7uqohTKezmNd-Nk_4scY2u1r5XmA-RNe2hFFsVgSMm4Is1aa6dm0BWck7DYuLRwPlsdT7myVuNWqdPKA3Oc0US-BSUTK2yJONcm/s400/IMG_1747.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still trying to reach bedrock, but no luck. </td></tr>
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<h2>
July 7, 2016 </h2>
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Our group is starting to make use of radon gas measurements to assess how long water has been underground (that is, the average residence time). We are able to do this because all rocks contain small amounts of radioactive atoms that decay, producing radon gas. Underground, these gasses move through cracks in the rock, dissolving and slowly accumulating in the groundwater. Hence, the longer that water is underground, the more radon it will contain.<br />
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However, each rock formation releases radon gas at a different rate. Hence, we need to mix rocks and water in the lab and measure the changes in radon gas over time there before we can interpret what our field measurements mean. Today's mission was to collect some rock samples of two of the major
bedrock units present at this site: the Palliser Formation (a carbonate
rock of Carbiniferous age) and the Fernie Formation (a weak, black shale
of Jurrasic age). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvAhsRa-XpwppFPir3s_zpoApHogw-G7R7HsMMldlUkpxX-ixSXrQCoNGqI5zMSOyysB_Dk-3-OPVIOp0bMpmtQPAC0vCMaX5xz_QODUVRz8lgc6PW_2c9dDSGVVnBnmQHYVDRB-iT6G1/s1600/IMG_1853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvAhsRa-XpwppFPir3s_zpoApHogw-G7R7HsMMldlUkpxX-ixSXrQCoNGqI5zMSOyysB_Dk-3-OPVIOp0bMpmtQPAC0vCMaX5xz_QODUVRz8lgc6PW_2c9dDSGVVnBnmQHYVDRB-iT6G1/s640/IMG_1853.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking up some samples of the Palliser Formation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura Beamish helping me out for the day</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digging to get to an outcrop of the Fernie Formation</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrPFvVFL498Nht8n17vH7oHjd3J-MAC0k4b7vGRpVJ4t2yiDOmMqWcKeLnT3TdNfajgGElb6wj-z3oOBWfENcpt_NCOWE9amGeGPYsb3uTRv9K_7s7JjN3SFV4qk50ww9g-h7mM3pLrxE/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrPFvVFL498Nht8n17vH7oHjd3J-MAC0k4b7vGRpVJ4t2yiDOmMqWcKeLnT3TdNfajgGElb6wj-z3oOBWfENcpt_NCOWE9amGeGPYsb3uTRv9K_7s7JjN3SFV4qk50ww9g-h7mM3pLrxE/s320/IMG_1889.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're at the top of the old chairlifts at Fortress Mountain. It's an eerie site.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZvS5h-nAZE7vyOjdaCr-kg7CBdBrLWBISk383zVf44yQrm7cj0N2cVd7ASI7GClcnYg-gRo4LPpkRFNULqEc7Q4k6Ra2dVGOaI-g1p4FXt02UtljuZdmhSod3k6VwsgOGuSAvAz84tXN/s1600/IMG_1891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZvS5h-nAZE7vyOjdaCr-kg7CBdBrLWBISk383zVf44yQrm7cj0N2cVd7ASI7GClcnYg-gRo4LPpkRFNULqEc7Q4k6Ra2dVGOaI-g1p4FXt02UtljuZdmhSod3k6VwsgOGuSAvAz84tXN/s320/IMG_1891.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marmots may look cute, but they have a bad habit on chewing on geophysics cables. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ0FYLx7imoD3QNQTnBpsOMR5OnkX9VtBcYK6XUagAOHfRTGptYd1iXp1ejSQLiNLA2YtDJ_GGty7oAZBhim2nWCokq-LME8VkMCeYNzaPrkhu1b7YKyNzqEHMXopvNymxbZYOiCjW-TT/s1600/IMG_1898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ0FYLx7imoD3QNQTnBpsOMR5OnkX9VtBcYK6XUagAOHfRTGptYd1iXp1ejSQLiNLA2YtDJ_GGty7oAZBhim2nWCokq-LME8VkMCeYNzaPrkhu1b7YKyNzqEHMXopvNymxbZYOiCjW-TT/s640/IMG_1898.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking up on the stilling well at Bonsai Lake. The water level went down about 10 cm since June 28. </td></tr>
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<span id="goog_333717493"></span><span id="goog_333717494"></span><br />Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-7436114210239929362016-05-17T09:40:00.000-06:002016-05-17T09:40:01.757-06:00Award AnnouncementsI have some exciting news to share. After both of the conferences that I attended in March, I have received some form of recognition for my work based on evaluations of my fellow conference attendees:<br />
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<ul>
<li>At Geoconvention in Calgary, I was given the distinction of "<b>Best Student Oral Presentation – Honourable Mention</b>," which places me among the best of over 300 papers at the conference. </li>
<li>At SAGEEP in Denver, I was among the<b> top 4 papers out of over 200</b> submissions at the conference. As such, I have been <b>invited to present</b> at the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers’ (EAGE) Near Surface Geoscience Division meeting in <b>Barcelona in September 2016</b> to represent the "Best of Denver 2016". </li>
</ul>
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I'm very grateful to my peers for choosing me for these honours, and I am especially excited to travel to Spain for the first time and meet my European counterparts. I look forward to cracking more jokes at Leonardo DiCaprio's expense (thankfully, he's a big enough star that I don't have to change my jokes) and, of course, to sharing my interesting results from beautiful Fortress Mountain. </div>
Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-71765283152362667822016-03-10T13:13:00.000-07:002016-03-11T09:23:43.218-07:00First Results - Annotated Conference Presentation from March 2016<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last fall, I was occupied with coursework rather than research. But, since completing all the classes I need for my MSc last December, I dove head-first into research and data processing. I am giving two presentations on my results so far this March: one at Geoconvention in Calgary, and one at SAGEEP in Denver. For anyone curious about my story, this post is an annotated version of my Geoconvention presentation that will let you follow along. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a work in progress, so your comments, questions, critiques, and suggestions are all welcome and encouraged. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCBRHxlys-aeoWT5dM6lFCUKmDhTzjxblrfK6up-frlRdZJx8DkcUPAObN38xB-4EgxzxazI4Z31pqlIhAdvgxNQtTIIDFhD5hykbT5QO906CzMxn_clRkc4x2ng5uCnothmgxxXhD6JT/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCBRHxlys-aeoWT5dM6lFCUKmDhTzjxblrfK6up-frlRdZJx8DkcUPAObN38xB-4EgxzxazI4Z31pqlIhAdvgxNQtTIIDFhD5hykbT5QO906CzMxn_clRkc4x2ng5uCnothmgxxXhD6JT/s400/Slide1.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A short summary if you can't read it all:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Mountain sources account for 2/3 of all surface water flow in the Calgary area. Groundwater storage helps regulate that flow, but our understanding of these groundwater processes is based on only one case study.</li>
<li>We use geophysics (resistivity and seismic methods) to investigate the subsurface at a new site in the Kananaskis Valley. </li>
<li>We see some processes that we recognize from earlier studies: there is a thin layer of water flowing on top of bedrock, and there are large buried depressions that store water and slowly release it to surface streams. </li>
<li>We observe processes that were previously undocumented in Canadian Rocky Mountain headwaters: buried channels, and perched water tables in talus slopes. </li>
<li>This field site contrasts with our previous case study. These results will help us with forecasting water availability by hinting at which groundwater processes are ubiquitous and which ones appear in only some locations. </li>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Introduction</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwzp3buz1lki795kqf-z_Jo_l_PuSjEYkqWjc-lqOKrH0tCpNfhi4IQfRVjbLjixtOKXwDxvQhZGkNKEclqI0-OWqwfKZ2lph6sKC7dpX-6rh2PEXGeXHYWj_z8tBxxQ41uq0dv-5bYxY/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwzp3buz1lki795kqf-z_Jo_l_PuSjEYkqWjc-lqOKrH0tCpNfhi4IQfRVjbLjixtOKXwDxvQhZGkNKEclqI0-OWqwfKZ2lph6sKC7dpX-6rh2PEXGeXHYWj_z8tBxxQ41uq0dv-5bYxY/s400/Slide2.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alpine watersheds are important sources and stores of fresh water. Essentially, they are the water towers of the world. Globally, mountain regions provide 40-60% of all global surface water runoff (Bandyopadhyay et al, 1997). In the Saskatchewan River Basin, which covers large portions of the Canadian prairies (including the Bow and Elbow Rivers that pass through the city of Calgary), mountain areas on average provide two thirds of total surface water (Viviroli and Weingartner 2004). River levels in this areas are dominated by the timing and volume of snowmelt in alpine zones, meaning that low-lying regions like the prairies are especially vulnerable to climate change (Barnett et al, 2005). Climate modelling in the South Saskatchewan River Basin forecasts earlier spring melts, lower peak river flows in the summertime, and shorter winters (Tanzeeba and Gan, 2012). With such changes imminent, understanding the dynamics of alpine hydrology very important for forecasting the effects on regional water availability, both for the sake of alpine ecosystems and for populated areas downstream. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Mountain photo credit to Flickr user Malcolm (<a href="https://flic.kr/p/7EQV7s" target="_blank">link</a>)</span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1.1 Groundwater in Alpine Areas</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Though the sediments overlying bedrock in high-elevation watersheds may be thin and often coarse-grained, recent work in the Canadian Rocky Mountains has shown that they have substantial groundwater storage potential. Watershed-level studies such as Hood and Hayashi (2015) showed that up to 60-100 mm of water is stored in the subsurface, which represents 10 to 20% of all snowfall in the catchment. This stored groundwater can sustain streamflow throughout the fall and winter. Hence, groundwater cannot be ignored in regional groundwater models. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Several studies have shown how groundwater is directed and stored in the subsurface at a sub-watershed scale. Langston et al. (2011) and Muir et al. (2011) showed that water tends to flow in a thin saturated layer over bedrock in coarse sediments like moraine and talus material. Bedrock depression have also been found to store water and help regulate water table and streamflow levels (McClymont et al., 2010, 2012). Furthermore, frozen ground, ground ice, and relict glaciers acts as an impermeable boundary and tends to direct water into ice-free areas (Langston et al., 2011).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, while these advances are important in understand mountain groundwater, all of these studies have focused on a single location: the Lake O’Hara watershed in the Main Ranges of the Rocky Mountains. Accurate regional forecasts will depend require a broader understanding of such alpine processes, thus further cases studies are needed to assess which processes are novel, and which are common throughout the Rocky Mountain area.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBL1eRfSoC6Bn8SHlurGr5mSKgOtU7SGlDM_uA9Pfm3b8ST-qAbx3Q7k8kV9tKxRz1_rrak6DjfwbFHJiM_p8yjwrtv7gUteyaiR48TCn9CCrGz8QdH_S0N6YorBC82vOHyZnfGba40Kc/s1600/Slide3.