Stormy Point Betsie

Point Betsie Lighthouse is a stalwart beacon along the western coast of Lake Michigan. In winter, this lady is battered by waves and driving winds that build heavy ice up on the metal and concrete structures meant to help stabilize the beach. Today, the beach was taking a beating from heavy surf and a lot of clay was in the water turning the nearshore surf a lovely shade of aquamarine blue. The sand dunes that have formed along the coast of Lake Michigan are perched on top of glacial till made up of unsorted rock and sediments, particularly clay. During periods of heavy rain and rough water, the beaches can suffer intense erosion.

 

In some cases, the underlying clays can be eroded away and slumping may occur. This discharges large amounts of sediment into Lake Michigan and turns the water a beautiful hue of blue-green. This is a common phenomenon in the Sleeping Dunes National Lakeshore and you can reconstruct the forensics of past weather events based on the color of the nearshore current.