Multibeam backscatter data collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior during USGS Field Activity 2021-005-FA using a dual-head Reson T20-P multibeam echosounder (8-bit GeoTIFF, UTM Zone 16N, NAD 83, 1-m resolution)

Dates

Publication Date: 2022-06-09
Start Date: 2021-08-05
End Date: 2021-08-11

Citation

Andrews, B.D., Barnhardt, W.A., Moore, E.M., Nichols, A.R., Ackerman, S.D., and Berube, P.J. 2022, High-resolution geophysical and sample data collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2021-005-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9NJY125.

Summary

In August 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected high-resolution geophysical data, sediment samples, and bottom imagery to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “stamp sands,” were dumped into the lake in the early 20th century, with wide-reaching consequences that have continued into the present. Mapping was focused offshore of the town of Gay on the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, where ongoing erosion and re-deposition of the stamp sands has buried miles of native, white-sand beaches. Stamp sands are also encroaching onto Buffalo Reef, a large area of cobble/boulder [...]

Summary

In August 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected high-resolution geophysical data, sediment samples, and bottom imagery to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “stamp sands,” were dumped into the lake in the early 20th century, with wide-reaching consequences that have continued into the present. Mapping was focused offshore of the town of Gay on the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, where ongoing erosion and re-deposition of the stamp sands has buried miles of native, white-sand beaches. Stamp sands are also encroaching onto Buffalo Reef, a large area of cobble/boulder substrate that supports productive fisheries in the lake.

The objectives of this cooperative mapping project are to develop a framework for scientific research and provide baseline information required for management of resources within the coastal zone of northern Michigan. High-resolution bathymetry and backscatter data reveal the irregular topography of the shallow, cobble-covered Buffalo Reef and the relatively smooth surface of finer-grained sediment that covers adjacent, deeper parts of the lake floor. Previous research used numerous sediment samples to determine the general distribution of mine tailings on the lake floor in this area, but little information exists on the extent and thickness of the surficial deposits. The main priority of this project is to image the near-surface stratigraphy, specifically the thickness of surficial sand and mud that threaten to cover the reef, with seismic-reflection profiling systems. In addition to continuous coverage of bathymetric and backscatter data, this project collected a dense grid of closely spaced seismic profiles in 2018, which will guide efforts to mitigate the environmental impacts of the shifting stamp sands.

This 2021 (2021-005-FA) survey is the second survey conducted by the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) in Grand Traverse Bay, Houghton County, MI. The first survey conducted in September, 2018 (2018-043-FA) was a regional geologic framework study that covered a large area (30 sq km) and lower resolution (2-m) and included both single-channel, and swept frequency (chrip) subbottom seismic profiles. Data from this survey were published in Andrews and other (2020). The data from the 2018 survey was used to plan the higher resolution (less than 1-m) 2021 survey that covered a smaller area (14 sq km) focused on Buffalo Reef and included bottom photographs, video and 94 sediment samples collected using the MiniSEABOSS.

Andrews, B.D., Barnhardt, W.W., Foster, D.S., Irwin, B.J., and Nichols, A.R., 2020, High-resolution geophysical data collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2018-043-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9K4HX8V.

Contacts

Contact :: Brian D Andrews
Author :: Brian D Andrews, Walter Barnhardt, Eric Moore, Alexander R Nichols, Seth D Ackerman, Patrick Berube
Data Owner :: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
SDC Data Owner :: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
USGS Program :: Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program
USGS Mission Area :: Natural Hazards
Distributor :: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase

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2021-005-FA_ResonT20P_Backscatter_1m_meta.xml Original FGDC Metadata	View	26.73 KB	application/fgdc+xml
2021-005-FA_ResonT20P_Backscatter_1m_browse.jpg “browse image of 1-m multibeam echosounder time-series backscatter”		46.73 KB	image/jpeg

Extension: 2021-005_FA_ResonT20P_Backscatter_1m.zip
2021-005_FA_ResonT20P_Backscatter_1m.tfw		90 Bytes
2021-005_FA_ResonT20P_Backscatter_1m.tif		9.85 MB
2021-005_FA_ResonT20P_Backscatter_1m.tif-ColorRamp.SLD		2.07 KB

Purpose

The purpose of this backscatter mosaic is to measure the relative acoustic reflectance (backscatter) values of the lake floor of Traverse Bay, MI and help identify the migration of stamp sands in the area of Buffalo Reef.

Multibeam backscatter data collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior during USGS Field Activity 2021-005-FA using a dual-head Reson T20-P multibeam echosounder (8-bit GeoTIFF, UTM Zone 16N, NAD 83, 1-m resolution)

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