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBL1eRfSoC6Bn8SHlurGr5mSKgOtU7SGlDM_uA9Pfm3b8ST-qAbx3Q7k8kV9tKxRz1_rrak6DjfwbFHJiM_p8yjwrtv7gUteyaiR48TCn9CCrGz8QdH_S0N6YorBC82vOHyZnfGba40Kc/s640/Slide3.JPG" width="640" /></a> </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1.2 Geophysics in Alpine Terrain</span></h3>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Alpine environments pose two difficult challenges for hydrogeology studies. First, most study sites are located in protected lands (e.g. national parks, conservation zones). Second, many sites are difficult to access due to steep terrain and lack of nearby roads. Therefore, drilling wells and installing piezometers is not possible, and many traditional hydrological tools are not available to help characterize the subsurface. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Instead, these studies often rely on geophysical investigations. These non-invasive methods allow us to identify hydrologically significant structures in the subsurface and fill the data gap that a lack of well data imposes on us. Because geophysical data sets are only indirect methods, however, we need to rely on multiple types of survey for our investigations. The most important two that are used are: electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and seismic refraction. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In a nutshell, here is a description of either method: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">ERT involves passing a direct electrical current through the ground and measuring the potential difference (voltages) across different pairs of electrodes. These measurements together allow us to measure the resistivity of ground materials. An in depth introduction is available here: <<a href="http://geoscixyz.readthedocs.org/en/latest/content/DC_resistivity/index.html" target="_blank">link</a>></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seismic refraction involves introducing seismic vibration into the ground (in our case, a sledge hammer striking a plate on the ground) and then measuring the time is takes for the wave to travel to receivers along the survey line. Usually, deeper layers tend to transmit seismic waves more quickly. Waves that travel through slower, shallow layers tend to arrive first at nearby receivers, but waves that travel through both slow shallow layers and deep faster layers tend to arrive first at more distant receivers. Noting where the deeper waves overtake the shallower waves lets us model the depth to important geological boundaries. A more detailed primer about this method is available here: <<a href="http://geoscixyz.readthedocs.org/en/latest/content/seismic/refraction/index.html" target="_blank">link</a>></span></li>
</ul>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1.3 Petrophysics of Alpine Geology</span></h3>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We use multiple geophysical methods to help reduce ambiguity of our interpretation. This is partly because some materials are not distinguishable using only a single method. Moreover, geophysical measurements do not correspond directly to hydrological properties because there are many different parameters that affect either measurement. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In terms of seismic velocity, the two most important parameters that affect velocity are stress and packing. Generally, as you go deeper, sediments are compressed by a greater weight of material above them, hence they become stiffer. Similarly, loose rubble with many air gaps does not transmit waves as fast as rubble that is more tightly packed, and solid rock transmits waves even faster. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In our studies, the electrical resistivity of materials generally depends on three main parameters: amount of water, the amount of fine-grained materials, and the porosity of the material. Generally, material that is wet conducts electricity more easily than stuff that is dry. Material with fine clay particles generally conducts more easily than material with gravel. Lastly, deposits that have many air pockets and little grain-to-grain contact surface area conducts less easily that deposits where the air gaps are filled with other material. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the PowerPoint slide, you see some categories of material labelled according to what values you typically see. Note that there is significant variability within any particular category, hence why many such regions are rather large </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gSDRZ8VYPvmrXn5Wf6w6Z_9m1EoaMLPqcNinxasyTwf8O_lsaxgCN2b_2MbJ670ZMLrsIfTjPBgU8k6qgNOQAJtltUQmybHjfazDH5VCF0gJEZrp2NtnPBvh5cSPc7_3AbRduyZMmTpz/s1600/Slide6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gSDRZ8VYPvmrXn5Wf6w6Z_9m1EoaMLPqcNinxasyTwf8O_lsaxgCN2b_2MbJ670ZMLrsIfTjPBgU8k6qgNOQAJtltUQmybHjfazDH5VCF0gJEZrp2NtnPBvh5cSPc7_3AbRduyZMmTpz/s400/Slide6.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 Site Description </span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2.1 Fortress Mountain</span></h3>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fortress mountain, our new field study site, is located in the Kananaskis Valley in the Front Ranges of the Southern Canadian Rockies. The area contrasts from the previous study site (Lake O’Hara) in several important ways:</span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Surficial geology:</u> The area has no active glaciers, so many of the landforms are much older. Moreover, we have a wide variety of different deposits in a very small area, so we can get a good understanding of how many different deposits interact with groundwater without having to study a big area</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Bedrock: </u>Because we are the Front Rangers rather than the Main Ranges of the Rocky Mountains, we tend to have younger, less competent sedimentary bedrock as opposed to strong, resistant, metamorphic bedrock </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Groundwater dominated:</u> There are many springs and streams in unusual locations that make it obvious that this new site is groundwater dominated </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Headwater basin for the Bow River: </u>This basin is one of the headwater basins feeding into the Bow River which passes through Calgary, the province of Alberta’s most populous city. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Movie Stars:</u> Scenes of both “The Revenant” and “Inception” were filmed here, and it is a perk to work in a location beautiful enough to warrant being on the silver screen.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7-TTTBxYum6GbCGR8ISD7XdOqr2TzzCNCX5Aa5QVX0Eb0lvO-zGRbyjnT_Z9YrZOamF1Ttmg8qJY5I1mttzZNITKW65QA0QE3wGg5GIoOkHotpjjnX_6Lh-UYuIX1yM9mSM8sSsarDJV/s1600/Slide4.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7-TTTBxYum6GbCGR8ISD7XdOqr2TzzCNCX5Aa5QVX0Eb0lvO-zGRbyjnT_Z9YrZOamF1Ttmg8qJY5I1mttzZNITKW65QA0QE3wGg5GIoOkHotpjjnX_6Lh-UYuIX1yM9mSM8sSsarDJV/s640/Slide4.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2.2 3D Tour of Fortress Mountain</span></h3>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To get a sense of what the
study area looks like, take a look at this 3D rendering of the mountain. This
location used to be a ski hill, and you can see old ski runs and a ski lodge
building in on the east end of the area. The video starts from a bird`s-eye
view, and ends in an oblique view facing southwest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/REqTbtqvS_w/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/REqTbtqvS_w?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2.3 Surficial Geology</span></h3>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The PowerPoint slide shows an oblique photo with important surficial units coloured in: </span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Orange and yellow:</u> talus slopes and cones. </span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">These are large piles of rock fallen from the large cliffs just to the south (see photo) </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Blue: </u>moraines</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">These are linear piles of rock formed by glaciers. There is a complex array of them surrounding the lake on site. The crests of these moraines are traced out in an elevation map (see slide)</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Green</u>: meadow </span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a flat, low-elevation, grassy area located at the bottom of the talus slopes and at the south side of the lake. The meadow is made up of mostly wet, fine-grained material. </span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDAPZQiWyhRZQAy2VHMpxGVuanb7gvUy7emep0Mu2nV_TaYCqCk5qcIKnqIA-ToczuHTKtPpHWg9CZqOUKXzZ-tEfJ1tAA16AlSh99AgeAqra1yV-k1NN0BplRjf6owoYfqYepzGoaMfH/s1600/Slide12.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDAPZQiWyhRZQAy2VHMpxGVuanb7gvUy7emep0Mu2nV_TaYCqCk5qcIKnqIA-ToczuHTKtPpHWg9CZqOUKXzZ-tEfJ1tAA16AlSh99AgeAqra1yV-k1NN0BplRjf6owoYfqYepzGoaMfH/s640/Slide12.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJlEM6QXuTxP6HpxxdxKCbVA8QUWkNUtOpMkPYDD04pOLOW7CDygr2jBlhWolYok2SbELWuIU8oPuGF0KHuyHa_GJWDAfxdzNbPPN_b42NrSnFH3OHtRNBjt1BvM6vW7RnuRH-iREoNAd/s1600/Slide13.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJlEM6QXuTxP6HpxxdxKCbVA8QUWkNUtOpMkPYDD04pOLOW7CDygr2jBlhWolYok2SbELWuIU8oPuGF0KHuyHa_GJWDAfxdzNbPPN_b42NrSnFH3OHtRNBjt1BvM6vW7RnuRH-iREoNAd/s640/Slide13.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2.4 Bedrock Geology</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At this location, we have older Carboniferous and Devonian rocks thrust on top of Jurassic rocks.</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Jurassic rocks in the bottom of the valley are made up mainly of very weak shale that can be ripped apart with one’s bare hands (see photo). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The cliff walls, which are made up of the older rocks and which are over 300 m tall, are mostly made of carbonate rocks like limestone from the Palliser Formation. Most of the rubble in the talus and the moraines seem to be composed of these hard rocks from the cliffs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are some softer, weaker rocks (e.g. shale) at high elevations above the main cliff walls. </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLD-mzY834G1ftMnDj_O59d_mQd1oplpMYpFgKZY-shnE9_uImQKtuMfIq49g3XKv3oNpqhp3CPewUY8ufEde5CKsswtXfL874BlQbUJkH4Y3l70KKvYIuAusXWLyfdlpJuZ5gTfBsuTO/s1600/Bonsai_Bedrock.gif" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLD-mzY834G1ftMnDj_O59d_mQd1oplpMYpFgKZY-shnE9_uImQKtuMfIq49g3XKv3oNpqhp3CPewUY8ufEde5CKsswtXfL874BlQbUJkH4Y3l70KKvYIuAusXWLyfdlpJuZ5gTfBsuTO/s640/Bonsai_Bedrock.gif" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2.5 Surficial Hydrology</span></h3>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The slide shows a few interesting features: blue dots indicate spring locations, while blue lines show longer, continuous streams. There are a few mysteries of groundwater we cannot explain from surface observations alone: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The source of the outlet stream</span></u></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a relatively large stream downslope of the lake that runs year-round. Yet, there is no visible connection between the lake and this stream. What is the pathway that connects the two? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The seasonality and size of lake inlets </span></u></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are two ways that water enters the lake: a surface stream that comes from the meadow, and several groundwater springs that seems out of the south banks of the lake. However, the lake and surface inlet only have water in them up until late summer, in contrast to the outlet stream. Moreover, the discharge from the surface stream and the small springs on the shore of the lake are not large enough together to account for the flow at the outlet. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Where is the rest of the water coming from that maintains the year-round flow of the outlet?</span></div>
