ISGS - May 2010 Activity Highlights

Mississippi river flood plain from Sentinel Trail, Mississippi River Palisades State Park

Public Field Trip Draws Large Crowd

More than 140 participants joined Illinois State Geological Survey geologists on May 22, 2010, to learn about and explore the geologic wonders of northwestern Illinois. At each of the trip's seven stops, the geologists discussed unique features and geologic processes that have shaped the landscape. The field trip started at Mississippi Palisades State Park, which is located near the southern end of the scenic unglaciated area of northwestern Illinois. The second stop included a visit to Sloan Marsh, one of the many lakes that are part of the Mississippi flyway used by migrating ducks, geese, pelicans, and other diverse groups of fowl. At Voss sand and gravel pit, participants learned about the development of sand dunes within the Mississippi River floodplain. At Savanna Blacktop and Quarry, the geologists explained the development of the karst solution features exposed within the quarry highwalls. This stop also provided an opportunity to collect a variety of fossils from the Ordovician age bedrock. The fall 2010 field trip is being planned. (Contact: Wayne Frankie)

This map image shows a comparison of the quality of elevation data that is now becoming available in Illinois Using LIDAR (LIght Dectection and Ranging) technology as compared to previously existing information for the U.S. Geological Survey. The twin sand dunes barely discernable on the USGS map can now be seen in significant detail using the LiDAR-based elevation data. These two dunes are part of a large dune complex situated in southeastern Whiteside County that formed approximately 17,000 years ago. The much improved LiDAR elevation information is being used by ISGS scientists to better understand the morphology and history of the dunes.

First Phase of Height Modernization Project Completed

Height Modernization is the establishment of accurate, reliable height measurements using global positioning satellite (GPS) technology in conjunction with traditional leveling, gravity, and modern remote sensing. Height Modernization activities are designed to provide long-term benefits for the environment, help prevent loss of life, improve property estimates, and save money. The project is a joint effort spearheaded in Illinois by the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) and the Illinois Department of Transportation with funding through the National Geodetic Survey. The ISGS received nearly $300,000 for the first year's effort and recently submitted its report on the project's first phase. During this phase, activities included
      • taking a poll of all counties, municipalities, surveying firms, and government agencies in
        order to gather data about existing and potential benchmarks and digital elevation models;
      • completing a 47-mile level line, including 24 new benchmarks, in Winnebago and
        Du Page Counties;
      • purchasing a data server and providing access to LiDAR data for seven counties; and
      • conducting extensive project outreach.

The second phase is currently under way, and funding for the third phase should arrive soon. Project details can be found at http://www.isgs.illinois.edu/nsdihome/webdocs/ilhmp/. (Contacts: Beverly Herzog and Sheena Beaverson)

Monitoring Wells Installed at Carbon Sequestration Site

The ISGS drilling crew completed installation of four groundwater monitoring wells at the Illinois Basin Decatur Project site. These wells are required as part of the University of Illinois permit for the carbon dioxide (CO₂) injection well. The wells will used to monitor the groundwater quality of the lowermost U.S. Drinking Water limit (USDW), the zone in which water has 10,000 mg/L total dissolved solids. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency designated the Pennsylvanian bedrock as the USDW at the Archer Daniels Midland site. The wells are installed to a depth of about 145 feet below ground surface. Core samples and logs were collected from each well at the time of installation. The wells are currently being developed, and sampling should begin in July. (Contact: Ivan Krapac)

Earthquake Hazards Mapping Funded

Robert Bauer and Joe Gillman (from Missouri Geological Survey and Chairman of the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium) were notified by the U.S. Geological Survey of funding approval for the multi-year proposal: CUSEC State Geologists Earthquake Hazard Mapping, Preparedness and Outreach Associated with Central U.S. Seismicity. This proposal will assist the eight state geological surveys in providing outreach materials, preparing response plans, and participating in the national level exercise in May of 2011 which is a response to a catastrophic New Madrid earthquake event. (Contact: Robert Bauer)

North-Central AEG Short Course

Twenty-four students and professional engineers and geologists from around the United States and territories participated in a North-Central Section Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG) short course, "A New World of Surface Geophysics," sponsored by the AEG North-Central Section, Northern Illinois University (NIU) Geology Department, Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS), and the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, The short course was held May 18-19, 2010, at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, and was led by Phil Carpenter (NIU), Timothy Larson (ISGS), and Ahmed Ismail (ISGS). The course included
      • detailed lectures on practical geophysics,
      • hands-on demonstrations of six types of modern surface geophysical methods and data interpretation, and
      • methods to contract and valuate geophysical work, including which specific items should be delivered.

The participants remarked that the short course was a good learning experience and that it should be offered again to permit colleagues to benefit from the practicum. Chair of the AEG North-Central Section Kevin Richards (FERC) organized the short course. Christopher Stohr (ISGS), AEG North Central Section Secretary and the short course organizing committee, served as emcee. (Contacts: Christopher Stohr and Timothy Larson)

ISGS Staff Present Talks

Hannes E. Leetaru gave a presentation at the Archer Daniels Midland Corporation research center on May 28, 2010. The talk was titled, "A Carbon Capture and Storage Test at ADM Facilities in Decatur, Illinois." Approximately 100 ADM staff members were at the presentation.

On May 5, 2010, Robert Bauer presented a talk on earthquakes in the central US and preparedness to 85 members of Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster. The meeting was held in Springfield, Illinois, at the Illinois Emergency Management Agency headquarters. The talk included information abou historical earthquakes, what to expect from potential earthquakes, and the U.S. Geological Survey notification system, which can help the response to an earthquake event.

Sheena Beaverson was an invited speaker at the 2010 Summer Institute for Data Curation in the Earth and Environmental Sciences, hosted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences in Champaign, Illinois, on May 17-20, 2010. Attendees included representatives from major data centers, the federal government, and academic institutions within the United States. Beaverson gave two in-depth presentations:
      • "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Data Files and Formats" and
      • "LiDAR Data Acquisition, Archiving, and On-line Access."

DOE-NETL Review Panel

Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) scientist David Morse was invited to the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE-NETL) in Pittsburgh to be one of five Merit Review Panel members to review the DOE-NETL in-house carbon sequestration research. Other panelists included geochemist John Kaszuba, Professor of Geology at the University of Wyoming, and Michael Moore, Vice President of Business Development and External Affairs for Blue Source LLC, a carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon management company. Additionally, two panelists from DOE headquarters attended, Regis Conrad, Advanced Research Program Manager, and William Fernald. The NETL research staff project leaders presented talks on geophysical monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA), integrity of seals, sequestration reservoirs, geochemical MVA, CO₂-water-rock interactions, multi-scale multi-phase flow, and studies of methane (CH₄)/CO₂ gas exchange in hydrates. The ISGS makes direct contributions to the Reservoirs Project through its efforts on the Carbon Sequestration Atlas of the United States and Canada and on developing an improved understanding of factors that control capacity and injectivity of CO₂ in saline formation storage reservoirs. The ISGS also cooperates with DOE on techniques and developments related to the DOE—supported Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium projects. (Contact: David Morse)

Highlights Archive

Updated 08/01/2012 SLD