Constructing a Chronology of
Dune Movement
Geology Research Program
2008
BY: Sigifredo Pizana
Importance of Research
To gain an understanding of past dune
movement and behavior at Whitefish
Dunes State Park in the Door Peninsula of
Wisconsin.
To determine periods of increased storm
activity.
To better understand past climate in the
region.
Dune Formation
Dunes are formed when winds blow
across a Lake and transport sand.
Image source: www.indiana.edu/~g103/G103/Week8/week8.html
Sample Location
Two cores where taken in Clark Lake, which is
located behind the Whitefish Dunes.
Storm Winds
from the
Southeast
Results
After the sediment samples have been
processed, sand is the only thing that is
remaining. Then the sand is counted for
each sample.
The data is put into an Excel spreadsheet
and plotted on a graph of grains of sand
per sample gram versus centimeter depth.
Sample Graph
Sand Compostition of Clark Lake core CL08-1
Grains of Sand per Sample Gram
600.000
500.000
400.000
300.000
200.000
100.000
0.000
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230
Depth in Centimeters
Large Sand Grains
Medium Sand Grains
Small Sand Grains
Acknowledgements
 Hope College
 Dr. Lee
 Alyson Michner
 Research mentor: Dr. Hansen
 Peter Van Heest
 Kara Barney