<div>
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div>
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Springs on the talus surface</span></u></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">While we have seen springs at the toe of the talus before, this is one of the first times we’ve spotted springs higher up on the talus slope. What is causing these springs to come to surface at these locations?</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQTPeS9EEnyqCRJV9_4_k0KGiXya8LV5YlA7YhfoYc1oQxuDoKRc3zIO6xWbq_9Lz9vImEQCRm-5CHqUQoeiNW9YDaciYRsXgglEb6N1kGnQYwxD7sfUZw2Aql9wjBtAeM5PDaE0N3lSL/s1600/Slide16.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQTPeS9EEnyqCRJV9_4_k0KGiXya8LV5YlA7YhfoYc1oQxuDoKRc3zIO6xWbq_9Lz9vImEQCRm-5CHqUQoeiNW9YDaciYRsXgglEb6N1kGnQYwxD7sfUZw2Aql9wjBtAeM5PDaE0N3lSL/s640/Slide16.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3 Geophysics Results</span></h2>
<div>
Over the course of three weeks in July 2015, we collected 9 ERT survey lines, and multiple overlapping seismic refraction lines to help address those unanswered questions about the hydrogeology of this site. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcneKsoEMBWFmPHfI1LkUDARNbaltFIvMkWy51KfddtKNJ2FEiquU9TQJkye6pysL-WjZ62J0XYAe8Ym3G4roPK8jNUqQOTruPz7EImLNsVb3nkVJJV9X-y55swnJlT8N7Oar5qnDcKZSR/s1600/Geophysics+Locations.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcneKsoEMBWFmPHfI1LkUDARNbaltFIvMkWy51KfddtKNJ2FEiquU9TQJkye6pysL-WjZ62J0XYAe8Ym3G4roPK8jNUqQOTruPz7EImLNsVb3nkVJJV9X-y55swnJlT8N7Oar5qnDcKZSR/s640/Geophysics+Locations.gif" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Red: Locations of resistivity (ERT) surveys<br />Yellow: Locations of seismic refraction surveys</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3.1 Talus Slope</span></h3>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3.1.1 Line 1</span></h4>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On this line, we have a clear signal from the seismic data: There is bedrock not too far below surface that is buried under loose, unconsolidated rubble. The resistivity data indicates a saturated zone near the start of the line at an elevation of 2193 m. This corresponds to a spring at the same elevation just a few metres away from this line. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hence, it seems that we have flow of water in a saturated zone sitting on top of bedrock. This is in agreement with was we saw in earlier studies at Lake O’Hara. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu1y04tXblgGMw_ibJ3O2_sNb1Eecx7ft4k0d-m99Tvvl0E6izONFE5RDrMgic9Hgb7Jxljm0GnSaen4eS1MUjYT_Mfw0Z9KiZkshoSzV45J1B8iZ4towgriyQO7bFNGFR6FBI4BKdDxL/s1600/ERT2_SEIS6.gif" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu1y04tXblgGMw_ibJ3O2_sNb1Eecx7ft4k0d-m99Tvvl0E6izONFE5RDrMgic9Hgb7Jxljm0GnSaen4eS1MUjYT_Mfw0Z9KiZkshoSzV45J1B8iZ4towgriyQO7bFNGFR6FBI4BKdDxL/s640/ERT2_SEIS6.gif" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3.1.2 Line 2</span></h4>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This line contrasts considerably with the first survey line on the talus. Like that first line, there is a spring at surface on the talus near the geophysics line. In fact, this spring has enough flow to sustain a community of willow trees. However, in this case, bedrock is over 30 m deep. If it is not bedrock, there must be a different impermeable layer preventing the water from infiltrating down further into the slope. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An important note about the ERT section: The electrode spacing used was 8 m as opposed to 4 m in the previous line. Given that the resolution of the image is lower and that each pixel represents the average of a larger volume of earth, the saturated zones around the spring appear more resistive.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lastly, at the end of the line, we see an extremely resistive, high-velocity anomaly. It is difficult to distinguish between bedrock an ice. We installed temperature sensors last fall in order to help us make that distinction. These will be retrieved in June once the site is accessible again. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhbEB4ApRRZTcRZFLSQk4-_n4JcD-J9pkHIOgH1Qah27pHnuZAnEH9PPApUtczNYegBp0JlAPlU-mHqj_M9z_FmH3WM8QOJlkLdZTDMhxIFqMs7jUjSA7qGUnPGzBnMFtrPXeKnJhAXdO/s1600/Slide19.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhbEB4ApRRZTcRZFLSQk4-_n4JcD-J9pkHIOgH1Qah27pHnuZAnEH9PPApUtczNYegBp0JlAPlU-mHqj_M9z_FmH3WM8QOJlkLdZTDMhxIFqMs7jUjSA7qGUnPGzBnMFtrPXeKnJhAXdO/s400/Slide19.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCUR8XB9vxDD3Frs8YOfQNWVmgmRmJokyRfFvsbBSc_Nu8SQjEp88TC2v4CR_jXkctY0g9YLie3ubNAaEz1gZ4kdnQsBTD25IuDcis6yRfqvk2vWruch4jFSyUbs6Pvfh5q4QEJZ3uIAA/s1600/ERT3_SEIS7_8.gif" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCUR8XB9vxDD3Frs8YOfQNWVmgmRmJokyRfFvsbBSc_Nu8SQjEp88TC2v4CR_jXkctY0g9YLie3ubNAaEz1gZ4kdnQsBTD25IuDcis6yRfqvk2vWruch4jFSyUbs6Pvfh5q4QEJZ3uIAA/s640/ERT3_SEIS7_8.gif" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3.2 Meadow</span></h3>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This line crosses the meadow on a roughly north-south
bearing, and comes close to the south edge of the lake. The photos highlight
two different inlets to the lake: the surface stream running through the meadow
(red star) and the springs on the lakeshore where groundwater is seeping into
the lake (yellow star).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5Zrrr7Ax8lQrGA7dX6AxWq-WSuBEUWvEABhgE_2pjhYBVwnn9KsACTETSiN93HDaNxrPEuoLw03c7ipN932tZ7YW-Jd6MRa639R80I9m3_ShocrmsDv8CkVI-NLcFSb2iH71kfgB2Zpn/s1600/Slide21.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5Zrrr7Ax8lQrGA7dX6AxWq-WSuBEUWvEABhgE_2pjhYBVwnn9KsACTETSiN93HDaNxrPEuoLw03c7ipN932tZ7YW-Jd6MRa639R80I9m3_ShocrmsDv8CkVI-NLcFSb2iH71kfgB2Zpn/s400/Slide21.JPG" width="400" /></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the resistivity image, we see very clearly a low
resistivity area that corresponds to the wet, fine-grained sediments that we
see at surface. In the seismic section, we see a high-velocity layer at depth.
I have created a composite image that overlays the two data types together, and
the legend in the lower left shows which colours correspond to which
properties:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><u>Magenta:</u> loose, high-resistivity
deposits (moraine, talus) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><u>Blue and black:</u> low resistivity, low
velocity deposits (fine-grained, wet sediments) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><u>Green and yellow:</u> high resistivity,
high-velocity (bedrock, till) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We see at depth a transition to high velocities and high
resistivities (black dashed line). Zooming in on the composite image, and
comparing to elevation of important hydrological features, we see that the upper
elevation of this yellow and green layer corresponds to the elevation of where
groundwater (GW) discharges into the lake. This suggests to us that this lower
layer may be controlling the elevation of these spring, and may be acting as a
dam for the reservoir under the meadow. Moreover, the layer dips well below the
elevation of the lake and down to roughly the elevation of the springs at the
outlet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSSOeBvwmALUYEVMIx2gEvIqcL3u7gE01C9cDNaan-aZrKMseRTZvZCIXoKojRal-rYVHE-MglbSZL1ye_QABHFPMgfcABj5MSwOnyXIFRXEL2FAwKa7rZ0zNv7A0a9Y1VpW9dRPu22Y_/s1600/Slide22.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSSOeBvwmALUYEVMIx2gEvIqcL3u7gE01C9cDNaan-aZrKMseRTZvZCIXoKojRal-rYVHE-MglbSZL1ye_QABHFPMgfcABj5MSwOnyXIFRXEL2FAwKa7rZ0zNv7A0a9Y1VpW9dRPu22Y_/s640/Slide22.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHE6rp5fAxu7VN4i4ef-royug1Qk3Ugk_ag2H1IvwC9ohaIs6vzMqe-0wg0DnTAfz5_VlhF4-lhccznWyq1zeh5zhfiIrmNxmCa9FtC5Y6Y8h0d0LoFjtr8SfwYOHTzYcUcDxL1coyUoEC/s1600/Slide23.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHE6rp5fAxu7VN4i4ef-royug1Qk3Ugk_ag2H1IvwC9ohaIs6vzMqe-0wg0DnTAfz5_VlhF4-lhccznWyq1zeh5zhfiIrmNxmCa9FtC5Y6Y8h0d0LoFjtr8SfwYOHTzYcUcDxL1coyUoEC/s640/Slide23.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3.3 Outlet Spring</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In these photos, you see the
outlet spring and stream at two different times of year. In either, you can see
the moraine rising in the background, and the water emerging from a pile of
cobbles in the foreground. The staff gauge in either is immediately downstream
of this spring, and shows that flow is fairly consistent from mid-summer to
mid-autumn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2jjOl2dDjxiRndZVDDbIJs5LhJxPAmgITtCVD8XHry_Gueia6k9ovqw1zxf2UqD9Iz-S9mEZkso2QaLRXmq2PJ0oUn887zodQ7OU4sURap7gWKlYvI4N0019lLaomGhAWd4TV2q9DMwW/s1600/2016_03_07+Geoconvention+Christensen+Alpine+Hydrogeophysics+Bonsai_v7_compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2jjOl2dDjxiRndZVDDbIJs5LhJxPAmgITtCVD8XHry_Gueia6k9ovqw1zxf2UqD9Iz-S9mEZkso2QaLRXmq2PJ0oUn887zodQ7OU4sURap7gWKlYvI4N0019lLaomGhAWd4TV2q9DMwW/s640/2016_03_07+Geoconvention+Christensen+Alpine+Hydrogeophysics+Bonsai_v7_compressed.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">The resistivity data shows a
clear distinction between dry moraine material (on the east side of the spring)
and wet, fine-grained sediments in a forest clearing on the west side. There
are strange, low-resistivity bullseyes near the spring which we thought were
data artifacts at first. However, looking at the seismic model, we notice a
clear boundary in the vicinity of the spring. Superimposing this on the
resistivity image, we see that these low-resistivity bullseyes are nestled
right in these dips in bedrock. We are
interpreting these as buried channels incised into the bedrock. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqsLSbbxNJBUjP-shGPJKDddllftVPtbCjsEW1gz0rcARmbcf5qN2O3FFLQ1WNG-Dc5AF2UXGUP2emtovdxANNdW_zvH7cig8BvbWJ4HDM7rXIEyxlE-VVgQ9zsIQ7Kw7UXWZwh6vftp9/s1600/ERT7_SEIS11.gif" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqsLSbbxNJBUjP-shGPJKDddllftVPtbCjsEW1gz0rcARmbcf5qN2O3FFLQ1WNG-Dc5AF2UXGUP2emtovdxANNdW_zvH7cig8BvbWJ4HDM7rXIEyxlE-VVgQ9zsIQ7Kw7UXWZwh6vftp9/s640/ERT7_SEIS11.gif" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4 Wrap-up </span></h2>
</div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4.1 Preliminary Conceptual Models</span></h3>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4.1.1 Talus</span></h4>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We saw in the first geophysics lines on the talus that bedrock
acts as impermeable boundary and water flows over top a it. This similar to observations
in previous field sites in the Rocky Mountains. Unlike previous sites, in some
parts of the talus slope, the water table is perched up high above the bedrock.
