U-007 - Fluvial Erosion Rates on Cascade Volcanoes
PI: Dr. John Pitlick
Project Lead: John Pitlick
Funding Source: USGS
Location: Mount Saint Helens and Mount Rainier, Washington
Dates: 2010-08-01 to 2012-08-14
Project Summary
The goal of this project is to develop data sets that can be used to model erosion and deposition along rivers draining two Cascade volcanoes, Mt. Rainier and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The project has two components, one focusing on processes of sedimentation on Tahoma Creek on Mt. Rainier, the other focusing on processes of erosion on the North Fork Toutle River near Mt. St Helens.TLS measurements were taken at selected localities on these two rivers. Data sets (DEMs) developed from these measurements can track changes in valley-floor topography and develop models of erosion and sediment transport. The fieldwork at Mt. Rainier was supported by the National Park Service and fieldwork at Mt. St. Helens was supported by the USGS-Cascades Volcano Observatory. Future plans include mapping the same areas, to, develop estimates of erosion and deposition by differencing the elevations. These future surveys will help develop quantitative models of erosion and sediment transport on these dynamic river systems. (Written by Jim Normandeau)