Results

The investigation of El Cap moraine included the collection of two transects perpendicular to the moraine as well as one cross line that ran parallel
to the moraine on the downstream (west) side of the ridge. Transect R1 was located on to the north further away from the river. R1 is 100m in
length and runs west to east over the top of the ridge and extends to the level ground to the East. Semi-continuous reflections were collected to a
depth of 40m on the downstream side. Near the highest point in the moraine reflection die out at a depth of only 10m as the resistivity of the mate-
rial increase likely due to elevated content of silts and clays. Semi continuous sub horizontal reflections are visible on the East side to shallow
depths. Three distinct sediment packages are viable including near surface deposits to a depth of 2m all the way across the transect. A second
package of sub parallel semi continuous dipping reflections build up to a height of 8m and compose the moraine. They are underlay by semicon-
tinuous hummocky features visible to a depth of over 40m which can be seen clearly until the 40m where the signal becomes attenuated.
Transect R2 shows reflections collected to a depth of 10m semicontinuous reflections are visible through out, the 50m transect which extends
from the base of the east side of the moraine till the crest. Hummocky topography is present on the west (left) side till 40m. A continuous reflec-
tion appears at 2m of depth indicating top lap within this sediment package sub parallel semi continues reflections are found through with the ex-
ception of small sub parallel sigmoidal features present at 25m and 35m. Signal attenuation becomes strong at 45m in the deeper sediment pack-
age at 2m of depth.
Cross line C1 extends from 100m from North to South parallel to the moraine and perpendicular to the flow of the Merced River. Semicontinu-
ous reflections extent to a depth of 40m on the north side. The profile contains two sediment packages delineated by a continuous reflection at 2m
depth. The lower package has lenticular reflections that are semi continuous and extent from 0 to 90m where the signal is abruptly attenuated.
The upper package has semi continuous sub horizontal reflections.
Discussion
Figure 3. Line R2 Properties: 200MHz antenna, .5m antenna separation, .1m step size
Map 1. Locator Map of Yosemite National Park, CA
Map 2. Topographic map of Yosemite Valley showing location of the El Capitan Moraine
Map 3. Diagram of the orientation of GPR lines shot on the El Capitan Moraine
10 20 30 40 50 70 80 90 100 60
Position (m)
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10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Position (m)
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Figure 2. Line R1 Properties: 50MHz antenna, 2m antenna seperation, .5m step size, 100m long
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Position (m)
Ground Penetrating Radar Investigation of El Capitan Moraine:
NICK TOPPER, RYAN ALGER, NICHOLAS JAEGER, WILL ULLRICH


Yosemite National Park, CA, USA: Preliminary Results
Acknowledgements
Methods Abstract
The research project involved analysis of stratigraphy within the El Capitan mo-
raine located in Yosemite Valley, California, USA. The moraine is a result of the
latest glaciation period of 15-20 kya and is located beside the Merced River in
the center of valley. Restrictions by the park service have limited research on Yo-
semite Valley. To better understand the stratigraphy of the El Capitan moraine,
non-invasive ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used along and across the for-
mation. The pulseEKKO 1000 GPR system was used with 50MHz, 100MHz,
and 200MHz antennae with varying step sizes and separation per antennae. The
unit receiver gathered the reflected signals. The Topcon RL-H3CL laser leveling
system was used to collect the topography of the surveyed area and geometrically
correct the GPR data. GPR and topography data was processed, plotted and ana-
lyzed through pulseEKKO software. The data revealed sedimentary layering
reaching depths of 44m below the surface of the moraine. Further analysis of the
GPR data will reveal the layering patterns within the formation. The continued
investigation of the stratigraphy via GPR will enhance the overall understanding
of glaciation and geomorphic history in Yosemite Valley.
This poster and research was made possible because it was funded by the Blugold Commitment. We would also like to thank Harry Jol and Blake Westerlund for being our faculty support while conducting research and working on this project.
Another special thanks goes to Greg Stock, Yosemite National Parks Geologist and Erik Westerlund, a Yosemite National Park Ranger who helped us receive permission to perform research in the park. We also thank the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs for supporting our research.
Introduction
The El Capitan Moraine is located within Yosemite National Park, and lies directly west of El Capitan Meadow. It is orien-
tated perpendicular to the valley floor in a north south fashion, with the Merced River flowing through its south end. The
El Capitan Moraine is a recessional moraine, and was formed as the Tioga-age glacier paused briefly nearly 15,000 years
ago in its retreat from the valley (Glazner & Stock, 2010). Subsequently as the glacier continued to retreat out of Yosemite
Valley, glacial melt water began to fill in the depression left behind. Serving as a natural dam, the El Capitan Moraine
forced sediment carried downstream by the Merced River to be deposited in the flood plain directly east of the moraine.
Over time these sediments filled the basin in which set the current form of the valley floor that can be seen today which is
noticeably higher than the valley floor west of the moraine. The characteristics of the Merced River differ east and west of
the moraine. Specifically, east of the moraine, the meandering nature of the Merced River prior to 1879 frequently flooded
with seasonal runoff due to the natural baselevel set by the moraine. In addition to creating swampy, mosquito filled ponds
in the Central Chamber, flooding events also disrupted human activity in the park. To solve these issues with a quick and
easy fix, an early guardian of the valley, Glen Clark, blasted the moraine where the Merced River channel intersected. This
blasting of the moraine by Clark presumably succeeded in making two major changes: 1.) By blasting the boulders, the bot-
tleneck in the moraine gap was removed allowing better drainage during seasonal flooding and thus reducing the size of the
reservoir behind the dam, and 2.) by blasting the boulders, the base level of the Central Chambers Stream System was low-
ered several feet stimulating vertical erosion in the river bed (Milestone, 1978). Since the blasting, extensive field work on
the El Capitan Moraine has taken place to better understand it. Specifically, this research collected three different GPR
transects in the study area. GPR transects where chosen to record three different stratographic profiles of the moraine. In-
terpretation of the stratigraphy of these transects will be done with reference bed form patterns found in glaciated areas.