This suggests that there is something about the structure of these slopes that
contrasts with other areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We notice, just as Pierson (1982) observed, that the grain
size of the rubble in these talus slopes varies laterally. In locations where
springs are perched well above the bedrock, the grains in the slope are of a
large variety of sizes. (See the picture below). We speculate that the weaker,
incompetent Carboniferous shales on at the top of these cliffs are weathered
into smaller grains than the stronger limestones, leading to the well-graded
deposits observed. This distribution of sizes leads to a denser packing, and hence
to a lower hydraulic conductivity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioq966kxHNpDfy1u4eBUqmM7d9ygt-uw-IrYcw-xjO1yI7Dajgd-W9KMU-6cAMCvJVW3ZfOBlzoQRm5CDPDT8wOUWOtNep-jCp0IP7j59YMiq6DfWPrEWaYQdvcG-eiXAe2hczFZI5OYP4/s1600/packing_talus_2015_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioq966kxHNpDfy1u4eBUqmM7d9ygt-uw-IrYcw-xjO1yI7Dajgd-W9KMU-6cAMCvJVW3ZfOBlzoQRm5CDPDT8wOUWOtNep-jCp0IP7j59YMiq6DfWPrEWaYQdvcG-eiXAe2hczFZI5OYP4/s400/packing_talus_2015_0.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These observations have implications for how we predict
streamflow in large basins as such. Talus slopes with lower-hydraulic
conductivity may be able to retain water for longer periods, but will have
lower infiltration rates. Precipitation forecasts tend to be less certain than
temperature change forecasts in the area, but if more extreme fluctuations in
precipitation occur, a higher proportion of water may runoff over land as
opposed to run infiltrate underground. This variation in hydraulic conductivity
of talus slopes may need to be considered when taking inventory of talus slopes
in alpine watershed and selecting appropriate modelling parameters. Heterogeneous
bedrock composition of valley walls may affect the hydrogeological properties of
these, and more research is warranted on whether there is a predictable
relationship between rock types and slope properties. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4.1.2 Meadow, Lake, and Outlet Spring</span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Taking elevation of the impermeable layer we see at depth and the surface elevations, we have put together this conceptual model: </span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">During summer and spring, following snowmelt, the water table intersects the surface and the lake is full </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">As snowmelt inputs drop off and water table levels drop below the lakebed elevation, the lake appears to dry up. Flow of the outlet spring is maintained because there is a large depression in the bedrock underneath the meadow. This depression helps ensure that gradients do not drop too much, helping keep outlet streamflow steady. </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCny39z_lC1wQda1dwZfisKhpKBo4ROT-UJU7i6O64PxOnVHeZB7928FsDGXMLKDqWnLrRn4WxigDA_IghLadW4Djh9Wx76N1IXhvJ7c2Te_QOw5eB0ExXYEgZfdrqn-8Er6IBGgv6WoTo/s1600/ConceptualModel_MeadowSpringLake.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCny39z_lC1wQda1dwZfisKhpKBo4ROT-UJU7i6O64PxOnVHeZB7928FsDGXMLKDqWnLrRn4WxigDA_IghLadW4Djh9Wx76N1IXhvJ7c2Te_QOw5eB0ExXYEgZfdrqn-8Er6IBGgv6WoTo/s640/ConceptualModel_MeadowSpringLake.gif" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few notes about the image and the model: </span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vertical exaggeration in the figure is 2 to 1, so the water table drop is not as large as it may appear</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are likely three-dimensional effects to consider. The channels at the buried channels suggest that water is focused into that outlet spring, which may further help maintain water levels in the stream. </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In essence, we have found another case where a large depression in an impermeable layer is storing a large amount of water and helping regulate streamflow. This is also the first instance, within our research team, that we have geophysical evidence of buried channels in an alpine setting. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4.2 Conclusion</span></h3>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some take-home points</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We documented two processes that we observed
before at other sites: groundwater flow at the bedrock interface, and the
presence of a bedrock reservoir below a meadow that helps regulate streamflow.
These results may suggest that such processes are common in alpine ones in the
Rocky Mountains</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We observed some new processes. </span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">T</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">here can be shallow flow in talus slopes, and we
speculate that it is caused by a tighter packing of grains due to heterogeneous
bedrock composition in the valley headwall</span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We observed buried channels near a large spring,
the first time we have seen such structures in an alpine setting.</span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the coming months, we will be
focusing on refining our interpretations and our conceptual model, and we have
more data that we can use (mainly ground penetrating radar data). We will
likely do some more geophysical field work this summer to help us solidify test our early models. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZeeKr7pP9xQyc-DtSAerSkMs5-Iw_d_pvNSkEqP-lu0bX5Kv0XqokkLliJjojyYMHtuNY6iMUg4mZrqYX12ZBbrx8pd_3rfJGTQ4VDQf-Ioro6Q77-7Ao6pnX6j_mJzgRNc1J9tgZ-Rl/s1600/Slide27.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZeeKr7pP9xQyc-DtSAerSkMs5-Iw_d_pvNSkEqP-lu0bX5Kv0XqokkLliJjojyYMHtuNY6iMUg4mZrqYX12ZBbrx8pd_3rfJGTQ4VDQf-Ioro6Q77-7Ao6pnX6j_mJzgRNc1J9tgZ-Rl/s400/Slide27.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<h3 style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4.3 Acknowldgements</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This work, as previous entries on this blog suggest, were
the work of a large team of volunteers toiling away for nearly three weeks
straight last July. Many thanks to them! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJVieLd-GhFoBn4oY9S7kPBkDnxVFZ6TFKG5EQVFg3EknXqeMROLQHjjMAhhMzECuMDLRh5Bb7eQ7DzCIOxU9uhGhMmmn40zLpPaW20Q3NnKff-lg4x6sA7YTvXQscfXdZEl_z3nmZ2vg/s1600/2016_03_07+Geoconvention+Christensen+Alpine+Hydrogeophysics+Bonsai_v7_compressed_thanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJVieLd-GhFoBn4oY9S7kPBkDnxVFZ6TFKG5EQVFg3EknXqeMROLQHjjMAhhMzECuMDLRh5Bb7eQ7DzCIOxU9uhGhMmmn40zLpPaW20Q3NnKff-lg4x6sA7YTvXQscfXdZEl_z3nmZ2vg/s320/2016_03_07+Geoconvention+Christensen+Alpine+Hydrogeophysics+Bonsai_v7_compressed_thanks.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">We collaborated with researchers from the University of
Saskatchewan who have studied the ecology, surface hydrology, and meteorology of Fortress Mountain.
Thank you to Dr. John Pomeroy, Dr. Cherie Westbrook, May Guan, and Hongye Wu
for all their insights and advice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We thank the folks at Fortress Mountain for giving us access
to this unique and fascinating site. Best of luck with your efforts to reopen
the ski hill!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And finally, this research was funded through a NSCERC
Discovery Grant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">References</span></h2>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="NO-NYN" style="font-size: 10pt;">Bandyopadhyay, J.,
Kraemr, D., Kattelmann, R., & Kundzewicz, Z. (1997). </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Highland watrs: a resource of
global significance. In B. Messerli & J. Ives (Eds.), <i>Mountains of the
World: A Global Priority</i> (pp. 131–151). New York: Parthenon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Barnett, T. P., Adam, J. C., & Lettenmaier, D. P. (2005).
Potential impacts of a warming climate on water availability in snow-dominated
regions. <i>Nature</i>, <i>438</i>(7066), 303–309.
http://doi.org/10.1038/nature04141<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hood, J. L., & Hayashi, M. (2015). Characterization of
snowmelt flux and groundwater storage in an alpine headwater basin. <i>Journal
of Hydrology</i>, <i>521</i>, 482–497.
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.12.041<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Langston, G., Bentley, L. R., Hayashi, M., McClymont, A., &
Pidlisecky, A. (2011). Internal structure and hydrological functions of an
alpine proglacial moraine. <i>Hydrological Processes</i>, <i>2982</i>(May),
n/a–n/a. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8144<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">McClymont, a. F., Hayashi, M., Bentley, L. R., & Liard, J.
(2012). Locating and characterising groundwater storage areas within an alpine
watershed using time-lapse gravity, GPR and seismic refraction methods. <i>Hydrological
Processes</i>, <i>26</i>(12), 1792–1804. http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.9316<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">McClymont, A. F., Hayashi, M., Bentley, L. R., Muir, D., &
Ernst, E. (2010). Groundwater flow and storage within an alpine meadow-talus
complex. <i>Hydrology and Earth System Sciences</i>, <i>14</i>(6), 859–872.
http://doi.org/10.5194/hess-14-859-2010<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 10pt;">Muir, D. L., Hayashi,
M., & Mcclymont, A. F. (2011). </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hydrological storage and transmission characteristics of an alpine
talus. <i>Hydrological Processes</i>, <i>25</i>(March), 2954–2966.
http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8060<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pierson, T. C. (1982). Classification and hydrological
characteristics of scree slope deposits in the Northern Craigieburn Range, New
Zealand. <i>Journal of Hydrology (New Zealand)</i>. Retrieved from
http://hydrologynz.co.nz/downloads/20080523-044709-JoHNZ_1982_v21_1_Pierson.pdf<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="ES-MX" style="font-size: 10pt;">Tanzeeba, S., &
Gan, T. Y. (2012). </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Potential
impact of climate change on the water availability of South Saskatchewan River
Basin. <i>Climatic Change</i>, <i>112</i>(2), 355–386.
http://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0221-7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Viviroli, D., & Weingartner, R. (2004). The hydrological
significance of mountains: from regional to global scale. <i>Hydrology and
Earth System Sciences</i>, <i>8</i>(6), 1017–1030.
