U.S. Geological Survey
Earth Surface Processes

Methods Used at Bear Lake

The Bear Lake project uses a broad array of methods in the field (the outdoors part of the work) and in the laboratory. The field work began in 1996 when the first sediment cores were collected under the direction of Kerry Kelts, then a professor and Director of the Limnological Research Center at the University of Minnesota. Kelts' team collected three cores, after examining a bathymetric (water depth) map and acoustic (often called seismic) profile from Bear Lake. The acoustic profile provides information about sediment depth; deeper sediment implies either a fast sediment accumulation rate or accumulation over a long time.

After the cores were collected, they were taken back to Minnesota for preliminary laboratory analyses which include measuring the magnetic characteristics of the cores, splitting the cores lengthwise into a work half and a archive half, and sampling the work half.

Diagram of Core

Diagram of Core Figure

Based on the initial lab studies, the USGS' Earth Surface Processes Team in Denver received funding to begin the Bear Lake Project. The funding paid for closer interval sampling and analyses, collection and analysis of several short-cores and sediment traps in 1998 and 1999, and expansion of the investigation into the Bear River National Wildlife Refuge in 2000.

Follow these links for more information about the field and laboratory methods:

Lab Methods

Field Methods
  • Pollen
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  • Coring
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  • Diatom
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  • Water Sampling
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  • Ostracode
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  • Seismic Surveys
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  • Geochemistry
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  • Mapping
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  • Dating
    		•   
  • Magnetism
    		•   
  • Grain Size
    		•   

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