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) was the primary method used in this research. GPR uses electro-
magnetic (EM) radio waves that are the same frequencies broadcasted by radios. The GPR unit sends
pulses of these waves into the ground via a transmitter. The EM energy is diffracted, refracted and re-
flected by different sediment layers and objects underground. The receiver unit detects the reflected
waves and measures the amount of time the waves take to travel. The information received is then
amplified and digitized by a computer in the field. The information can then be processed in the lab.
The equipment used was a PulseEKKO 1000 GPR system. Antennae frequencies ranging from 50-
200MHz were used at varying step method intervals from 0.1- 0.5m to obtain imagery with different
resolution to either emphasize depth of signal penetration with lower frequency antennae or to accen-
tuate image resolution with higher frequency antennae. Specifically, Line C1, was imaged using
100MHz antennae separated 1.0m apart in a step method with 0.25 intervals moved along a survey
tape incrementally for 90.5m. Next, line R1, was imaged using 50MHz antennae separated 2.0m apart
in a step method with 0.5m intervals along a survey tape incrementally for 100m. Lastly, line R2 was
imaged using 200MHz antennae separated 0.5m apart in a step method with 0.1m intervals along a
survey tape incrementally for 50m. A TopCon RL-H3CL laser level was used to collect topographic
information for each transect. The resulting information was used to geometrically correct the reflec-
tion profile. The GPR data and the laser leveling information was then loaded into Sensors and Soft-
ware GPR PulseEKKO viewer, and preliminary processing was done. Adjustments were made to the
trace to trace average. ACG gain was used and adjusted to enhance the display of the stratigraphy.
The Results from the GPR analysis indicate the internal stratigraphy of the El Cap moraine is consistent with the development of recessional mo-
raines. The sub parallel reflections in R1 are dipping both to the east and west in a convex shape similar to an antifoam. The antifoam begins at
30m and end at 65m extending to a depth of 8m. This pattern is indicative of a recessional moraine and was deposited in an unsorted mass of
sediment indicated by the wavy and chaotic stratigraphy at the center of the antifoam. The moraine is built on top of an older sediment package
characterized by hummocky stratigraphy a continuous reflection can be seen dipping to the East at a depth of 8m. This package dies out at 40m
but likely continuous through the transect. The hummocky stratigraphy can be interpreted as braided channel deposits from glacial-fluvial out-
wash during pre-Tioga glaciation. A third sediment package can be identified in the upper 2-4m on both the east and west side of the moraine.
On the East side on lapping features extent from the 50m mark to 100m. Because the on lap is visible it indicates these reflections are composed
of coarse grain sediments meaning they were likely not deposited by a stagnant shallow lake as previously hypothesized, but instead a more high
energy process led to deposition. Large flood events are likely the mechanism of deposition, they still occur on an infrequent basis even though
the local base level has been dropped by over 4m. Prior to the artificial manipulation the valley would have been more marshy and prone to
flooding. On the west side of the moraine the upper 2-4m sediment package can be interpreted as fluvial deposits likely in the form of alluvial fans
generated by flood events which overtopped the moraine. Sigmoidal reflections can be seen in R2 at 20-25m near the base of the moraine and sub
parallel reflections are seen thinning up hill. Transect C1 also contains a more recent sediment package just below the surface with 2m of thick-
ness. The sediment package has sub parallel bedding at perpendicular angel to R1 and R2 indicating aggradation fluvial glacial process likely in
the form of several small alluvial fans from over breach in multiple locations. The deeper sediment package in C1 is consistent with aggradation
braided stream deposits seen in R1.
Summary
The GPR profiles collected within the study area of the El Capitan Moraine sug-
gest alternative findings to the morphologic history of the central chamber. In addi-
tion to the convex sediment stratigraphy extending to a depth of 8m found be-
tween the 30m- 65m mark of line R1 indicating the deposition of a mass of on
sorted sediment indicative of recessional moraine form, the presence of reflective
material on the east side of the moraine that extend from the 50m- 100m mark of
line R1 also suggest the presence of coarse grain sediments. Due to the presence of
these reflective sediments, a high energy fluvial was necessary for their deposition.
On the western side of the moraine, in the upper 2-4m sediment package, sigmoid-
al reflections suggesting over breaching of the moraine by fluvial processes as the
origin of their deposition. The remotely sensed nature of the internal structure of
the El Capitan Moraine using GPR adds to the discussion of the morphologic his-
tory of the central chamber of Yosemite Valley, and could set the stage for future
research.
References
Glazner, A. F., Stock, G. M. (2010) Geology Underfoot in Yosemite National Park (P.121-129). Missoula, Montana: Mountain Press Publishing Company.
Milestone, J .F. (1978) Influence of Modern Man on the Stream System of Yosemite Valley; S.F.S.U. Master Thesis; Geography Department.
Figure 1. Line C1 Properties: 100MHZ antenna 1m antenna seperation, .25m step size line measured 90.5m long