http://doi.org/10.5194/hess-8-1017-2004</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0Kananaskis, AB, Canada50.818969454353443 -115.2145579224452450.813953454353445 -115.22464292244524 50.823985454353441 -115.20447292244523tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-73084694870262703472015-07-27T17:16:00.005-06:002016-03-10T13:19:07.534-07:00Field Work Update - July 27<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a bit of bad weather on July 16 and 17, we hit the ground running on July 18th, ready with repaired and working equipment. Since then, we've had a good seven day streak of long, productive days in the field. Over the weekend now (July 25 and 26), we had two days in a row where the morning was nice, but where we were soaked by rain by early afternoon. We've taken today off, letting the equipment dry off, and we and hope to work Tuesday to Friday again to make up for these weather delays. Here are some nice photos from the collection of what has happened in the last days. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzYXnsSrk2pbF1lw4HTNbh3UNnqqulQfOKrGdh0YkaSI6TA37ugHmaprTQCtyYB90gJdWWY7l1kIHs4H5og_6YmJynifff6V58WAwPDPfMctkQQZIq2Ia3Dq6kDlcYXHEhV1lJZ7RJmNV/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzYXnsSrk2pbF1lw4HTNbh3UNnqqulQfOKrGdh0YkaSI6TA37ugHmaprTQCtyYB90gJdWWY7l1kIHs4H5og_6YmJynifff6V58WAwPDPfMctkQQZIq2Ia3Dq6kDlcYXHEhV1lJZ7RJmNV/s320/IMG_0304.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calista rolling up seismic cables</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuB6DNoTuHNUQZFNEUab3TNhRG9RnaZw3pcRu9ka6IeMeZRV75cy-jIQJvJcpIrJZD8XYKoY7jnS32gzjp489-auvJPOPY3XuLjj0tl6y_jyyboBIm_YY0ksFq6GwYNhHMPaZ8u1t26o0k/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuB6DNoTuHNUQZFNEUab3TNhRG9RnaZw3pcRu9ka6IeMeZRV75cy-jIQJvJcpIrJZD8XYKoY7jnS32gzjp489-auvJPOPY3XuLjj0tl6y_jyyboBIm_YY0ksFq6GwYNhHMPaZ8u1t26o0k/s320/IMG_0306.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These cables can be heavy</td></tr>
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An interesting fact I've learned about this mountain: it's a fairly popular area for Holywood studios to shoot movies. There are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgF0e0veX0A">scenes from the movie Inception</a> that were shot here, and Leonardo diCaprio was back again this spring filming <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MVgXOHmEsw">this new movie</a>. On the one hand, it's quite cool to see famous films and actos romping about the same woods as I am. Yet, I think now that I watch those movies, I'll be forever disillusioned because I'll always be thinking about my research site rather than getting engrossed in the movie. </div>
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Finally, I have an interesting story from the field to share. Last Monday, we had a short, but intense shower in the morning, so I had to rush and get my rain pants on in a hurry. In the commotion, however, the safety clip on the can of bear spray in my pocket must have come loose. About an hour later, I smell something peppery and feel a bit of heat on my right thigh. That burning sensation slowly crescendoed, and in a few minutes, I was searing in pain. I tried to tough through it, but had to swallow my dignity, strip down to my undies, and rinse of the affected area with cold water. It put a dent in my day, but at least I can safely say that this was the first time I've ever done field work without pants on. </div>
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Minus that glitch, things are moving along well, and looking forward to getting the last of our data. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iwYgs-HAJseB7SiHhy7WiMbf0L1svVuWlYZxlGx4oOiZIpyX1MjX9aMx8gUAQyfXNiFN4EDmVIht9QbCSgph_qv0_oEwKuVBKvOi8c8-MOQYyX_l9DhCMoadoOhmsOy13VYphlxkgDrq/s1600/DSCN2160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iwYgs-HAJseB7SiHhy7WiMbf0L1svVuWlYZxlGx4oOiZIpyX1MjX9aMx8gUAQyfXNiFN4EDmVIht9QbCSgph_qv0_oEwKuVBKvOi8c8-MOQYyX_l9DhCMoadoOhmsOy13VYphlxkgDrq/s400/DSCN2160.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not carrying heavy stuff, but still hard at work</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SpEgMtiGqHmQQCnQGLglZd0NgFirucEWpRu7VgiZ9T_vfEFunqCRX8NMUKApWXa9WGngT3vEHjcdWg3lqBe4cjkxGhzhx6gKOouQ-9md6Yiuch7sgbllUdvMBtj1ofzM3rR50rvNH_mU/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SpEgMtiGqHmQQCnQGLglZd0NgFirucEWpRu7VgiZ9T_vfEFunqCRX8NMUKApWXa9WGngT3vEHjcdWg3lqBe4cjkxGhzhx6gKOouQ-9md6Yiuch7sgbllUdvMBtj1ofzM3rR50rvNH_mU/s640/IMG_0327.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even these dry boulders are teeming with life</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QOk_lOHRN7MvXkjQ13yeZQq3uVwRvEX81SweSTRhtPldJtTfrudgpqRuL_g40JyrRfB33CF4pMWLsmpU0GnhAswmTiY2ySZizrGpbS1t2Vj9nwYY0khjtpx5qIyJk2UCEWWNi9Ghhy9I/s1600/IMG_0339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QOk_lOHRN7MvXkjQ13yeZQq3uVwRvEX81SweSTRhtPldJtTfrudgpqRuL_g40JyrRfB33CF4pMWLsmpU0GnhAswmTiY2ySZizrGpbS1t2Vj9nwYY0khjtpx5qIyJk2UCEWWNi9Ghhy9I/s400/IMG_0339.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flowers by the cliff side</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrOquXAXuGqqkWpbEmB_39OMYG-6yZVT8lcAje758b0iGfhXLYRPM__pyu6hvi5ouAo4UmY7d81cov3fTiSHaD8zqIztp_KACevQgZ3vWAWaYaqm3_7rlPHDX-2prnoBfRj7mtA6snsGM/s1600/IMG_0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrOquXAXuGqqkWpbEmB_39OMYG-6yZVT8lcAje758b0iGfhXLYRPM__pyu6hvi5ouAo4UmY7d81cov3fTiSHaD8zqIztp_KACevQgZ3vWAWaYaqm3_7rlPHDX-2prnoBfRj7mtA6snsGM/s640/IMG_0364.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new crew starting Monday, July 20th stayed with us until Friday</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjEEqE_sj3mgpe9rvhoBS-lDLjP1-LvFoSeMmCxWbRzne_RtRBzsNdWR8qOqaxW2Ebzz6G4xq1ShuoRMNAYWniFQyMuqyfx0GVVLGeB6SILbPd885fkShJW3yFrZDcId7XCh4mQv4pbIo/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjEEqE_sj3mgpe9rvhoBS-lDLjP1-LvFoSeMmCxWbRzne_RtRBzsNdWR8qOqaxW2Ebzz6G4xq1ShuoRMNAYWniFQyMuqyfx0GVVLGeB6SILbPd885fkShJW3yFrZDcId7XCh4mQv4pbIo/s640/IMG_0406.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very long radar line</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6IfQsgSl7jqchKGme1s8Nq-RSf8geYCCOIE_U0ZS_EWkcwr9E560TJIP28pnZ_SK8aAfAY9i_OmU72udjamVuekEhxdONS6_kb2hWhI_Fq2Mdbg5LWFXKXtnOGKe-C9nnwNjD_TB0Uxb/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6IfQsgSl7jqchKGme1s8Nq-RSf8geYCCOIE_U0ZS_EWkcwr9E560TJIP28pnZ_SK8aAfAY9i_OmU72udjamVuekEhxdONS6_kb2hWhI_Fq2Mdbg5LWFXKXtnOGKe-C9nnwNjD_TB0Uxb/s640/IMG_0510.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the lake, facing north from the main talus, just below the waterfall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAQAWPPZB6ix2MOo3BQlbgR_rfvAVawHFpxbST3sZ6GCzQP4J4hwRpk0UouQW4eZ_EDrJBRhOj9cKXwpNg35DV7IHCFbjxSHVDL8uxaTWflfh3JAWaP4_8yLnELn0hHy0I3tisVzeYdzp/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAQAWPPZB6ix2MOo3BQlbgR_rfvAVawHFpxbST3sZ6GCzQP4J4hwRpk0UouQW4eZ_EDrJBRhOj9cKXwpNg35DV7IHCFbjxSHVDL8uxaTWflfh3JAWaP4_8yLnELn0hHy0I3tisVzeYdzp/s400/IMG_0525.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facing south, looking at the patch of snow below this waterfall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ChrxZnndIbvufqJdmQgWJ5rCXwCIy2ni2j0qQrQt4Iw19d7ullCi4ENdidsLUswxUbgC7AefMnSQuIHWY6vF3iOiA_-dgT4kEjiqrVU_12hDtzftzoqpzhKRj1O8Z46yQyO-QOU2uz0y/s1600/line1_4m_R3_24_filter_topo_smooth_HtV0_7_finest.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ChrxZnndIbvufqJdmQgWJ5rCXwCIy2ni2j0qQrQt4Iw19d7ullCi4ENdidsLUswxUbgC7AefMnSQuIHWY6vF3iOiA_-dgT4kEjiqrVU_12hDtzftzoqpzhKRj1O8Z46yQyO-QOU2uz0y/s640/line1_4m_R3_24_filter_topo_smooth_HtV0_7_finest.bmp" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! Our instruments aren't broken anymore, and we're getting data. This was a massive, 572 m long ERT line that around three days to complete.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD5Ow_UA4s1SX80wQOB75BdVXPcH-rPY2uEYNOZgUdLaBQlNNYQIsSbmODzqbUqj9XDMXf0olqWH2s9DOpcXYko3u4MX-4VS8WS-IdOW9rLt79BCb2WZ8UBqJz6eRtBe0_nY2P80mh6hf/s1600/2015_07_27+ERT_Line_Numbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD5Ow_UA4s1SX80wQOB75BdVXPcH-rPY2uEYNOZgUdLaBQlNNYQIsSbmODzqbUqj9XDMXf0olqWH2s9DOpcXYko3u4MX-4VS8WS-IdOW9rLt79BCb2WZ8UBqJz6eRtBe0_nY2P80mh6hf/s400/2015_07_27+ERT_Line_Numbers.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the lines we've done so far. For the last days, we'll move to the north side of the lake. </td></tr>
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<br />Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-71242972283073920352015-07-17T21:42:00.001-06:002015-07-17T21:42:07.654-06:00Photo of a true geophysicistMaybe four computers is getting excessive...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykv3IImmhXV5-g_1J45wiT59wpuCteB1jgyyYWNRxpoN56IoIgSNOug6tom_4KT1SX-rCaKof72B1QsEMLTZ0rY7yHowESb_wrASFKMXs2v9LE7XE4DTurgXpWDjK6Smz112WcdSHAkd7/s1600/20150717_203112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykv3IImmhXV5-g_1J45wiT59wpuCteB1jgyyYWNRxpoN56IoIgSNOug6tom_4KT1SX-rCaKof72B1QsEMLTZ0rY7yHowESb_wrASFKMXs2v9LE7XE4DTurgXpWDjK6Smz112WcdSHAkd7/s640/20150717_203112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-80297941495108127102015-07-17T21:24:00.002-06:002016-03-10T13:18:24.638-07:00Day 5 - July 17It was a rainy day, so I spent most of the morning working with the data, creating backups, and doing a little bit of processing. I even had a chance to go for a run after hours of looking at bumps and squiggles. I think the field crew was relieved to have a bit of down time before what looks like two or three long days ahead of us. (The weather forecast is much better after today).<br />
