11

Glacial Repercussions Glacial Repercussions on Rock Pointon Rock Point

Glacial WhiplashGlacial Whiplash: : Katrina, Ursula, Katrina, Ursula, Andrew, Baad, Antoine, Genna, Larissa, Emma, Andrew, Baad, Antoine, Genna, Larissa, Emma, Max and KellieMax and Kellie

22

Objective of ProjectObjective of Project

We researched how the glaciers changed We researched how the glaciers changed Vermont’s geologic features and land Vermont’s geologic features and land forms into what it is today.forms into what it is today.

Through the soil samples, water tests Through the soil samples, water tests and tree measurements, we formulated and tree measurements, we formulated proof of the glaciers that existed long proof of the glaciers that existed long ago.ago.

33

Info on GlaciersInfo on Glaciers

Glaciers are formed by an Glaciers are formed by an accumulation of snow that accumulation of snow that doesn’t melt each year that builds doesn’t melt each year that builds into ice. into ice.

13,000 ago, a massive glacier was 13,000 ago, a massive glacier was melting over Vermont and the melting over Vermont and the surrounding area. This form surrounding area. This form moved slowly from North to moved slowly from North to South “bulldozing” anything in its South “bulldozing” anything in its path. Boulders under the glacier path. Boulders under the glacier dragged across the landscape, dragged across the landscape, changing its form.changing its form.

As the glacier melted, a massive As the glacier melted, a massive meltwater lake formed, covering meltwater lake formed, covering much of northern Vermont.much of northern Vermont.

44

55

66

Rock PointRock Point

77

Thrust FaultThrust Fault The thrust fault is a place where The thrust fault is a place where

one tectonic plate experienced one tectonic plate experienced extreme pressure from a extreme pressure from a conflicting plate. One section was conflicting plate. One section was pushed under the other, making pushed under the other, making layers of two different rocks: layers of two different rocks: shale and dolostone. shale and dolostone.

In this area, it was very rocky. In this area, it was very rocky. Because of the calcium in the Because of the calcium in the soil, the trees were mostly soil, the trees were mostly softwood (ie: cedar tree). Also, softwood (ie: cedar tree). Also, we learned that the dolostone we learned that the dolostone was much older than the shale.was much older than the shale.

88

Sandy areaSandy area

The sandy area refers to a The sandy area refers to a place at Rock Point north of place at Rock Point north of Eagle Bay. The soil was very Eagle Bay. The soil was very sandy, unlike silty clay soil sandy, unlike silty clay soil that we encountered at many that we encountered at many locations. locations.

We were surprised to find We were surprised to find sand and coarser pebbles in sand and coarser pebbles in the soil. The area was the soil. The area was originally a river channel originally a river channel during the melting of the ice during the melting of the ice sheet. The river eventually sheet. The river eventually dried out as the water line dried out as the water line receded to where the beach receded to where the beach is now.is now.

99

North BeachNorth Beach

When using an soil bucket auger to dig at the When using an soil bucket auger to dig at the beach, we found that the water table depth was beach, we found that the water table depth was 3’ 1”, which was about the same as the water 3’ 1”, which was about the same as the water in the lake. The upper 2 feet were sand with 7 in the lake. The upper 2 feet were sand with 7 inches of sand and conglomerations of clay.inches of sand and conglomerations of clay.

Because Lake Champlain was substantially Because Lake Champlain was substantially larger from run off water after the last ice age, larger from run off water after the last ice age, we can tell that the beach line used to be much we can tell that the beach line used to be much higher than it is now.higher than it is now.

1010

Beaver PondBeaver Pond

The area surrounding the Beaver The area surrounding the Beaver Pond was primarily man-made (ie: Pond was primarily man-made (ie: parking lots, and planted trees). parking lots, and planted trees). We found that the water table We found that the water table depth was 3’6”. As we dug farther depth was 3’6”. As we dug farther down, the soil turned to mud. down, the soil turned to mud.

We were not able to dig further We were not able to dig further than 4’ because we hit asphalt that than 4’ because we hit asphalt that was indicating a parking lot some was indicating a parking lot some time many years ago. The time many years ago. The pavement fragments and fill found pavement fragments and fill found four feet down suggest that four feet down suggest that humans have impacted the site, humans have impacted the site, causing the water to remain in the causing the water to remain in the beaver pond.beaver pond.

1111

The Gorge The Gorge We analyzed soils and vegetation at two sites- the We analyzed soils and vegetation at two sites- the

first up the hill from the stream and the second first up the hill from the stream and the second within the streambed. After digging a foot or two, within the streambed. After digging a foot or two, the soil was silty-clay. At the streambed site, clay the soil was silty-clay. At the streambed site, clay was found very near the surface.was found very near the surface.

At the top of the gorge, there were a majority of At the top of the gorge, there were a majority of softwoods. The soil was basic (7.2) and the softwoods. The soil was basic (7.2) and the presence of oxidized Rhizospheres indicating that presence of oxidized Rhizospheres indicating that the soil is occasionally wet while at the bottom of the soil is occasionally wet while at the bottom of the gorge the soil became more basic (7.4). We the gorge the soil became more basic (7.4). We also found that at the streambed site, the water also found that at the streambed site, the water table was only 2 inches from the surface.table was only 2 inches from the surface.

1212

Air QualityAir Quality

1313

ConclusionConclusion

Soil AnalysisSoil Analysis pH AnalysispH Analysis Tree Carbon AnalysisTree Carbon Analysis Sediment StratificationSediment Stratification Tree AbundanceTree Abundance

Our research focused on the following components:

1414

Thank You!!Thank You!!