Lowland surface processes and history
Lowland sedimentary basin deposits record a history of deformation and changing environments in the Lowlands. Deposits left during the last glacial maximum cover the Puget Lowland, and related glacial outburst floods inundated the Columbia and Willamette Valleys. In Puget Sound, Quaternary deposits up to 1 km thick record at least six glaciations and interglacial periods. The glacial stratigraphy is key to evaluating earthquake shaking intensity, landslide susceptibility, and groundwater quality and quantity.
CHAMPS (the Consortium for geologic and HAzards Mapping in Puget Sound-USGS, UW, WDGER) is using a combination of geologic and geophysical mapping, dating techniques (14 C, paleomagnetic, tephra, Ar/Ar, optically stimulated luminescence), and high resolution laser terrane mapping to document the distribution, thickness, age and physical properties of the basin fills, their depositional facies and geomorphology, and the record of the Vashon ice advance and retreat.
Geomorphology and surface processes
- Preliminary geomorphic map of the Kitsap Peninsula, WashingtonGeomorphic surface mapping
- Vashon glaciation of the Puget Lowland
- Integrated physiography for Puget Sound
- Lidar surveys and research
- Puget Sound LIDAR Consortium
- Glacial processes
- See the landscape beneath the forest (Virtual Deforestation - VDF)
- Active faults
Geologic
mapping
- City of Seattle
- Northwest Quadrant
- Northeast Quadrant
- Central Lowland
- GeoMapNW, University of Washington
- Bremerton area
- Tacoma area - Stratigraphy
- Magnetostratigraphy, paleomagnetic correlation, and deformation of Pleistocene deposits in the south-central Puget Lowland