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Matthew Lennon, Calista Yim, and I did a quick trip up to site, and we arrived just as the rain was clearing. We managed to shoot some additional GPR with some different antennae. There was a strange spot we weren't able to see clearly using 50 MHz antennae, but by doing is over again in 100MHz, we get a bit more detail.<br />
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The next days will be intense. The resistivity instrument is back from Calgary and appears to be repaired successfully. Looking forward to getting back on track.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjol6jc_LE04KdEMmXlvzdp-K26iDHSp3R_OxS1szlPaVH0c7jSm0kPRgLO9ySKaEJYm_Evkn74wAlqToZjbV0Tji9HufLxY0cR1B-BcFZZJP2jfWdAKCgrbqwcrOmK9uGB_k2ESubWL_J5/s1600/early+GPR+lines+up+to+July+17+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjol6jc_LE04KdEMmXlvzdp-K26iDHSp3R_OxS1szlPaVH0c7jSm0kPRgLO9ySKaEJYm_Evkn74wAlqToZjbV0Tji9HufLxY0cR1B-BcFZZJP2jfWdAKCgrbqwcrOmK9uGB_k2ESubWL_J5/s400/early+GPR+lines+up+to+July+17+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locations where we've run some lines. That long one is over 600m!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83x02AexPMLAH52sYwiZ8BHcB5NxYjJx_Z8MIJ7zcj8vaUFsbHCvhFgP8M5UkC83gIb3OdoAN076kCCVhbGlkugPZzVQ37nagwmvo6XhHoa-P8CXxo9S_6uElibElYx_E1HhnD71fMg2k/s1600/GPR4.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83x02AexPMLAH52sYwiZ8BHcB5NxYjJx_Z8MIJ7zcj8vaUFsbHCvhFgP8M5UkC83gIb3OdoAN076kCCVhbGlkugPZzVQ37nagwmvo6XhHoa-P8CXxo9S_6uElibElYx_E1HhnD71fMg2k/s400/GPR4.BMP" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ground penetrating radar data that has been processed. They're fancy wiggles and bumps</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYt5h4J_jMHGZHhfuxZlU8oY90ElIF2NWV8P-MBysH0HaJtyV8hFXBpGibIHEwZb8XCEhXCQC8INtNbB6qLKsnPBaRh3qjgXsXOwAsuSS_92dmgomKpbH2vDInm1jFLzzyXU0-T-GAt-LM/s1600/Line5GPR_Jul17.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYt5h4J_jMHGZHhfuxZlU8oY90ElIF2NWV8P-MBysH0HaJtyV8hFXBpGibIHEwZb8XCEhXCQC8INtNbB6qLKsnPBaRh3qjgXsXOwAsuSS_92dmgomKpbH2vDInm1jFLzzyXU0-T-GAt-LM/s400/Line5GPR_Jul17.BMP" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same line, different antenna frequency, and now they're coloured wiggles and bumps. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BVglpF_SwuDICJGAxlqqXpLgtQyrHCV678he9zuOgeB8vRHaKenh9YpIOo5l9mzRluH5-8eoHnZaSekiUNgZT5pUJNLk-xDElqjaiXauR6bsugdYVxK99W_Oo_VFCYhyphenhyphenUhkInfCXR93x/s1600/IMG_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BVglpF_SwuDICJGAxlqqXpLgtQyrHCV678he9zuOgeB8vRHaKenh9YpIOo5l9mzRluH5-8eoHnZaSekiUNgZT5pUJNLk-xDElqjaiXauR6bsugdYVxK99W_Oo_VFCYhyphenhyphenUhkInfCXR93x/s400/IMG_0267.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 5 - Calista</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOp_GBmHKa8ycZVVzy4vOU9w6Wll-XzebRf5-dRx2lWJwDOtiTn9RRbVP8ZVjlTVvPgFpZlaTG28wiZb3T05L0wECmwpk7ocdZj_54-AYMs2jk_RupGAGI2VIFitDndXRdsoo7LIAFQvKF/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOp_GBmHKa8ycZVVzy4vOU9w6Wll-XzebRf5-dRx2lWJwDOtiTn9RRbVP8ZVjlTVvPgFpZlaTG28wiZb3T05L0wECmwpk7ocdZj_54-AYMs2jk_RupGAGI2VIFitDndXRdsoo7LIAFQvKF/s400/IMG_0269.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 5 - Matt</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTTd1LH5S-qjXSa9Nv-LLyMnxePemHzhFCiIfBM4HKYLR92bsk_Xh1P1jzAb_0G63qq8E9khv4DVN9363eAjRfX9wHEev3QTKUoXVUuWcSIPNqnY2eAjrXuLP1GelTkrYbHDn1JJpm2kf/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTTd1LH5S-qjXSa9Nv-LLyMnxePemHzhFCiIfBM4HKYLR92bsk_Xh1P1jzAb_0G63qq8E9khv4DVN9363eAjRfX9wHEev3QTKUoXVUuWcSIPNqnY2eAjrXuLP1GelTkrYbHDn1JJpm2kf/s400/IMG_0273.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 5 - Yours truly. </td></tr>
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<br />Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-62268230164222154302015-07-11T12:34:00.001-06:002015-07-11T12:34:21.004-06:00July 8 Site Visit I went up with Dr. Masaki Hayashi on Wednesday July 8th for a final reconaissance visit before we start our big geophysics campaign on Monday, July 13.<br />
<br />
We looked at locations where I proposed to to do geophysics, to make sure those choices we reasonable. In doing so, we stumbled some little streams coming out of the rocky talus slopes just below the cliffs. The groundwater is much shallower that we expected! In fact, in some spots, there are willow trees growing on tiny little springs even though they're practically sitting on gravel.<br />
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We did a little stream gauging before going home, and now are basically ready to head out again after the weekend. The air is a bit hazy because of forest fires in the region, so I hope it clears up soon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKK81h9c51oTOdygXIp4lQzC-jHUpKIt-ShrYMM94GpD600hDprPIfrUvjn96ls00j-nlngFyezylxBh7t76BFrkCssKNqtodqO8ZiR33G8usvZIIlYmOkapn12aTA80ZLD8V6zffcINq/s1600/2015_07_08+Bonsai+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKK81h9c51oTOdygXIp4lQzC-jHUpKIt-ShrYMM94GpD600hDprPIfrUvjn96ls00j-nlngFyezylxBh7t76BFrkCssKNqtodqO8ZiR33G8usvZIIlYmOkapn12aTA80ZLD8V6zffcINq/s640/2015_07_08+Bonsai+001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful flower-covered meadows at this time of year.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfyQZH0W-gP6Qir4zqJ6B3VuRnXt5m4_JJsCLyhhCYXWsoieewYnzEcQIaLB2b5YhvqcpgvlZd_ZmwvOvTXdWpUUZiXtLvM4iqBv9YuxqsTk3Mqy7qbvdIfEO0YxzRtk3_MuBLFqO6Llk/s1600/2015_07_08+Bonsai+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfyQZH0W-gP6Qir4zqJ6B3VuRnXt5m4_JJsCLyhhCYXWsoieewYnzEcQIaLB2b5YhvqcpgvlZd_ZmwvOvTXdWpUUZiXtLvM4iqBv9YuxqsTk3Mqy7qbvdIfEO0YxzRtk3_MuBLFqO6Llk/s640/2015_07_08+Bonsai+019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from higher up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwzKdqXgUlWk1mR4uMNi9pHY4L59_3ZTivhKPGcc3QBD69HbbuKXYErRLKikpMsa7Kh9c2fORmO19F_H6dckTc7v7E7ew_N5DBfoj82nQe8hWjuBeskm7asuF9A-7z2z3fNiKWAWDMu3b/s1600/2015_07_08+Bonsai+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwzKdqXgUlWk1mR4uMNi9pHY4L59_3ZTivhKPGcc3QBD69HbbuKXYErRLKikpMsa7Kh9c2fORmO19F_H6dckTc7v7E7ew_N5DBfoj82nQe8hWjuBeskm7asuF9A-7z2z3fNiKWAWDMu3b/s640/2015_07_08+Bonsai+010.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We didn't realize there were little streams this high up. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbs8JzN6Cj_6290o1oKkR1zNWPjijmXXE1424Jtf-X-tw9CZoMyLx7WMFtj_q7rkbZk1mZLR_00nTR_i5Zzb-vQH7-du1zi-7irAo_bfU6bj_WLXV7Tu4pZkg__vRnJUMVGzbRukLuf_W/s1600/2015_07_08+Bonsai+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbs8JzN6Cj_6290o1oKkR1zNWPjijmXXE1424Jtf-X-tw9CZoMyLx7WMFtj_q7rkbZk1mZLR_00nTR_i5Zzb-vQH7-du1zi-7irAo_bfU6bj_WLXV7Tu4pZkg__vRnJUMVGzbRukLuf_W/s640/2015_07_08+Bonsai+026.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Measuring the electrical conductivity of water in these streams gives us an idea of how long this water has been underground. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWLbLDrQXvai-1CXz_tlMDZ58bfQYcYgr3yg_TsTQI76J_raBpVGuP3HE9UyNuG7X4IsbgxljLGXQF8bgRn3sqak7-XsCBjiOKzLkQyFu4vJF9ngy5eUXbtm_kY4aRYsYW7sZuS5LFt-A/s1600/2015_07_08+Bonsai+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWLbLDrQXvai-1CXz_tlMDZ58bfQYcYgr3yg_TsTQI76J_raBpVGuP3HE9UyNuG7X4IsbgxljLGXQF8bgRn3sqak7-XsCBjiOKzLkQyFu4vJF9ngy5eUXbtm_kY4aRYsYW7sZuS5LFt-A/s640/2015_07_08+Bonsai+031.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even on these rocky slopes, there's apparently enough water for these tress to grow. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlUFTpj8p-qgjfcNij80ewGKZ5qtf7KMDKBKGWjCrxhJXBlx4FIQeF7aKUD0ViOCEUrI7k-gLbEyiDHYxjq6stn8Ikb0YvSZlCa5HKKNEa12EyeBvt30QsXOGocEydJ6BJS3u3ST5he08/s1600/2015_07_08+Bonsai+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlUFTpj8p-qgjfcNij80ewGKZ5qtf7KMDKBKGWjCrxhJXBlx4FIQeF7aKUD0ViOCEUrI7k-gLbEyiDHYxjq6stn8Ikb0YvSZlCa5HKKNEa12EyeBvt30QsXOGocEydJ6BJS3u3ST5he08/s400/2015_07_08+Bonsai+036.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick stop at Bonsai Lake on the way down. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuA_tav8spHzFMcFvTQO2bAsmkxcZRQv6LQ9B9wPc2zAOmd33NNCM25reNCOjwGjraGniGDhRS7eSoPGARVNrPa0VwAHe7IeAZby7Y5mCx9NFsYRLHYZ6UCzQCDLpXWNAMr_OjrwTD6569/s1600/2015_07_08+Bonsai+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuA_tav8spHzFMcFvTQO2bAsmkxcZRQv6LQ9B9wPc2zAOmd33NNCM25reNCOjwGjraGniGDhRS7eSoPGARVNrPa0VwAHe7IeAZby7Y5mCx9NFsYRLHYZ6UCzQCDLpXWNAMr_OjrwTD6569/s400/2015_07_08+Bonsai+043.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking the gauge downstream of the lake. </td></tr>
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<br />Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-14488351905092859862015-07-07T18:44:00.001-06:002015-07-07T18:44:18.350-06:00Updates on Fortress Field Work - July 7, 2015With less than a week to go before a big geophysics field campaign, the pace of work is picking up. Here a few updates about recent work<br />
<h2>
A Change of Scope </h2>
<div>
We've narrowed down the scope a bit of this project. Rather than comparing Fortress Lake and Bonsai Lake, we will be focusing just on the Bonsai Lake Watershed.<br />
