Publications
Scientific reports, journal articles, and information products produced by USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center scientists.
Filter Total Items: 1426
Continental-margin seismic stratigraphy: Assessing the preservation potential of heterogeneous geological processes operating on continental shelves and slopes Continental-margin seismic stratigraphy: Assessing the preservation potential of heterogeneous geological processes operating on continental shelves and slopes
No abstract available.
Authors
James A. Austin, Craig S. Fulthorpe, Gregory S. Mountain, Daniel L. Orange, Michael E. Field
Recent introduction of the foraminifer Trochammina hadai Uchio into San Francisco Bay, California, USA Recent introduction of the foraminifer Trochammina hadai Uchio into San Francisco Bay, California, USA
No abstract available.
Authors
Mary McGann, Doris Sloan
Linking sediment transport and stratigraphy on the continental shelf Linking sediment transport and stratigraphy on the continental shelf
The goal of the shelf sediment dynamics component of STRATAFORM is to link sediment transport processes active on the continental shelf to the formation and preservation of event beds in shelf sediment deposits. An approach combining shelf sediment-transport models with high-resolution measurements of water-column and bed properties over periods from several months to several years...
Authors
P.L. Wiberg, D.A. Cacchione, Richard W. Sternberg, L. Donelson Wright
Organic geochemistry applied to environmental assessments of Prince William Sound, Alaska, after the Exxon Valdez oil spill—a review Organic geochemistry applied to environmental assessments of Prince William Sound, Alaska, after the Exxon Valdez oil spill—a review
Organic geochemistry played a major role in the environmental assessments conducted following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, which occurred on March 24, 1989, and released about 258,000 bbls (41 million liters) of Alaska North Slope crude oil into Prince William Sound. Geochemical analyses of more than 15,000 sediment, tar, and biological samples and about 5000 water samples provide the...
Authors
A.E. Bence, Keith A. Kvenvolden, M.C. Kennicutt
Comparison of the partitioning behaviours of yttrium, rare earth elements, and titanium between hydrogenetic marine ferromanganese crusts and seawater Comparison of the partitioning behaviours of yttrium, rare earth elements, and titanium between hydrogenetic marine ferromanganese crusts and seawater
In order to evaluate details of the partitioning behaviours of Y, rare earth elements (REEs), and Ti between inorganic metal oxide surfaces and seawater, we studied the distribution of these elements in hydrogenetic marine ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) crusts from the Central Pacific Ocean. Nonphosphatized Fe-Mn crusts display shale-normalized rare earths and yttrium (REYSN) patterns (Y...
Authors
Michael Bau, Andrea Koschinsky, Peter Dulski, James R. Hein
Relationship between the present-day stress field and plate boundary forces in the Pacific Northwest Relationship between the present-day stress field and plate boundary forces in the Pacific Northwest
The relationship between plate boundary forces and the observed stress field in the Pacific Northwest is established using numerical models of continental deformation. Because the orientation of the greatest horizontal principal stress throughout the Pacific Northwest differs considerably from the direction of convergence between the Juan de Fuca and North American plates, the...
Authors
Eric L. Geist
Source parameters controlling the generation and propagation of potential local tsunamis along the cascadia margin Source parameters controlling the generation and propagation of potential local tsunamis along the cascadia margin
The largest uncertainty in assessing hazards from local tsunamis along the Cascadia margin is estimating the possible earthquake source parameters. We investigate which source parameters exert the largest influence on tsunami generation and determine how each parameter affects the amplitude of the local tsunami. The following source parameters were analyzed: (1) type of faulting...
Authors
Eric L. Geist, Shoichi Yoshioka
Final report: Acoustic mapping of dredged material disposal sites and deposits in Mamala Bay, Honolulu, Hawaii Final report: Acoustic mapping of dredged material disposal sites and deposits in Mamala Bay, Honolulu, Hawaii
No abstract available.
Authors
Michael E. Torresan, M. A. Hampton, M. H. Gowen, J. H. Barber, L. L. Zink, T. E. Chase, F. L. Wong, J. T. Gann, Peter Dartnell
The M2 tide on the Amazon Shelf The M2 tide on the Amazon Shelf
As part of A Multidisciplinary Amazon Shelf Sediment Study (AMASSEDS), moored and shipboard current measurements made over the Amazon shelf during 1990–1991 have been analyzed to determine the dominant semidiurnal tidal constituent, the M2. These results have been combined with coastal sea level data from within the Amazon and Para Rivers, the adjacent shelf, and with satellite‐derived...
Authors
R.C. Beardsley, J.L. Candela, R. Limeburner, W. Rockwell Geyer, Steven J. Lentz, Belmiro M. Castro, D.A. Cacchione, Nelson Carneiro
Ubiquitous tar balls with a California-source signature on the shorelines of Prince William Sound, Alaska Ubiquitous tar balls with a California-source signature on the shorelines of Prince William Sound, Alaska
Although the shorelines of Prince William Sound still bear traces of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, most of the flattened tar balls that can be found today on these shorelines are not residues of Exxon Valdez oil. Instead, the carbon-isotopic and hydrocarbonbiomarker signatures of 61 tar ball samples, collected from shorelines throughout the northern and western parts of the sound, are...
Authors
Keith A. Kvenvolden, Frances D. Hostettler, P.R. Carlson, John B. Rapp, C. N. Threlkeld, Augusta Warden
Seismic stratigraphic evidence of ice-sheet advances on the Wilkes Land margin of Antarctica Seismic stratigraphic evidence of ice-sheet advances on the Wilkes Land margin of Antarctica
The Wilkes Land continental shelf, similar to other Antarctic shelves, is underlain by thick sequences of steeply prograded glacial diamictons. On the outer shelf, banks that are shallower than 400 m are separated by broad outer-shelf troughs that deepen landward. The prograded sequences are found preferentially in these broad outer-shelf troughs. We propose that these outer-shelf...
Authors
S. L. Eittreim, Alan K. Cooper, J. Wannesson
Strides made in understanding Antarctic stratigraphy and Cenozoic glacial history Strides made in understanding Antarctic stratigraphy and Cenozoic glacial history
It is known that the Antarctic ice sheet greatly affected global climate, sea‐level, ocean circulation, and Southern Hemisphere biota during Cenozoic times, but until recently, how remained largely a mystery. Because few Cenozoic rocks are exposed on the Antarctic continent, the only way to investigate the evolution of the Antarctic ice sheet was through isotopic studies on distant deep...
Authors
Alan K. Cooper, Peter Webb, Giuliano Brancolini