• Dredging to being at Sandusky Harbor: Notice to all boaters

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District awarded a $1,372,000 contract to Michigan-based Luedtke Engineering to conduct dredging of the federal navigation channel in Sandusky Harbor and will begin on September 18 through mid-October.
  • Short-range Near-surface Seismic Ensemble Predictions and Uncertainty Quantification for Layered Medium

    Abstract: To make a prediction for seismic signal propagation, one needs to specify physical properties and subsurface ground structure of the site. This information is frequently unknown or estimated with significant uncertainty. This paper describes a methodology for probabilistic seismic ensemble prediction for vertically stratified soils and short ranges with no in situ site characterization. Instead of specifying viscoelastic site properties, the methodology operates with probability distribution functions of these properties taking into account analytical and empirical relationships among viscoelastic variables. This yields ensemble realizations of signal arrivals at specified locations where statistical properties of the signals can be estimated. Such ensemble predictions can be useful for preliminary site characterization, for military applications, and risk analysis for remote or inaccessible locations for which no data can be acquired. Comparison with experiments revealed that measured signals are not always within the predicted ranges of variability. Variance-based global sensitivity analysis has shown that the most significant parameters for signal amplitude predictions in the developed stochastic model are the uncertainty in the shear quality factor and the Poisson ratio above the water table depth.
  • Brine, Englacial Structure, and Basal Properties near the Terminus of McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica

    Abstract: We collected ∼1300 km of ground-penetrating radar profiles over McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica, using frequencies between 40 and 400 MHz to determine extent, continuity and depth to the brine. We also used profiles to determine meteoric ice thickness and locate englacial features, which may suggest ice shelf instability. The brine extends 9–13 km inland from the ice shelf terminus and covers the entire region between Ross, White and Black Islands. Jump unconformities and basal fractures exist in the brine and ice shelf, respectively, suggesting prior fracturing and re-suturing. One 100 MHz profile, the most distal from the ice shelf edge while still being situated over the brine, simultaneously imaged the brine and bottom of meteoric ice. This suggests a negative brine salinity gradient moving away from the terminus. The meteoric ice bottom was also imaged in a few select locations through blue ice in the ablation zone near Black Island. We suggest that brine, sediment-rich ice and poor antenna coupling on rough ice attenuates the signal in this area. When combined with other recent mass-balance and structural glaciology studies of MIS, our results could contribute to one of the most high-resolution physical models of an ice shelf in Antarctica.
  • Coastal Resilience: Benefits of Wrack and Dune Systems and Current Management Practices

    Purpose: The purpose of this US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) technical note (TN) is to review both the ecological and geomorphological impacts of wrack on dune systems and provide an overview of current beach dune and wrack management practices. As part of the US Army Corps Regional Sediment Management (RSM) Program, this TN also introduces a case study investigating wrack management solutions for dune stabilization.
  • Method to Evaluate Vessel Wake Forces on Wetland Scarps

    Purpose: This Coastal and Hydraulics engineering technical note (CHETN) presents a methodology to compute normal forces on wetland perimeters with vertically scarped edges. The approach uses an empirical algorithm that predicts the normal force given the offshore vessel wake height, period, and water depth at a given point. Wave impact forces are measured using load cells, which have not been applied previously to marsh settings. Load cell and vessel wake measurements from two field sites are combined to generate an empirical transfer function relating forces to incoming vessel wake characteristics.
  • Wright-Patterson AFB is largest contributor to USACE military construction program

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District supports and serves military installations and sites within the five-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. 
  • MKARNS Nav Notice SWL 22-46 Montgomery Point Lock - Open, WREC Draft Restriction Lifted

    MKARNS - Mariners are advised that Montgomery Point Lock (NM 0.5) is operable.
  • MKARNS Nav Notice SWL 22-45 Closure - Montgomery Point Lock & Navigation Pass

    MKARNS - Mariners are advised that Montgomery Point Lock and Dam (NM 0.5) is currently closed to all navigation traffic.
  • 22-062 Lower Monumental Dam closes public dam crossing to perform spillway maintenance

    Kahlotus, Wash. – Officials at Lower Monumental Lock and Dam are closing dam crossings to the public from Sept. 12 to Sept. 25 in order to perform spillway maintenance.
  • MKARNS Nav Notice SWL 22-44 Sailing Instruction & Draft Restriction - Downstream of Lock 1

    MKARNS - Mariners are advised that upbound and downbound tows should run the centerline of the navigation channel in the downstream approach to Norrell Lock (No. 1).