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We did this for a few reasons. First, Bonsai Lake is quite unique in that it's a high-elevation, first-order watershed that is readily accessible by vehicle. In terms of doing geophysics, it is an excellent opportunity for us to try out new or unusual geophysics data acquisition techniques that haven't been tested in an alpine environment. Second, Bonsai Lake has highly unusual geomorphology that makes it an interesting target. As we saw on June 18th on a site visit, there are weird moraines that overprint one another, and are generally pretty messy. Third, Bonsai Lake is closer to the Fortress Ridge Skiing area, so it is the more likely source of water if the resort decides to start making artificial snow. That makes getting a baseline understanding of groundwater more important. Finally, personally, my I'm very interested in learning more about advanced data processing and data acquisition. If we were to try to do two different sites, there would be less time for us to experiment with new techniques, to fix problems with data acquisition in the field, and our data would be much sparser. Narrowing the scope lets us focus on getting a single, high quality data set with good coverage. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfLt4tt_gB_K26BKr7N9zKB92GY29tUsPc5jtHARHJn3klTjZUsnNp1jRzUWo3g7Nsf88ZnnXzvzPK14N_dSuHk85tEVHYHZe0AXG-wXXqDmDoNLb9TIpt6uEYg6PohCwCrbEJYSKoTn2/s1600/together.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfLt4tt_gB_K26BKr7N9zKB92GY29tUsPc5jtHARHJn3klTjZUsnNp1jRzUWo3g7Nsf88ZnnXzvzPK14N_dSuHk85tEVHYHZe0AXG-wXXqDmDoNLb9TIpt6uEYg6PohCwCrbEJYSKoTn2/s640/together.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maps showing the location of Bonsai Lake within the Kananaskis Valley</td></tr>
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<h2>
Recent Field Visits </h2>
<h3>
June 18, 2015</h3>
<div>
With the weird geology of the area piquing his curiosity, Dr. Gerald Osborne from the University of Calgary joined me for a day trip to the field site. Jerry and I were joined by Hongye Wu and May Guan of the University of Saskatchewan for part of the day. Jerry's expertise in surficial geology in alpine environments was very valuable in decoding this very unusual geological environment.. </div>
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First we inspect the north end of the lake, where there are big blocky moraines that stop the flow of water over land, allowing this lake to form. While there is no stream leaving this lake, there is a spring about 100 m away, meaning water from the lake is exiting somehow. Jerry's best guess is that these ridges are <i>recessional moraines</i>. When this area was covered in glaciers, the ice stayed put in one spot so long that rocks falling off of the cliffs nearby fell directly onto the ice and eventually moved along the top of the glacier to be deposited on this moraine. That explains why the moraine is made up of boulders of all kinds of size (up to the size of trucks) and they still have sharp corners.<br />
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We also noticed a smaller moraine at a higher elevation that we later climbed too. It's clearly from a more recent period of cold climate, and the shape of rocks indicates that these rocks were actively pushed by the glacier (i.e. it's a <i>terminal moraine</i>). <br />
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Hongye also showed us her instrumentation, and pointed out interesting water features. In the marsh that feeds Bonsai Lake, there are two streams that run through it. One of these, which starts at a big talus cone, runs year round. I wonder why that is...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfb2stsLVa9GvDqI2ukWkQJSwG0rUc4tKvExFdoYsBU4FXPgAQAODuDyOjhgV8WxGzF8JHgTVw10XQ3GYCzRPwAkAE-f-WYvBhNiYsFux8J8V-2mYkEtiKHSa-CtpuP6SwDtOTm2Fr1YO/s1600/2015_06_18+Fortress+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfb2stsLVa9GvDqI2ukWkQJSwG0rUc4tKvExFdoYsBU4FXPgAQAODuDyOjhgV8WxGzF8JHgTVw10XQ3GYCzRPwAkAE-f-WYvBhNiYsFux8J8V-2mYkEtiKHSa-CtpuP6SwDtOTm2Fr1YO/s640/2015_06_18+Fortress+007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonsai Lake as seen from the Northwest side. Notice the little moraine up in snowy slope in the upper right corner of the photo</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zhQaf721oq6XzuY0XCIM4PdBALXISbpg_8vGFcRgMMLjogawkWjK7IvSLyv0iLMe7G90aNoFy_oCUrIEZ1xKs_v-jH-xBKLh5HH19TMSInCCaHpn33GEcbmyjJgh7AQjhUaBWQNFjxCW/s1600/2015_06_18+Fortress+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zhQaf721oq6XzuY0XCIM4PdBALXISbpg_8vGFcRgMMLjogawkWjK7IvSLyv0iLMe7G90aNoFy_oCUrIEZ1xKs_v-jH-xBKLh5HH19TMSInCCaHpn33GEcbmyjJgh7AQjhUaBWQNFjxCW/s640/2015_06_18+Fortress+021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the northern tip of the lake, looking up at the cliffs </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRuFcyZRlU8eV4GcSlwmyZ6kxJGo20rj4K5JZpzG-6aWlDtQO9d85jx73YxNzwq0m2sC8Qn_j3e-fiYKoQ8RmuWHMxrrCgGbb5i-3dt5NRFobBF9vVY5GonQoaHzlTF7GYvqq86yO8QZA/s1600/2015_06_18+Fortress+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRuFcyZRlU8eV4GcSlwmyZ6kxJGo20rj4K5JZpzG-6aWlDtQO9d85jx73YxNzwq0m2sC8Qn_j3e-fiYKoQ8RmuWHMxrrCgGbb5i-3dt5NRFobBF9vVY5GonQoaHzlTF7GYvqq86yO8QZA/s640/2015_06_18+Fortress+042.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High up on a little moraine below the steep cliffs. Notice the little marsh on this side of the lake that serves as a source of water to Bonsai Lake. Notice also the big blocky ridges on the far side of the lake that block the water from flowing out. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kwjc_jZK8xFZjeAdxGGrRr7ae4YpjwTy4Gq3iboM2snQ17QaIqIXhsAMA8AleWBhlZ7SjnlYIDZlK-GzHZ5yg6l53_OCWEMczxwuS6s8yrKDyXXWaM4SWJjBgBf-AmKrANXXySHlZCQj/s1600/2015_06_18+Fortress+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kwjc_jZK8xFZjeAdxGGrRr7ae4YpjwTy4Gq3iboM2snQ17QaIqIXhsAMA8AleWBhlZ7SjnlYIDZlK-GzHZ5yg6l53_OCWEMczxwuS6s8yrKDyXXWaM4SWJjBgBf-AmKrANXXySHlZCQj/s400/2015_06_18+Fortress+064.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Jerry talks to Hongye and I about the debris flow features that he sees at the base of the talus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45UGJY4-uF2OPOBaDWlSqhQCbj_E8GsQ4GToHMAHm7M431M4qDBf3j6ioy9CkkEL8E85ciY9kyib9_ZbAt9ZUOXFXTW-4CGybDKbt3oqhtKKDJwCS4qru5JtPk9sTjzZvgeP1Fsk1DqTW/s1600/2015_06_18+Fortress+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45UGJY4-uF2OPOBaDWlSqhQCbj_E8GsQ4GToHMAHm7M431M4qDBf3j6ioy9CkkEL8E85ciY9kyib9_ZbAt9ZUOXFXTW-4CGybDKbt3oqhtKKDJwCS4qru5JtPk9sTjzZvgeP1Fsk1DqTW/s400/2015_06_18+Fortress+068.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even though the lake goes dry in the summer, these streams within this marshy little meadow have water in them year-round. Why is that? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8WVr0GSAlq5Ia3im7mnQly7Ar-bsEg5_x1MA9T-_bFsQ4cmZYW3v9pgAn86wK4p7oTeGgCH6psFmPhKRiVJJdXqbBvuSpMjesddFkJxav7_QMWCv4DOsd-HxH9PHZPpQrP4Jz-9J1LPr/s1600/2015_06_18+Fortress+074.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8WVr0GSAlq5Ia3im7mnQly7Ar-bsEg5_x1MA9T-_bFsQ4cmZYW3v9pgAn86wK4p7oTeGgCH6psFmPhKRiVJJdXqbBvuSpMjesddFkJxav7_QMWCv4DOsd-HxH9PHZPpQrP4Jz-9J1LPr/s640/2015_06_18+Fortress+074.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's
water seeping out from under this moss at the bottom of this talus
cone. There must be water stored somewhere inside this pile of rocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
June 28, 2015 </h3>
<div>
Ten days later, I returned to Bonsai with Masaki Hayashi and Larry Bentley, both professors at the University of Calgary. Having seen the different geological structures on sight, we wanted to now focus on the hydrology of the area. Based on what we saw at surface, we tried to make guesses about what's happening underground, that is, where and how is water getting into and out of the ground.<br />
<br />
There are three main areas that interest us:<br />
<ol>
<li>The talus cone </li>
<li>The alpine marsh/meadow</li>
<li>The spring downstream of Bonsai Lake</li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3E6z8ZoPREb7awE75LJMeFkOumpVfUkc2J-qsUyr0nFJp9_yl-xGdzVftyFmOF6vus7akglo4pllenU6R8k-IDnVTIwE27hvfK0Y2RizpmB-9fJtgd-LbIDGbzENSHMP5FvVC8cr9Pka_/s1600/schematic+oblique+view.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="517" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3E6z8ZoPREb7awE75LJMeFkOumpVfUkc2J-qsUyr0nFJp9_yl-xGdzVftyFmOF6vus7akglo4pllenU6R8k-IDnVTIwE27hvfK0Y2RizpmB-9fJtgd-LbIDGbzENSHMP5FvVC8cr9Pka_/s640/schematic+oblique+view.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An oblique view, facing south, of Bonsai Lake. Some other key features are noted</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
The Talus Cone</h4>
As far as we can tell, this big pile of rocks at base (the <i>talus cone</i>) is the main source of water in the area once most of the snow has melted. Hongye told us the stream that comes off of this pile of rocks is the only one that has water flowing in it all year round. Hence, there must be something about it that allows to store water. This will definitely be a spot we want to probe underground to understand what's going on.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZv80qIrqcwUyhr0E6CFOSbUGlP4L35BrJMEpstACreQFoDqN9wRZNBAvYa4ODuXbeIiKAHJxNxrZVDzrpOiVEz_F6vryh0GmWRDoxP9cElgm2VPq8cS_CBgbf6L_tKyhGTMxfT1RP_Bon/s1600/2015_06_28+Fortress+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZv80qIrqcwUyhr0E6CFOSbUGlP4L35BrJMEpstACreQFoDqN9wRZNBAvYa4ODuXbeIiKAHJxNxrZVDzrpOiVEz_F6vryh0GmWRDoxP9cElgm2VPq8cS_CBgbf6L_tKyhGTMxfT1RP_Bon/s640/2015_06_28+Fortress+027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<h4>
The Alpine Meadow/Marsh</h4>
This marshy area is quite unusual. The surface of this valley generally slopes gently downwards, yet this place is flat enough to allow water to slow down, and for fine sediments to settle. Clearly, this muddy area must help store and slowly release water over the summer after all the snow has melted, but how deep exactly is this marsh? Does all the water form this marsh enters the lake via the stream, or does some of it seem through the ground? Again, we need to probe underground to find the answer. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFRo2jOuQQFQT68OW-G2u35hROfT3v1G47bC7o5oU7VUxaLFxniVIBQowi9t7FUmxwiI_0saixt-Ue2Uey6EeEChBN7GT2LEgFbLkEPw8zdSlL0FLeyHpiBGMS-4eAYzq3aaEDVc9zv62/s1600/2015_06_28+Fortress+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFRo2jOuQQFQT68OW-G2u35hROfT3v1G47bC7o5oU7VUxaLFxniVIBQowi9t7FUmxwiI_0saixt-Ue2Uey6EeEChBN7GT2LEgFbLkEPw8zdSlL0FLeyHpiBGMS-4eAYzq3aaEDVc9zv62/s640/2015_06_28+Fortress+036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<h4>
The Outlet Spring </h4>
Finally, we inspect the north side of the lake again, and we take a closer look at these springs. Somehow, water is seeping from the lakebed, through this huge moraine on the north side, and exiting into the stream. Is there a big leak somewhere where the water rushes out, or does it seep in gradually all over the place. Again, some to probe underground. </div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpAiBKSdbu6IDDUNinIQzR5gnwXEnUh86sAP6s8ysZAaVz7YRw1wbMlPrzBJW7Ljc5WCfRo3S40b1udN1e0tUVicwXVdx5rOurGX7MrgKUHhEXlPGtN9BgNRUdsifdamNjluy1aZg6knL/s1600/2015_06_28+Fortress+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpAiBKSdbu6IDDUNinIQzR5gnwXEnUh86sAP6s8ysZAaVz7YRw1wbMlPrzBJW7Ljc5WCfRo3S40b1udN1e0tUVicwXVdx5rOurGX7MrgKUHhEXlPGtN9BgNRUdsifdamNjluy1aZg6knL/s640/2015_06_28+Fortress+014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the spring below Bonsai Lake, where water form the lake presumably is discharged</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh3ycP0l5RiLx90aN00EMQzCsXt2WG826Pv7k3UmZy263VxJTF64HTs1xRBURZOKuC82BUEg2k6nr8rOVGkyg0GXI_EUrojmzlu_NaRhyphenhyphen_5RrLy2GHyNYgUo3y9yRcLLKoGjzVukZF4rU/s1600/2015_06_28+Fortress+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh3ycP0l5RiLx90aN00EMQzCsXt2WG826Pv7k3UmZy263VxJTF64HTs1xRBURZOKuC82BUEg2k6nr8rOVGkyg0GXI_EUrojmzlu_NaRhyphenhyphen_5RrLy2GHyNYgUo3y9yRcLLKoGjzVukZF4rU/s640/2015_06_28+Fortress+026.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moraines on the north edge of the lake form a kind of dam, preventing a outlet stream from forming. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<h2>
Upcoming Work </h2>
<div>
On July 8th, Masaki and I will be doing some stream gauging, and confirming the location of our geophysics survey lines. Then, our wild 17 consecutive days of field work will begin on Monday, July 13. It's going to be hectic, but enlightening (we hope). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461962794837409677.post-71186336143261523002015-06-12T16:06:00.000-06:002015-06-12T16:21:32.446-06:00An Introduction to Fortress Ridge - Field Work OrientationFriday, June 12, 2015<br />
<br />
Welcome!<br />
<br />
If you're reading this, you were likely sent here by me because you expressed interest in helping me do science this summer in Kananaskis. (If not, you're still welcome to read along). This is a brief primer for my research plans and what you can expect this summer.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Alpine Hydrology Research at University of Calgary</h2>
<h3>
Previous Research at Lake O'Hara</h3>
At the University of Calgary, our team led by Dr. Masaki Hayashi studies the role of groundwater in alpine watersheds. In recent work at Lake O'Hara, we found that even though there is not a lot of soil or overburden on top of the bedrock, these deposits can still store significant amounts of water. In turn, these help delay water that is released by melting snow in late spring and to sustain river levels later on in the summer. This is very relevant given that areas downstream of mountain basins, like the semi-arid Canadian prairies, rely heavily on surface water from these basins. Plus, with climate change set to alter the timing of snowmelt and precipitation, knowing how groundwater works is important for understanding the effects on populations downstream. <br />
<br />
Some example papers:<b> </b><br />
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8060"><i>http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8060</i></a><br />
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8144"><i>http://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.8144</i></a><br />
<i><a href="http://doi.org/10.1029/2006GL026611"><span class="article-header__meta-info-data"><i>http://doi.org</i>/10.1029/2006GL026611</span></a> </i><br />
<i><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.12.041">http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.12.041 </a></i><br />
<br />
<h3>
<b> Our New Research Site</b></h3>
The problem is that while we've demonstrated convincingly that groundwater plays a large role at Lake O'Hara, we don't know if it's just a special case, or whether all watersheds in the mountains behave in a similar manner. That is why we are expanding our research to <b>Fortress Ridge</b>, a ski area in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. Fortress Ridge is very different from Lake O'Hara; among other things, it is further inland, its climate is drier, there is more substantial human development, there's no active glacier, and the bedrock is shale and limestone rather than hard quartzite. By understanding the role of groundwater here, we will be better able to generalize how important groundwater is in alpine zones in the Canadian Rockies. <br />
<br />
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<br />
My study looks at two different watersheds: Fortress Lake and Bonsai Lake. Not only are these basins different from Lake O'Hara, they're substantially different from one another in terms of surface cover and geomorphology, making them interesting to compare. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Tk7iaDwuQRUbGVy0hUbLDFZ8_9AbSxTNaDxCwPUmWCKldzjI65tXUzowY7Cvyq6kxVoMfHUJVuYamiRrRzOIiLEa8U9Dg4m4Hbdx8lawvAfA_nlFfYKUeBmk2nAvj1OY_U9S-5Mqd-Xt/s1600/together.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Tk7iaDwuQRUbGVy0hUbLDFZ8_9AbSxTNaDxCwPUmWCKldzjI65tXUzowY7Cvyq6kxVoMfHUJVuYamiRrRzOIiLEa8U9Dg4m4Hbdx8lawvAfA_nlFfYKUeBmk2nAvj1OY_U9S-5Mqd-Xt/s640/together.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<h2>
Summer Field Work 2015 </h2>
<h3>
Research Goals and Methods</h3>
The main goals of my study are to:<br />
<ul>
<li>create inventory of surficial units </li>
<li>map bedrock topography </li>
<li>characterize groundwater storage during late snowmelt </li>
<li>characterize kinetics (conductivity) of sediments </li>
<li>compare the hydrogeology of these watersheds to one another and to previous study sites</li>
<li>Test out geophysics data acquisition methods not often used alpine hydrogeology surveys </li>
</ul>
Like in all our alpine research, we will use geophysics to look
underground. This is mostly because we cannot drill wells directly
because of environmental regulation or difficult access. I plan to use five different methods:<br />
<ol>
<li>Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), which images differences in electrical resistivity</li>
<li>Seismic refraction tomography, which images difference in seismic velocity</li>
<li>Ground penetrating radar (GPR), which images boundaries in electromagnetic wave velocity </li>
<li>Self-potential, which measures changes in potential due to redox reactions and/or fast-moving water</li>
<li>Passive seismic monitoring, to find underground channels</li>
</ol>
<h3>
Your Role </h3>
<ol>
</ol>
I will mostly need your help with ERT, seismic refraction, and GPR, which are the most labour intensive methods.<br />
<br />
Your role while on site may include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Installing survey lines</li>
<li>Carrying equipment</li>
<li>Recording the coordinates of measurement locations with the differential GPS (DGPS). </li>
</ul>
It will be a lot of physical work, though at Bonsai Lake, we are able to drive almost right up to the measurement locations. Fortress Lake will require about 1 km of hiking.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Logistics</h3>
Our surveys will begin July 10, and will last 3 to 4 weeks. I will need approximately 4-5 people on GPR survey days, and 6-7 people when doing seismic refraction and ERT.<br />
<br />
We have accommodation booked (two townhouses) at the U of C Biogeoscience station, which is marked on the first map above. It is approximately a 15 minute drive to the field site form there. <br />
<br />
Don't be crazy: I don't expect you to be there for 3 weeks straight (unless you <i>really, really </i>ache to be in the mountains that long). I hope to organize 2 to 3 different crews to rotate out together. <br />
<br />Craig Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08217192248261211032noreply@blogger.com0